MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- In the wake of a scandal that revealed unethical practices by many companies in the offer-based payments industry, TrialPay today issued a whitepaper titled, “Doing Right by the Consumer: Going Beyond Compliance.” The paper, which is based upon guidelines that TrialPay has adhered to since the company’s inception 2006, outlines best practices for gaming developers, publishers, advertisers and offer companies to ensure consumer protections and long-term success of the industry at large.



To download a free copy of the whitepaper, visit: http://www.trialpay.com/go/doingright.



Offer-based payments are a method for consumers to pay for online games or to purchase virtual goods within online games. Instead of paying with cash, offer-based payments enable consumers to make their purchase by transacting with a third-party advertiser -- which could include making a purchase or signing-up for a free trial.



Following public revelations that some offer companies displayed ads that mislead consumers with hidden or reoccurring charges, the leading social networks on which these games are played quickly published new sets of guidelines for what they deem acceptable. Since that time, both Facebook and MySpace have banned companies for operating outside of their new regulations.



Offers that are done well and implemented ethically can benefit everyone. Gaming companies generate revenue from customers that may not have been willing to pay directly; advertisers make a sale and potentially gain a new customer; and consumers get their game or virtual goods for free in return for purchasing something they need or want from a reputable advertiser.



To help ensure that the industry returns to its mutually beneficial roots, the whitepaper issued today by TrialPay offers a number of tips gleaned from its years of experience in the software, retail, online services, social apps and casual games markets, including:



5 best practices for ensuring offers are consumer-friendly

7 ways to tell if an offer company is built to deliver consumer satisfaction



“Facebook and MySpace deserve recognition for their new policies and their quick action,” said TrialPay CEO, Alex Rampell. “However, it’s time to raise the bar and go beyond the bare minimum. Offer companies and game publishers must take it upon themselves to focus on higher quality and transparency to expose scammy offers and ensure long-term sustainability.”



About TrialPay



TrialPay introduces e-commerce solutions that increase conversion rates and boost order values for any online seller. TrialPay’s payment and promotions platform uses the efficiencies of the Web to pair online shoppers with ideal offers at every stage of the purchase process. With TrialPay, everyone wins: online stores make more sales from their current traffic, advertisers acquire new customers on a pay-for-performance basis and shoppers get a free product with every purchase.



TrialPay works with name-brand companies across many verticals, including: The Wall Street Journal, Gap, McAfee, Netflix, Match.com and thousands of others. In just two and a half years, TrialPay has provided 40 million registered users with compelling payment options at more than 7,500 online stores.