Marketing Defined

Chitika eMiniMalls correct Javascript Code, Tips, Hacks, Placement optimization and Conditions

To answer any concerns following the recent announcement of the Chitika eMiniMalls beta program, clearly set out below are..

• correct javascript code for Chitika eMiniMalls
• how to select keyphrases
• placement & optimizing tips
• available Wordpress and Moveable Type Plug-ins
• payment structure
• affiliate income details.. and
• Chitika Terms of Service

This article also gives clear guidance so you do not inadvertently breach Google Adsense’ TOS. This is a long, up-to-date and comprehensive post which will be updated constantly to maximize your earning potential from this exciting new program, please read it in comfort.

Chitika’s new “product driven” eMinMalls advertising program, still in beta, is a welcome boost to income for Blog owners and webmasters for the forthcoming Christmas “festive” season.

Firstly you are definitely allowed to run Chitika eMiniMall Ads on the same page as Google Adsense Ads, provided you make the “eMiniMalls” “non contextual” by inserting the following line of code in the javascript:

ch_non_contextual = 1;

Google’s Customer Service have finally confirmed it is not compulsory to disable the Chitika “Search” tab/facility on the eMiniMalls if you run Google’s “Adsense for Search” on the same page.

The Chitika “Search” tab keeps the viewer on your webpage by displaying results right inside the eMiniMall Ad block. However, if you wish to disable the “search” tab here is the correct line of javascript.

ch_nosearch = 1;

Naturally once you disable the contextual ad targeting facility you must include your own keyphrases or product names in line with the merchandise you wish to advertise on a web page. Adding a generic keyword like “car” or “baby toy” does not appear to bring in targeted results at this time.

The following **three lines of code** ensure the selected products are rotated so as to present a new eMiniMall each time the page is refreshed, preventing “ad blindness” to your regular viwers. The following lines also clearly specify that you wish the products to be rotated:

var ch_queries = new Array('ipod mini', 'Dell Notebook', 'Canon PIXMA iP6000D');
var ch_selected=Math.floor((Math.random()*ch_queries.length));
ch_query = ch_queries[ch_selected];

Replace the list of queries above with a meaningful set of products, keyphrases or queries for your type of audience.

Instead of generic *keywords* like “oil” and “science”, try and use *keyphrases* covering product names that you think might make sense for your site and audience. For example, if you have a site about wine, you might use:

"Louis Jadot Pouilly-Fuisse 2003" or "Sonoma-Cutrer 2003 Chardonnay Russian River Ranches"

To prevent ad blindness for your regular readers you might like to rotate the Chitika eminimalls on a daily basis using this code which should be added *before* the block of Chitika javascript:


var dow = new Array();

dow['Sunday'] = " 'ipod' , 'dell laptop' , 'powerbook' ";
dow['Monday'] = " 'xbox' , 'playstation' , 'nintendo' ";
dow['Tuesday'] = " 'couch' , 'office furniture'";
dow['Wednesday'] = " 'popcorn maker' , 'blender' , 'toaster'";
dow['Thursday'] = " 'cod liver oil' , 'glucosamine'";
dow['Friday'] = " 'braun shaver' , 'norelco shaver'";
dow['Saturday'] = " 'LCD monitor' , 'hard drive' ";

var now = new Date();
var dayNames = new Array("Sunday","Monday","Tuesday",
"Wednesday","Thursday","Friday","Saturday");


And to enforce the above daily rotation in your main block of Chitika javascript you should change the var ch_queries line, as shown in the block of code above (refer to **three lines of code** ) which is used to specify your products to:

var ch_queries = new Array(dow[day
Names[now.getDay()]]);

Depending on the day of the week, your site will display the ads nominiated for that day.

Tailor your Ad to your visitor’s search or the keyphrase they used to land on your web page. If someone is reaching your page from a search engine, there is a good chance their “Referrer” string can tell you what they’re looking for.

