LA based in-stream advertising platform Ad.ly has just announced that they have launched an ad network for third-party Twitter app developers. This is in addition to several other recent announcements, such as their deal with MySpace to allow user’s to insert ads into their pages and monetize their content.
So what exactly does this mean for the average Twitter user, and is this something you might want to take advantage of to promote your business or service? Sean Rad, the founder of Ad.ly is calling it the “AdSense for the stream,” comparing it to the Google AdSense program for websites. The bottom line is that the network allows developers to tap into the Ad.ly API and serve contextually relevant advertisements within their third-party app Twitter stream. So, for example, third-party services such as Brizzly could tap into the new network and serve ads on their service to their users. The ads are not placed within the Twitter stream itself, which prevents Ad.ly from violating Twitter’s TOS.
As a Twitter user, you most likely won’t see any of these ads unless you access your account from one of the many third-party services out there. As a business person or social influencer, you might find it appealing to get into the mix and get your ads served on the network. While this could be advantageous if the targeting is spot on, it could also be disastrous if it isn’t. Check out how targeted their other ad networks are before making your move.
While it remains to be seen how the Twitter folks will react, Ad.ly has definitely jumped into the fast lane of Internet advertising platforms. In less than a year they have manage to integrate their services with some of the biggest players on the web, including Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. With over $5 million in current funding, I’m sure they will be around for a while.
Should you utilize the service? Why not, what have you got to lose? If you’ve used Ad.ly already on Twitter, MySpace, or Facebook, share your experience with us!
