Phasing Out Kontera

1. 85

   Simone Smithposted 14 years ago

   Hello all,
   
   On June 6th, we will be phasing out Kontera advertising on HubPages.  The program is used by only a small percentage of our Hubbers, and we are focusing our efforts on improving the most popular and effective earnings channels on HubPages (see the HubPages Ad Program below).
   
   If you have an affiliate account with Kontera that is linked with your HubPages account, keep in mind that Kontera ads will only remain active on HubPages until June 6th.  To review the status of your Kontera account, earnings balance, and payout thresholds, please visit the Kontera website and click on My Account.  Questions to Kontera can be sent to Support@kontera.com.
   
   If you do not already have an affiliate account with Kontera, you do not need to take any action.  If you were considering signing up for the program via HubPages, keep in mind the June 6th phase-out date. 
   
   If you would like to read more about HubPages new ad program, visit the official HubPages Ad Program forum thread: http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/69158
   
   Update: This is now done.

   replyreport
   1. 0

      Twenty One Daysposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Go Vibrant Media, ph-wittie pweez
      
      I have had great success with Vibrant IntelliTXT and soon they will have VIA ( Vibrant Interest Ads ) for my specific genre.
      Can`t wait.
      
      
      James.

      replyreport
   2. 58

      TerryGlposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I said right in the beginning it would not work.

      replyreport
   3. 59

      nightwork4posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      i find it useless myself but then again i don't earn money on adsense either. hmmm, maybe i'm doing something wrong.

      replyreport
      1. 60

         savannahbree10posted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I havent seen any adsense earnings yet either.. I signed up just recently though..

         replyreport
   4. 78

      sarovaiposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Good to hear this. Kontera is always threatening my adsense revenue.

      replyreport
   5. 60

      Thrillerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      If Adsense pays pennies Kontera gives peanuts..good move HP

      replyreport
   6. 69

      safiq ali patelposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you for letting me know. I hadn't as yet linked my Kontera account so I know now not to. With around ten weeks to run I think I'm happy to carry on as things are. I'll be looking our for more on the hub pages refferal programme. Thank you very much for you updates.

      replyreport
   7. 68

      NoRR4Meposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I sorta knew this action was coming. Kontera has a bad reputation with most hubbers. My view is that a little bit of money is better than none at all. Also, I have never been one to "follow the crowd", so I activated Kontera on my hubs.
      
      I also use Kontera on my blogs and other sites and I've been making payout every other month. I'll just have to add more content on my other sites to keep up the pace to reach my goal to make payout every month. 
      
      Anyway, I'm glad HubPages offered Kontera because had never heard of them before joining. I've made good money with Kontera and I will continue making money with them on my own sites.

      replyreport
   8. 89

      stephhicks68posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Bummer - I am just now noticing this.  I do get regular payouts from Kontera.  As others are saying in this thread, I use it on my blogs too.  On the other hand, it may improve the look of the hubs overall.  Thanks for the update....

      replyreport
   9. 87

      Kathryn Vercilloposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Unlike a lot of the people who use it I've actually had a lot of success with it and am a little sad to see it go but I'm sure that other ad earnings will help balance out the change.

      replyreport
   10. 59

       Sparhawkeposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I am amazed it has taken this long to dump, I have NEVER been able to get it to work...and never seen it on any hub page at all.

       replyreport
2. 70

   waynetposted 14 years ago

   Good news!! never liked Kontera as they used to steal my dinner money!!

   replyreport
   1. 59

      merton.frankposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      ya i agree with u////

      replyreport
3. 77

   skyfireposted 14 years ago

   Oh noes, 2 months left for the payout. *bangs head*

   replyreport
   1. 85

      Simone Smithposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Hey! Wear a helmet if you're going to do that!  ... that's what I do. Safety first 'nall.

      replyreport
      1. 59

         C.V.Rajanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         

         replyreport
   2. 0

      ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      skyfire, if you ping me your affiliate code I will put it in my affiliate settings page.
      
