Back in the summer of 2005, a college-bound student named Alex Tew had an unusual idea to avoid student debt. He launched milliondollarhomepage.com, a website offering one million pixels of advertising space for $1 each. The concept was simple: advertisers could purchase blocks of pixels to display their ads, and Tew would use the earnings to fund his education.
Tew secured initial investments from friends, garnered media attention, and the site quickly gained traction. The concept exploded as businesses and individuals bought pixel space, generating substantial revenue. Within seven weeks, Tew had earned over $400,000 through online payment platforms.
The success of milliondollarhomepage.com spawned numerous copycat websites, such as QuarterMillionDollarHomePage.com and MillionPennyHomePage.com, offering similar advertising space at varying prices. Services like RentAPatch.com emerged, providing turnkey solutions for individuals to create their own million-pixel advertising sites. Online directories like ThePixelWars.com cataloged these sites, allowing users to rate and comment on them. PixelList.com distinguished itself by reviewing pixel advertising sites and blogging about the evolving industry.
So, what’s the appeal of pixel advertising?
Pixel advertising introduces users to a diverse range of websites they might not otherwise encounter. These sites may not be visually appealing or highly targeted, but they attract significant traffic and offer affordable advertising options.
Pixel advertising sites attract early adopters, who are constantly seeking out new and innovative products and services. Pixel ads can introduce these early adopters to unique sites, like mp3player.net, which sells all-in-one MP3 player headsets, or oldboatpics.com, which features pictures of old boats. Other examples include Pzizz.com, a website promoting power nap solutions, and online retailers of absinthe.
By attracting early adopters from various subcultures, pixel advertising sites can indirectly promote niche products and services. These early adopters then spread the word to others, potentially creating viral marketing effects. PixelList.com should consider reviewing the sites they discover through pixel advertising, rather than focusing solely on pixel advertising platforms.
— Harris Fellman, co-founder of PixelList.com, BuzzIM.com, has been involved in Internet Marketing since the beginning of the web.