Topic: Playing around with ads... need your thoughts/opinions (Read 5800 times)

grumpy · « **on:** November 23, 2010, 12:10:52 PM »

Yes, as some have noticed, we've been playing around with the idea of including paid ads on the forum. Now, the last thing we want to do is annoy or bother our wonderful members, or scare off guests, which is why your thoughts, feelings, impressions, opinions, or other nonsensical ramblings are important to us. Let us know what you think!

We are just playing around with the idea right now, and testing things out . . . so you'll see ads come and go or get moved around a bit over the next few weeks.

Currently, for members we have one ad block at the bottom of the page, where it's out of the way and hopefully doesn't detract from the site. Down there it doesn't get in the way and is easy to ignore, and may not even be noticed by some people unless you scroll to the very bottom. Of course, the downside to this is, since it's not seen well, it's less likely to generate any income. Guests see an additional ad at the top of the page between the menu bar and the main body of the page.

Again, the intent is not to turn this forum into a crass commercial site, nor will the site be going away if it doesn't generate income (thanks to a few members, the site is already pre-paid through next October). We're just playing around with ideas. Which is why your thoughts are important to hear! And in turn, we'll keep you informed of things here in this thread.

Be sure to cast your votes in the poll. Please vote 4 times . . . That is, select one item from the four choices marked A, select one item from the set marked B, select one item from the set marked C, and one item from the set marked D.

91/23Class · « **Reply #1 on:** November 24, 2010, 09:41:24 AM »

To be Honest I hadn't noticed the ad at the bottom of the page before now, I don't mind ads on a page, and if it helps the site, I'm all for it, great idea!

fancyfont · « **Reply #2 on:** November 25, 2010, 01:52:52 PM »

I'm fine with the idea of ads as long as they are stationary and don't move. I must admit I get dizzy from animated ads.

Jules · « **Reply #3 on:** November 26, 2010, 04:56:10 AM »

Adds don't bother me as long as they are not animated.
My Kasperky blocks everything anyway so it's not a problem.

Crewella · « **Reply #4 on:** November 26, 2010, 07:10:40 AM »

I am behind anything that helps the forum, but because I run an ad blocker too I'd never have known if it had not been mentioned.

InmemoryofRomeo · « **Reply #5 on:** November 26, 2010, 01:16:48 PM »

I had to turn off my adblocker to see it, it seems harmless enough and it gets blocked on my iPad as well as my desktop... But do ads actually earn revenue if everyone blocks them?

kat · « **Reply #6 on:** November 26, 2010, 04:41:35 PM »

I didn't mind the ones at the bottom of the page but now they have inserted them at the top of the page just above the recent topics box on the home page and this I feel is a little more invasive.
Also just a thought and I don't know how practical it is but wouldn't it be better to run pleo related adds on the site? Adds for places that sell pleo merchandise - shirts, coffee mugs stationary etc... or even adds for places to buy pleo accessories. I know we have the shopping mall on the site so I don't know that this is a practical idea. But it seems you would get more hits on the adds if they were for pleo related stuff.

Bumblebee · « **Reply #7 on:** November 26, 2010, 05:33:53 PM »

Are. You. Kidding. Me.?

*Really ticked off with this new add at the top of the page* I'll be perfectly unlovable and honest; I hate this.

The one at the bottom of the page was fine. I didn't give a rip about it. Actually, I didn't even notice it until Pleo Power pointed it out.

This one at the top is seriously fingernails on the chalkboard and an untuned violin for me. I can hardly stand it, its driving me nuts. *Pulling hard at hair* >.> Too invasive. I've left a lot of sites because the ads bugged me, and I wont hesitate to say that, considering I haven't been very active lately, that box at the top of the screen isn't making me particularly want to pick up my pace around here.

InmemoryofRomeo · « **Reply #8 on:** November 26, 2010, 05:53:21 PM »

Could you remove the burlesque one please, I don't think we need that on here.

How much does this site cost to run if you don't mind my asking, I'd be happy to make a donation

grumpy · « **Reply #9 on:** November 26, 2010, 07:08:14 PM »

To answer a few questions . . .

If everyone blocks the ads, then, no, the forum makes no money. Money is not really made for displaying the ads, the money comes when people respond to the ads by clicking on them. If nobody sees them, then nobody will click on them, and no money comes in. (Their software is smart enough to know a click based on real interest from someone just arbitrarily clicking on every ad to generate extra money....) And personally, I run an ad blocker too... so I didn't see them on the page either until I turned it off for this site.

As for the ads on the top, just remember we're still playing around with them, trying to figure out what works and what doesn't. So, from day to day, they'll be moved around, and you'll spot them in different places on different pages... Don't panic yet. But that's also why it's important that you tell us how you feel about what you see!

As for running pleo ads... We'd love to! There just aren't any people spending money to advertise their pleo sites. The current ads are coming from Google Adsense, and they display ads based on the viewer's location and the page context. We don't really know who's ad is being displayed, but we can filter out ads by category, so we should be able to put a stop on any risque ads... And if there are people interested in Pleo/Bob the Pleo merchandise like t-shirts, coffee mugs, stationary, bumper stickers, etc., I'd be happy to put some stuff up on CafePress and Zazzle.

Ugobe never did have much luck on CafePress with their "official" Pleo shirts.

As currently configured, the total for hosting and domain registration to keep the site up runs right around $75US per year. And for the last two years we have run an obviously unobtrusive "pledge week" in mid-October, which did generate a couple of contributions.

