Boats and outboards - Page 3

matt h · 17 March 2008, 20:30

i am using a sinclair ZX spectrum if that helps!!

Boats · 17 March 2008, 20:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt h

splendid, Now may i suggest you go buy a rib to redeem your self !!!

I would like to but it will need me to resit my driving license to tow the bloomin thing!

I should have some news tomorrow when I get back in the office.

Nite all!

Cheers

Stephen

Poly · 17 March 2008, 20:36

[quote=Boats;242099] I think you missed my point, our website like most other successful niche websites will carry what you might call non relevant advertising, it is however desirable to have the advertising that is marine related and that is what we strive for, any remaining inventory is sold as you see it now and it does go a long way to paying the bills!

Cheers

Stephen [/quote

Stephen - RIBnet carries advertising but it is 99% relevant (driven by google ads) and the sponsored ads are clearly delineated from the main purpose of the page.

the only thing saving your site right now is its brand. Everytime someone goes on there and gets something which is not boat related this dilutes the brand. Every time someone goes on there and gets poor performance this dilutes the brand.

As that brand gets damaged two things will happen - (1) fewer people will start to visit the site (2) fewer people will start to advertise. That is a spiral which means you will get less pay-per-click and pay-per-impression advertising.

You need to act now or someone will take over your market leading position.

matt h · 17 March 2008, 20:38

Let see what happens in the next few days, at least Stephen is going to address these issues,

Nos4r2 · 17 March 2008, 20:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boats

Hi,

When did you email me as I have not received anything, checked spam folder!

I have been away for a couple of weeks so will just double check the inbox as there is a fair amount of emails there.

Many apologies for the lack of response!

Stephen

No problem-it's been sorted now. Thanks!

It's taking me between 10 and 30 seconds to load a page at the moment.

What really bugged me about the Land Rover popups is they tie up my net connection while buffering film and they have sound running which comes on when I'm not expecting it.

Andy JC · 17 March 2008, 21:19

I find the performance issues extremely intermitant, sometimes I get the same problems as reported on this thread but more often than not I can live with the page loading speeds.

Just checked the site now and found 10s to load man page and then another 10s after clicking 'Ribs for sale' - like I said though it's random and the pop-up's do p*ss me off

For the record; XP Pro, IE7, Core 2 Duo, 2MB Ram, Virgin 2Mb - not that I think this info is particularly relative, I'm sure the problem mainly lies with the B&O servers

chris123 · 18 March 2008, 17:37

I'm guessing that everyone with problems is using Internet Explorer?

For what its worth, I use Firefox, which means zero pop-ups - I've never seen any of the land rover / estate agent / whatever ads. I've just tried opening B&O in IE7 and I can see what you mean - ads for Sunsail, Ireland holidays, hot cans - thank god I use Firefox!

I've also never had any problems with speed - I'm on a nominally 2MB connection and on a quick check it takes about 5 to 7 seconds to load a complete page including all images.

I've just tried it in IE7 as well - and it took 25 seconds, so I think we have the answer.

And before anyone says otherwise, I have no connection to Boats and Outboards, I have never even bought and sold anything on there.

Cheers

Chris

Poly · 18 March 2008, 18:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris123

ads for Sunsail, Ireland holidays, hot cans - thank god I use Firefox!

no those are just banner ads & not too bad... all to be expected with using the site... the really annoying ones launched completely new windows (B&O seem to have stopped this for the moment).

Quote:

I've just tried it in IE7 as well - and it took 25 seconds, so I think we have the answer.

possibly... (its probably all the extra ads loading

) but given that 90% of B&O customer base will be using IE they need to make the site work well with the crap browser.

Boats · 18 March 2008, 19:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polwart

no those are just banner ads & not too bad... all to be expected with using the site... the really annoying ones launched completely new windows (B&O seem to have stopped this for the moment).

possibly... (its probably all the extra ads loading

) but given that 90% of B&O customer base will be using IE they need to make the site work well with the crap browser.

Hi,

Well we have hopefully now killed the pop-up advert and we think we have got the problem worked out on the site speed and as mentioned it appears to be a browser related issue, I think it is fairly unlikely that I can convince the 500,000+ monthly users to convert to firefox (which if anyone has not got, I personally recommend!) so we are looking at a fix which I hope to have live as soon as possible.

Thanks to everyone here for their feedback, we do listen and try our best.

Stephen

codprawn · 18 March 2008, 20:29

I agree you at least LISTEN unlike so many other companies!!!

matt h · 23 March 2008, 14:14

Come on Boats and outboards!! one minute ten, Gave up""

Boats · 25 March 2008, 14:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt h

Come on Boats and outboards!! one minute ten, Gave up""

I have just tried today and it appears to be loading quickly for me, how's it looking at your end?

Thanks

Stephen

matt h · 25 March 2008, 16:52

Stephen, typed in a particular rib manufacturer and 13 other type rib's came up on that first page,
took 18 sec and was a blank blue page

Colin F · 25 March 2008, 17:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt h

Stephen, typed in a particular rib manufacturer and 13 other type rib's came up on that first page

isn't that because some people who are selling put things like "will p/x humber, ribcraft, cobra, scorpion, avon, zodiac" in the text so a search will find it.

ebay bans keyword spamming as they call it, but it still does happen on there as well.

Boats · 25 March 2008, 18:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colin F

isn't that because some people who are selling put things like "will p/x humber, ribcraft, cobra, scorpion, avon, zodiac" in the text so a search will find it.

ebay bans keyword spamming as they call it, but it still does happen on there as well.

Yes. we are about to ban it as well, watch this space!

ribraff · 26 March 2008, 08:58

mmm, good idea, there are some serious serial offenders on this front ..... i will mention no names.

Cookee · 07 April 2008, 14:06

(smug) Firefox user here - no loading issues at all!

Rogue Wave · 07 April 2008, 15:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cookee

(smug) Firefox user here - no loading issues at all!

i appreciate amd concur with your smugness. I've just found out it can have an inline spelling checker

Nos4r2 · 07 April 2008, 15:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

i appreciate amd concur with your smugness. I've just found out it can have an inline spelling checker

So we know gArf aint using it then

Mollers · 23 April 2008, 21:32

Have B&O gotton JK in as an IT consultant ?

It's now so slow, it's next to useless.