Sponsored spots on BestAdAgency are three labeled paid positions that sit above each ranking. During launch, every open spot starts at $1. To take a spot someone holds, you pay $1 more than they did. A spot lasts 30 days, and if you get outbid, your unused days are refunded.
That is the whole model in four sentences. The rest of this article covers the details: what you get, how bids work, what happens when you’re outbid, and the labeling rules that keep paid spots from being confused with the editorial ranking.
What is a Sponsored spot?
A Sponsored spot is a labeled placement above one of the 235 rankings on BestAdAgency. Each ranking has up to three: #1, #2 and #3. They sit above the editorial list and are always visually separate from it.
According to the Sponsored spot rules, each spot includes:
- Your logo
- Your company name
- A one-line pitch of up to 140 characters
- A link to your website, labeled “Sponsored”
- A monthly report of impressions and clicks
On a ranking page, an open spot reads “Your company here, above this ranking,” with the list’s monthly search volume and a claim button. On Best Amazon PPC Agencies, for example, the button reads “Claim #1 · $1/mo.”
How much does a Sponsored spot cost?
During launch, every open spot starts at $1 for 30 days. That’s the opening bid on every position on every list.
The Get listed page notes that starting prices scale with each list’s monthly searches and cost per click (Semrush, US). During launch, though, every open spot is $1. Whatever the starting price on a list, it is shown publicly before you pay.
Once someone holds a spot, the price to take it is the holder’s price plus $1.
How do you outbid someone?
You pay $1 more than the current holder. If a company holds #1 on a list at $40, you can take it for $41. Nobody negotiates, nobody sends a media kit, and nobody gets a private discount. The price is on the page.
When you take the spot:
- The previous holder is emailed right away.
- Their unused days are refunded pro rata to the original payment method within 10 business days.
- They can retake the spot at your price plus $1.
The rules page says the increment is “normally $1.” In practice that means the button tells you the exact price before you pay.
Can you bid more than the minimum?
Yes. The bid field on the claim form says: “Minimum $1. Bid more to rank higher on the live bid board.”
Bidding more than you need has two effects. It moves you higher on the live bid board, which ranks every active Sponsored spot across all rankings by bid. And it raises the price the next bidder has to pay to take your spot, since they need to beat your amount by $1.
How do you claim a spot?
The claim form is on the Get listed page and on each ranking’s Sponsored spots page. Here’s what it asks for:
- Ranking. Pick any of the 235 lists. Every ranking has spots.
- Your bid in USD. Optional. Minimum $1.
- Company name.
- Website. The URL your spot links to.
- One-line pitch. Up to 140 characters.
- Logo URL. Optional, square.
- Email. For your receipt and outbid alerts.
- Rules checkbox. You accept the Sponsored spot rules.
Then you click the button, which shows the exact price, for example “Claim #1 for $1 / 30 days.” Payment goes through Stripe, and the spot goes live the minute you pay.
How long does a spot last?
30 days from payment, unless someone outbids you sooner. There is no auto-renewal described in the rules. If you want to keep the spot after 30 days, you claim it again.
What happens if I’m outbid?
Three things, in this order:
- You get an email right away.
- Your unused days are refunded pro rata to your original payment method within 10 business days.
- You can take the spot back at the new price plus $1.
So if you paid for 30 days and got outbid on day 10, you get roughly 20 days’ worth back. You only pay for the time your spot was live.
How are Sponsored spots labeled?
Every spot carries a “Sponsored” label and sits visually separate from the ranking. The rules page states that each paid placement follows the FTC Endorsement Guides and carries a clear label.
On ranking pages, the fine print under each open spot reads “Paid placement, never part of our ranking.” In the comparison table, the “Sponsor rank” column shows the price to buy each of the three positions, with a note that it never changes the editorial order.
On the live bid board, spots that link to the site owner’s own products carry an “Owner” label. I own BestAdAgency through Exclusiva Inc, and if I promote one of my own products on the board, you’ll see that.
Does a Sponsored spot change the ranking?
No. A Sponsored spot never changes a company’s editorial score, rank, reviews or ratings. If you’re #7 on a list and you buy the #1 Sponsored spot, you appear in the labeled spot above the list and you’re still #7 in the ranking.
That separation is the point. Readers can see who paid and who earned their position, and the paid part is in the open with its price.
Can a spot be rejected?
Yes. Pitches must be accurate, can’t make claims the company can’t support, and can’t mention competitors. BestAdAgency may reject or remove a spot that breaks those rules. If that happens, unused days are fully refunded.
There is one other restriction. Exclusiva Inc, which owns the site, can never hold a Sponsored spot on a list where it is ranked. The disclosure page explains why.
FAQ
How much is a Sponsored spot during launch?
Every open spot starts at $1 for 30 days.
How do I take a spot someone already holds?
Pay $1 more than the current holder. The claim button shows the exact price.
Do I get money back if I’m outbid?
Yes. Unused days are refunded pro rata to your original payment method within 10 business days, and you’re emailed right away.
Can I bid more than the minimum?
Yes. Higher bids rank higher on the live bid board and raise the price to take your spot.
Will buying a spot improve my ranking?
No. Sponsored spots never change a company’s score, rank, reviews or ratings.
What’s included in a spot?
Logo, company name, a pitch up to 140 characters, a website link labeled Sponsored, and a monthly impressions and clicks report.
Claim a spot
Every open spot starts at $1 during launch. Pick a list on the Get listed page, set your bid, and your spot goes live the minute you pay.
