FAQ

Overview [link]

How can a publisher work with Luminate? [link]

A publisher simply signs up and adds a line of JavaScript to their site. Once correctly added, Luminate offers several different apps for Publishers to select from to customize their visitors' experience.

Image apps can transform your images into a canvas for delivering commerce, information, social and advertising applications. Luminate works best on sites where images are primary pieces of content. Please be aware that in order to use some apps, such as our commerce and advertising apps, your site will need to be certified as appropriate for our partner content. More about certifications »

What are the different types of image applications you will offer? [link]

Image applications will span a number of key categories including: Commerce, Information, Social, Organization, Advertising, Navigation, Public Service, and Presentation.

What image applications does Luminate offer today? [link]

Today, Luminate’s platform currently offers such applications as:

• Unique Twitter Share, Facebook Share, Reddit Share and Email Share apps that give consumers the power to select precisely what they want inside an image and share it with others.
• An information app called Annotation that allows publishers to quickly and easily tag any spot within an image and add a comment to that image.
• A commerce app called Products in the Picture, which enables consumers to mouse over the image and interact with tags on the picture.
• An advertising app that offers publishers a seamless way to place relevant advertisements within an image.
• A public service app called Causes that provides consumers with the ability to quickly donate to worthy causes, especially during times of crisis and need.
• A collection of media apps, including MP3 Music, Movie Trailers, and Netflix, that provides consumers with a connection to media related to the artist or actor in the image.
• And many more!

Please be aware that some apps, such as our commerce, advertising and media apps, require that your site be certified as appropriate content for showing 3rd party content. More about certifications ».

Learn more about all of our applications on our Image Apps page.

Can a publisher choose which image applications to run on each site? [link]

Yes, a publisher can choose which of all the available image applications are the best fit for a specific site. Choose one or choose them all, it is up to the individual publisher.

Some applications, like the commerce, advertising and media apps, require your site is certified as appropriate content for 3rd parties. Check out our available applications on our Image Apps page. More about certifications »

What are the image requirements? [link]

Luminate's widgets work best on larger images that are key content pieces of your site. We automatically filter out images from your image list that:

• Are less than 200px wide or 200px tall
• Come from a list of known Ad Servers
• Have an aspect ratio of less than 4:1 or 1:4 (to filter out advertisements and banners)

If a publisher is using other JavaScript technologies to display images, such as slideshows, lazy-load scripts or lightboxes, those images may not be compatible with Luminate's technology.

Images must also adhere to the Publisher Guidelines for appropriate content.

Please remember that a publisher is solely responsible for ensuring they have the necessary rights in or to all photographs and images on their site.

How long does it take for product picks to be added to my site's images? [link]

For publishers using our network of product experts to tag their images, our experts apply their efforts according to an image's traffic. High traffic images commonly get reviewed the same hour they are posted, while low traffic images may take longer.

Set-Up [link]

How do I get started with Luminate? [link]

First, apply for a publisher account. Once your account is created, you will need to add a line of javascript to your web pages. No need for datafeeds, any special markup, or other integration.

What are the system requirements? [link]

Luminate publishing can work with almost any web site. Our Javascript coexists well with most other Javascript utilities that you may use. There are a few scripts that interfere such as "lightbox," "slideshow" and "lazy load" scripts.

What image apps do I get when I sign up? [link]

All new publishers are enabled with 3 sharing applications (Facebook, Twitter and Email) and the Annotations application.

A publisher can customize which apps appear on a site by visiting My Sites > Applications for their site. Be aware that some apps, such as advertising, commerce and media apps, require your site be certified to show 3rd party content. More about certifications »

Is it easy to integrate Luminate on my site? [link]

Simply add a line of Javascript to your pages. Once we detect the JavaScript is correctly installed on your site you will see the initial set of available apps: Facebook Share, Twitter Share, Email Share and Annotations.

You can customize the image apps by visiting My Sites > Applications for your site. Please be aware that in order to use any applications that use 3rd party content, such as the Image Ads, Movie Trailers, or Product in the Picture, your site will need to be certified as having appropriate content. More about certifications »

Do I need to change the way I handle images on my site? [link]

No changes are required. Publishers continue to license, store, and serve their images just as before. And an image's endorsements, sponsorships, or associations, if any, remain intact, untouched and unaffiliated with Luminate.

