07.10.2008
Uncategorized
We recently reviewed the results of placing Chitika Premium ads on some of our web properties. The results we discovered were good enough to expand our use of these Premium ads to several more of our web sites.
Chikita Premium ads are contextual, but in a very different manner than AdSense. The content of these ads is based upon the search terms that the visitor used to find your page.
One interesting result is that you will never really see these ads yourself — nor will your direct visitors. Chitika Premium ads only show to visitors who come in via searches. This lets your regular visitors see fewer ads and simultaneous enables you to monetize “drive by” traffic.
Last month with Chitika Premium, we saw an EPC of $.18, a CTR of 1.30%, and an eCPM of of $2.32. This was with only one Chitika Premium ad block on each page.
Instead of replacing AdSense, we are using Chitika Premium to generate additional incremental revenue from our existing content.
We are very happy with the Chitika Premium ads right now — and with the additional revenue which they are generating.
05.10.2008
Uncategorized
Expat Intelligence is one of FIM’s web sites which is close to my heart, and one which I expect will grow very nicely over the next few years.
Evolutionary changes in transportation and revolutionary changes in communications are making our planet smaller every day. As our interactions with other cultures and governments increases, more individuals choose to leave the land of their births and experiment with new lives in distant lands.
Retiring to Mexico is becoming common for middle-class Americans who want to live the good life on limited retirement incomes. More adventurous Americans are finding new lives in exotic locales like Panama, Costa Rica, The Philippines, and Thailand.
In addition to lower costs of living, many countries provide much better tax systems than the United States. Tax laws vary, but it is possible to legally lower your income tax burden to $0 by becoming an expat.
Many working Americans are finding that their jobs will allow them to work at home. Home can be in Belize almost as easily as it can be in Boise. Belize offers beaches, sun, and some of the worlds best scuba diving. In addition, as an American living in Belize, the U.S. government will let you deduct the first $80k of your income.
These factors, along with many others, are rapidly increasing the number of Americans who choose to live abroad. And that will be good for Expat Intelligence. 