For example if you have a site about holidays - and - users come to your site looking for information on various holiday traditions and customs. Use their search engine query and display the exact products that they’re looking for with the following, again *before* the block of Chitika javascript:

(IMPORTANT: as this particular addition to the Chitika code will make the ad contextual, it must only be used on pages where no Google Adsense ads are displayed)


function getVariable(variable) {
var query = document.referrer.split("?");
var vars = query[1].split("&");
for (var i=0;i<vars.length;i++) {
var pair = vars[i].split("=");
if (pair[0] == variable) {
return pair[1].replace(/\+/," "); } }
}

if (document.referrer) {
var dr = document.referrer.toLowerCase();

if (dr.match("yahoo")) { var userQuery = getVariable("p"); }
else if (dr.match("google") dr.match("msn")) { var userQuery = getVariable("q"); }
}


And to enforce the above in your block of Chitika code you should add the following below the ch_query line

if (userQuery) { ch_query = userQuery; }

My thanks to Alex of Chitika Tips for the two preceding blocks of javascript covering *rotation for each day of the week” and *targeting contextual ad to match visitor’s search phrase*

If you simply wish to target only one product… for example on a page where you are reviewing a product like the new Motorola RAZR V3 mobile phone then you may simply insert only the following line (instead of the **three lines of code**):

ch_query = 'Motorola razr V3';

To target keyphrases using the titles of a webpage, in place of the **three lines of code** users of Movable Type and Wordpress can insert the following lines.

This method of targeting, works best only if the Titles are specific to the products you wish to advertise. The 1st line is for MT users and the second for Wordpress:

ch_query = ‘<$MTEntryTitle$>‘;

ch_query = ‘<?php the_title(); ?>’;

Search Engine Journal reports this targeting did not return good results.. their website which leans heavily towards the field of *Marketing*, kept showing *email program software* — Chitika eMiniMalls are still in beta, and the targeting will get better as they grow.

How do you know if the keyphrases or products will return a result at all in the Chitika system? After all you don’t want a “blank” space in place of a paying ad.

Go to Chitika’s home page and use the “search” facility or tab in the example eMiniMall displayed there, to confirm that your product search actually returns a result.

Chitika has also provided a comprehensive list of Sample Keywords to help with your choice of keyphrases. Target your ads using keywords from this list, include it in your “array” of keyphrase/product choices, and you will be guaranteed a paying click-through.

How do you know what the top products in your category are ? Visit Amazon.com and Shopping.com and look at the best selling products in the category you choose.

Then copy the entire product name and test it out using the the search tab on the unit on http://chitika.com/ (PS: By using chitika.com you are not inflating your own stats). If it works, add it to the list of queries in “ch_queries” in your code

The default description tab choice is not popular with many publishers. It appears, the choices of retailer and price comparisons on the *Best Deals* tab is more interesting and more likely to attract a clickthrough (see example graphic under).

To use Best Deals as the default description tab, add one of the following lines of code.. and although I have no logical explanation for this, I have read if the ’single’ quotes do not work, then apply the “double” quotes around the words *Best Deals* or *Deals*. Chitika promises to add more choices soon.

For a 250×250 or smaller use:

ch_default_tab = "Deals";

For other sizes add:

ch_default_tab = "Best Deals";

Thankfully you also have control over the display of fonts for both the *title* and *text* in the Chitika eMiniMalls so they blend in with those deployed on the rest of the web page.

You may nominate just the one type or a selection of fonts. Make sure to use fonts that are commonly used or the user’s *default* font will appear. Here is a good list of common fonts if you need a reference point.

ch_font_title = 'Verdana';

ch_font_text = 'Arial, Trebuchet MS';

UPDATE: As promised, Chitika has made provisions for you to select the background colour of eMiniMalls allowing you to blend in colors with your web site content. The images however, still have a white background.. merging with light backgrounds will thus be easier. Here is the line of code to select your own background color.. naturally remembering to replace FFC400 with the colour of your choice:

ch_color_bg = "#FFC400";

Chitika’s system of Channels or Tracking Ads is yet to be finalized, although this will be introduced shortly, says Chitika. In the meantime, Chitika have recommended we use the following line of code immediately, so there are some stats to review in the Affiliate statistics page when their Tracking system is formally in place.

You may use your own categories in place of the ‘xxxx’ — for example to track a Chitika ad in the sidebar of your Blog, you might use “blog_sidebar” in place of the “xxxx” — and to answer the obvious, no it does not have to be only four letters.

ch_sid = ‘xxxx’;

After you apply to, and get accepted by Chitika, simply get the default block of code directly from them here : entire standard block of javascript code and then add in any of the above lines of code, as per your personal preference and requirements.

