Ads on GZ (reopening that can of worms)

Forums › Geekzone › Ads on GZ (reopening that can of worms)

nickd

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#70917 2-Nov-2010 17:53

I'm opening this can of worms again because I have been keeping my eye on the ads being used by some websites in order to provide some constructive criticism (I think this was from the 'why haven't you subscribed' thread from a few weeks back). I currently use adblock when I browse GZ, here's why:

As you can see, I don't browse using full screen. Ad 1 makes the writing terribly cramped and is my biggest point of annoyance. Remove this and I will be 8/10 on a happy to browse without ABP while on GZ scale (or if it's possible to white list a website then block that specific ad, maybe I see if I can do that after I post this).

Ad 2, I can deal with, but is the second most annoying ad on the site. It's just that when it flicks over and changes, it makes it difficult to read the post below it, but as I said, it doesn't make that big a difference, it's more of icing on the cake. I took this screen-shot the last couple of days. I just tried viewing another thread and noticed that there are in fact, text ads in some cases (and it works well in my opinion).

I have no issues with the placement of ads on the rest of the page.

I would be interested to see if anyone else shared this opinion or if this is just going to turn into me ranting & raving away in the corner.

Inb4 get a subscription.

Nick.

kontonnz

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#399271 2-Nov-2010 18:02

+1 in regards to ad 1; this specific ad frustrates me; as it changes the shape of a post as well as viewing on a mobile dev. i find this ad distorts the post and makes it harder to read.

as to the other ads displayed; im not fussed;

freitasm

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#399276 2-Nov-2010 18:14

kontonnz: +1 in regards to ad 1; this specific ad frustrates me; as it changes the shape of a post as well as viewing on a mobile dev. i find this ad distorts the post and makes it harder to read.

as to the other ads displayed; im not fussed;

Interesting comment because when you see the Geekzone full version on a mobile device we explicitly hide all ads, exactly like a subscriber would see it.

Also, have in mind we designed Geekzone for the large screens, and for the average size with the largest number of visitors. For the small screen we have our mobile forums at http://m.geekzone.co.nz.

tomgeeknz

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#399277 2-Nov-2010 18:15

I don' have a problem with ads, and believe if they annoy you so much, you should subscribe (http://www.geekzone.co.nz/subscribe.asp)

michaelmurfy

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#399279 2-Nov-2010 18:20

Weird, because this is all I see:

Oh wait, I am a subscriber, nevermind :P
Did you pick out the subtle hint there?

I do have to agree with you though, that one ad in the post itself cramps the style. I have also noticed that on the Google Search for subscribers there are advertisments, not that I mind too much about them.

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freitasm

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#399280 2-Nov-2010 18:21

The Search page is completely managed by Google. There's no way for us to hide those ads - it's theirs.

michaelmurfy

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#399290 2-Nov-2010 18:38

freitasm: The Search page is completely managed by Google. There's no way for us to hide those ads - it's theirs.

Like I say, I don't really mind text based ads :)

It's images / flash that really grind my gears. Flash uses CPU, CPU uses battery on MacBook, means shorter couch time before finding charger.

I didn't just subscribe for the ads or the speed. I subscribed since you do a great job at this site and I wish to help keep the servers humming. I know the true cost of running a server and I might say they ain't cheap.

I know the ads do get annoying, but if you are a regular user of Geekzone it's worth subscribing over blocking the ads, afterall - what's $7 per month to most people? It's pretty-much a cost of a large coffee now days, do what I did - subscribe for a month, see how you find it, and if you don't like it - cancel - it's only cost you $7, but if you do like it then subscribe for a whole year and show your support.

bazzer

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#399440 3-Nov-2010 07:20

Clearly, I'm not a subscriber, but I would never use an adblocker when browsing this site. I mean, that's kind of the deal right? Subscribe = no ads, don't subscribe = at least get some revenue from the ads.

It seems a bit disrespectful to start a thread announcing that you browse with an adblocker. Way to rip off the system, champ! I find the ads a bit annoying, but if they bothered me too much I'd just subscribe.

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Ragnor

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#400297 4-Nov-2010 18:19

bazzer: I mean, that's kind of the deal right? Subscribe = no ads, don't subscribe = at least get some revenue from the ads.

The reality is: You can have content publicly available on the internet hoping to generate advertising revenue but you have pretty much no choice or control over how the end user chooses to consume your content when you do so.

michaelmurfy

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#400299 4-Nov-2010 18:26

Ragnor:
bazzer: I mean, that's kind of the deal right? Subscribe = no ads, don't subscribe = at least get some revenue from the ads.

The reality is: You can have content publicly available on the internet hoping to generate advertising revenue but you have pretty much no choice or control over how the end user chooses to consume your content when you do so.

End users also think running the site comes free.

bazzer

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#400492 5-Nov-2010 09:23

Ragnor:
bazzer: I mean, that's kind of the deal right? Subscribe = no ads, don't subscribe = at least get some revenue from the ads.

The reality is: You can have content publicly available on the internet hoping to generate advertising revenue but you have pretty much no choice or control over how the end user chooses to consume your content when you do so.

Of course. I'm just saying, that I like geekzone. Not enough to subscribe ;) but enough not to rip it off by blocking the ads.

nickd

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#400672 5-Nov-2010 12:02

@bazzer: A few weeks ago there was talk about why people don't subscribe as well as talk about reasons why people block ads. There are were roughly three groups:
1) Which are happy to subscribe
2) Which aren't happy to subscribe and don't block ads
3) Which aren't happy to subscribe and block ads.

The point of this thread was to elaborate more on comments made by freitasm '[...] I am also interested in anything non-subscribers could tell us - how to make it better, more attractive.' I realise that at this point he was talking about how to make subscriptions better, however I have also taken it for people who currently are unable to subscribe but block ads, the group that I fit into. I realise that a website costs money to run, but I was pointing out that yes, I block ads, but it's not because I just don't want to support GZ, it's because of a specific reason, namely, I have trouble reading posts when that specific ad is there.

nate

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#400809 5-Nov-2010 14:57

nickd: I realise that a website costs money to run, but I was pointing out that yes, I block ads, but it's not because I just don't want to support GZ, it's because of a specific reason, namely, I have trouble reading posts when that specific ad is there.

I hate to shake my finger at you (but I'm going to anyway) but if people continue to do this, they won't need to worry about the ads as they site won't exist for the ads to be on.

reven

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#400815 5-Nov-2010 15:05

i use adblock, but i specifically turn it off on geekzone to support the site.

honestly they dont bother me, and i sometimes i even click on them :)