Advertising on Everything sites

[Joneyee]

Originally Posted by chris

there has been considerable thought to integrating into the design of the site.

-Chris

Here here to that. You have alot of space in the blue bar at the very top of the site that could support the google ad and not waste any existing space.

Just throwing out options at this point.

Also on DAs point, just so you can get a pulse. I would not pay $25/yr for an ad free forum. However I am sure I am in the minority.

[chris]

Looks like it has been moved from the middle of the thread to the very top for two full rows of ads before you start reading the thread.

I would classify that as mildly less annoying.

Based upon your feedback, I've taken these steps to make it less intrusive.

I know this site is "free", and that ads are pretty much an inherent part of any site that is trying to make money. I have taken pride for a long time on the fact that my site has never stooped to ads, and that we are able to run off of my pocket and generous donations.

I'm sorry, but "stooped to ads" sounds like I'm completely selling out. In reality, all I've done is ad a new 728x90 ad slot. This has displaced my internal store ads and quite honestly they help support the site.

I just don't see the new google ads as all that necessary, nor are the sensing that well at the moment. Especially when it is telling Q users to get mobile Gmail when we can all program our phones to download that mail.

These are simply placeholders until we get real advertisers.

I am still and will advocate side bard vertical ads that frame the threads on the left/right side.

The current template does not allow for them outside of the homepage. I'm not so sure it would be less annoying. When you're reading a thread, there really are no more distractions considering the ads are up top.

-Chris

[chris]

Also on DAs point, just so you can get a pulse. I would not pay $25/yr for an ad free forum.

While I appreciate DA's idea, I would never ask my members to pay for using the site. Also, to your point, I would not accept donations as this site has store partners to support the site.

[piranah]

personally, i dont notice any difference,

[chris]

Originally Posted by piranah

personally, i dont notice any difference,

You lost me. The current ads layout is not affecting you or is?

[Joneyee]

Originally Posted by chris

Based upon your feedback, I've taken these steps to make it less intrusive.

I appreciate the quick action on it, I do. I just don't like the additional ad.

Originally Posted by chris

I'm sorry, but "stooped to ads" sounds like I'm completely selling out. In reality, all I've done is ad a new 728x90 ad slot. This has displaced my internal store ads and quite honestly they help support the site.

I don't doubt that they may help support the site, but time will tell on that one. I am not trying to insult you personally, but it is stooping to ad revenue. It's not a reflection on you or anyone selling out. It is just a personally held belief that is a community values the site enough, they will find the way to keep it going. This being a defacto commercial site designed first to make money, then provide community, it is fairly obvious that the ads are to generate revenue. So I personally see it as stooping to ads for money, but you say potato. We can simply agree to disagree.

Originally Posted by chris

These are simply placeholders until we get real advertisers.

Which as you state could be anything based on who purchases an ad and means they could be even more irrelevant.

Originally Posted by chris

The current template does not allow for them outside of the homepage. I'm not so sure it would be less annoying. When you're reading a thread, there really are no more distractions considering the ads are up top.
-Chris

Ok, so the template won't allow the ads on side bars because the stylesheet doesn't have those table fields programmed into it. It is still possible to put them at the top.

Like I said, I appreciate the initial move. Its not as bad just a little extra scrolling to get to what I care about.

Again, I am anti-ad, anti-conformist by nature, so take me with a grain of salt, but I will always provide the voice of dissent on this issue.

[Joneyee]

One note. You don't have the google ads in every sheet yet. The UserCP doesn't show them.

[chris]

Originally Posted by Joneyee

One note. You don't have the google ads in every sheet yet. The UserCP doesn't show them.

Right now, the only *new* slot is the header. That ad space will change from Google ads probably sometime this week.

I'll continue to look at things from all perspectives. If and where I can, I'll try and make changes to improve things while maintaining the ads.

[Joneyee]

Originally Posted by chris

Right now, the only *new* slot is the header. That ad space will change from Google ads probably sometime this week.

I'll continue to look at things from all perspectives. If and where I can, I'll try and make changes to improve things while maintaining the ads.

Why not put them in the footer? You still get your ads in.

I imagine the reason is fewer clicks per impression if they are at the bottom of the page.

[chris]

Originally Posted by Joneyee

Why not put them in the footer? You still get your ads in.

I imagine the reason is fewer clicks per impression if they are at the bottom of the page.

I doubt there would be an advertisers if we placed their ad at the bottom of the page. The only real flexibility is what I do with my internal store ads. I have some ideas that I'm going to work on today/ tomorrow. I have to spend some quality time with my wife or I'll have bigger problems than ad placements. Not to mention, I'm going to be glued to a TV once the games start later today.