WSJ: iAds not starting off so well
The Wall Street Journal is reporting this week that the iAds launch is off to a bumpy start as advertisers learn to deal with Apple's tight-fisted control.
As Gruber said, "Better get used to it."
The WSJ notes that, of the 17 partners revealed at the program's start (iAds was announced in April and officially rolled out in July), only two -- Unilever PLC and Nissan Co. -- had ads run last month. Since then, only J.C. Penny, Disney and Citigroup have launched ads. Personally, I've only seen the Nissan Leaf ad.
The process, some customers complain, is taking longer both in the early stages and final execution. Brainstorm sessions have taken up to 10 weeks, according to sources, and Apple has tacked on another two weeks while assembling the final ad.
Not all participants are complaining, however. A Nissan spokesperson told the WSJ about the great results they've seen from their campaign. "[iAds] has driven exceptional results to date," the company said, noting that iOS users are tapping through the ad at a rate 5 times greater than clickthroughs generated by an online campaign.
Apple's tight grip on the creative tools is legendary and not about to loosen. Advertisers used to quick turn-around ought to, as John so succinctly said, get used to it.