InmemoryofRomeo · « **Reply #10 on:** November 26, 2010, 07:26:35 PM »

Wow, $75 is cheaper than I thought it would be

I'd be more than happy to donate, after all this is my home away from home

Gotta wait for the pricing on Pleo RB though

There's a hold on my account til then

Crewella · « **Reply #11 on:** November 27, 2010, 12:53:02 AM »

Thanks for the explanation, Grumpy.

Sorry if I'm being dense, but on the poll, what does the percentage represent? $:-\$

gucci_boi7782 · « **Reply #12 on:** November 27, 2010, 07:13:41 PM »

I am behind the idea of displaying ads. I DO NOT have an ad blocker, didn't even know they made such a thing. At this point, I did not see the ad at the bottom, nor was I even aware it was there. Which I do think others may not find it either. If you don't mind my asking, how could I rig it and help earn some revenue? Obvs, I'm not trying to buy anything, but if all it requires is clicking, the least I could do is click a button everytime I go online....

mweed · « **Reply #13 on:** November 27, 2010, 07:44:32 PM »

Crewella, the percentages mean nothing. They actually are supposed to represent the percent of votes each option gets, but the program doesn't understand that there are four separate questions, so the percentages are off . . .

Appreciate the offer, gucci, but just clicking on the ads every time you go on line won't work. Their system very quickly realizes what your doing and doesn't count your clicks. What it's looking for are clicks that "appear" to represent real interest. That is, a person not only clicks on the ad, they visit the site the ad is from, spend some time on it, visit other pages on the other site, etc. And someone with a real interest doesn't click on every ad, they click on the occasional ad that gets their interest.

So, the best suggestion is if the ad doesn't get your interest, ignore it, if it does pique your interest enough to want to find out more, go ahead and click on it. If everybody responded to one ad a month that genuinely attracted their interest, that would be great.

Trust me, google has had a number of years and BILLIONS and BILLIONS of searches and ads, so they know how to spot people just trying to make money by clicking on ads.... And I actually did see an ad that got my interest. The ad was for someone selling brand new Pleos for $479 through Amazon.

Firebreathingsquirrels · « **Reply #14 on:** November 27, 2010, 08:04:57 PM »

Woah, $479?

I found Clover, my Pleo thats coming in the mail right now, for $135 on eBay

mweed · « **Reply #15 on:** November 27, 2010, 08:36:25 PM »

I doubt he was selling any . . . At that price, I'd expect it to be a Pleo RB!

So, has anyone seen the text ads? Do you like those better than the graphic ads?

Firebreathingsquirrels · « **Reply #16 on:** November 27, 2010, 09:05:16 PM »

I'm seeing "Pleo the Dinosaur - Cheap Compare Prices and Save Huge on Pleo Robotic Dinosaur Life Forms!" Which I like, if the site is gonna make money off of ads I prefer Pleo ads over anything

norniff · « **Reply #17 on:** November 27, 2010, 09:37:15 PM »

In my opinion, as long as the graphic ads stay stationary, I'm just fine with them. I'd hate to see this place be suffocated by ads, though. That would just be vile in my opinion, despite the fact I tend to ignore them. Definitally not on the sides of the page, as then people who still want to help pay for the site are followed by them, can't really escape.

Crewella · « **Reply #18 on:** November 28, 2010, 07:35:21 AM »

Thanks O Great Leader - I was going bug-eyed trying to work those percentages out!

It's only a thought, but you could always try asking what members would pay to keep ads OFF the forum .............

gucci_boi7782 · « **Reply #19 on:** November 30, 2010, 08:52:40 AM »

Ermmmm, I think my ads are in German?? But now they're in English..?

mweed · « **Reply #20 on:** November 30, 2010, 02:30:08 PM »

I had the same problem.... I actually think it was dutch. Not sure why...

kat · « **Reply #21 on:** November 30, 2010, 04:08:04 PM »

Maybe Chinatete would like to advertise on the forum.....
Just a thought. And how about Innvo? Could be good business for them to have a button here to press to send people to their get pleo page.

gucci_boi7782 · « **Reply #22 on:** December 01, 2010, 06:57:07 PM »

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I am totally for the idea of ads, and I do not wish to seem like I am criticizing, but shouldn't the ads be a bit more personal? Now I wasn't looking for Barney. But, the other day I was browsing FL theme parks, and Universal Studios was in the googe ad. Why would sometimes there are personalized ads, then others there is Dutch/German?

Crewella · « **Reply #23 on:** December 02, 2010, 04:10:24 AM »

From my limited experience in these matters I don't think the sites get that much control over what ads are shown - 'filter by category' is probably as far as it goes.

mweed · « **Reply #24 on:** December 02, 2010, 09:49:46 AM »

Yep. We can filter by category, and have blocked all the sex related ads, but beyond that, it's up to google to decide what to display. In theory, google is analyzing this site/page and your browser settings to try and personalize the ads. I'm assuming "Barney" is a match as it's a dinosaur/toy... I'm guessing google assumes "pleo" is a dutch/german term, and therefor opts for the foreign language ads...

Bob the Pleo Forums

Poll

How do you feel about ads on these forums? (Please answer once for each group A, B, C, and D (vote 4 times)

Author Topic: Playing around with ads... need your thoughts/opinions (Read 5800 times)