Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure allow for a system of a content recommendation platform that allows developers to create customizable application plug-ins that can be embedded into publisher content and ultimately improve the advertising relevance to readers of a publisher website. The developer-generated application plug-ins may be configured to accept inputs from readers of the publisher website. These inputs may be collected, analyzed, and provide additional insight to advertisers in how to better cater advertising content to the originating publisher website or others with similar characteristics. The content recommendation network may provide an application program interface (API) to subscribed developers and other users, to enable the creation of any and all types of application plug-ins.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are presented for a third party content recommendation platform to tailor advertisements presented to a web user based on the web user's stated and specific input about what types of topics the user is interested in. In some embodiments, widgets are uploaded and presented through publisher content, such as a publisher website or email newsletter. Widgets according to aspects of the present disclosure may include instructions for redirecting the web user to an interface that allows the user to specify what types of topics said user would like to see in later advertisements. This input, coupled with additional data, according to some embodiments, may be processed by the third party content recommendation platform to provide more desired advertising content to the web user.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are presented for a third party content recommendation platform to provide a publisher the ability to target web users, who have visited the publisher's website(s), with the publisher's advertisements when the web user visits other web sites within an affiliated network of the third party content recommendation platform.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are presented for advertisers in e-marketing campaigns to specify with greater granularity and control where and on what websites their advertisements may be placed on publisher websites, through a third party advertising platform. The advertisers utilizing this functionality may be able to improve their advertising effectiveness by having more control, such as eliminating placement of ads that have been shown to generate poor marketing results, or increasing placement onto websites that have been shown to have effective marketing results. The third party advertising platform may place the control directly with the advertiser, allowing the advertiser to specify which websites and where in the websites the widgets should be placed without needing to coordinate with the third party advertising company.