      I don't have it turned on, but a few of my referrals do. I probably only see 20-30 impressions per day, but every little helps right?

      replyreport
4. 59

   paradigmsearchposted 14 years ago

   Phasing Out Kontera
   
   And we wave them a fond farewell…

   replyreport
   1. 92

      RedElfposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      
      
      my very thoughts!

      replyreport
5. 67

   puter_drposted 14 years ago

   I have made thousands with adsense, and hundreds with amazon and epn, but with Kontera, I have made $7.34.
   I don't think I will miss them

   replyreport
   1. 60

      savannahbree10posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      whats epn?

      replyreport
      1. 67

         puter_drposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         EPN is Ebay Partner Network

         replyreport
   2. 59

      C.V.Rajanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      $7.34? Looks to be a too great a figure for me!

      replyreport
6. 0

   ryankettposted 14 years ago

   Actually, it looks as if I don't even get that now, less than 10 per day
   
   Probably not worth it.

   replyreport
7. 68

   Mishaposted 14 years ago

   Now that is the change I think will make some difference. Good move, guys.

   replyreport
8. 77

   skyfireposted 14 years ago

   LOL@ryan.
   
   I hope they don't replace kontera with infolinks. If that happens then i've no chance to recover last few dollars to reach payout.

   replyreport
9. 0

   Marye Audetposted 14 years ago

   Nov. Dec and Jan I pulled in a total of 400 with Kontera.   Hubpages opting out won't affect kontera on my other sites, correct?

   replyreport
   1. 85

      Simone Smithposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Correct.

      replyreport
   2. 77

      Patty Inglish, MSposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Drat! I was making this or more just at HP.

      replyreport
      1. 0

         Marye Audetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Time to beef up the other sites, Patty.

         replyreport
         1. 77

            Patty Inglish, MSposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Yes indeed!

            replyreport
      2. 0

         ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Sorry to hear this Patty. You may well find that it increases the conversion rate of the other programs though? You never know

         replyreport
10. 60

    Randy Godwinposted 14 years ago

    Didn't like it on other sites so I never used it here.  Good riddance! 

    replyreport
11. 69

    Sue Adamsposted 14 years ago

    Good ridance to Kontera.

    replyreport
12. 82

    2besureposted 14 years ago

    Never used it much any way!

    replyreport
13. 65

    jaymelee23posted 14 years ago

    Vibrant works really well on eHow for my rev. share articles. I'm sure it will do great on Hubpages too.

    replyreport
14. 72

    Moonmaidenposted 14 years ago

    Is this yet another thing I'll have to tweak on my almost 300 Hubs? Or will it go away all by itself? I swear if you guys make any more changes my head is going to explode.

    replyreport
    1. 86

       Marisa Wrightposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       It'll go away by itself.

       replyreport
15. 80

    glassvisageposted 14 years ago

    If I cancel my Kontera account, will that result in more revenue through Adsense and HPAD, since there will be more room for ads?

    replyreport
    1. 85

       Simone Smithposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Well, the number of display ads that show up on your Hubs will stay the same because Kontera ads were in the text itself.

       replyreport
       1. 80

          glassvisageposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Thanks Simone!

          replyreport
16. 73

    WryLiltposted 14 years ago

    Woohoo!

    replyreport
17. 70

    Cagsilposted 14 years ago

    Cool! Never used it to begin with.

    replyreport
18. 74

    Karandaposted 14 years ago

    Monday to do list, sign up for Kontera
    Friday review to do list, scratch Kontera, finish a Hub instead.

    replyreport
    1. 60

       savannahbree10posted 14 years agoin reply to this

       lol

       replyreport
19. 60

    MPG Narrativesposted 14 years ago

    Great, never did well with Kontera any way.

    replyreport
20. 0

    Nelle Hoxieposted 14 years ago

    Is HubPages in any way considering ending either the ebay, Amazon or Adsense affiliate programs in their current form?
    
