Chitika eMiniMalls correct Code Tips Hacks

November 6, 2005

Chitika eMiniMalls correct Javascript Code, Tips, Hacks, Placement optimization and Conditions

To answer any concerns following the recent announcement of the Chitika eMiniMalls beta program, clearly set out below are..

* correct javascript code for Chitika eMiniMalls
* how to select keyphrases
* placement & optimizing tips
* available Wordpress and Moveable Type Plug-ins
* payment structure
* affiliate income details.. and
* Chitika Terms of Service

This article also gives clear guidance so you do not inadvertently breach Google Adsense’ TOS. This is a long, up-to-date and comprehensive post which will be updated constantly to maximize your earning potential from this exciting new program, please read it in comfort.

Chitika’s new “product driven” eMinMalls advertising program, still in beta, is a welcome boost to income for Blog owners and webmasters for the forthcoming Christmas “festive” season.

Firstly you are definitely allowed to run Chitika eMiniMall Ads on the same page as Google Adsense Ads, provided you make the “eMiniMalls” “non contextual” by inserting the following line of code in the javascript:

ch_non_contextual = 1;

Google’s Customer Service have finally confirmed it is not compulsory to disable the Chitika “Search” tab/facility on the eMiniMalls if you run Google’s “Adsense for Search” on the same page.

The Chitika “Search” tab keeps the viewer on your webpage by displaying results right inside the eMiniMall Ad block. However, if you wish to disable the “search” tab here is the correct line of javascript.

ch_nosearch = 1;

Naturally once you disable the contextual ad targeting facility you must include your own keyphrases or product names in line with the merchandise you wish to advertise on a web page. Adding a generic keyword like “car” or “baby toy” does not appear to bring in targeted results at this time.

The following **three lines of code** ensure the selected products are rotated so as to present a new eMiniMall each time the page is refreshed, preventing “ad blindness” to your regular viwers. The following lines also clearly specify that you wish the products to be rotated:

var ch_queries = new Array('ipod mini', 'Dell Notebook', 'Canon PIXMA iP6000D'); var ch_selected=Math.floor((Math.random()*ch_queries.length)); ch_query = ch_queries[ch_selected];

Replace the list of queries above with a meaningful set of products, keyphrases or queries for your type of audience.

Instead of generic *keywords* like “oil” and “science”, try and use *keyphrases* covering product names that you think might make sense for your site and audience. For example, if you have a site about wine, you might use:

"Louis Jadot Pouilly-Fuisse 2003" or "Sonoma-Cutrer 2003 Chardonnay Russian River Ranches"

To prevent ad blindness for your regular readers you might like to rotate the Chitika eminimalls on a daily basis using this code which should be added *before* the block of Chitika javascript:

| language="javascript"| var dow = new Array();

dow['Sunday'] = ” ‘ipod’ , ‘dell laptop’ , ‘powerbook’ “;
dow['Monday'] = ” ‘xbox’ , ‘playstation’ , ‘nintendo’ “;
dow['Tuesday'] = ” ‘couch’ , ‘office furniture’”;
dow['Wednesday'] = ” ‘popcorn maker’ , ‘blender’ , ‘toaster’”;
dow['Thursday'] = ” ‘cod liver oil’ , ‘glucosamine’”;
dow['Friday'] = ” ‘braun shaver’ , ‘norelco shaver’”;
dow['Saturday'] = ” ‘LCD monitor‘ , ‘hard drive’ “;

var now = new Date();
var dayNames = new Array(”Sunday”,”Monday”,”Tuesday”,
“Wednesday”,”Thursday”,”Friday”,”Saturday”);
| /script|

And to enforce the above daily rotation in your main block of Chitika javascript you should change the var ch_queries line, as shown in the block of code above (refer to **three lines of code** ) which is used to specify your products to:

var ch_queries = new Array(dow[day Names[now.getDay()]]);

Depending on the day of the week, your site will display the ads nominiated for that day.

Tailor your Ad to your visitor’s search or the keyphrase they used to land on your web page. If someone is reaching your page from a search engine, there is a good chance their “Referrer” string can tell you what they’re looking for.