Do I need to add Javascript to each page on my website that I want to tag images? [link]

Yes, you need to add the Javascript to each page on which you have images you want to tag. Often, it is easiest to add the Javascript to a common page element, like a footer, that is automatically included on all pages of your website.

I just added Luminate to my site and I don't see ads on my images. Why not? [link]

The Image Overlay Ads app is not available by default to new publishers. A publisher must first get their site certified to display 3rd party content and receive payments.

If you'd like to use the Image Overlay Ads app, visit My Sites > Applications page and click the "Certify Site" button for the Image Overlay Ads and follow the instructions. You will receive an email notification when your certification status changes. You can also check on your certification status by visiting My Sites > Certifications for your site.

Once your site is certified, you will see an orange "Add" button when you visit Applications tab. More about certifications »

Will Luminate slow down my site? [link]

If you install the Javascript as described in the set up process, the Luminate service should not slow down your site at all. Luminate will not begin loading until your site completely loads. For more information, check out our blog post on this topic.

Does Luminate need access to my site or images? [link]

Once you have the JavaScript correctly placed on your web pages, Luminate's software will be alerted of any new images you add. We index these images to make them quickly accessible for tagging in your Publisher interface. You do not need to upload images or provide any other access to your site.

Can I sign up multiple sites? [link]

Yes you can! Once you’ve created your account and set up your first site, you can find a link to add additional sites from the "My Dashboard" or "My Sites" page. Remember that each site requires a unique JavaScript snippet.

I never received a verification email. What should I do? [link]

Check your email spam folder. Sometimes email from an unknown sender can end up there. If you can't find it there and you've tried resending the verification email, let us know and we'll help you out.

What are certifications? [link]

Some image apps require additional information before they can be used on your site. For example, to ensure that the content of your site meets the standards of our advertising partners and is a good match for our services, Luminate will need to review and certify your site appropriate for third party content. Please review the Publisher Guidelines to get an understanding of what is considered appropriate content.

Certifications are only required for some apps and once your site has all the certifications needed for a specific app, you will be able to use the app.

Because certifications require human review for approval, it may take a few days for your site to receive a certification. You will be notified via email of your certification status as it changes. You can also visit My Sites > Certifications for your site to check the status.

I've changed my domain name and now Luminate no longer works. What should I do? [link]

Luminate's JavaScript code is uniquely tied to a domain. If you change your domain name, Luminate will no longer work on your site. Please let us know when you change your domain name and we make the necessary changes so that Luminate will work on your new domain.

How can I report a problem I am experiencing with Luminate? [link]

For troubleshooting assistance, check out the Help section. From there you can access articles, FAQs, helpful videos and other resources to answer your questions. If you still need help, you'll be able to email our support team from that page as well. If you are experiencing a problem with Luminate's service and are unable to access your account, please contact us.

Please note that Luminate will also maintain regular communications with publishers over email when site upgrades and maintenance are needed.

Can I customize my Luminate apps? [link]

Visit the My Sites -> Applications tab for each of your sites to tailor the apps for that site. Some apps also offer customizable options that you can modify by clicking the "Options" link once the app is installed.

Some apps, such as the media, commerce and advertising apps, require additional site certification before you can use them. More about certifications »

How do I disable Luminate on my site? [link]

If you need to temporarily disable Luminate, you can visit the My Sites -> Settings tab for your site and turn Luminate off without removing the Luminate JavaScript from your site. Individual apps can also be removed via the My Sites -> Applications tab.

If you no longer wish Luminate to run on your site, you can always simply remove the JavaScript code. After Luminate detects that your site no longer has the code installed, your site will automatically be marked inactive. You can always re-enable Luminate by adding the JavaScript back in, though it may take up to a day for Luminate to start working again.

Products in the Picture [link]

Is there a way that publishers can tag the images on their websites themselves? [link]

Yes, we offer apps that allow publishers to annotate their own images with products or editorial content.

