diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/promotecontroller.py b/r2/r2/controllers/promotecontroller.py
index a8c36268b..2ad4d213c 100644
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/promotecontroller.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/promotecontroller.py
@@ -283,7 +283,8 @@ class PromoteController(ListingController):
                                   business_days = False, 
                                   admin_override = True),
                    l     = VLink('link_id'),
-                   bid   = VBid('bid', 'link_id', 'sr'),
+                   bid   = VFloat('bid', min=0, max=g.max_promote_bid, 
+                                  coerce=False, error=errors.BAD_BID),
                    sr = VSubmitSR('sr', promotion=True),
                    indx = VInt("indx"), 
                    targeting = VLength("targeting", 10))
@@ -319,10 +320,19 @@ class PromoteController(ListingController):
         if form.has_errors('bid', errors.BAD_BID):
             return
 
-        if bid is None or float(bid) / duration < g.min_promote_bid:
+        # minimum bid depends on user privilege and targeting, checked here
+        # instead of in the validator b/c current duration is needed
+        if c.user_is_admin:
+            min_daily_bid = 0
+        elif targeting == 'one':
+            min_daily_bid = g.min_promote_bid * 1.5
+        else:
+            min_daily_bid = g.min_promote_bid
+
+        if bid is None or bid / duration < min_daily_bid:
             c.errors.add(errors.BAD_BID, field = 'bid',
-                         msg_params = {"min": g.min_promote_bid,
-                                       "max": g.max_promote_bid})
+                         msg_params = {'min': min_daily_bid,
+                                       'max': g.max_promote_bid})
             form.has_errors('bid', errors.BAD_BID)
             return
 
diff --git a/r2/r2/controllers/validator/validator.py b/r2/r2/controllers/validator/validator.py
index 9c9b02082..e7a043819 100644
--- a/r2/r2/controllers/validator/validator.py
+++ b/r2/r2/controllers/validator/validator.py
@@ -1160,6 +1160,9 @@ class VFloat(VNumber):
         return float(val)
 
 class VBid(VNumber):
+    '''
+    DEPRECATED. Use VFloat instead and check bid amount in function body.
+    '''
     def __init__(self, bid, link_id, sr):
         self.duration = 1
         VNumber.__init__(self, (bid, link_id, sr),
diff --git a/r2/r2/lib/pages/pages.py b/r2/r2/lib/pages/pages.py
index 620afcb2e..824c9ed63 100755
--- a/r2/r2/lib/pages/pages.py
+++ b/r2/r2/lib/pages/pages.py
@@ -3041,6 +3041,8 @@ class PromoteLinkForm(Templated):
             self.market, self.promo_counter = \
                 Promote_Graph.get_market(None, start_date, end_date)
 
+        self.min_daily_bid = 0 if c.user_is_admin else g.min_promote_bid
+
         Templated.__init__(self, sr = sr, 
                            datefmt = datefmt,
                            timedeltatext = timedeltatext,
diff --git a/r2/r2/public/static/js/sponsored.js b/r2/r2/public/static/js/sponsored.js
index 81b61afac..226956c68 100644
--- a/r2/r2/public/static/js/sponsored.js
+++ b/r2/r2/public/static/js/sponsored.js
@@ -10,7 +10,9 @@ function update_bid(elem) {
              Date.parse(form.find('*[name="startdate"]').val())) / (86400*1000));
     ndays = Math.round(ndays);
 
-    var minimum_daily_bid = (is_targeted ? 30 : 20);
+    // min bid is slightly higher for targeted promos
+    var minimum_daily_bid = is_targeted ? $("#bid").data("min_daily_bid") * 1.5 : 
+                                          $("#bid").data("min_daily_bid");
     $(".minimum-spend").removeClass("error");
     if (bid < ndays * minimum_daily_bid) {
         $(".bid-info").addClass("error");
diff --git a/r2/r2/templates/promotelinkform.html b/r2/r2/templates/promotelinkform.html
index e4bb7071b..cdd3b983b 100644
--- a/r2/r2/templates/promotelinkform.html
+++ b/r2/r2/templates/promotelinkform.html
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ ${unsafe(js.use('sponsored'))}
     <%
        start_title = "Date when your sponsored link will start running.  We start new campaigns at midnight UTC+5"
        end_title = "Date when your sponsored link will end (at midnight UTC+5)"
-       targeting_title = "name of the community that you are targeting. A blank entry here means that the ad is untargeted and will run site-wise "
+       targeting_title = "name of the community that you are targeting. A blank entry here means that the ad is untargeted and will run site-wide "
        newcamp_title = "click to create a new campaign.  To edit an existing campaing in the table below, click the 'edit' button."
      %>
     <table class="preftable">
@@ -140,8 +140,9 @@ ${unsafe(js.use('sponsored'))}
                   style="width:auto"
                   onchange="update_bid(this)"
                   onkeyup="update_bid(this)"
-                  title="Minimum is $${'%.2f' % g.min_promote_bid} per day, or $${'%.2f' % (g.min_promote_bid * 1.5)} per day targeted"
-                  value="${'%.2f' % (g.min_promote_bid * 5)}"
+                  title="Minimum is $${'%.2f' % thing.min_daily_bid} per day, or $${'%.2f' % (thing.min_daily_bid * 1.5)} per day targeted"
+                  value="${'%.2f' % (thing.min_daily_bid * 5)}"
+                  data-min_daily_bid="${thing.min_daily_bid}"
                   />
           <span class="bid-info gray"></span>
         </td>