How to advertise on NationStates

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A question came through about how to run an ad on NationStates (e.g. to advertise a region). I thought I'd post the answer here, in case it's helpful to others.

We currently use Google to serve ads, which means you can advertise here via Google AdWords. It's a pretty good system for small advertisers, because you can set low ceilings on how much you're prepared to spend per day or per click.

This is how to create an ad that will display only on nationstates.net, nowhere else on the net.

1. Log in or sign up to Google AdWords at https://adwords.google.com/
2. Click "Campaigns"
3. Click "+ New Campaign"
4. You are asked to "Select campaign settings." Choose a name for your campaign, and various targeting options, such as which languages you wish your ad to display in.
5. Under "Networks and Devices", for "Network" click "Let me choose...". This will show a few further options. Uncheck "Google Search", and check "Specific reach: Show ads only on pages that match all my targeting methods."
6. At the bottom of the page, click "Save and continue"
7. You are taken to a "Create ad group" page. Choose a name and have fun creating an ad. It can be text or image.
8. Don't select any Keywords, but under "Placements", click to expand "Select managed placements" if necessary, and under "Enter as many placements as you like, one per line," type in "nationstates.net".
9. Choose a number for "Default bid", which is the maximum you'll pay per click, and click "Save and continue to billing" (or, if you like, "Set up billing later")
10. After that, you should be good to go. When viewing the Ad Group, clicking "Placements" should show that you have "nationstates.net" under "Managed Placements". Also, clicking "+ Change Display Targeting" should show you a single circle that is 100% shaded to indicate "Placements" (and no "Display Keywords")

[Mousebumples]

Expanded Rules on Commercialism

Promotion

Players aren't permitted to use NationStates for commercial purposes (i.e. making money). In particular, the explicit promotion of products and services is prohibited, with one exception: You may promote free products or services that are directly related to NationStates, such as a Discord channel for region members.

Store Purchases

While NS Store purchases can be gifted to other players, players aren't permitted to offer or request them in exchange for anything, including for joining or remaining resident in a region. For example, it's prohibited to offer Telegram Stamps to nations who are the most active in your region.

It is additionally prohibited to promote any kind of random giveaway or raffle of NS Store purchases for any purpose.

Players may offer non-NS Store in-game goods or services in raffles or as compensation for in-game behavior; for example, you may offer Trading Cards in exchange for joining a region.

Other Items of Monetary Value

The above rules on NS Store purchases also apply to any prizes or gifts that possess real-life financial value beyond NationStates, such as gift cards, Steam codes, paid or referral perks in other games, and straight up cash prizes: These may never be offered to others on the site, requested or given away in raffles.

Charities

NationStates does not directly promote or endorse any charities, and we place limits on how players may promote charities, in order to protect the community.

Discreet, "passive" promotion of charities is generally acceptable; for example, in signature links, as part of a Dispatch, or a mention as part of a relevant conversation. However, we may prohibit those we consider to be insufficiently transparent or altruistic, including: charities with unclear or politically motivated goals; charities that may financially benefit the promoter (such as when they're an employee), and charities that employ questionable donation platforms.

Active promotion of charities, such as fundraising events, may be permitted, especially if they are localized to particular regions and do not include wide-scale telegramming of nations, but plans should be run past the Moderation team on each occasion: please contact us via Getting Help Request with details.

Political parties/causes are not considered to be "charities," and direct fundraising for such on the site is prohibited.