For example if you have a site about holidays - and - users come to your site looking for information on various holiday traditions and customs. Use their search engine query and display the exact products that they’re looking for with the following, again *before* the block of Chitika javascript:

(IMPORTANT: as this particular addition to the Chitika code will make the ad contextual, it must only be used on pages where no Google Adsense ads are displayed)

| language=”javascript”| function getVariable(variable) { var query = document.referrer.split(”?”); var vars = query[1].split(”&”); for (var i=0;i var pair = vars[i].split(”=”); if (pair[0] == variable) { return pair[1].replace(/\+/,” “); } } }

if (document.referrer) {
var dr = document.referrer.toLowerCase();

if (dr.match(”yahoo”)) { var userQuery = getVariable(”p”); }
else if (dr.match(”google”) dr.match(”msn”)) { var userQuery = getVariable(”q”); }
}

| /script|

And to enforce the above in your block of Chitika code you should add the following below the ch_query line

if (userQuery) { ch_query = userQuery; }

My thanks to Alex of Chitika Tips for the two preceding blocks of javascript covering *rotation for each day of the week” and *targeting contextual ad to match visitor’s search phrase*

If you simply wish to target only one product… for example on a page where you are reviewing a product like the new Motorola RAZR V3 mobile phone then you may simply insert only the following line (instead of the **three lines of code**):

ch_query = 'Motorola razr V3';

To target keyphrases using the titles of a webpage, in place of the **three lines of code** users of Movable Type and Wordpress can insert the following lines.

This method of targeting, works best only if the Titles are specific to the products you wish to advertise. The 1st line is for MT users and the second for Wordpress:

ch_query = ‘< $MTEntryTitle$>‘;

ch_query = ‘< ?php the_title(); ?>’;

Search Engine Journal reports this targeting did not return good results.. their website which leans heavily towards the field of *Marketing*, kept showing *email program software* — Chitika eMiniMalls are still in beta, and the targeting will get better as they grow.

How do you know if the keyphrases or products will return a result at all in the Chitika system? After all you don’t want a “blank” space in place of a paying ad.

Go to Chitika’s home page and use the “search” facility or tab in the example eMiniMall displayed there, to confirm that your product search actually returns a result.

Chitika has also provided a comprehensive list of Sample Keywords to help with your choice of keyphrases. Target your ads using keywords from this list, include it in your “array” of keyphrase/product choices, and you will be guaranteed a paying click-through.

How do you know what the top products in your category are ? Visit Amazon.com and Shopping.com and look at the best selling products in the category you choose.

Then copy the entire product name and test it out using the the search tab on the unit on http://chitika.com/ (PS: By using chitika.com you are not inflating your own stats). If it works, add it to the list of queries in “ch_queries” in your code

The default description tab choice is not popular with many publishers. It appears, the choices of retailer and price comparisons on the *Best Deals* tab is more interesting and more likely to attract a clickthrough (see example graphic under).

To use Best Deals as the default description tab, add one of the following lines of code.. and although I have no logical explanation for this, I have read if the ’single’ quotes do not work, then apply the “double” quotes around the words *Best Deals* or *Deals*. Chitika promises to add more choices soon.

For a 250×250 or smaller use:
ch_default_tab = "Deals";

For other sizes add:

ch_default_tab = "Best Deals";

Thankfully you also have control over the display of fonts for both the *title* and *text* in the Chitika eMiniMalls so they blend in with those deployed on the rest of the web page.

You may nominate just the one type or a selection of fonts. Make sure to use fonts that are commonly used or the user’s *default* font will appear. Here is a good list of common fonts if you need a reference point.

ch_font_title = 'Verdana';

ch_font_text = ‘Arial, Trebuchet MS’;

UPDATE: As promised, Chitika has made provisions for you to select the background colour of eMiniMalls allowing you to blend in colors with your web site content. The images however, still have a white background.. merging with light backgrounds will thus be easier. Here is the line of code to select your own background color.. naturally remembering to replace FFC400 with the colour of your choice:

ch_color_bg = "#FFC400";

Chitika’s system of Channels or Tracking Ads is yet to be finalized, although this will be introduced shortly, says Chitika. In the meantime, Chitika have recommended we use the following line of code immediately, so there are some stats to review in the Affiliate statistics page when their Tracking system is formally in place.

You may use your own categories in place of the ‘xxxx’ — for example to track a Chitika ad in the sidebar of your Blog, you might use “blog_sidebar” in place of the “xxxx” — and to answer the obvious, no it does not have to be only four letters.

ch_sid = ‘xxxx’;

Chitika Earn Money
Source: marketingdefined.com