The iAds Test - Photics: Revisions "lite"

PhoticsPhotics Member Posts: 4,172
edited November -1 in iPhone and Android Publishing
The Photics: Revisions "lite" update is now available on the iTunes App Store.
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=332511745&mt=8

It is my litmus test for iAds. Is it really worth it? I will be posting up my findings here. This test is to determine if iAds is actually good for games.
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Comments

  • PhoticsPhotics Member Posts: 4,172
    2:58 PM - Update was downloaded and installed. The App was launched. No advertisements were seen. Apparently, the rumblings about poor fill rates are true.
  • PhoticsPhotics Member Posts: 4,172
    10:38 PM - I still can't see ads in my app. I'm not sure if something is wrong with my app, or if the fill rate is just horrible.
  • AfterBurnettAfterBurnett Member Posts: 3,474
    Wondered where you'd been! NOW GET BACK TO WRITING THAT TEXT BOOK! Hehe.
  • quantumsheepquantumsheep Member Posts: 8,188
    I can't see ads in your app either - it just says 'photics: revisions' at the bottom where I imagine your ad would be?

    Dr. Sam Beckett never returned home...
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  • PhoticsPhotics Member Posts: 4,172
    POLYGAMe said:
    Wondered where you'd been! NOW GET BACK TO WRITING THAT TEXT BOOK! Hehe.

    This iAds thing broke my concentration. The book was to keep me busy while I waited for iAds. Well, iAds are here, but now it's another catch-22. It's madness. There are just so many problems. Do I drop $1999 on a Pro License? I don't know. If I can't even see success on a small scale, it seems irresponsible to spend that much money on GameSalad.
    quantumsheep said:
    I can't see ads in your app either - it just says 'photics: revisions' at the bottom where I imagine your ad would be?

    Yeah, the ads are supposed to be at the bottom.
  • PhoticsPhotics Member Posts: 4,172
    I uploaded an update...
    http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/photics-revisions-lite/id332511745?mt=8
    ...which could be a good trick for Pro users.

    Basically, I moved the ads to the top, as I think putting the ads at the bottom might have caused an issue. I'm still not sure if this fixed the problem. However, I added "House Ads". So, when iAds don't appear - which seems to be always - ads for my other apps appear.

    You could accomplish the same thing with pro. Just create an actor to display a banner ad image and give it a hyperlink. I'm waiting to see if this new approach is successful. If it is, I might take the plunge and upgrade to Pro.
  • jonmulcahyjonmulcahy Member, Sous Chef Posts: 10,408
    how'd you add house ads?

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  • Rob2Rob2 Member Posts: 2,402
    Just downloaded to iPhone and despite being in UK I am seeing iAds ....8600 Hotels! Booking.com Lovestruck.com ( is it that obvious !) foo call ... These adds are continuous and just keep going round those four banners. I'm surprised such an unusual app is getting served at all.....and in the UK...
  • chosenonestudioschosenonestudios Member Posts: 1,714
    Just downloaded (US) and clicked on the iAd haha Its displaying zoosk ads..

    Just gave you a buck! HAHA
  • PhoticsPhotics Member Posts: 4,172
    mulcahy said:
    how'd you add house ads?

    Well, I created two Webviews, one for iAds and another for the main content. The house ads appear at the top webview. The iAds appear above all other content, so my house ads are just hidden from view when iAds appear. That's the theory anyway. It worked in the test environment. I still haven't seen a live ad.

    So, this approach could be applied to GameSalad. Simply create an actor where you think your ads should appear. That actor can work like a button, with an image and a link. The iAds should appear in a layer above the house ads actor.

    Again, that's just theory. I don't have "Pro" to test it out. That's what Arcade Action was designed for, but I don't believe strongly enough in my theory to invest $1999. Even if the ads to work properly, it's not clear if I will generate enough revenue to make a decent profit... if there's a profit at all.
  • Rob2Rob2 Member Posts: 2,402
    All the ads take you thru to app store purchase
  • PhoticsPhotics Member Posts: 4,172
    Rob2 said:
    Just downloaded to iPhone and despite being in UK I am seeing iAds ....8600 Hotels! Booking.com Lovestruck.com ( is it that obvious !) foo call ... These adds are continuous and just keep going round those four banners. I'm surprised such an unusual app is getting served at all.....and in the UK...

    Wow, you're seeing UK advertisements?! That's awesome! My house ads are for Commove, the Photics: Toolbox and Arcade Action.
    chosenonestudios said:
    Just downloaded (US) and clicked on the iAd haha Its displaying zoosk ads..