Are there any restrictions on the image sizes and formats that I can tag? [link]

Luminate's apps work best on larger images that are key content pieces of your site. We automatically filter out images from your image list that:

• Are less than 200px wide or 200px tall
• Come from a list of known Ad Servers
• Have an aspect ration of less than 4:1 or 1:4 (to filter out advertisements and banners)

If a publisher is using other JavaScript technologies to display images, such as slideshows, lazy-load scripts or lightboxes, those images may not be compatible with Luminate's technology.

Images must also adhere to the Publisher Guidelines for appropriate content.

Please remember that a publisher is solely responsible for ensuring they have the necessary rights in or to all photographs and images on their site.

How many images can I tag? [link]

As many as you like.

Can I tag a product from any online merchant? [link]

Publishers can tag products from Luminate's extensive database of merchants. Luminate is continually adding new products and merchants to its database. If there is a retailer that you would like to see, let us know and we'll see what we can do.

Luminate also offers publishers the ability to add editorial annotations to their images. You can use the Annotations application to reference products or merchants not in our database, but you will not be able to earn any incremental revenue from Luminate this way.

How big is Luminate's database of products? [link]

We have a database of more than 12 million products and we are constantly adding new inventory.

Which merchants do you work with? [link]

We work with more than 100 different merchants including Zappos, Nordstrom, Macy's, Gap, and Piperlime.

What if I can't find an exact match? [link]

Actually, most publishers aren't looking for exact matches for the products in the images, but rather similar looks. If you can't find exactly what you are looking for your can also use the Annotations application to add your own editorial and links.

How long should I expect to spend on tagging my images each day? [link]

In order to make the process as easy as possible, the Luminate system can automatically recommend the most popular images with the highest traffic as a starting point. The time you wish to invest in tagging images is up to you.

I am seeing fewer "tagged" images today than I did yesterday. Did you lose all of my tags? [link]

Don't worry! We didn't lose any of your tags. By default, your "My Images" page shows photos that have been detected by Luminate within the last 7 days. If you’re looking for an image that you’ve put on your site more than 7 days ago, use the drop-down control on the page to change the viewable time frame.

What's an image "score"? [link]

Scores on pictures are Luminate's way of determining which images are probably most worth your while to shop. An image score is higher the more people view the image, but a score will decrease as time goes by. If you sort your images by score, you'll see the highest scoring images first.

What if I don't have time to shop my own images? [link]

Luminate does have an expert-tagging service, however this service is only available for sites that meet the following requirements:

• Images on the publisher site are prominent and central to the content of the site
• There are enough products in our inventory for the experts to find reasonable matches
• The site gets at least 1 million page views/month.

If you are interested in applying for expert-tagging, please contact us and we would be happy to evaluate your site.

Can I customize my Luminate applications? [link]

You can specify which images apps you want on your site by visiting the My Sites -> Applications tab. Some apps provide configuration capabilities you can explore and experiment to find what works best for your site.

Image Overlay Ads [link]

How do I get ads on my images? [link]

Luminate offers an Image Overlay Ads app that runs text and graphical ads over your images. This application currently only serves ads to viewers in the UK, Canada and US. By default, this application is not available to all Publishers. To use this app, your site must be reviewed and certified for third party content and capable of receiving payments.

If you'd like to use the Image Overlay Ads app, visit My Sites > Applications page and click the "Certify Site" button for the Image Overlay Ads and follow the instructions. You will receive an email notification when your certification status changes. You can also check on your certification status by visiting My Sites > Certifications for your site.

Once your site is certified, you will see an orange "Add" button when you visit Applications tab. More about certifications »

How can I make money using Luminate's Advertising App? [link]

An approved publisher can earn money from any of our revenue generating image apps. Though publishers typically earn money from visitor clicks on ads, some earnings can come from ad impressions and some earnings come only from purchases made on the advertiser's website after the visitor clicks. All revenue generating image applications require that the publisher certify their site as appropriate for third party content and confirm that they can receive payments from Luminate.

I’m already running Google AdSense on my site. Can I still use Luminate? [link]

Yes, if your site is certified to use the Image Overlay Ads app, you can use it in conjunction with AdSense on your site and it is not a violation of the AdSense Terms of Service.

How big do my images need to be in order to display an ad? [link]

Your images must be at least 200 pixels in both dimensions in order to display an ad.

