9 Comments

SmartShopper – another entrant into desktop contextual shopping (advertising)

Feb 28, 2006
by

Considering that the announcement of the launch of SmartShopper, a free desktop comparison shopping tool, did not seem to generate any waves, I thought I’d write about it.

Three key things about the tool: a) it is desktop based b) it throws up contextual results on a separate window based on the products you are looking for on an e-commerce site; it combines both retail and travel comparison and c) it boasts some well-known names in the travel and retail shopping arena as its partners.

Nothing new about the concept; in fact the odds of its success may be stacked against it. I believe they will face many of the same challenges and barriers that other desktop contextual advertising providers (WhenU for example) face. But the even bigger challenge will probably be from the desktop tools rolled out by the big search engines that are likely to face a lower level of resistance from the users.

What’s in SmartShopper’s favor is that it is targeted at the niche areas of travel and retail which are among the most dynamic in e-commerce.

Will it take off?

Filed under: Online Marketing
  • http://www.ecomcity.com Mike Hyland

    Their greed driven history will repeat itself…
    Another comparision shopping Adware side bar is Smartshopper.com
    http://www.spywareguide.com/product_show.php?id=2…
    This adware doesn't display pop-ups in a normal sense. When visiting certain sites, a sidebar will appear on the left hand side of your IE browser displaying smartshopper ads.
    Information URL: http://www.smartshopper.com/smartshopper/Browsing…

    Properties: Redirects Searches – Stays Resident – Shows ads – Changes browser
    Related Products [b]HotBar Adware[/b] HotBar is hosted on the same IP as this product so the owners are the same.

  • http://www.benedelman.org Ben Edelman

    My worry: Users aren't out there clamoring for these kinds of apps. Rather, they're apps that marketers produce, in hopes that they can find users willing to tolerate them.

    But if no users turn out to be interested, what then? Inevitably, marketers are willing to pay distributors to get these programs onto users' PCs. Then distributors put these programs onto users' PCs without getting users' consent, or without getting informed consent.

    The result: Add one more program to the spyware list.

    Mike, your finding of an association with Hotbar is fascinating. I've recently seen multiple serious violations by Hotbar, including clear breaches of affiliate networks' rules. Any association with Hotbar certainly doesn't speak well for a new offering.

  • http://www.ecomcity.com Mike Hyland

    Ben I'm just a vocal novice when it comes to outing the spyware/adware companies hell bent on hijacking my commissions. I doubt legit firms like Bizrate will seek out sleazy distribution partnerships for their desktop/browser comparion shopping toolbar. The other gorrilla marketers, like eBay group, will try every Adwhore distribution network till they rightfully get caught like advertising.com with their pants down in front of the FTC.

  • http://www.ecomcity.com Mike Hyland

    Ben your alignment with http://www.siteadvisor.com and the http://www.stopbadware.org group speaks volumes about your dedication to keeping the affiliate industry out of the sewer. I installed the Siteadvisor tool and get amazed at how it maps out the sleazebags posing as reputable web sites. This is a must tool for any AM and all network employees seeking a quick legitimacy check on their parnetships.

  • http://www.benedelman.org Ben Edelman

    Just to set the record straight re the above: Contrary to Mike's statement, I'm not involved with stopbadware.org in any way. I cannot vouch for their efforts.

    Mike is right to note my relationship with SiteAdvisor, though. See my statement and disclosure.

  • Pola

    Smartshopper.com is Hotbar transformed. Who in their right mind would allow Hobar software on their computer? Who?

  • Junior

    SmartShopper has been around for over a year… its not a new product.

    Also, I can confirm that its a Hotbar affiliated product. I did a whois on the domain a while back and it was registered to the CTO of Hotbar.

  • Sean Perkins

    Rumor has it that when Hotbar was sold to 180 Solutions, the SmartShopper business unit was spun-off as a different company and start-up now on its own and not affiliated anymore with Hotbar.

  • http://www.benedelman.org Ben Edelman

    Just to set the record straight re the above: Contrary to Mike’s statement, I’m not involved with stopbadware.org in any way. I cannot vouch for their efforts.

    Mike is right to note my relationship with SiteAdvisor, though. See my statement and disclosure.