more ads than content?

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BDFL - Memuneh
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#305367 8-Mar-2010 11:12

What would be the reason for ad blocking software if not to prevent ads being loaded? They were created in a time where people using dial-up got tired of ads taking longer to load than the main content.

In another words, blocking ads DOES prevent websites such as Geekzone from realising revenue.

Today the reality is different. Broadband offers faster loads, most ad networks use CDN (Content Delivery Networks) to bring the ad servers closer to the user and browsers are faster and faster at rendering content and images.

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#305371 8-Mar-2010 11:22

freitasm: What would be the reason for ad blocking software if not to prevent ads being loaded? They were created in a time where people using dial-up got tired of ads taking longer to load than the main content.

Yes, fair comment, I hadn't realised they had been around that long, as I've never used an ad blocker myself.

Your point of "ads taking longer to load than the main content" is an accurate description of how it was on GZ up until the recent round of changes. Many times I only ever got the ads because the server stalled before delivering the content. Very frustrating, and the kind of thing that makes you not bother returning to a site if it happens too often.

However, thanks to yourself and RedJungle, this problem is completely gone now, and the content always loads immediately, sometimes followed by the ads, or at other times, they both arrive together.

I have no complaints at all on this score now, it is a MUCH better experience on GZ since the recent changes

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#305385 8-Mar-2010 12:04

We are also currently working with www.aptimize.com to deploy an updated version of their software on Geekzone. We turn it on and off at different times of the day to collect information and iron out some small things we found. Once this is fully released you will see how fast it can be.

But again, people will still block ads *sighs*

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#305446 8-Mar-2010 16:01

freitasm: What would be the reason for ad blocking software if not to prevent ads being loaded? They were created in a time where people using dial-up got tired of ads taking longer to load than the main content.

In another words, blocking ads DOES prevent websites such as Geekzone from realising revenue.

Today the reality is different. Broadband offers faster loads, most ad networks use CDN (Content Delivery Networks) to bring the ad servers closer to the user and browsers are faster and faster at rendering content and images.

Couple of things:

There are quite a few ad blocking addons that only hide the ads using css/style rather then blocking the http requests. For example with Google Chrome currently it's not possible to block ad http requests from loading, only hide ad content after/as it loads.

Also many ad scripts are absolutely horrible performance-wise, many still use document.write to add content to the page which blocks loading of other scripts and http requests in the page. Unless you ring fence ad content in an iframe it will impact performance of the page. Many ad providers specifically disallow you from putting their adverts inside iframes.

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#305447 8-Mar-2010 16:02

Ragnor: Also many ad scripts are absolutely horrible performance-wise, many still use document.write to add content to the page which blocks loading of other scripts and http requests in the page. Unless you ring fence ad content in an iframe it will impact performance of the page. Many ad providers specifically disallow you from putting their adverts inside iframes.

Yet, even though some ad blocks perform badly, or add errors to pages, some people still think it's a better idea to block ads than to just let it go...

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rvangelder

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#305476 8-Mar-2010 17:35

I run a 19" monitor (1280x1024) and the ads are fine. It's not as bad as he's making out - well... at least not to me.
You've done well to strike a good balance between ads and content.

The ads are all for geeks, but I'm not hot on defrag apps or "driver pro", but I do like looking at, say, programming ads. Are there options I can tweak to tune the adverts to my tastes?

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#305478 8-Mar-2010 17:36

His problem was using a 17" monitor with 190% DPI...

As for the ads, those defrag ads are just Run of Site, meaning when there aren't other ads those are shown. For example this week we have Vodafone and HP ads coming soon...

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Paulthagerous

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#305497 8-Mar-2010 18:38

HiK1000716: If you don't like the ads then give them the money yourself by subscribing.

rvangelder

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#305509 8-Mar-2010 19:49

vodafone ExIt ads by any chance?

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#305510 8-Mar-2010 19:50

I have no idea, haven't seen them yet.

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#305547 8-Mar-2010 22:24

Even though I no longer have much time to browse through this site, I still elect to pay the measly sum of ~$7 month and use the option then available to me to turn the adverts off. I believe the benefits this site has provided me in terms of help and learning has more than justified my continuing subscription. Then there's the pizza evenings ;-)

It's like everything though, it's not for everyone and if you don't like it move on, after saying your piece if you feel you have to, as long as your not obnoxious about it.

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#305551 8-Mar-2010 22:32

grant_k: Many times I only ever got the ads because the server stalled before delivering the content.

Exactly my experience and the only reason why I've ever started using an add blocker towards the end of last year. Okay, I'll give adds on Geekzone a try again. Sounds like it is fixed (it certainly was broken before).

The other side of the coin is that many members spend lots of time for free helping people on Geekzone and thereby attracting more members and increasing add views.

You can never have enough Volvos!

Aaroona

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#306804 13-Mar-2010 00:24

Im a little confused here.

So do websites get money by having the ads being loaded, or by having people click the ads?

Some of the stuff thats been written here has gotten me a little confused.

nziced

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#306809 13-Mar-2010 00:50

Aaroona: Im a little confused here.

So do websites get money by having the ads being loaded, or by having people click the ads?

Some of the stuff thats been written here has gotten me a little confused.

Depends on the AD. Some are PPC (pay per click) and some are based on impressions, which means Freitasm will pocket a certain amount for showing X amount of ads to people.

On the note of not being able to block http ads with google chrome, BlockIt works now it has extensions or you can always blacklist the ip address from the said ad server. If using windows you can do that by adding the ip address to the hosts file.

Im not saying, go and do this, but it is very easy to do.

Firefox you can just right click an ad and block images from that site. though it will leave an empty blank space as it doesnt change the formatting of the page.

freitasm

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#306846 13-Mar-2010 08:57

There are many different types of ads... Some are CPM (Cost per Thousand) and publishers get paid for "impressions", in increments of thousands. Some are CPC (Cost per Click) and publishers get paid by click. Others are CPA (Cost per Action) and publishers get paid when an action is completed (sign up, sale, etc).

People who think "I will block ads because I don't click them" don't help. People who click ads all the time because they think "I am helping the site" are not because some advertisers will realise those clicks are not bringing any business so the value is less.

There's a balance and the best thing to do is... don't do anything. Don't change what you do today and don't do anything different. Just go with the flow.

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