Frequently Asked Questions

For more information, please contact us here.

1. How do I apply for the EpicenterAds program?
   To apply for the program, please visit http://www.epicenterads.com. Click the "Sign Up" link located at the top of the page.  Complete the required steps.  We will review your application and respond letting you know if you have been approved or declined.

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2. How long will it take for you to review my application?
   If your site is eligible to participate in the program, you will usually receive a response from us within 10 business days. If it is not eligible, you should receive a response from us in 7-14 business days. In some rare instances a site might be approved with stipulations. We will outline the changes that are required for you to be eligible for the program and allow you to make the changes and re-submit your site.

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3. What are the eligibility requirements to participate in EpicenterAds?
   To be included in a EpicenterAds Network implementation, a web page must meet the following guidelines:
1. The site must contain a search box for searching the web. The results of this page must be displayed on a search results page within the site.
2. Click through rates on existing text ads must be 3% at a minimum to be considered.
3. The site must have a Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Contact form readily available.
4. The Ad Unit must be shown in the requested page, not as a pop-up or pop-under window or in an e-mail
5. The Ad Page must be content-based, fully functional and not contain any broken links. Non-content pages include domain registration pages, welcome pages, error pages, and Web content generated in or through software applications
6. The Ad Page must respond adequately to user requests
7. The Ad Page must not actively encourage users to click on Ad Units
8. The Ad Page must not disable the browser's back button
9. The Ad Page must not spawn more than one partial pop-up/pop-under window and this window must not interfere with user navigation
10. The Ad Page must not automatically replace the browser homepage
11. The Ad Page must not prompt a user to download files or programs to access your site
12. The Ad Page must not automatically install files or programs on the user's machine

In addition to the policies above, EpicenterAds member sites must adhere to EpicenterAds terms and conditions: View Terms and Conditions Agreement Here.
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4. Can I sign up for the EpicenterAds if I'm a part of another ad network?
   Yes, however, you are not permitted to display ads from the other network on the same page at the same time as your EpicenterAds ads are displayed.

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5. What languages does EpicenterAds support?
   At this time, US, Canada and UK -based English ad pages are supported by EpicenterAds.

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6. What are your content guidelines?
   Guidelines for Ad Page content:

We will not show results on pages that contain problematic content, including but not limited to:

1. Adult-oriented content
2. Violence, excessive use of vulgar or obscene language
3. Excessive, duplicate or competing advertisements
4. Content related to human suffering or death
5. Copyright or trademark-sensitive products such as MP3 downloads, DVD backups or bootleg items
6. Weaponry, ammunition, fireworks or explosives
7. Gambling
8. Illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia
9. Propaganda, potentially offensive or controversial content
10. Defamatory, libelous, threatening or other material that advocates against any individual or group
11. The sale of body parts or bodily fluids
12. The sale of hazardous substances
13. Political, religious or charitable organizations, issues or causes
14. The sale of tobacco and tobacco-related products
15. Hacking, surveillance, interception or de-scrambling equipment
16. The sale (or facilitated sale) of prescription drugs
17. The sale of counterfeit or stolen items
18. The sale of government IDs or police items
19. The sale of alcoholic beverages
20. The sale of products from any of the following countries: The Balkans, Burma (Myanmar), Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Liberia, Libya, North Korea, The Sudan, Syria or Zimbabwe

EpicenterAds reserves the right to remove listings that are irrelevant to a given web page, or those that could be considered inappropriate for search result mapping. We reserve the right to change all or part of this policy at any time, immediately and without notice. EpicenterAds reserves the right to enforce this policy in its sole discretion.
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7. When will ads begin appearing on my site?
   Your EpicenterAds ads will usually begin appearing within a few minutes of pasting the ad code into your web pages. In some cases it can take as long as 24 hours.

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8. Can I have more than one set of EpicenterAds ad units on a web page?
   You are allowed to display ads in multiple areas of your web page(s). In order to do so, paste the code multiple times as appropriate for your page. Keep in mind that the same set of ads may appear in each of the areas that you have chosen to display ads.

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9. What ad formats are available to me?
   All EpicenterAds ads are served as traditional search listing-type ads, with a title, description and URL.  Common layouts include Leaderboard 728x90, Skyscraper 120x600, Banner 468x60, Square 250x250. The ads are completely customizable so if you wish to change the format, font size, back ground color, font color, amount of advertisers in the ad, etc you can manipulate everything via the user account log in.

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10. How do I get the code for my site?
    The ad code that is to be pasted onto your site's pages is provided on the Ad Setup page in your account after you make your ad layout and color selections.  You can generate additional ads, change your existing ad or add multiple ads to the same page. Unfortunately we do not allow Iframes, dynamically generated landing pages or ads in pop up windows.  Your account manager will be able to assist you with placing the JavaScript on your site and will answer additional questions you might have about implementation.

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11. How does EpicenterAds determine which ads get displayed on a web page?
    EpicenterAds uses content and contextualization software to spider a web page and match it with the most relevant ads in our network.

