Tuesday, October 4, 2011

As an Incentive, Virtual Currency Works

Reasons US Internet Users Interact with Incentivized Ads, July 2011 (% of respondents)Marketers often think of advertising as a trade off for consumers: People watch ads in exchange for free or subsidized content. 


But a new study suggests giving consumers social currency or virtual currency as a reward for spending time with a brand message is a powerful incentive. 


But some digital ads are now explicitly offer social currency rewards rather than access to free content.


For example, a brand may sponsor a social game, and make a reward of virtual currency contingent on watching a display ad. These incentivized ads, research from digital advertising technology company SocialVibe and KN Dimestore found, can be very effective, even when consumers just watched to get the incentive.



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