    I am not eligible for the HubPages affiliate program and am not interested in a Squidoo payment model. Just asking before I spend any more time editing hubs that may not be valid in the near future.

    replyreport
    1. 0

       ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I didn't know that it was possible to be ineligible? I can't see Hubpages getting rid of any of those three, although obviously I don't know the answer.

       replyreport
    2. 59

       Jason Menayanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       No.

       replyreport
21. 72

    Dorsiposted 14 years ago

    I phased out Kontera after I finally got a payout which took me along time. Good move as far a I'm concerned HP!

    replyreport
22. 0

    Nelle Hoxieposted 14 years ago

    I no longer promote Amazon, so it leaves ebay and Adsense. I have no idea of how many hubbers use ebay.
    
    If you don't have both an adsense account and paypal account you are ineligible. Paypal and I are not on speaking terms.

    replyreport
    1. 0

       ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       That's a shame, maybe HP will consider alternative payment methods once the program is fully rolled out? Perhaps cheque with a higher threshold, say $500.

       replyreport
23. 0

    Nelle Hoxieposted 14 years ago

    Thank you Jason! I love a clear and definitive No. (I am now returning to my hub editing.)

    replyreport
24. 66

    lakeerieartistsposted 14 years ago

    Glad to hear Jason. 

    replyreport
25. 66

    soni2006posted 14 years ago

    Thank you so much for phasing out Kontera. I only earned 50 dollars in three years with this useless crap site. HP is going in the right direction. I believe that HP Ads Program will be much more rewarding than any other affiliate site here.

    replyreport
26. 83

    wychicposted 14 years ago

    Buh-bye Kontera -- and let me chime in with a good riddance . I kept making about $.50-$2 each month and then it would get zeroed out for being less than $5 (don't know if they ever changed that nasty policy), and that kind of smacked of theft to me since I DID provide them with advertising, even if it wasn't much. Threw them out of my hubs, and my Adsense and hits went up -- any idea what Google thought of it? That's the only real explanation I have for the difference, because the Kontera links weren't interfering with Adsense space.

    replyreport
    1. 73

       WryLiltposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       They got rid of the "Don't earn this much per month, lose it" policy, and made it rollover. However I still don't like them!

       replyreport
       1. 0

          ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          I trialed them for a month.
          
          I can't remember how many impressions they got, but it was something like 100,000.
          
          I made a little over $7.
          
          My AdSense fell by 30%-40%.
          
          Very bum deal, it COST ME a lot of money to display their ads. I frequently see large top 1000 sites using them, do they get a better deal? Who knows.
          
          The spin that comes out of that PR mans mouth, or fingers, is ludicrious too. Their entire business model seems to be based upon the premise that whilst they pay crap, it doesn't effect other ads.
          
          What a complete load of sh*te. A viewer can typically leave a Hubpage in any one of around 50 or 60 ways. One of these ways is through an AdSense or Amazon capsule, if they leave via Kontera then they aren't leaving via AdSense, simple logic.
          
          In fact, I have long been meaning to publish the hubpage which calls them out, and me just do so right now.

          replyreport
27. 95

    AliciaCposted 14 years ago

    I never signed up for Kontera, but I find it extremely annoying to try to read any article which is using Kontera. I usually just give up. I’m very glad that it’s going to disappear from HubPages.

    replyreport
28. 65

    Glenn Stokposted 14 years ago

    This is a really good decision. I had tried it once but quickly pulled Kontera out of all my hubs because I felt I didn't want to impose such a misguided advertising system on my readers. Those links usually never matched the context anyway. And the reader couldn't even avoid the pop ups most of the time if they are in the habit of hovering the mouse over what they read.

    replyreport
29. 71

    Kangaroo_Jaseposted 14 years ago

    Wot is this Conterror? (lol)
    
    All joking aside, this is always a good sign of a site that works for you, the writer who likes a bit of an income, you can have these nice add-ons switched on, or switched off. Power to the people.
    