Positioning Chitika eMiniMall Ads

Here are some ideal locations to position the eMiniMalls (as has been statistically proven for boosting CTRs in all types of Advertising on blogs and other web sites):

• Above the Fold - a good general position to place ads as viewers tend to look above the fold first, before scrolling down to read the content
• Left Hand Side - the Left Hand Side Bar is still statistically proven to be the *hottest* spot to attract high CTRs, as studies have proved a reader’s attention is initially, instantly drawn to the top of the l.h. sidebar.
• Inside or Near Content - Inserting smaller ad blocks in the middle of paragraphs or content also brings in excellent CTRs, as does adding a smaller eMiniMall between the end of the Post and the Comments form
• End the very end of Posts or Articles - Your viewer has finished reading your article or post and is presented with a *call to action* to either click on an *income generating* ad or click through to another page on your website.
• Multiple Ad Choices - I have found that just one small ad on a page does not induce many CTRs. For example on a Blog, you might include a “468 x 60″ on the top and bottom of each Post and then include either a long “120 x 600″ skyscraper in the Sidebar, or if your sidebar does not permit the longer skyscraper then go for the smaller “160 x 160″ square format eMiniMall.

If your Blog displays well with a small block *between the paragraphs of content*, then this option should be high on your list of choices.

As with Adsense, testing and constant tweaking is going to bring in the desired high CTRs, and I eagerly await the formal introduction of their *tracking system.* For example, to avoid *ad blindness* with your regular viewers, simply change the *array* of products on a weekly basis.

There is no limit to the products you can enter, and highly trafficked blogs insert as many as 10 products per ad block. As soon as the eMiniMall ad *click through rates* slowed down in this Blog, I make some changes to the product choices and have instant, positive results. Funnily I am now noticing that the lower priced products are attracting more CTRs.. however, this will naturally be an individual choice based on the content of your web page

Designing Chitika eMiniMall Ads

As with Adsense the key ingredient here to induce high CTRs is to *blend in* the Ad blocks with the rest of the web page. For the moment, until Chitika offers more choices here are a few ideas:

• Backgrounds - should preferably be kept to the same colour as the rest of your page, using the code provided above. My personal preference for this Blog is to keep the background a “stark” white or very light gray. In my experience, nothing helps more with keeping a viewer reading our pages than dark text with plenty of surrounding *white* space.
• Borders - here again use good old “FFFFFF” by not selecting a colour for the Border. Separating an ad from the rest of the content with a Border does not induce positive CTRs.
• Title - as the Title of the eMiniMalls are in effect a *live* link, it is recommended to use the same colour as the rest of the hyperlinks on your web page. This blending of hyperlinks by far has proved to be the winner for high CTRs on blogs with major traffic levels. You may also change the font to match that of your web page, with the applicable line of code provided above.
• Text - Use the same colour as the text on the rest of your webpage. A tip I have seen mentioned on ProBlogger is to use a slightly lighter shade than the colour of the content used on your web page, which highlights the title and makes the Ad stand out. Again, the font itself may be changed to blend in with the content of the web page.

Income and Earnings for Chitika Ads

Initially the idea of electing mainly the following three formats has been tossed around, to ensure a high proportion of *valid* CTRs. This is particularly recommended if your traffic levels are still growing and you need to ensure payment for a high percentage of click throughs:

• Leaderboard 728 x 60
• Blog Banner 468 x 180
• Banner 468 x 60

This is in part due to the fact that certain parts of the eMinimalls have portions of the text that do not count if they are clicked on, which will result in an “unpaid” click through.

Chitika have now disabled the URLs on the images in the eMiniMalls, which when previously clicked on would return an “invalid” CTR. We can only hope Chitika works on these small issues, to make the eMinimalls work best both for publishers and the consumer, but do read Chitika’s following confirmation on the above concerns..

Here is the direct quote from Chitika when I asked for a confirmation on the concern *which areas of the eMiniMalls when clicked on, will lead to non-payment?*:

“There are some non-paying links in the eMiniMalls.

Specifically, the *Review links* (which are provided more as a service to the consumer — remember we need to keep the consumer in mind here!).

Also in the *Search* tab, the suggested links or results are non-paying. Again, guiding the consumer. Nothing else I can think of. Every other link that leads to a merchant is payable“

A “blanket” boycott of the “Search” tab is not recommended — this will be a personal choice, purely dependent on your traffic, and the level of service/choices you wish to offer your readers (by offering more product choices via the “Search” facility in the eMiniMalls as a service to your viewers, but forfeiting a paid CTR).

