Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Please review this page to find answers to frequently asked questions about the Ad Bard Network:

Section 1: General

  1. How is the Ad Bard Network different than other advertising networks?
    The Ad Bard Network is written with Free/Libre and Open Source Software, and is dedicated to websites and advertisers focused on Free/Libre and Open Source Software. All information collected about your website and any advertisements you display on our network is made freely available to you in real time. 80% of the price of every click is paid to the owner of the website where the advertisement is clicked. Earnings can be tracked in real time. Find more information here.

  2. What software is used to run the Ad Bard Network?
    The network utilizes the Drupal Ad Module, written for the Ad Bard Network.

  3. What is FLOSS?
    FLOSS stands for Free/Libre and Open Source Software.

Section 2: Advertisements

  1. Can I advertise anything on the Ad Bard Network?
    No. The Ad Bard Network accepts only FLOSS-appropriate ads: that is, advertisements that are relevant to free and open source software, for services and products and sites that do not suggest use of proprietary software. (We do not concern ourselves with firmware in devices where users do not generally install software.)

  2. My website offers products or services for both GNU/Linux and Windows. Can I advertise my GNU/Linux services on the Ad Bard Network?
    Yes, so long as clicking the advertisement takes the visitor to a page that only talks about your GNU/Linux services. Your advertisement and the page your advertisement links you to must not suggest the use of proprietary software to be appropriate for the Ad Bard Network.

  3. What sizes of image advertisements does the Ad Bard Network display?
    At this time, the Ad Bard Network displays 175x125 block ads, and 468x60 banner ads. All advertisements must be static (no animated gifs, and no flash).

  4. What image formats does the Ad Bard Network display?
    The Ad Bard Network displays pngs, jpegs, and static gifs. It does not display animated gifs or flash advertisements.

  5. Do you display pop-up advertisements?
    No, the Ad Bard Network does not display "pop-up advertisements".

  6. What types of text advertisements do you display?
    We currently only display one line text link advertisements. Text link advertisements can be up to 26 characters long.

  7. Why don't you display my favorite size/kind of advertisement?
    We will continue to expand our advertisement offerings, but are first working to attract sufficient advertisers for our existing advertisement offerings.

Section 3: Joining

  1. Can I join the Ad Bard Network and display ads from it?
    If you have a website that pertains in some way to FLOSS, then absolutely!

  2. My website uses FLOSS (for example, Drupal) but is not focused on FLOSS. Can I join the Ad Bard Network?
    Sorry, but the network is dedicated only to websites that are FLOSS-relevant and advertisers that are FLOSS-appropriate. That is the whole purpose of the Ad Bard Network.

  3. My website talks about FLOSS, but it also talks about proprietary software, and other things not in any way related to computers or technology. May I join and display ads from the Ad Bard Network?
    Yes! So long as your website is somehow relevant to FLOSS some of the time, you may join the Ad Bard Network.

  4. My website is discusses FLOSS, but when I tried to join the Ad Bard Network I was denied. Why?
    We manually review every website that asks to join the Ad Bard Network. If we do not find any content relevant to FLOSS on your website, then we send you an email telling you that your website is not appropriate for the Ad Bard Network. If we missed FLOSS content, please reply to this email and provide some links to appropriate content on your website.

  5. My website is not in any way relevant to FLOSS, but I still want to join the Ad Bard Network. Why can't I?
    The Ad Bard Network was created to bring FLOSS-appropriate advertisers together with FLOSS-relevant websites.

  6. I'm already displaying advertisements from another advertising network. Can I also display advertisements from the Ad Bard Network?
    Yes, the Ad Bard Network does not impose any limitations on what you may display on your website, including advertisements from other advertising networks, so long as your website is in some way relevant to FLOSS.

Section 4: Payments

  1. How often will you pay me if I display Ad Bard Network advertisements on my website?
    Payments are sent out once every month, to websites that have earned a cumulative total of more than $100. If you earn less than $100, the money will stay in your account from month to month until you do earn $100.

  2. How will you pay me?
    We can mail checks if you have an address in the United States. We can also make payments through PayPal or Moneybookers.com.

  3. Can I use my earnings to buy advertisements?
    Yes. When you log into your Ad Bard Network account you have the option of creating coupons from your earnings which can then be used to buy advertisements. You can use the coupons yourself, or give them away to other FLOSS appropriate advertisers.