In-Text Ads: An Insult to Your Hard Earned Reader Base
November 29, 2007 | 12:55 pm | by t-blender |Rate It:
grokdotcom: You may have noticed double underlined links on sites that create a pop up advertisement when moused over. These are “in-text” advertisements, and they’re increasingly appearing on content sites to generate additional revenue.
For content providers, the question remains whether additional short-term bursts of ad revenue will be justified against the potential decrease in brand affinity. Since the ads work under the guise of a regular-old hyperlink, some visitors are turned off completely after being clicking on them.
From a usability standpoint, they’re a real pain. Text becomes a pop-up minefield with any slight mouse movement touching one of these ads triggering pop-up advertisements. This creates friction for the visitor, who’s simply trying to do what they came to a site for; to read the content…
Thought-Blender: Advertising on websites has definitely reached a new level and these, increasingly common, inline ads are just brutally abusing the system. Let’s face it, advertising helps site owners recoup a little something for their efforts, but at what cost to your viewers? Honestly, the ads on this site (T|B) don’t put a dent in the financial and hourly investment that is required to maintain it.
But making money was never the intent of Thought-Blender. Don’t get me wrong - - I wouldn’t complain if T|B was raking in some serious cash, but I refuse to thrash our viewers with ads just for a few extra bucks. Our ads are clearly visible and, hopefully, unobtrusive to your reading.
Although T|B is still in beta testing, we have seen an incredible growth in the last 2 months and I’m pretty sure it has little to do with those nifty little ads we have running down the column to the right. The fact is that myself and the other T|B writers are news hounds and we have real opinions on real topics - - we want to share them and we want our readers to share their thoughts and opinions as well ( whether we agree with them or not). So how could this forum be appropriate for obnoxious and forced viewing of advertising? How could any website, for that matter? It’s not why the viewers are here. You are here for the content.
I’m not going to jump on a soapbox and start preaching. We do use ads.
Honestly, I spend a lot of time reading news articles from tons of different websites and I hate when I’m forced to close an ad that is blocking part of an article or I inadvertently move my mouse over a hyperlink that displays a popup ad. I find it insulting. I assume that you do too.
Capitalism is king!
In Dec ’06 the leader of this great nation, George W. Bush, stated the following:
“As we work with Congress in the coming year to chart a new course in Iraq and strengthen our military to meet the challenges of the 21st century, we must also work together to achieve important goals for the American people here at home. This work begins with keeping our economy growing. … And I encourage you all to go shopping more.”
EUREKA!!! The solution to an economic recession & victory in the war on terror is the same – “Shop More”. Our president is a genius. The brave men & women that utilize “in-text” advertising on their websites are not motivated by greed but by a sense of patriotism. By NOT visiting these sponsors you’re supporting terrorism & facilitating the decline of the U.S economy. Government subsidies & public support for Exxon Mobil have provided record setting annual profits of $36.1 billion in 2005 & $39.5 billion in 2006. Exxon Mobil’s efforts have certainly had a tremendous effect on this country & I’m sure George W. Bush is proud.
Stop supporting economic decline & start supporting advertisers!
lmao!
concerned: you definitely have a way with words
There is nothing worse than those in-text advertisements. I hate those that when my mouse accidentally mouse over it, some popup thing comes up. My favorite site, Blabbermouth.net, now has it and I hate it…and find myself going to Bravewords.com more now as a result.
Short term gain will equal long term downsizing of web hits.
Shopping more ?America’s government never ceases to amaze me.I’m just wondering if someone’s writing his speeches or if he just comes in front of a crowd and starts his well basically intellectual masturbation.