Net Surfers Paid For Direct Advertising

Internet advertising in the UK could change dramatically after AllAdventage, the US company which pioneered paying users to surf the Net, makes its official UK launch this week. The company pays members 31p an hour to surf the web while allowing advertisers to individually target them.

The service works by installing a piece of software called a Viewbar into the computers of those who sign up. Accompanying the user as he or she travels from site to site, it allows advertisers to note their personal profile and preferences and interact with them on an individual basis.

UK manager Graeme McVie explained the advantage this will allow advertisers: “At present, a non-American online user visiting a US site is likely to receive an advertising message from a US company. That advertisement is wasted on the consumer. Through the Viewbar, these online users will now be able to receive information from advertisers from their country regardless of what site they visit or where in cyberspace they travel.”

At present national brands are only able to advertise on national sites which means the US market and huge global brands retain dominance. With the Viewbar service now available in the UK and Canada it will be possible for British or Canadian businesses and their customers to communicate anywhere on the Internet.

A recent report into advertising over the internet predicted a huge increase in the medium as a choice for advertisers but also reported inadequate measurements and targetting facilities (see Feature: Internet Set To Become Fastest Growing Media Ever In Terms Of Ad Revenue).

AllAdvantage launched in the US in March this year and has more than two million members.

www.alladvantage.com