Naturally, individual Publisher income requirements/expectations will also guide in this decision, as will a decent daily traffic flow to a Blog or web site. Personally, I’d like to wait until the Channel reporting system is in place prior to deploying the Search tab on some of our eMiniMalls.

Chitika also confirms, “Currently, our merchants don’t accept clicks from all of Asia” — my thinking is: this should not stop a Publisher from Asia applying for the program, in view of the international nature of a Blog’s readership base.

Unless I am “blind”, I don’t see the geo targeting aspect of the ads at work, and would love to see the eMiniMalls take on a more international flavour and allow accurate geo-targeting like Adsense, thus allowing for example, Australian readers to be presented with a choice of Aussie merchants. I am certain their future plans will allow for such geo-targeting.

Chitika pays publishers a 60% share of revenue, which means a whole lot more than Adsense per click. I can certainly vouch for that. Each click-through on this Blog’s Chitika ads has been on average between 3 - 10 times better in income generation than that seen from comparable Adsense blocks.

UPDATE: Their affiliate referral system is in place as of Monday 17 October, and will generate you extra income for affiliates you refer to their program… this will be paid directly by Chitika. Here is an example of the *Referral Program* Banner.. there are ten sizes from *minute* to *large* in both the vertical and horizontal formats:

Chitika also thankfully pay monthly via PayPal once you reach the attainable minimum of $10 (a huge bonus for us overseas publishers who are simply tired of the long 28 day delays to cash International cheques.. such as those still sent from Clickbank — when will Clickbank wake up, and simply transfer our earnings via PayPal.)

Chitika also has a new check/cheque payment in place for countries that are not in the PayPal system, whereby they will mail a cheque once earnings reach a minimum of $50.

Wordpress & Movable Type Plug Ins and Hacks for Chitika eMiniMall Ads

There are a number of Wordpress and Movable Type plug-ins currently in existence to allow the automatic insertion of Chitika eMiniMall Ads “inside” or “around” the content of a web page. Here is where you will find these plug ins.

• How to automatically add eMiniMall ads “inside” your Wordpress Post at the Funponsel Blog
• Wordpress hack to automatically add an eMiniMall block “outside” the content area at LiewCF Blog
• Use the custom features field of Wordpress to insert eMiniMalls at the Jackenhack Blog
• Auto Escape feature to avoid code snippet errors to enhance the above Jackenhack “custom features” plug-in at the Priyadis Place Blog
• The very first Wordpress plug-in again for eMiniMalls “inside” a Post at X74.org
• The VOIP Blog has instructions for a Movable Type - Chitika plug in

I tried out the above Wordpress plug-ins in my new Improve Memory Tips blog, and found that the X74.org Chitika plug in worked a treat, and was all it professed to be. You can even manipulate the code for this plug-in to add a few more of the available enhancements (I changed the text colour for example). Mind you my vote for the X74.org plug-in, is by no means conclusive proof that the others are not as useful.. simply as I have not tried more than one other.

If there are more plug ins, code or Chitika Tips to share, please add via comments to this post.

You can apply immediately to be accepted as a Publisher and here is the direct link to Chitika’s “secure’ Application Page .

They have been quick to accept Publishers and their Customer Service absolutely “rocks” - Michelle (the “chitikette” in Customer Service is superb! - sorry Michelle, I couldn’t resist when I saw this nickname published elsewhere) — they are truly lightning fast and show genuine concern in responding to customer queries.

I have included my affiliate link for Chitika, from which I will earn a small payment for a referral. This payment is made entirely by Chitika and will cost you nothing. You need to first join them as a Publisher, to qualify for “Referral” income.

To express our thanks for this support, when you sign up for Chitika using our Chitika referral link, we will happily offer you unlimited email support for 4 weeks to assist in applying and optimizing these eMiniMalls to *maximize your earning potential* and perhaps *boost Christmas income*

This email support will also cover other questions if you are setting up your first Blog for instance, and require any assistance. Your questions might include “how to modify and upload a Blogger template to your own domain” or “how to transport a Blogger based blog to Wordpress and not lose your rankings”. Let me clarify that we will provide the accurate instructions for you to apply the changes. Naturally Australian subscribers are welcome to make initial contact by telephone between 11 am - 6 pm EST. Here is how your contact us

My fervent hope is click throughs will not diminish when the intial curiosity with the new eMiniMalls becomes common knowledge to consumers, and here’s hoping I have covered most concerns about *tips, tricks, codes and hacks* for optimizing the new Chitika eMiniMalls

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