Talking Point: Advertising

[Guest mgama]

It's pretty obvious that everyone's rants and problems with the ads comes from the automatic refreshing of the ads while viewing a page. Why can't the site go back to the old way, where the ads didn't refresh every 30 seconds? I would prefer 4 or 5 non-refreshing ads on a page instead of the 2 or 3 refreshing ads that the site currently uses.

[Guest sponge]

I never really found the size or number of ads irritating, so I guess that means you have that just right. However, I don't think that's a reason to 'test the waters' and get some more or make them bigger! :D

What I do find slightly annoying is moving, or constantly changing ads. They are highly distracting.

Having said the above, I recently paid my £24 and became a Plus Member, so it's all academic now. I don't consider £24 pa to be a lot of money at all. It's less than 7p a day. I don't buy newspapers, I don't smoke and I hardly ever buy snack foods. So it's not even worth thinking about - just do it! Infact, I bet you could find more than 7p per day collecting dropped pennies off the high street. ;) ;)

Edited June 5, 2005 by sponge

[Guest Griff_FFOC]

The refreshing of the ads is the most annoying thing, along with the fact that because the page refreshes, the 'back' button on the browser now doesn't do it's function properly and the drop down list next to it needs to be used instead.

The level/number of ads are acceptable and fine I think.

Edited June 5, 2005 by Griff_FFOC

[Guest fraktal]

In fact, I bet you could find more than 7p per day collecting dropped pennies off the high street.  ;)  :D

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I can vouch for that! It's how I'm paying for my education ;)

I am a plus member so i guess my opinion isn't really applicable, but even as a plus member i wouldn't mind a few google ads - they're relevant and they're not distracting.

I was thinking....you know the "app of the week" style things...maybe if there was demand enough from developers you could have a small article like that that was sponsored by the developers and changed on a weekly basis, and went in a separate box (maybe where "sponsored links" is, and then move the "sponsored links" to where "more sponsored links" is and get rid of "more sponsored links")....so it would be in a different place to normal content and clearly sponsored but it's a bit deeper and more interesting than a faceless "sponsored link" like "Award winning Smartphone cable Easy & secure ordering! (affiliate) ". What does that mean anyway?

Just my two cents :|

Edited June 5, 2005 by fraktal

[Guest justsomeone]

hello all,

..er, as i said previously i don't seem to be seeing ANY ads... <pouts> ..i'm not sure if its my computer playing up, a virus or what, but i'm now at that stage where i feel i'm missing out on something ! to be frank, i'd be happy paying £24 to see the ads !

i never log out and have the forum page set as a favourite so i always go straight to there. would that be why i see no ads then ? the only thing apart from text i see, is modaco's little man and the box of smilies.

[Guest Paul [MVP]]

So that's interesting... a number of Plus members would be happy to or indeed would like to see the ads.

Looks like I should make it optional ;)

P

[Guest Monkhouse]

Echoing the general feeling.....

I think the ads are pretty much unobtrusive and their presence doesn't bother me in the least - after all, this is a great site.

HOWEVER, the continual refresh of ads is really p*ssing me off now. I'm glad Paul brought this up, so I can vent my spleen!! I use IE, and the major issue is that the back button functionality goes to pot. If I want to go back a page, I generally have to click back three, maybe four times, often overshooting to then have to go forwards again. I also have navigation sounds attached when browsing, and all I ever hear when on Modaco now is 'click, pop........click, pop.............click, pop........' and so on.

OK, not the end of the world exactly, but it's the only site I find this on, and after years and years of refining my speedy browsing skills, this site really slows me down!! ;)

[Guest O2XII]

The ads aren't obtrusive, to me. And I fully expect them as necessary to keep modaco alive and k(l)icking. The page design holds together really well.

[Guest tsutton]

Before in the old days, when I couldn't afford the Plus membership, I was hoping there is a smaller package where I could pay to remove the ads. (i.e. £8 to £10 a year or so)

I'm sure this would be a very good addition and I'm sure more people would pick it.

[Guest Chaser81]

I personally am glad I dont see them (it was one of the reasons I went plus), but they werent THAT obtrusive when I could see them. I think making them optional is a nice idea for some people, just as long as for Plus members they are off by default!

[Guest GEE boz]

Paul, I think you've got it spot on.

I work in online advertising - so I could be biased :) - but every site has to earn its keep. A banner on most pages is hardly going to hurt anyone, and the more relevant it is (showing the latest phones, phone software, even other electronic gadgets) the more advertising is actually a nice to have.

You're right to stay clear of pop-ups and interstitials - they only p*ss people off because they interupt people doing what they want to do.

My only advice is make sure you're getting good money for your inventory. You've got a large site, with a highly desirable and loyal audience (technology early-adopters, most likely 16-34 yrs, wealthy with relatively high spending power, not afraid of buying online). Not everyone can say that.

Best of luck with the site.

[Guest hoopmaster51890]

The advertising isn't intrusive to me at all, and usually the smallest ad in my view bugs the crap outta me. You're doing a fine job of keeping advertising to the minimum, and i thank you for that, cuz otherwise, my hand might have ended up in my monitor...

peace