I've successfully added the Image Overlay Ads app but I'm still not seeing any ads. What is wrong? [link]

Currently, the Image Overlay Ads application is limited to serving ads to viewers in the US, UK or Canada. Our ads will soon be available for additional audiences.

I only see the default Luminate ad. Why don't I see real ads on my images? [link]

When the only ads you see on your site refer you back to Luminate, there's something wrong. Either your site violates a policy from our partner advertisers and they are blocking ads to your site, or there is a conflict between the Luminate JavaScript code and some other JavaScript code you are running. Please contact us and we'll help you figure it out.

How do I remove an advertisement from a specific image? [link]

Visit your “My Images” page and locate the image. Move your mouse over the image and click on the “Ignore” link. Our service will not place ads or tags on any “ignored” images.

How can I keep ads from showing up on certain images on my site? [link]

Luminate offers a variety of controls for managing which sections of your site should show or exclude ads. Please visit the "Image Filters" tab on your site’s configuration page.

Can I control how many images display ads? [link]

When you enable the Image Overlay Ads app, we place ads on all qualifying content images of your site. You can lower this via the “Image Ad Percentage” control via the "Options" for the Image Overlay Ads app.

Which advertisers do you use? [link]

We work with more than 100 established Internet advertisers — including Gap, Gilt Groupe, Macy's, Nordstroms, Shopbop, Unilever and Zappos — that offer millions of products.

How much revenue can Luminate generate for my site? [link]

It varies based on your site's level of traffic, audience demographics, and types of images.

How do I get Google AdSense ads on my images? [link]

In order to place the most relevant ad on your image, Luminate relies on its partnership with many advertising providers, one of which is Google AdSense. By selecting from a variety of providers, Luminate is able to get the most relevant content to your viewers. This translates into more viewer interest, better click-thru rates, and optimized publisher earnings. Luminate can not guarantee that only ads from a certain provider will appear on your images. As with all of our revenue generating apps, your site must also be certified to run third party content.

Payment [link]

When does a publisher get paid? [link]

Luminate calculates a publisher's earnings for each site they have enabled at the end of every month. If a site reaches its minimum monthly payment amount, Luminate will issue a payment by the end of the following month. For example, January's earnings will be paid to a publisher by the end of February.

There are occasions when payments to publishers are adjusted if the amounts the advertisers pay us are different from our estimates. Those differences arise from the way the advertiser and Luminate count the traffic numbers. During the course of the month, the amount due to publishers is estimated based on our records and at the end of the month we typically make an adjustment to ensure that our records concur with the advertiser. As such, the amount due to the publisher may be adjusted. A publisher can configure their own minimum monthly payment amount for each site they have enabled. By default, this value is set to $10 but can be changed by the publisher to a value up to $500.

If you have multiple sites, each site is paid separately and must meet its own minimum monthly payment amount.

If your site does not reach its minimum monthly payment amount, those earnings will roll over and count towards the following month's earnings.

What are my payment options? [link]

Luminate offers you two payment options: you can receive a paper check in the mail or a payment via PayPal.

As of spring 2011, PayPal charge the following fees:

• 2.9% of the transaction amount + $0.30 for domestic (US) payments
• 3.9% of the transaction amount + $0.30 for international (non-US) payments

These fees are subject to change as Pay Pal updates their policies. Please check with Pay Pal for any questions regarding their fees.

Check with your bank for questions about any fees that may apply to you if you opt to receive a paper check.

How much money can a publisher expect to make? [link]

That will vary based on your site's level of traffic, audience demographics, apps installed and types of images.

How does the revenue share work? [link]

Luminate splits revenue from impressions, clicks and sales with the publisher.

How much does it cost a publisher to use the service? [link]

It doesn't cost anything for you to use our service, however fees will be deducted from your earnings by PayPal if you opt for that payment option.

On My Reports page I see a day with clicks but no revenue! Why? [link]

Our reporting counts clicks as they occur, however the revenue only gets updated when we receive that data from our advertising partners. Usually, these reports arrive daily, but can sometimes take up to 48 hours.

Additionally, some advertisers only pay for conversions and not for clicks. However, some advertisers also pay for impressions, so there's also a chance that you could receive revenue without any clicks!