The Yahoo! Publisher Network – YPN

The Yahoo! Publisher Network (abbreviated YPN) is a beta contextually-targeted ad network, launched back in August 2005.  Basically, Yahoo needed to keep pace with Google so they created an ad network very similar to Google’s Adsense.

To sign up, go here: http://publisher.yahoo.com/

Here is a detailed demonstration or tutorial of how YPN works:
 http://publisher.yahoo.com/sell/FlashTutorial.php

If you are interested in how the ads look live, here is an example (scroll to bottom):
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/

After reading several posts on how the Yahoo Network worked vs Adsense on WebmasterWorld, I decided to sign up for this promising program.  I wanted to place ads on one of my web sites to see how the program performed.  However, my web site did not get accepted into the program.  I knew I should have signed up for the program when it first launched as it appears that Yahoo! is now only accepting a limited number of new publishers. 

Here is the email from Yahoo! regarding my application:
 

Thank you for applying for the Yahoo! Publisher Network beta program. We have reviewed your request and we regret to inform you that you were not accepted into the program. As the program is currently in beta, we are accepting a very limited number of new publishers. We will keep your contact information on file and let you know when we launch to the general public, or if we are able to invite you to join the beta before then. To maximize your chances for approval in the future, please make sure:   You have a valid U.S. Social Security or Tax ID number, and web site content that is predominately in English and targeted at a U.S. user base. Your site provides a good user experience. Please see our complete list of guidelines for a positive user experience here. Your site does not contain problematic content. Please see our guidelines for displaying our ad results here. Thanks again for your interest. We look forward to welcoming you into our program when it is open to the public. Sincerely, The Yahoo! Publisher Network Team

The irony in all this is that the web site I applied with currently advertises and sells several of Yahoo! services such as Yahoo! Personals, toolbars, and Yahoo! Autos.  I am even able to sign up new advertisers for Yahoo!

I’m guessing at this point that Yahoo! is looking for more advertisers than publishers for their program as they have a promotion running. Sign up and get a $25 credit into your new account. Learn more.

So if you have ever thought about buying keywords before, maybe this is the time to do it!