    Obviously Kontera works well for those who use web sites with a high potential for in-text advertising.

    replyreport
30. 77

    skyfireposted 14 years ago

    Kontera works well on forums, answers sites but not on blogs, hubs.
    
    It's better to get rid of in-text ads on informative sites.

    replyreport
31. 46

    oderogposted 14 years ago

    I had stop using Kontera sometime back after realizing that it was taking my time for no reason at all. Hope with the entire removal it will improve conversion rate for other revenue channels like Amazon, and Google Adsense

    replyreport
32. 68

    Rosie2010posted 14 years ago

    Thanks Simone, I don't like Kontera anyway.. they took away my 58 cents. lol

    replyreport
33. 85

    Pcunixposted 14 years ago

    Wonderful!
    
    Horrible, horrible stuff.  I HATE places that run that!

    replyreport
34. 72

    toknowinfoposted 14 years ago

    Glad to hear it too.

    replyreport
35. 0

    Nelle Hoxieposted 14 years ago

    Marye and Patty - that's just what I'm doing. It seems as though every day here - there's a mini slap aimed at my earnings. And I have no idea what changes will be made at HP tomorrow.

    replyreport
    1. 0

       ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Nelle, is there any way at all that you could take a deep breath and succumb to the temptation of a Paypal account? Or is that simply completely unviable? If there is no chance at all of you being able to use PayPal as a processor, maybe Hubpages would consider a special case for an alternative payment method? Perhaps even just once every six months or something? Because it is potentially a great program, I am doing pretty well. Don't take this the wrong way, just trying to help

       replyreport
       1. 0

          Nelle Hoxieposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          I'm not welcome at Paypal. It is not my choice. And even if I were, I'm not sure that the quality of the ads I'm seeing on some of the hubs would be appropriate for my new hubbing style.
          
          For now I'm just sitting on the HP sidelines and waiting for all of the changes to roll out. Then I'll see how they affect me and my income channels.
          
          Thank you for thinking of me, but I don't want any special consideration. I'm not waiting six months or accepting higher payouts levels. (Rapid Cash Flow is king in this household.) Every other affiliate program (and there are 1,000+) that I work with offers something other than Paypal.

          replyreport
          1. 65

             jaymelee23posted 14 years agoin reply to this

             Nelle, could you have your mother or husband get a PayPal account that you could use to collect your money? Like someone else said, maybe Hubpages will allow users who accumulate a certain amount of money to have checks or direct deposit issued instead. Constant Content does direct deposit for authors who sell large amounts of content per month so that they don't get hit with excessive PayPal fees. I think they require like $500 or something before they will do direct deposit.

             replyreport
36. 65

    Froggy213posted 14 years ago

    I won't miss Kontera--but I am feeling ripped off because I will never see the 25+$ I was up with them. This is the only place I used them--I wonder how much profit Kontera will be up from cases like mine.

    replyreport
37. 61

    kephriraposted 14 years ago

    I've been making about $2-3 per week from Kontera, not much by any stretch of the imagination, but I'll still be sorry to see it go at a time when my earning are already down. At least I'll have time to make payout before it ends though - I'll just have to keep a close eye on it so I can swtich it off as soon as I reach the threshold.

    replyreport
38. 0

    Will Apseposted 14 years ago

    Kontera is such an enemy of links out. It undermines visitors faith in links altogether.

    replyreport
    1. 59

       C.V.Rajanposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I agree with you.

       replyreport
39. 0

    Nelle Hoxieposted 14 years ago

    First of all thank you for everyone's concern. I do appreciate it - and I want to assure everyone that I'm fine without the HP affiliate program.
    
    But I run a professional and significant affiliate business and my CPA and Lawyer would disown me, if I started playing those sorts of games. I don't lie to people or companies about who I am or hide income streams. That could lead to huge problems with the IRS - fines and jail.
    
