Automattic has rolled out a new ad network named Blaze, which places ads on free WordPress.com websites and Tumblr pages with pricing starting at $5 per month.
Automattic, the company behind notable platforms such as WordPress.com, WooCommerce, Akismet, and Tumblr, was established by Matt Mullenweg, the entrepreneur who developed the free open-source content management system (CMS) known as WordPress.
Blaze Advertising Network
Initially launched in April 2022, Blaze was originally exclusive to Tumblr users, allowing them to place ads on other Tumblr pages. Automattic has now expanded the network to accommodate bloggers on WordPress.com and WordPress self-hosted publishers who have installed the Automattic Jetpack WordPress plugin.
Publishers using WordPress.com can access the WordPress dashboard to begin selecting pages they want to advertise. Payment for the advertising campaign is based on impressions rather than clicks. Those using the WordPress CMS can also use Blaze via the Jetpack plugin. If Jetpack is not already installed, either the free or premium version must be installed. Campaigns can then be started from the WordPress.com dashboard.
To set up a campaign, users navigate to their Posts or Pages screen, select their preferred posts or pages for advertising, and choose the "Promote with Blaze" option from a three-dot menu.
The interface allows advertisers to define their target audience based on continent, device type (mobile or desktop), and topic.
Where Blaze Ads Are Shown
Blaze advertisements can appear on millions of Tumblr and free WordPress.com webpages. Campaign management is facilitated through the WordPress.com dashboard, where users can set a daily budget and specify the dates for their ad display. Blaze ads consist of a title, a snippet, and an image.
According to the Blaze support page:
"Title: This appears above your image and as bolded text. You can write a maximum of 80 characters here, use them wisely to capture the viewer’s attention.
Snippet: A short text description of your post that appears underneath your image. You can write a maximum of 120 characters here. We recommend using this text to support your headline and give viewers more context about what they will see when they click the ad and arrive at your content.
Image: Upload an image to represent your post. You can use the crop tool to adjust your image’s appearance in the ad."
Read the official announcement by Automattic:
Introducing Blaze: A New Way to Ignite Your Growth on WordPress.com
Featured image by Shutterstock/Asier Romero
