ADS WAAAAAAAAAAY TOO MUCH! (Only to CodeGuru owners)

as an owner of several websites, I totally understand the need to place ads on your website. however... placing ads which take up half the page goes beyond excessive.

anything over 120 pixels (let along ~360) is only annoying. it takes away from anything good that is going on here. it cheapens all the great things members of this community have done.

at 800x600 your showthread.php page has absolutely NO SITE CONTENT above the fold. only ads. thats just sad, and pathetic.

please, reconsider the ads on the right hand side of the site. I absolutely hate the 360 pixel panel, and even though you provide the collapse feature, I find it overly annoying to do so at *EVERY* page.

thanks for taking the time to read this.
--Steve Whitley

No, i think they are beutifying site's appearance,


Edt, well, I think that is also a good idea to have ads around a bit, i mean so....:)

Please take a look at this thread. The problem was already debated there.

And since the ad was already taking up space and forcing white space below it (forum software won't wrap), It didn't hurt to add anything below the ads, so we've used that space to list articles from the sites.

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Originally Posted by Brad Jones

And since the ad was already taking up space and forcing white space below it (forum software won't wrap), It didn't hurt to add anything below the ads, so we've used that space to list articles from the sites.

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:thumb: :thumb: Nice Idea..
I got some very interesting stuff from some of those aritcles..

That is a very good use of extra space.. :thumb: :thumb:

Thanks Brad

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Originally Posted by Brad Jones

And since the ad was already taking up space and forcing white space below it (forum software won't wrap), It didn't hurt to add anything below the ads, so we've used that space to list articles from the sites.

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Somebody woke up early this morning... ;)

Listing the lastest articles from CG and developer.com was a good idea to fill that empty space.

However, there are some ads that are much narrower than others. I'm currious to see how will the article links be displayed then.

well i'm adding my voice here seperate from any others (mainly because i dont read any of the other sections of this site outside of the C# section).

I dont like the other stuff below the ads, i dont like the ads, and thats my stance. I hope those with the powers to be hear and understand what an awful mess this is.

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Originally Posted by MadHatter

well i'm adding my voice here seperate from any others (mainly because i dont read any of the other sections of this site outside of the C# section).

I dont like the other stuff below the ads, i dont like the ads, and thats my stance. I hope those with the powers to be hear and understand what an awful mess this is.

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Well your concern is valid, however i would refer to Cilu's post in this thread itself, take a look what he wrote

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Originally Posted by Cilu

Please take a look at this thread. The problem was already debated there.

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great thread btw.

I have looked at it (after the fact. I probably would have still started another thread though).

since they understand spam, spam is a good tool, so this is my contribution.

it was either this or add a big protest in huge red letters in my sig. since I'm hating annoying stuff I decided to say it here instead.

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Originally Posted by MadHatter

I have looked at it (after the fact. I probably would have still started another thread though).

since they understand spam, spam is a good tool, so this is my contribution.

it was either this or add a big protest in huge red letters in my sig. since I'm hating annoying stuff I decided to say it here instead.

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So if I'm reading your post correctly, then you are saying that for your account we should eliminate the big ads and send you spam instead? Interesting idea. I'll run it by the execs.

Brad!
I'm joking of course.

I use this site too and thus don't like the layout cluttered as well. That is why this site has the "Click to expand' when most of the other Jupitermedia site don't. It is also why this site has two ad layout formats instead of having the ads on the top and sides of all pages.

I can't stop the ads, but I can work to make them as painless as possible. Granted that isn't to the level everyone would like, but it better than it could be.

The point has been made about not liking the ads. If you have something new to state, I'd be glad to hear.

What's wrong with filling up some of the blank space that was there? It doesn't truncate the forums any, and those articles are informative and interesting, at least I think so.

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Originally Posted by Brad Jones

So if I'm reading your post correctly, then you are saying that for your account we should eliminate the big ads and send you spam instead? Interesting idea. I'll run it by the execs.

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hehe.

in all seriousness, I'd give CG my marketing info for direct email marketing if it would mean these ads would be turned off. having worked for a list broker, I know that that opt-in info is worth MUCH more than these ads would generate.

i'm not opposed to ads. i run several sites myself. ads are good/necessary IMO.

my only crank is over an ad that takes up half of the page (360 pixels of realestate on my monitor that could be used to display content).

I like the side ads if kept to 120px (fairly industry standard). that is non-obtrusive. they are there when I need to click on them, but dont take over the content of the page when i'm not in the market. effective and win win.

