google banners in thread headers?

[jacobsen1]

When did this start? I know there have been banner ads between posts when logged in forever, but I just noticed the google ads in threads today? They seem to pop in after the thread which caught my eye. Any reason to run google ads for logged in members? People actually click them?

I run my own (much smaller) board, so I know all about covering the boards expenses and generally agree with doing it however you can. I was just curious as to when this happened more than complaining.

Also, why no affiliate links? Is this something that's tough when the owner isn't in the states?

[focus.pocus]

I don't see them... Maybe you need to check and see if you are actually logged in and not in guest mode...

[TheHoff]

I don't see them... Maybe you need to check and see if you are actually logged in and not in guest mode...

Maybe you need to check to see if you have an adblocker turned on :)

Yup, they started this morning. No worries on this end; forums are huge black holes of money.

And I agree, affiliate sales would kick the butt out of the google ads... I'd write a vB plugin that replaces the names of equipment with aff links to Adorama/BH.. at least for guest viewers.

[snyderman]

I'm logged in and I see 'em. they've been there for as long as I can remember.

dave

[tommykjensen]

I see it too. I have notified Pekka about it.

[timnosenzo]

I'm logged in and I see 'em. they've been there for as long as I can remember.

They usually only show up if you're not logged in.

[jacobsen1]

And I agree, affiliate sales would kick the butt out of the google ads... I'd write a vB plugin that replaces the names of equipment with aff links to Adorama/BH.. at least for guest viewers.

I don't even mean anything that slick. I just have an adorama, B&H and amazon account. I linked them in my forum footer (specifically) added a "affiliates" slug to the header and that takes you to the blog post about it. We also have ONE post about it I bump every so often. Right now with ~800 members (200 active) I made $1500 in 2008, 2009 will be close EVEN THOUGH MY STATE TOOK IT AWAY FROM ME IN JULY!...

With the members here, I can only imagine how well Pekka could do with it! :shock:

check out my implementation on my board if you like (not trying to whore it out, just offer some help to making the board some money):
http://www.newschoolofphotography.com/forum

[tommykjensen]

They usually only show up if you're not logged in.

Yes but something has changed so everybody see them. Its probably a template that was reverted when Pekka updated the software the other day.

[Jon]

I haven't been seeing them - Seamonkey 1.18 and IE6 here.

[Pekka]

I just enabled ads for all members, sorry for not notifying beforehand. Ads are there for a purpose, they pay for the servers. I simply figured why should not most active members have them too, it's not a punishment of any kind :) Only mods do not see them, admins do (for verification purposes).

If you have a real problem having on your screen them let me know and I can remove them individually. But I would like to also hear why.

[jacobsen1]

I just have 2 questions?

1) do you get enough clicks it's worth it? (and see if they go up now that members see them if you can)
2) why no affiliates?

thanks for the explanation though!

oh, one more thing. Would it be less distracting if they were on the boards and index as well, so they didn't just appear when you jump in a thread? Consistency seems to hide things better, but then again, you probably don't want them hidden. :lol:

[Mike]

I just enabled ads for all members, sorry for not notifying beforehand. Ads are there for a purpose, they pay for the servers. I simply figured why should not most active members have them too, it's not a punishment of any kind Only mods do not see them, admins do (for verification purposes).

If you have a real problem having on your screen them let me know and I can remove them individually. But I would like to also hear why.


I have just noticed them too...was gonna ask why but now I know. I'll have to work hard towards becoming a mod...;)

[Roy Mathers]

I can't see what the problem is.

[Pekka]

I just have 2 questions?

1) do you get enough clicks it's worth it? (and see if they go up now that members see them if you can)

I have that info but it is and can not be public.

2) why no affiliates?

POTN is not a business for me, it's my passion - maybe later with 20 million posts when the need of servers is larger and someone wants desperately to buy it for $5mil :) but until that I like to keep it simple.

oh, one more thing. Would it be less distracting if they were on the boards and index as well, so they didn't just appear when you jump in a thread? Consistency seems to hide things better, but then again, you probably don't want them hidden. :lol:

Again, I do what is needed, I might add some ad blocks later but the main thing is fluent browsing of messages.

