Adsense equivalent for a desktop application?

Question

The Google Adsense Terms of Service explicitly forbids exposing Adsense links from desktop applications:

(vi) directly or indirectly access, launch, and/or activate Ads, Links, Search Results, or Referral Buttons through or from, or otherwise incorporate the Ads, Links, Search Results, or Referral Buttons in, any software application

Jeff has mentioned in the past that dealing directly with the advertiser is "a great model if you can get it", but I imagine getting the critical mass that will attract advertisers to a desktop application is going be difficult and some ad based funding in the interim would be great. So to my question(s):

• Are there any Adsense type services out there (or being developed) for desktop applications?
• Any tips on attracting advertisers to a relatively small scale desktop application project?

Answer 1

I don't know of any specific service or framework for advertising in desktop applications, but I just want to say that it's a lot harder to make money through advertising on the desktop versus on the Web. Why? As Nick Bradbury put it, "people are more willing to give up privacy on the web than they are on their own desktop" (source). If you look at software applications that previously tried to do this, most of them either failed or didn't make a lot of money. Opera is the biggest example: they used to put ads in the free version of their browser, but then gave up on it because it wasn't making them any money. The only application I know of that has successfully done this is iTunes, and I wonder why. ;) If you're going to advertise, make the ads relevant, like in iTunes, not just through some ad service. (In other words, you're going to have do it all yourself.) You won't get any money otherwise.

I know this doesn't really answer your question but I just want to give my two cents.

Answer 2

As I have posted before:

There are much better ways for you to bootstrap cash injectors to your application. Applications that are ad injected tend not to preform as well as ones that are not.

Any application which you consider to be worth more than free but are afraid may cause less downloads if not paid for should at the very least have an easy way to donate. People often overlook this fact and yet many people I know, if given an application that solves there problem will donate 5 or so dollars. This may not sound like a lot but it is essentially money for nothing given that there is no reason NOT to implement this.

Another option is to see if you can bootstrap a similar application with yours. If this is done in a professional manner with the ability for the user not to install the second app then it can be a good source of income and no nasty adverts for the user to contend with.

The last option is to ask yourself if you would pay for it? Many people give away applications that people would happily pay a few dollars for. Consider a marketing campaign that says great software at a great price. Many people (Myself again) have paid for software that works nicely. Sure you can probably find a free cracked version but a lot of folks respect the fact that people should be paid.

Some examples of paid for software that is doing well is pinnicale profiler, ultramon and regex buddy. All of which I have paid for and would happily pay for a second time round.

Answer 3

DeanMc,

What are some examples of bootstrap applications that are available for bundling?

Thanks

Answer 4

Ugh, don't give them any ideas.

Answer 5

BSA seems to provide ads for desktop apps

http://blog.buysellads.com/2010/04/using-bsa-for-selling-ads-in-a-desktop-application/