Hey guys,
I would like to share some info and make some recommendations on the advertising engine. I think it is a great start so far, but unfortunately we are not able to implement it under its guidelines now.
Our current system is to ?set our own prices? based on length of ad 10 or 15 seconds and then minimum repetitions per hour 4, 7, 10. We tie in a minimum agreement term of 3 months but options for 3, 6 and 12 months (discounted per term) and now we?ve got a product that becomes worth it to sell.
For example, if you had someone say I want 1 week of service, 1 view an hour, 10 second spot ? you will probably spend more time and money invoicing and collecting money than what it is worth. That doesn?t mean that a 1 month term isn?t available for an event- that would be a specific request and result in a higher fee.
Other factors to think of is: if they are the only advertiser and they wanted 10 views per hour, 10 views would show up one after another and then they are done for the hour. In a food court the average stay could be 25min, so because it isn?t spread out they are missing literally half of the traffic. On the flip side ? if they have budgeted to have 10 views per hour, got 6, they will not be happy that you did not give them what they budgeted for. The media buyer will lose on that money that they could have spent elsewhere if you weren?t going to take it and at the end of it they will most likely not do business with you again.
So all this said, what I would like to see happen is the following:
1. Signage owners set the packages for clients to choose from rather than advertisers guessing what they need or want
2. packages GUARENTEE a MINIMUM of (customizable) 4, 7, 10 views per hour. If the loop is near empty, they get more repetitions ?on the house?. If there isn?t enough time left, it is blocked out with a message to contact us for future availability before they can buy. The views per hour would be customizable by the signage owner for the public to see
3. length of ad restriction ? (customizable) 10 or 15 seconds. I should be able to force one in that is longer if someone specifically asks ? but public would just see the 2 options ? for example.
4. The denial feature is great since we couldn?t allow mc donalds to advertise in a wendy?s food court.
5. We offer multi venue discounts on our large locations only so regional or national advertisers may have to call us so we can get them the best possible rate vs ordering from the system.
6. I do mix up content in my advertising loop such as a weather ?scene?, did you knows, my own advertising commercials etc. I would like to incorporate directly into that loop so that it does take away from the available time so that we don?t accept more advertisers than we have space available. I don?t want to add it before or after the ad network plugin in the timeline since this stuff has to play in between to break up the advertising.
So I know this is a lot, but this is what we are doing now and is fairly consistent with other large signage companies which again is important that we aren?t all doing our own thing, but making it as consistent as possible for media buyers.
Thanks guys for your hard work in developing this software, this really is great stuff!
