Text Advertisement Brokers

myp · **Posted:** Thu Mar 25, 2010 14:10

Hello chaps. I don't have my finger on the pulse of web scams as much as I used to, so wanted to run this past you. My mum received the email below from a company called Linkstar, who want to buy text advertisement space on her website. Is this legit, or is it some kind of scam that I can't figure out? I've heard the phrase 'linkbacking' - is that what it is?

Quote:

From: Armando Eliot [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: 24 March 2010 04:30
To: F***** [____@_______.co.uk]
Subject: Advertising on _______.co.uk

Hi F*****,

I work for Linkstar, a leading broker of online advertising, dealing with thousands of independent webmasters like yourself, worldwide.

I've had a look at your site and think ________.co.uk would be a good match for our client, whose target demographic is similar to your own. We're working on their behalf to acquire advertising from sites such as yours.

We would be interested in purchasing advertising in the form of a text-based advert on your site. We pay you a fixed annual fee for our advertisements. Once the ad has been placed, we make payments via by PayPal or Moneybookers.

If you are interested, please get back to me with your rates etc. I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,
Armando Eliot

Malabelm · **Posted:** Thu Mar 25, 2010 14:12

I don't know. I'd ignore it, but that's me.

Also, opening with ‘Hi Fucker’ wouldn't win me over.

Grim... · **Posted:** Thu Mar 25, 2010 14:14

They appear to be legit.
Proceed with caution though, obviously.

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49237

First question - is your mum's website something personal, or does she actually run some sort of business/service (heh)? A line like "I've had a look at your site and think ________.co.uk would be a good match for our client, whose target demographic is similar to your own." is obviously nonsense if she just has family photos up.

Zardoz · **Posted:** Thu Mar 25, 2010 14:21

Craster wrote:

First question - is your mum's website something personal, or does she actually run some sort of business/service (heh)? A line like "I've had a look at your site and think ________.co.uk would be a good match for our client, whose target demographic is similar to your own." is obviously nonsense if she just has family photos up.

The Client might be Belm.co.uk though.

myp · **Posted:** Thu Mar 25, 2010 14:23

Craster wrote:

First question - is your mum's website something personal, or does she actually run some sort of business/service (heh)? A line like "I've had a look at your site and think ________.co.uk would be a good match for our client, whose target demographic is similar to your own." is obviously nonsense if she just has family photos up.

Aye, I'd have flagged that up if it was personal. She sells watercolour and acrylic paintings. Only at a hobbyist kind of level, though.

devilman · **Posted:** Thu Mar 25, 2010 17:08

Sounds legit. I've had similar approaches for advertising on my site and both times, the money came in fine.

myp · **Posted:** Thu Mar 25, 2010 18:10

devilman wrote:

Sounds legit. I've had similar approaches for advertising on my site and both times, the money came in fine.

What rates did you charge?

TheVision · **Posted:** Thu Mar 25, 2010 18:47

I'm cautious about how they'll pay. Whenever anyone mentions paypal, my spider sense tingles.

devilman · **Posted:** Thu Mar 25, 2010 18:57

TheVision wrote:

I'm cautious about how they'll pay. Whenever anyone mentions paypal, my spider sense tingles.

I actually prefer it as it then goes on buying more tat from Ebay.

myoptikakaka wrote:

What rates did you charge?

For a simple text link on the homepage, I got offered £110 a year and for a small news type article on the homepage, I got $250 for three months.

myp · **Posted:** Sat Mar 27, 2010 21:19

My Dad managed to dig out this link. http://mobile.computerworld.com/device/ ... g_linkstar

Interesting, but not wholly damning.

TheAlbin0Kid · **Posted:** Sun Mar 28, 2010 0:19

If the company is owned by two characters from Stargate, then what currency would they be paying your mum in? That would be my main concern.

sinister agent · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 7046

Malabar Front wrote:

I don't know. I'd ignore it, but that's me.

Also, opening with ‘Hi Fucker’ wouldn't win me over.

POTW

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

It's SEO you belmer. This is exactly what I wanted to do on here over a year ago and everyone kicked off.

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

Oh, and I see no reason why they wouldn't pay. If they don't pay immediately, just remove their link - no harm done whatsoever and they've received no benefit in having a link up for a few hours. And don't be afraid to negotiate a bit more money for each link, they know what it's worth to them, but there isn't really a 'going rate' as such, only what they're willing to pay.

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

And 'linkbacking'? Massive LOLs. Either you've confused that with 'backlinking'
or some clever cunt has switched it around to sound all hip and dynamic or something.

Malabelm · **Posted:** Sun Mar 28, 2010 13:28

Wogan'sTrouserBulge wrote:

It's SEO you belmer. This is exactly what I wanted to do on here over a year ago and everyone kicked off.

SEO is for dicks.

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

Suits you then! Hahahahagahyatat!!!22

Grim... · **Posted:** Mon Mar 29, 2010 11:57

Wogan'sTrouserBulge wrote:

It's SEO you belmer. This is exactly what I wanted to do on here over a year ago and everyone kicked off.

Keep your filthy adverts to yourself

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

Exactly!

Grim... · **Posted:** Mon Mar 29, 2010 12:02

/punches WTB in the adverts

Be Excellent To Each Other

Text Advertisement Brokers
More specifically, Linkstar

Who is online

Be Excellent To Each Other

Text Advertisement Brokers More specifically, Linkstar

Who is online

Text Advertisement Brokers
More specifically, Linkstar