I just ran across this ad on Facebook for a service called Linkberry. The ad grabbed my eye because it said something like “Create a San Francisco Start Page.” Nice use of geo-targeting (a method of displaying ads based on where the viewer is located). The ad was relevant to me, so I clicked; I signed up for the free service. I bet a few other people will do the same.
Linkberry is a simple service that allows you to create a customized home page with links to local resources like your favorite local restaurant directory (i.e.: Yelp), city services, entertainment listings or web tools (i.e.: e-mail). They organize all the links you choose into categories, and create what amounts to a bookmark home page with a Google search bar at the top, and news articles from any sources you selected are aggregated on the left. It’s a little bit like iGoogle, but Linkberry allows you to add any links you like (iGoogle doesn’t).
Of course Linkberry then displays ads on the right side of your new Linkberry “start” page to generate pay-per-click (PPC) revenue, and Linkberry suggests you make your new start page your browser’s home page to ensure you return again and again.
It’s nothing crazy, but this simple service offered a geo-targeted ad twist I hadn’t seen before. And it was actually the first Facebook ad I’ve actually clicked on (most don’t grab my attention at all). So, if this Linkberry ad campaign is targeting geographies other than San Francisco I’m betting the next time you search for the term Linkberry on Google, you’ll get a lot more than 281 results (282 once I publish this post – check the latest count). Maybe nobody’s going to get rich and retire from this idea alone, but they’ll make a few bucks. Way to go, Linkberry.
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