I do like the extra CG content (whats currently filling in white space) but not at the expense of what I'm trying very hard to look at. placing it @ the bottom or under the 1st post is a very common practice and very helpful. taking up half the screen to show me what I'm not interested is distracting. to be completely honest I just see ad words as it is now (not distinguishable from the ads in a lot of cases so it doesnt do me any good).

thanks.

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Originally Posted by JPnyc

What's wrong with filling up some of the blank space that was there? It doesn't truncate the forums any, and those articles are informative and interesting, at least I think so.

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I find whitespace much easier on the eyes and less destracting than a lot of text in a small typeface. The ads themselves are sometimes visually appealing and don't disturb that much, but I don't like the new links since they clutter much more than the ads.

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Originally Posted by JPnyc

What's wrong with filling up some of the blank space that was there? It doesn't truncate the forums any, and those articles are informative and interesting, at least I think so.

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Well, besides cluttering up the page (keep in mind that every square inch need not be filled), it makes it harder to find the all important "Click Here to Expand Forum to Full Width" link.

Of course, if you just move the "Click Here to Expand Forum to Full Width" link to the top of the frame as requested, this wouldn't be an issue.

Arjay

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Originally Posted by Arjay

Well, besides cluttering up the page (keep in mind that every square inch need not be filled), it makes it harder to find the all important "Click Here to Expand Forum to Full Width" link.

Of course, if you just move the "Click Here to Expand Forum to Full Width" link to the top of the frame as requested, this wouldn't be an issue.

Arjay

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I'd risk being fired if I made that move. It isn't worth the risk to my job to counter what higher level execs have decided. That issue has already been brought up and brought to resolution. I'm not going to push this one any farther for risk of being insubordinate -- which for me on this forum can cost me my job. We got the link, we didn't get it at the top.

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Originally Posted by Brad Jones

I'd risk being fired if I made that move. It isn't worth the risk to my job to counter what higher level execs have decided. That issue has already been brought up and brought to resolution. I'm not going to push this one any farther for risk of being insubordinate -- which for me on this forum can cost me my job. We got the link, we didn't get it at the top.

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I'm not suggesting anyone lose their jobs (<hint>execs</hint>), what I was referring to was in response to JPync's post.

Arjay

In the mock-up to demonstrate how the script would function, the link was atop the ad. I was told to put it beneath.

would it be possible for someone outside of you or yours to bring up what we think about it? if so who might that be. if you dont want to directly say, where might we find out that info?

I'm thinking like a hand written letter or professional email stating that the width of the ads detract from the content of the site.

I simply want someone in the decision making role to hear this -- without you guys risking your jobs. I know how it is to do what you have been assigned and have to deal with the aftermath of the action.

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Originally Posted by Brad Jones

I'd risk being fired if I made that move. It isn't worth the risk to my job to counter what higher level execs have decided. That issue has already been brought up and brought to resolution. I'm not going to push this one any farther for risk of being insubordinate -- which for me on this forum can cost me my job. We got the link, we didn't get it at the top.

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I believe I speak for everybody when I say that no one will ask you to do something that would jeopardize your job. You are doing a great job managing this site and we appreciate it. :thumb:

Let me cut to the chase --

No, the "click to expand" is not moving to the top so that you can click on it before the ads appear. That would defeat the ad being on the site in the first place. The ads are the revenue source for this site.

My boss is Gus Venditto. He is the editor-in-chief.

thanks brad!

Where the forums are concerned, correspondence should go to me.

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Originally Posted by Brad Jones

Let me cut to the chase --

No, the "click to expand" is not moving to the top so that you can click on it before the ads appear.

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My suggestion to move it to the top wasn't to allow me to click on it before the ads appear. Maybe it's not clear where I am suggesting to put it.

Here's where it is now:
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- Big Ads of various heights
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Click Here to Expand Forum to Full Width
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- Code Guru Ads
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Here is what I suggest to put it:

Click Here to Expand Forum to Full Width
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- Big Ads of various heights
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- Code Guru Ads
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I'm not at all suggesting that the 'click here' link be put into another frame.

With the 'click here' link on top, I can still see the ads, see if they are interest to me, and click on them if I want. The only difference is that if I want to hide them, I don't have to root around for the link because it is always in the one location.

Thanks,

Arjay

You were understood correctly, but that placement of the text was already ruled against. Sorry. It would also load before the ads would for certain, allowing users to click before the ads were served.

Vote with your feet.

Since these intrusive ads invaded the site, I made my protest and just stopped contributing. I visit every now and then to see if the situation has improved (but it hasn't).

Since I stopped using the site, the ads don't worry me anymore :D, and I've found other productive things to do with my time.

No matter how far down the wrong road you have gone, turn back now...
Turkish proverb