More ads . . .

[John Kennett]

The more astute of you may have noticed that some adverts have appeared on the forum home page

It's just an experiment for now. How annoying do you find them? On the other hand, how useful do you find them?

How would you feel if they were in that position on every page in the forums?

So far I have kept the adverts tucked down at the bottom of the pages, but the click-through ratio is so miniscule that I am considering moving them to a position where they are likely to be noticed more. It does eat into the usable screen space rather a lot though.

One approach that seems to work well on some other forums is to give the option to not display the ads for paid members, leaving them on for the rest.

What do you think?

John

[thorper]

How much does ribnet make from each clickthrough?

Ricky

[SOLENTER]

Where ?

[jwalker]

Originally Posted by John Kennett

How annoying do you find them?

Irritating.

On the other hand, how useful do you find them?

Never use 'em.

How would you feel if they were in that position on every page in the forums?

Please, please don't do that.

So far I have kept the adverts tucked down at the bottom of the pages, but the click-through ratio is so miniscule that I am considering moving them to a position where they are likely to be noticed more.

Maybe that tells you what most folk feel about them.

It does eat into the usable screen space rather a lot though.

Yup.

One approach that seems to work well on some other forums is to give the option to not display the ads for paid members, leaving them on for the rest.

Aha, blackmail.



Luv and kisses, JW

[roycruse]

I was about to come up with a ligitimate reason not to have the adverts - but after a test - they do not appear on my pocket pc anyway so no problems. I was going to protest against the adverts on every page purely from a download point of view where internet usage costs aprox £2.50 per MB over grps or 3g.

I think as long as the adverts are relevent to boating then bring em on - I think its nice to be tempted off to have a look at something you might not have looked at otherwise every now and again.

And at the end of the day if it keeps some cash comming in which goes towards keeping RIBnet running - then great.

[Hugh Jardon]

Originally Posted by jwalker

Irritating.

Never use 'em.

Please, please don't do that.

Maybe that tells you what most folk feel about them.

Yup.

Aha, blackmail.



Luv and kisses, JW

here here

last thing we want is to wade thru irritating adverts, perhaps a better idea would be to have an adverts area where folks can advertise special deals for folks using ribnet, then it might be of use and is in an area folks can choose to look

[SDGANDER]

Would suggest that they open in a new window if you do click on them - nothing worse than losing the page you started on to follow an 'interesting' ad or link.

SDG.

[Rogue Wave]

if it helps to feed the little Kennets then I am all for it, do you need us too start clicking

[Poly]

I have no objection to adding adverts if it helps to keep the forum afloat (excuse the pun).

I guess with the current range of adverts most of the forum regulars are unlikely to click through - but perhaps new visitors and people finding the site through google might. Or you could try to widen the range of ads - so we are more likely to click through.

I think it is a good idea that you can "buy out" of the adverts - then if people don't like them they can do something about it

Thats my 2p's worth.

Neil

[TQBoater]

Don't know about anyone else but over the years I have become immune to adverts on webpages. I just don't see them anymore.

And it's not blocking software on the PC as once I had read this I went and checked then I noticed them

[John Kennett]

The Google Ads seem to work much better than conventional banner ads, as they are targetted so tend to be reasonably relevant.

Judging by the number of click-throughs that we get, at least some people are finding them useful. The click through ratio on the ads at the bottom of the forum pages is low due to a variety of reasons -- lack of prominence for a start, and the fact that there are shown repeatedly as people read each thread.

Some are pay per click, some are pay per view. The payment varies from advert to advert, but each click generally pays a few pence. Obviously you should only click on adverts that interest you, otherwise it would not be fair on the advertisers who are paying.

Initial results with the adverts at the top of the page are encouraging, but are not going to be to everyone's liking. I don't think it would be right to "hold people to ransom" by demanding payment as I would much rather people only join as paying members for positive reasons.

So here's the ultimate compromise: more adverts, but you can turn them off

http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=12291

John

[Poly]

http://www.spiderclimbing.com/Product_Video.htm

...pretty cool!

[John Kennett]

It's weird. I've noticed their ads appearing here a lot, but can't work out why!

Looks cool though.

John

[The Jackeens]

The site needs to generate revenue and while I personally don't like ads, they are part of life. I have sympathy with JW's viewpoint and don't like when they are intrusive. However that seems to have been defeating the purpose?

IMMHO It's been OK and no-one seems to be objecting so might be time to launch off the sigmoid !

missus

[John Kennett]

Originally Posted by The Jackeens

The site needs to generate revenue and while I personally don't like ads, they are part of life.

You can't avoid adverts everywhere, but you can here. If you don't like them, turn them off!

I have sympathy with JW's viewpoint and don't like when they are intrusive. However that seems to have been defeating the purpose?

What does?

IMMHO It's been OK and no-one seems to be objecting so might be time to launch off the sigmoid !

Now I have no idea what you're on about!

John

[The Jackeens]

OK I was shorthanding a bit!

Originally Posted by John Kennett

The more astute of you may have noticed that some adverts have appeared on the forum home page

It's just an experiment for now. How annoying do you find them? On the other hand, how useful do you find them?

Find ads only moderately annoying and if they help to support the site then no problemo. Appreciate the option to turn them off. Agree with Rogue that it's a good thing if the site generates revenue.

So far I have kept the adverts tucked down at the bottom of the pages, but the click-through ratio is so miniscule that I am considering moving them to a position where they are likely to be noticed more. It does eat into the usable screen space rather a lot though.

Agree that when ads are positioned so as to not be too intrusive they may not actually get any good results! Thus defeating the purpose a bit!

One approach that seems to work well on some other forums is to give the option to not display the ads for paid members, leaving them on for the rest.

What do you think?

John

Wouldn't mind that option. I would see it as a bonus personally. But you said we all have that option anyway?

(Regarding the 'sigmoid principle : it's about change management ...

i.e. the right time to introduce change is when things are on the up! As RIBnet certainly is.

Just checked and realised it ain't easy to reference on Google so here's a 'Handy' link for sigmoid curves also here (a bit Ricky Gervaise perhaps ).

missus

[jwalker]

U bin drinkin', K?

[The Jackeens]

No!


Just explaining an earlier post which I wrote a bit too concisely.( I was mainly watching X-factor & Strictly Come Dancing at the time.)

missus

[osprey__viper]

Originally Posted by The Jackeens

No!


Just explaining an earlier post which I wrote a bit too concisely.( I was mainly watching X-factor & Strictly Come Dancing at the time.)

missus

Well thats it then, you must have been indulging in the black stuff, to celebrate Louis Walsh's victory

I aint got a problem with the ads, and indeed found them useful being relatively new to ribbin.

Martin

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by Polwart

http://www.spiderclimbing.com/Product_Video.htm
...pretty cool!

Agreed, thinking of buying Rogue Wave a set for Xmas, not so much for his new unit but for installing in his ribs, should stop him falling out of the things