anyone know of a toolbar affiliate program?

[zayd]

Prompt the user and asking them if they would like to set MyPage.com as their homepage IS NOT high jacking and if a yes or no question is to complicated for them then chances are they will be to stupid to figure out how to remove a simple toolbar.

No ever said anything about high jacking so I'm not sure where the hell that came from and there are tons of software out there that ask you the same f'n thing before/after you install their product.

I only read the last few posts and got the wrong impression, my bad.

Anyways, I've been doing toolbars for a long time and using a homepage just isn't worth the time and effort. Why limit the revenue you can make to one page when you can monetize the browser from the beginning of surfing to the end? Homepages are chump change.

 

[Xrproto]

I only read the last few posts and got the wrong impression, my bad.

Anyways, I've been doing toolbars for a long time and using a homepage just isn't worth the time and effort. Why limit the revenue you can make to one page when you can monetize the browser from the beginning of surfing to the end? Homepages are chump change.

I figured such after your edit. Which I didn't notice at first.

I was looking at it as expanding the revenue some out side of the toolbar. I never figured it would hinder the revenue one could generate from the toolbar alone.

 

[zayd]

I figured such after your edit. Which I didn't notice at first.

I was looking at it as expanding the revenue some out side of the toolbar. I never figured it would hinder the revenue one could generate from the toolbar alone.

I get what you're saying, but it just makes for a bad user experience which means higher uninstall rates.

I mean let's be realistic here, what are you going to have on your site that will make it worthy of being a homepage? A search field that connects to a third tier ppc feed? Ok, your user might use it 3 or 4 times before they realize it's crap and switch back to Google. They might also decide to uninstall the toolbar too. For what, like 10 cents? You're doing something wrong if you consider that a good risk.

Besides, if you're smart you can monetize searches from other search engines just as easy as you can your own.

PS: I don't mean to come off as a dick explaining this, just trying to give you some insight into the psychology behind toolbars.

 

[krazyjosh5]

blah. toolbars seem so... eh... tho. its like infecting people with a virus so you make money.

 

[zayd]

blah. toolbars seem so... eh... tho. its like infecting people with a virus so you make money.

I think it's important that you're offering something of value in return for the install, plus always having an easy uninstall if the user wants to get rid of it.

If the .exe has that, it's up to the user to decide whether they want it or not.

 

[Cool1g]

I get what you're saying, but it just makes for a bad user experience which means higher uninstall rates.

I mean let's be realistic here, what are you going to have on your site that will make it worthy of being a homepage? A search field that connects to a third tier ppc feed? Ok, your user might use it 3 or 4 times before they realize it's crap and switch back to Google. They might also decide to uninstall the toolbar too. For what, like 10 cents? You're doing something wrong if you consider that a good risk.

Besides, if you're smart you can monetize searches from other search engines just as easy as you can your own.

PS: I don't mean to come off as a dick explaining this, just trying to give you some insight into the psychology behind toolbars.

you sound like first person i've run across that has experience in this area....i figured it was something to investigate....as anything, if you get enough toolbar/homepages set up you should make some decent $. and here its recurring from the surfers which is even better...

 

[zayd]

you sound like first person i've run across that has experience in this area....i figured it was something to investigate....as anything, if you get enough toolbar/homepages set up you should make some decent $. and here its recurring from the surfers which is even better...

It sounds like easy money, but the more involved you get the more work it is, just like anything else. I'd say affiliate marketing (or AdSense for that matter) is easy money, because there isn't a lot of overhead. With toolbars you need to learn how to program, which takes a lot of time (time is money people). Or hire someone to program one for you, which will take a fair amount of change (and time), plus you aren't going to get a lot of meaningful ideas from a hired programmer.

In other words, don't even attempt doing it on your own unless you have the balls to stick it through and potentially lose thousands. Go with another toolbar company if you want 'easy money'.

Anyways, I've already tried the homepage idea - in my experience it doesn't work well enough to justify using it.

If you think you can make it work though, go for it.

 

[krazyjosh5]

That what I tell chicks after I have sex with them: "Give me 20 bucks and I'll give you the antidote"

hahahahah

 

[Xrproto]

I get what you're saying, but it just makes for a bad user experience which means higher uninstall rates.

I mean let's be realistic here, what are you going to have on your site that will make it worthy of being a homepage? A search field that connects to a third tier ppc feed? Ok, your user might use it 3 or 4 times before they realize it's crap and switch back to Google. They might also decide to uninstall the toolbar too. For what, like 10 cents? You're doing something wrong if you consider that a good risk.

Besides, if you're smart you can monetize searches from other search engines just as easy as you can your own.

PS: I don't mean to come off as a dick explaining this, just trying to give you some insight into the psychology behind toolbars.

Very good points and no you're not coming off as a dick.

I've just started to touch on toolbars so my experience is limited. I will not bother with offering setting a homepage anymore.