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12. What if the ads that are displayed are not relevant to the web page?
    EpicenterAds offers completely customizable software. This means that you can change the colors, font sizes, border and even the relevancy of your key word. "Keyword Control" allows you to adjust the ads being displayed if you find that the EpicenterAds program has not accurately matched the content of your site to the ad units being displayed.
1. How does EpicenterAds optimize the Ads being displayed?
   After your site is approved EpicenterAds will spider the content of your site and analyze it to determine the most contextually relevant advertisers available. The more targeted the Ad the higher the CTR and overall profits for the site.
2. Does EpicenterAds offer manual optimization?
   Yes. You can override the contextual process by using our ÒKeyword ControlÓ feature to optimize your domain manually by adding targeted keywords or search phrases that you believe more accurately reflect the content and character of the site. You can also contact an Account Manager to help you answer questions.

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13. When and how do I get paid?
1. What are my payment options?
   Payments can be sent via Check, PayPal or Wire (if you are international).
2. When do I get paid for my earnings?
   Payments are sent once a month on the 15th. Payment terms are Net 45.
3. Do you have a minimum payout amount?
   Yes, your account must have a minimum balance of $50 in order to receive payment. If you do not hit $50 your first month, the balance will be transferred over to the next month and so forth, until you reach $50. You must complete the tax form before receiving your first payment if you are a US citizen. Payments are in US Dollars.If you are located internationally and require a wire, a minimum amount of $1,000 is required to receive a payment. However we do offer wires for amounts as little as $50 but you will be required to pay the $45 processing fee. We offer this option for partners that have not met the $500 minimum amount but wish to receive their funds each month.

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14. How much will I earn through this program?
    EpicenterAds ads are sold on a cost-per-click basis, so advertisers are charged only when Internet users click on their ads. While we cannot estimate the amount of money you could potentially make, the highly targeted nature of these ads can help you to effectively monetize your website.

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15. How is traffic quality determined and does it affect payout?
    Yes, EpicenterAds uses a Quality-based pricing model. It is viewed as an important step in our overall commitment to deliver high-value traffic to our advertisers, a high-quality experience for users, and long-term success for our distribution partners.
1. EpicenterAds works with its partner sites to improve quality scores. However if a site is consistently delivering low quality traffic your account may be suspended or cancelled.
2. Any site found to be in violation of the terms and conditions or intentionally attempting to defraud EpicenterAds will have their account cancelled and all funds forfeited.

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16. What forms of payment can I choose from?
    U.S. tax law requires that we obtain a valid Taxpayer ID (the Employer Identification Number for established businesses or your Social Security Number for sole proprietorships) from every publisher in order to make payments to you. You will receive a Form 1099 from us by January 31 of each year following the end of the prior tax year. Please consult your tax advisor for information on how to report this income to the IRS.

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17. Will I have to pay taxes on my EpicenterAds earnings?
    You will only have to pay taxes if you are a US Citizen or if you notify us that you are subject to backup withholdings.
    
    If you are a US citizen, U.S. tax law requires that we obtain a valid Taxpayer ID (the Employer Identification Number for established businesses or your Social Security Number for sole proprietorships) from every publisher in order to make payments to you. You will receive a Form 1099 from us by January 31 of each year following the end of the prior tax year. Please consult your tax advisor for information on how to report this income to the IRS.
1. In accordance with U.S. tax law, you must provide a valid Taxpayer ID (the Employer Identification Number for established businesses or your Social Security Number for sole proprietorships) in order to receive payment from EpicenterAds.
2. EpicenterAds is required to notify the IRS of income that you generate as part of the EpicenterAds Network. Your tax information will be used to report this income to the IRS.
3. The person or authorized signatory associated with the Taxpayer ID should sign the tax information form.
4. If you do not have a Employer Identification Number for your business, please use your personal Social Security Number as your Taxpayer ID.
5. Persons without a Social Security Number are can bypass the W9. We will work with you to establish an account and payment method that works for the country that you are a citizen of.
6. You are solely responsible for paying any taxes due on earnings from EpicenterAds. For more information, please contact your tax professional, or visit the IRS web site at www.irs.gov.
7. A 1099 will be mailed by January 31 of the year following the year for which you are filing your income taxes. This form will indicate the total income that you earned as part of EpicenterAds.
8. Your 1099 will be sent to the address you entered on the "Tax Information" screen in your account.

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18. What advertisers does EpicenterAds partner with?
    EpicenterAds has formed partnerships with some of the largest companies on the web, guaranteeing you the highest coverage rate and highest paying clicks. By utilizing multiple platforms EpicenterAds is more competitive than any stand alone contextual search program.

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19. Does EpicenterAds have a referral program?
1. Yes. The Referral Program will pay you a bonus of up to 5% of the net earnings of all customers that you refer. The amount of customers you refer is unlimited. The referral bonus is paid monthly according to payment terms outlined above (#13).
2. To qualify for the referral bonus, you simply must have an active EpicenterAds account, with one or more domains active on the system.
3. Contact your EpicenterAds campaign manager and we will personally set up your referral. This assures that you are the recipient of referral commission from their account.

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For more information, please contact us here.