Ads Keeping could be the Next Big Thing

We are used to bookmark links that contain useful resources. But would that habit apply to advertisements too? Will you bookmark an online ad?

AdKeeper, a start-up that helps users to save ads for later viewing is hoping that we will. The 10-month-old start-up believes that the Internet lacks a tool that allows users to save advertisements or coupons.

In the offline world, we are able to cut off coupons or promotion offers but we can’t do the same in the online world because there isn’t a tool for us to do so.

In short, AdKeeper wants to be that pair of “scissors” to help you cut and save ads for later viewing. The demo video explains it best.

It’s an interesting concept and I believe its success will depend heavily on how advertisers would use it. Advertisements that are fun and/or beneficial would work best with AdKeeper. Intuitively, infotainment ads and saving coupons will be some of favorites ads content people would want to save. I’m imagining a Digg like interface filled with ads and save counts. We could also view the coupons our friends have saved and follow suit if we like them too. These coupons would also be synced with our mobile phones so that we’re ready to use them whenever we need it.

Now, if Old Spice and Evian Roller Babies ads were to have the ‘keep’ buttons, I’m sure they will be among the most saved advertisements in AdKeeper. I’m saying a ‘yes’ to this concept only if advertisements are fun and/or beneficial to the consumers and they probably will because after all, advertisers want the best out of their investment.

If successful, AdKeeper could also improve the overall ad quality on the Internet. Advertisers are forced to produce ads that are either entertaining or useful to the consumers and the end result again favors us. You might also want to hear what Scott Kurnit, founder of AdKeeper has to say on why would a consumer should keep an ad.

In my opinion, Adkeeper is an exciting product that could be the next big thing in online advertising. In a blog post, Kurnit also mentioned “Nielsen research says that large numbers of consumer are looking forward to using it”.

AdKeeper is also backed by a strong group of investors which includes True Ventures, DCM and The New York Times Company. A total of $44 million has been raised so far. If you’re an advertiser and feel positive about AdKeeper, you might consider an early partnership. AdKeeper is currently free to all advertisers for the first six months of 2011.