    I'm beginning to understand that shared writing sites use paypal commonly and exclusively. It's not a busines model that I've seen in the true affiliate world. Money just shows up reliably in my bank acount from all others each month.

    replyreport
40. 77

    skyfireposted 14 years ago

    Indian Govt forced paypal to notify every transaction (taxable/non-taxable) to RBI(central bank authority in india). Because of this reason indians can't keep money frozen in paypal account. SSN ID (PAN no) is recorded for every indian user. So on point of income tax- indian users are now much safe if they're using paypal or any other payment processor.
    
    I don't understand why similar restrictions are not forced in US or other countries where paypal is operating with account balance feature. I do agree that there should be paypal alternative because we can't give any guarantee about their psychotic behavior.

    replyreport
    1. 58

       Mark Knowlesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Oh - they will be - don't you worry. The European version already started reporting to the Tax Man.

       replyreport
41. 77

    skyfireposted 14 years ago

    Mark, do you think European union will introduce anything like nexus law ?

    replyreport
    1. 69

       ThomasEposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       No. The nexus law is a uniquely american thing. The EU has a different system for sales taxes...
       
       The thing that looks like crippling us in the EU is data protection... there are European legal requirements that look like they will require people to be notified every time a cookie is placed on their machine.

       replyreport
    2. 58

       Mark Knowlesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Amazon (and all other online retailers) already collects local sales taxes and pays them to the various Government leeches. I buy from Amazon UK - I pay French VAT - 19.6%.

       replyreport
       1. 0

          ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          That's a saving on the UK rate of 20%
          
          Although we don't pay on low value Amazon items, due to it being based in Jersey.

          replyreport
          1. 58

             Mark Knowlesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             I wouldn't know - I have never bought anything that cheap.

             replyreport
             1. 71

                Kangaroo_Jaseposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                We are fortunate in Australia, which may change in the future, to not pay any VAT for purchases under A$1000 from international business'.

                replyreport
42. 67

    Bob Ewingposted 14 years ago

    This is a good move.

    replyreport
43. 84

    vocalcoachposted 14 years ago

    Good move - I am all for it!

    replyreport
44. 77

    revmjmposted 14 years ago

    That's fine since it never worked for me anyway. Perhaps that will open up a door for something else to work in its place.

    replyreport
45. 73

    Isabellasposted 14 years ago

    Thank goodness! I was getting impressions supposedly here and never come close to payout. I think in a year I have gotten about 75 cents, but get about 2-3 bucks from Google per day. Whats wrong with that picture! Good job getting rid of this pain in the neck!

    replyreport
46. 69

    Cheeky Girlposted 14 years ago

    Good riddance to Kontera. Their ad program made no sense. Ads appear to knock the essence of what a hub is about totally out of context, with it's random and meaningless ads. They should have named it "Lucky Dip", as we never know what the ad will be for...just know what it would NOT be for. Paypal is okay for me, but I believe in variety and choice too. A wrong or narrow-focus pay-out system might only drive Hubbers away. We don't need that.

    replyreport
47. 59

    C.V.Rajanposted 14 years ago

    So many people hating it or having a sigh of relief here. Such an obviously sick business model still thriving in the web world surprises me. Perhaps the Kontera thrives by having virtually nil payout to subscribers!

    replyreport
48. 59

    C.V.Rajanposted 14 years ago

    In a way, we should be thankful to Google. Unless the shakeup was done, we would not be doing most of these positive and obviously healthy business practices in the web publishing world.

    replyreport
49. 60

    premsinghposted 14 years ago

    Adding Kontera code on hubs has helped Kontera alone. This is the only site where I observed earnings progressing in the negative figures. I have been using Kontera for more than two years and Kontera has the right to remove earnings if falls short of five dollars. To add furies, they keep a record of six months only and remove all earnings before six month period. In this manner most of the publishers barring few never get a payout.It is a welcome step by HP to remove Kontera ads from the site. I have already removed 'Kontera code' from all my hubs.

    replyreport
50. 68

    Anti-Valentineposted 14 years ago

    Best decision HP has made in a long time. I haven't bothered with Kontera for ages.
    
    I don't know if anything will replace it at this stage (besides HP's own program), but it ought to be better all the same.

    replyreport