Media Resources

1-Pixel Internet Advertisement Receives More Than 10,000 Visitors

Berlin (Germany), December 27, 2006

A website auctions a 1-pixel-sized banner ad. When it all started, some meant, there would not be any money to earn by it. But as of today, more than 10,000 visitors saw the pixel, and 28 payers have leased it by auction.

Website owners can purchase a 1-pixel-sized banner ad space on eBay. The name of the web "you-cant-resist.com" is exactly what happens when you visit the site. Nine out of ten visitors burst with curiosity what can be found beyond the pixel. The auction winner commands where the pixel redirects the clicker (evidently to the auction winner's website). This generates many new visitors to the auction winner's site. The auction starts from 1 Euro on eBay. The winner can get on the gravy train for a week. Afterwards, the next winner of the weekly auction gains control over the pixel.

"What a daft idea", some thought in the beginning. There would not be any money to earn from it. But now, the probably world's smallest Internet banner advertisement passed the 10,000 visitors mark. 28 paying websites have leased the pixel by auction as a visitor attractor and are listed in the "hall of fame" on you-cant-resist.com, which brings them clicks even after their week is over and supports their search engine ranking. Maybe the pixel is not only the world's smallest advertisement space, but the most expensive ever sold on the Internet, too.

Images

Screenshot of the pixel homepage, TIFF image, 828 x 665

Screenshot of the eBay auction page, TIFF image, 957 x 753

Portrait of "pixel inventor" Peter Debik, TIFF image, 348 x 482

Publication royalty-free.