Since it was released, thousands of users on Facebook have taken their turn in trying out Facebook’s API’s. The programs range from simple games to mini book stores. At first, these programs were created for the user to have something interesting to put on their page, but the developers got smart. They said, why should we spend so much time making these programs when we don’t receive anything back from them? That is where monetization came into play.

Facebook allowed the developers to display an unlimited number of advertisements in their programs. Developers got to work including advertisements on their download pages and inside the actual programs. After some testing, it was realized that contextual advertising was probably not the best route, so developers focused on promoting affiliate links, or links that send you to a product page. Instantly, developers started to see profits skyrocket as users would them their program to other users, and thus more people would click on the links.

Right about now, you should be wanting to get into this. It sounds like easy money; all you have to do is build a program and put ads inside it. However, it’s definitely not that easy. Only a handful of programs will become popular enough to create a decent profit. But let’s just say that your program does become popular enough. Here are some ways to monetize your Facebook app:

CPM Banners: CPM Banners pay the publisher whenever a user views the ad. These would go either in your download page or somewhere in the app.

CPC Banners: CPC Banners pay the publisher whenever a user clicks on the ad. These would go in the same place as CPM Banners.

CPA Systems: CPA Systems pays whenever a user does something like take a survey or sign up for a product. Same place as above.

Affiliate Links: Affiliate links send the user to a page where a product is being sold. If the user buys the product, the publisher get paid a percentage of the profit. These links go inside the content of the app.

Although the most popular of the four is affiliate links, all of the other advertisements can generate decent revenue for your Facebook app.

Monetizing Your Facebook App

I have owned this software for the past 6 months. Before we go ahead, please take a moment to read my Affiliate Review policy. Let’s move forward.

Web2Submitter allows you to submit to about 9 different Social sites from various niches plus Onlywire.com, a one click social submission site. The owners Brandon and Jack claim that this tool saves several hours in a week by reducing the time taken for submission. Everything basically is done from a single interface. All you have to do is click the button once to login and click again to fill in the info and click a third time to submit. As easy as 1,2,3.

While I agree with the 1,2,3 theory, I do not really believe it saves minimum 7 hours every week. Why? Because, I have done both manual and semi-auto submission and it took me just an extra 10 minutes to while submitting manually. I keep a notepad handy and then it is just a matter of copy and paste for each site.

So, Lesson # 1 – They are lying. Sounds rude?

Next, you have this guy called Sam Beatson who claims this software saves him 5 hours everyday. I am not sure if this guy is smart or stupid. What in the world is taking him 5 hours a day for? I have submitted multiple articles in a day and it has never taken more than an hour for me at the most. This guy Sam, as well as the other testimonies, are giving the false impression that it is Web2submitter that is getting them all the “Traffic Overload”.

It is not true. This software only reduces your submission time by a few minutes. You can get the exact same “Traffic Overload” without this software. Period.

So, Lesson # 2 – They are lying. Sounds rude again?

The only useful part of this deal is the Buzz group. It is a private membership based group where you can send your post every week, and if they like your content, they will vote for you, thus helping you get better exposure. I still use them and will continue to. Is this worth $47? I don’t know, but since I bought the deal, I am a part of them.

They have another bonus for you. Oh actually, a “promotion in disguise” bonus. They give you a free 1 week test drive of “Authority Site Center” so that you can tour the product and buy if you are convinced. I wasn’t convinced, so I signed out. This really isn’t a bonus but a stupid marketing gimmick.

Am I using this software now? No. I am not. I have all my social sites in my toolbar and I do the same one click submissions without the software. Moreover, nowadays, I only submit to Sphinn, Shoutwire and StumbleUpon. Takes me less than 10 minutes, unlike Sam Beatson’s “5 sweaty hours”. Sam Beatson, you indeed beat me!

After all the explanation above, if you still plan to buy it and try it, by all means go ahead. It costs $47 only. Click one of the links in this article to visit their page and buy Web2Submitter. Now you are wondering why the affiliate link eh? Go ahead and read my affiliate policy once again.

Review Thursday – Web2Submitter

The Top 5 Marketing Strategies in 2008 for a long term business will be:

1. Profile Marketing: Participation in Niche Communities and establishment of a powerful profile.

2. Influential Marketing: Contribution of Authority content to niche communities to build influence and a strong following

3. Linkbait Marketing: Creating irresistible knowledge content to pull backlinks from high profile sources.

4. Facebook Marketing: This trend is slowly gaining and people are waking up to the possibilities of Facebook for their businesses.

5. Social Media Marketing: This encompasses everything above and more.

I will elaborate on these later one by one. Let me get ready for my dental appointment.

Top 5 Marketing Strategies for the Year 2008

When I did a Search for Social Media, Google gave me access to data back as far as 2004. Here is the first graph that shows a combined 4 years of growth.

You can notice that the Search trend has been constant in the 3 years except 2 times when it tanked unusually. This graph doesn’t really speak much as it is comprehensive. More on that later. Let me display the yearly graphs for a detailed look.

Year 2004

Notice the period between April and September. It was literally flat, meaning the Search Volume was the lowest for Social Media at that time. Then you see a sudden spurt in the volume in October and later months. Notice the falling graph at the end.

Year 2005

This year was similar but the time period the Search volumes tanked were relatively short. For most of 2005, the Search volumes were pretty good. Noticed the fall at the end of the graph.

Year 2006

Again, the trend this year was better than the previous year. There was a mild reduction in the middle of the year, but it picked up pretty fast. Notice again, the fall in the graph at the end.

Year 2007

The year 2007, in my opinion was very good for Social Media. The growth in Search Volume was pretty steady and organized. You can see the rise in the beginning and how it remained constant till July and then moved up again. It only explains the fact that people are getting educated more and more on the virtual culture and recognizing the power of online communities. A healthy trend indeed.

Here is a list of the top 10 countries, cities and languages that were the source of the Search Volume.

The reason why every graph showed a fall in the Search Volumes at the end is simply because of the beginning of the Holiday season. People’s attention diverted to priorities like Holiday shopping and preparing for the new year. The graphs below clearly explains what I am talking about.

Christmas Shopping

Look towards the end of the graphs. The Search volume pretty much skyrocketed compared to the rest of the year. Christmas and New year were clearly the winners at this time. A sure sign for us online entrepreneurs.

Back to the topic. Social Media online has definitely grown and gained wide recognition. I am not sure if we are nearing another bubble burst, but I can tell you the trend will surely continue for a long time before it crumbles.

Next week, I will try and cover Social Marketing trend for the past 4 years.

Social Media Trend – Genesis and Evolution Part 1