BEIJING, Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Tixa, a Beijing-based Internet pioneer in contextual advertising, launched its targeted online advertising format called "NarrowAD" in the fast-growing China's online market in September 2004.
Tixa's NarrowAD(TM) system places advertisements based on the content of the article being viewed, as well as users' location and interests. Based on personalization technology, Tixa develops this approach, which is still new to the Chinese business community. It narrows down the focus of the online ad and allows advertisers to deliver ads specifically to users' interests and to straightforwardly address target audiences.
People surfing online documents may be looking for associated services. For example, when a person in Shanghai is reading a real-estate related article on Xinhua Net, he will find on that particular web page advertisements from NarrowAD's clients like a Shanghai real estate agent. Thus, the NarrowAD(TM) ads placed in the webpages would help netizens find relevant and useful information.
Tixa.com hopes the new online ad concept can help both big corporations and mom-and-pop stores in China take the advantage of online marketing.
"With NarrowAD, we can offer a much more cost-effective marketing solution. It is economical but powerful," said Forrest Zhang, CEO of Tixa. The ad is Pay-Per-Click (PPC) and each click starts at 0.2 RMB yuan (2.5 US cents).
Zhang is one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the Internet industry in China. Prior to starting Tixa, he was the Chairman and CEO of HiChina Web Solutions Inc (known as WWW.NET.CN and WWW.COM.CN ). Under his leadership and through two successful rounds of financing from IDG Venture and Newbridge Capital, HiChina has grown into the largest virtual web-hosting and domain name registration service in China.
After previous trailblazing success, his new adventure Tixa also got funding from Mitsui Sumitomo Financial Group. As this solution offers an unobtrusive web ad service, IT Insiders believe "NarrowAD" will enhance the profit-making ability of China's online media that is often stamped as the "Internet Bubble."