    Just gave you a buck! HAHA

    I don't see any ads. Maybe Apple is blocking my device?
  • JamesZeppelinJamesZeppelin Member Posts: 1,927
    Fill rates are getting WAAAAAAAY better lately

    When i first ran iads i was lucky to get 5-7%

    Now i am getting between 30-40% every day
  • PhoticsPhotics Member Posts: 4,172
    Rob2 said:
    All the ads take you thru to app store purchase

    Which ones? The house ads? If so, that's intentional. It's supposed to load the iTunes page with all of my apps. It's just the one link. I used an itms link because I don't want the page getting stuck in one of the webviews. I don't think that's a problem for GameSalad apps though.
  • Rob2Rob2 Member Posts: 2,402
    I have not seen your house adds..only iAds at the moment and yes they are all for free downloads on the app store
  • Rob2Rob2 Member Posts: 2,402
    Just saw one of your house adds...arcade action.....takes me nicely into a sorted listing of all your apps on the app store....very well done sir!!
  • chosenonestudioschosenonestudios Member Posts: 1,714
    Photics said:
    Wow, you're seeing UK advertisements?! That's awesome! My house ads are for Commove, the Photics: Toolbox and Arcade Action.

    I don't see any ads. Maybe Apple is blocking my device?

    No, there not showing up now, just your house ads which also work great!
  • chosenonestudioschosenonestudios Member Posts: 1,714
    Clicked on another iAd, this time. Springpad....
  • chosenonestudioschosenonestudios Member Posts: 1,714
    Clicked on another iAd, this time. Groupon....
  • chosenonestudioschosenonestudios Member Posts: 1,714
    Clicked on another iAd, this time. Todo....
  • PhoticsPhotics Member Posts: 4,172
    Why are you doing that? I think they'd just block or nullify clicks from your IP after a certain point... or are you just really interested in the advertisements?
  • 777ideas.com777ideas.com Member, PRO Posts: 895
    I just download your app and saw the iad's were working I clicked on it and it worked pretty good. Very Cool
  • expired_012expired_012 Member Posts: 1,802
    Couldn't you just go on another device and click your ads a ton of times?
  • 777ideas.com777ideas.com Member, PRO Posts: 895
    Maybe, if you can that would be sick.
  • expired_012expired_012 Member Posts: 1,802
    I would be home all day pressing until my fingers bleed haha
  • 777ideas.com777ideas.com Member, PRO Posts: 895
    ya me too, lol
  • chosenonestudioschosenonestudios Member Posts: 1,714
    Photics said:
    Why are you doing that? I think they'd just block or nullify clicks from your IP after a certain point... or are you just really interested in the advertisements?

    Lemme know sales tomorrow, thats why haha
  • PhoticsPhotics Member Posts: 4,172
    chosenonestudios said:
    Lemme know sales tomorrow, thats why haha

    1) I think posting your iAds results might be in violation of the agreement.

    2) You're messing up the test, which is supposed to see if this is an effective alternative to paid apps. What if I see a high click-through rate, spend $1999 on Pro, and then do poorly with my iAds apps? Just randomly clicking advertisements for devious reasons is unethical.
    Rob2 said:
    Just saw one of your house adds...arcade action.....takes me nicely into a sorted listing of all your apps on the app store....very well done sir!!

    Thanks! I think this might be a better reason to go pro. I think it was Tshirtbooth who mentioned a significant boost in sales with direct links to the iTunes store. So, if you're creating iTunes ads for your apps, your games become marketing tools.

    The way the walled garden is set up, I think the best way to market your games is from the inside... by building great games that get featured or using house ads in your game library. Unfortunately, I don't like the idea of spending $1999 to test this theory. HA!
  • reddotincreddotinc Member Posts: 653
    Photics said:
    The way the walled garden is set up, I think the best way to market your games is from the inside... by building great games that get featured or using house ads in your game library. Unfortunately, I don't like the idea of spending $1999 to test this theory. HA!

    As a great man once said; "He who dares, wins."

    // red.
  • StusAppsStusApps Member, PRO Posts: 1,352
    Photics said:
    1) I think posting your iAds results might be in violation of the agreement.

    2) You're messing up the test, which is supposed to see if this is an effective alternative to paid apps. What if I see a high click-through rate, spend $1999 on Pro, and then do poorly with my iAds apps? Just randomly clicking advertisements for devious reasons is unethical.

    Thanks! I think this might be a better reason to go pro. I think it was Tshirtbooth who mentioned a significant boost in sales with direct links to the iTunes store. So, if you're creating iTunes ads for your apps, your games become marketing tools.

    The way the walled garden is set up, I think the best way to market your games is from the inside... by building great games that get featured or using house ads in your game library. Unfortunately, I don't like the idea of spending $1999 to test this theory. HA!

    Why are you running this test in public on the forum if you are not going to share the results?

    I think I can tell you the answer to this test already, it will be classed as an iAds failure. The reason being that your free app has only a couple of hundred downloads behind it. Lets say even half of that number download the update, just because an update comes down doesn't mean people who have it are going to go back to opening the app. As the app is a book and no new content has been added, why would anyone read the book again. But lets say you get half of those who download it to actually run it again, then you might have about 50 people (this is a very optimistic figure).

    With this number of people there is a chance you actually don't display any iAds to the public at all. Or if you look at general click through ratios for ads then you should consider this test a success if you manage 1 click through that has not come from someone on this forum.

    I think to do this test properly you need a free app with at least 20000 downloads already.
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