For Meebo to really monetize all their traffic they'll have to start extracting information from conversations. Google and Facebook already do this to an occasionally creepy effect, notice the content of your talk/messages and your ads are often identical.
They'd be better off providing this demographic information to a third party advertiser than trying to sell anything on their own platform.
I love Meebo, and use it every day, but there's no way I'm going to click an ad in an IM window. As soon as AIM started throwing ads up I ditched their client and went with GAIM(pidgin now), I'd do the same thing with Meebo if they started plastering crap blinking ringtone ads all over.
They have a rich platform that is network and context agnostic. If they earn a strong position in the IM world, they will have a plethora of ways to leverage their position: business services (thing online support for consumer facing companies), branded experiences, and yes, advertising.
I think they're well on their way to have a firm position in the space. They've got a great product and Time Warner is investing, which is tellingly great for Meebo / tellingly ominous for AOL.
I think they make a good amount of money from all the specialized ads they have. Like the meebo skins, and all those little icons for various bands and products.
They'd be better off providing this demographic information to a third party advertiser than trying to sell anything on their own platform.
I love Meebo, and use it every day, but there's no way I'm going to click an ad in an IM window. As soon as AIM started throwing ads up I ditched their client and went with GAIM(pidgin now), I'd do the same thing with Meebo if they started plastering crap blinking ringtone ads all over.