Incentivizing users to watch ads or interact with brands online used to be a dirty word. After all, the assumption was that all those browsers didn’t really care about your new detergent or diet soda – they were only there to cash-in on the incentive. But the rise of social media has given marketers new insight. Now that marketers can see who is interacting and sharing these brand experiences, the interactions are more valuable for everyone involved.

Jun Group CEO Mitchell Reichgut explained the new dynamic in a recent AdAge piece:

“Driving millions of U.S.-based, opt-in video views was compelling, but the high rate of social interaction was the real hook. Sure, people complete the videos to get their virtual currency, but why were they sharing As it turns out, the answer is simple: Every view generated can be matched against an age-and-gender database, so people are exposed to videos that match their interests and they’re choosing to watch.

Remember, an opt-in view is wholly different than an auto-play, and the social gaming audience is expansive. Our data shows that the average social gamer is a 27-year-old woman, and with 200 million users, we can reach everyone from moms, to 18-34-year-old males.

Brands that try this space have been coming back with bigger budgets because the value is evident. They are connecting with consumers in the Internet’s most influential space, and they’re doing it on the consumer’s terms. No roadblocks, no expanding animations, and no interruptions.”

Read the full article at AdAge.