Being a Google’s AdSense publisher for over a year and closely tracking this network, I am of the opinion that good quality user generated content [UGC] generates high revenue. Social Network have atleast 35% quality UGC inventory and hence can cash-in on this. Hence, we conducted an agile study on how social networks in India or networks targeted at Indians are monetizing user generated content.
- ApnaCircle – own Ad Network
- BharatStudent – Axill Ad network. Axill and BharatStudent are owned by Northgate Technologies.
- BigAdda – Using part of Reliance Entertainment’s Zapak Ad network and Google’s Adsense
- Campus18 – from TV18 group. No Ads yet but other group websites such as Moneycontrol.com is a premium AdSense publisher.
- DesiMartini – Zedo. HindustanTimes is also powered by Zedo
- Facebook – Microsoft + NDTV
- Friendster – Indian Affiliates + Google’s Adsense
- Fropper – Google’s AdSense
- goYaar – N/A
- HumSubka.com – Using AdsforIndians network which pulls classifieds ads at times from some classifieds site.
- ibibo – RealMedia network
- IndyaRocks – Google’s Adsense
- Jhoom – doomed social network 🙁
- MingleBox – none
- Myspace India – Google’s Adsense
- Orkut – Google’s Adsense
- saffronconnect – got disconnected 🙁
- Sunsilkgangofgirls – none. In the past, has ran campaign about Hindustan Unilever products.
- Yaari – Google’s AdSense
- Yo4Ya – none
7 of the 20 networks depend on Google’s AdSense for monetization and is an acceptable number though we would really like to see more networks sign-up with Google. [Mere number of networks may not make sense, but number of pages, time spent, and other attributes should tell a better story. Since none of the networks disclose these stats, its impossible to know the real facts] Apart from Google’s Adsense, no two social networks in India have the same Advertising platform. Can any Indian company really accept Google’s challenge ?