[number six]

Thanks for everything, Pekka!

-js

[Belmondo]

When I open a page, my eyes automatically go to the link to 'View First Unread Post.' I usually do not pay attention to anything above including banner ads/google ads. Their presence doesn't bother me one whit.

[S-S]

ive got no problem with the google ads - someone's got to pay for all this right? perfectly reasonable

[asysin2leads]

If more people would donate some money to help defray the costs of POTN, the Google ads may disappear. Pekka offers one of the best photography (not just Canon) forums on the net and does so for free. For those of you who are asking, yes, I have donated. By the way, I don't mind the google ads. I just don't pay attention to them.

HERE'S THE LINK TO DONATE (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=57667)

[Anke]

If more people would donate some money to help defray the costs of POTN, the Google ads may disappear. Pekka offers one of the best photography (not just Canon) forums on the net and does so for free. For those of you who are asking, yes, I have donated. By the way, I don't mind the google ads. I just don't pay attention to them.

HERE'S THE LINK TO DONATE (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=57667)

Good point. Done :)

[Bill Boehme]

I noticed that something looked different earlier this evening. I wasn't sure if I was not very observant of something that had been going on for a while or if it was something new. I do not have a problem with it as long as they keep the ads on target. On another forum they started doing porn ads and then they got the boot in very short order.

[ssim]

I've always felt that Pekka should have a nominal fee, something like 20.00 a year which is really next to nothing on an individual basis but add them up, you do the math.

I am a member of a couple of other boards where they charge a fee for membership and it hasn't detracted from the information flow on them. If anything it has kept them more photography focused and keeps the trolls at bay.

[Pete]

I noticed that something looked different earlier this evening. I wasn't sure if I was not very observant of something that had been going on for a while or if it was something new. I do not have a problem with it as long as they keep the ads on target. On another forum they started doing porn ads and then they got the boot in very short order.

If you see any inappropriate adverts here, then please let us know about them (screen capture or name would be perfect).

[SwitchBlade]

Again, I do what is needed, I might add some ad blocks later but the main thing is fluent browsing of messages.

Have you thought of url rewriting. We use a script that parses URLs people put in posts and redirects them through a server (redirectingat.com iirc) that runs an affiliate-type scheme getting us money for click-throughs to other sites. So for example when someone posts a link to an item on Amazon, clicking that link nets the site money rather than needing the person to find an amazon advert on the site to click across. Makes a lot more money than standard advertising links as people tend to click through and buy more than with the adverts.

Added bonus is that it's less intrusive for users too.

[jacobsen1]

I've always felt that Pekka should have a nominal fee, something like 20.00 a year which is really next to nothing on an individual basis but add them up, you do the math.

I am a member of a couple of other boards where they charge a fee for membership and it hasn't detracted from the information flow on them. If anything it has kept them more photography focused and keeps the trolls at bay.

I disagree STRONGLY with that having just switch to nikon. The biggest nikon board is nikonians.com and they charge a fee. NOTHING is worse than having to pay for a board when you're first getting into this. I could see a premium membership that gets you something above and beyond what we have now (attachments, more PMs, etc) but putting a fee on normal membership is a real turn off IMHO.

[cdifoto]

How about charging a small annual fee for killing the ads? Some folks are immune to advertising, others will pay to get rid of it. I have a few apps on my BlackBerry that work the same way. I get full functionality for free but if I find the advertising too annoying, I can buy a registration key to stop it.

[Anke]

How about charging a small annual fee for killing the ads? Some folks are immune to advertising, others will pay to get rid of it. I have a few apps on my BlackBerry that work the same way. I get full functionality for free but if I find the advertising too annoying, I can buy a registration key to stop it.

Good idea. I did the same for some free apps. Plus it helps the developers. I'd be happy for an annual fee to help out.

[focus.pocus]

Thanks Pekka for the response but I still don't see them... but I have no problem with ads to help pay for this great site...

[mattograph]

I disagree STRONGLY with that having just switch to nikon. The biggest nikon board is nikonians.com and they charge a fee. NOTHING is worse than having to pay for a board when you're first getting into this. I could see a premium membership that gets you something above and beyond what we have now (attachments, more PMs, etc) but putting a fee on normal membership is a real turn off IMHO.

Maybe he should charge the Nikon shooters?

$15 bucks a year. $18 if you shoot full - frame.

Still a bargain, right?!?! :)

[Bill Boehme]

My guess is that most if not all of those who have posted in this thread are also contributors and therefore is I presume that it is not much point in mentioning that non-participants should consider helping to support this really great forum. I have decided to help get the word out by adding a link in my signature line. I suspect that many participants are not even aware that it is a user supported forum.

Something to think about: Over on Sawmill Creek (woodworking forum), those who help support the site get the word CONTRIBUTOR added as a line in their ID (of course they do not have a need for "IMAGE EDITING OK"). Perhaps it is one of the reasons that there is a very high level of user support for the forum. BTW, they also recently started putting advertising on their pages. There are no special privileges for contributors, but woodworkers don't like to be perceived as slackers.

[Ballen Photo]

Their presence doesn't bother me one whit.
Tom, Define "whit" please? :p
-Bruce

[Belmondo]

:lol::lol::lol:

From the 'Free Online Dictionary':

whit (hwhttp://img.tfd.com/hm/GIF/ibreve.gift, whttp://img.tfd.com/hm/GIF/ibreve.gift)n. The least bit; an iota: doesn't give a whit what was said; not a whit afraid.

Stick with me, Bruce. I'll have you speaking obscure English in no time. :lol:

[Ballen Photo]

Stick with me, Bruce. I'll have you speaking obscure English in no time. :lol:
Uh, OH! :lol: ;)
-Bruce

[Roy Mathers]

From the OED - A very small or the least portion or amount; a particle, jot.....(esp with negative expressed or implied).

[mattograph]

Does anyone know a good online photography school? :)

Karma must be demanding I attend, cause its the only ad I get!

[HeyJeeB]

I'm new and have found this forum to be a great resource for photographers. I notice the ads cover up the bottom few pixels of the menu bar, see attached pic.

I would also like to say, nice one for using vB, nothing compares, and I would be more than happy to pay a small yearly fee to have the ads removed :cool:

[Anke]

I'm new and have found this forum to be a great resource for photographers. I notice the ads cover up the bottom few pixels of the menu bar, see attached pic.

I would also like to say, nice one for using vB, nothing compares, and I would be more than happy to pay a small yearly fee to have the ads removed :cool:


Yeah, it does that on my Safari on OSX too.

[Jon]

Try changing to a smaller font size. I've seen that kind of thing happen when yor browser tries to override the CSS-specified fonts and exceeds the allotted space for a field.

[HeyJeeB]

Try changing to a smaller font size. I've seen that kind of thing happen when yor browser tries to override the CSS-specified fonts and exceeds the allotted space for a field.

Just changed to the smaller font size (the default style, if that's what you were referring to) and it still overlaps. Switching back to normal size now ;)

[Pekka]

Greg, does this visual bug prevent you clicking User CP and other buttons?

[HeyJeeB]

Greg, does this visual bug prevent you clicking User CP and other buttons?
Not at all, all menu items are perfectly clickable. I come from a web design background and tend to be 'pixel perfect' in my scrutiny, that's all ;) The white line upon mouse-over appears in the grey area of the ad box.

[mattograph]

I notice it as well, but its maybe a two - three point shift.

Its only when I see the "big" ads -- when they come through small, alignment is perfect.

[Bill Boehme]

I do not see the problem with Firefox, but the web pages should be compatible and look more-or-less the same with all major browsers (except for Chrome, perhaps). ;)

[HeyJeeB]

I forgot to say, I am using the latest Safari on OSX, as Anke mentioned. As a mod/admin you can probably see that though.

[iAMB]

I notice them, but they blend in so nicely to the rest of the page that until I saw this thread, I had to start looking for them again. It does not bother me at all. Thank you again Pekka for an awesome site!