I'm all for making money, but when is too many ads enough?

Forsh · 12-31-2006, 07:45 AM

The wife and I were just in a conversation tonight, since we got a new computer, about what multiplayer game we could play and relax a bit. I was like, "Hey, remember that cool flash golf game we player a long time ago, let's see if we can find it."

We did...

www dot electrotank dot com/playGame.electro?gId=124

....but now it looks like it got a low budget makeover with ads everywhere. I am noticing this as a trend when I go to revisit sites I used to enjoy. The net is really becoming one ugly place.

Oh, and we made a consumer decision to go find somewhere else to play golf online. *sigh*

Angelus · 12-31-2006, 08:11 AM

Webmasters need to earn money somehow, ads are an easy way to do that. I support one banner and one adsense ad of any kind, more is just too much

p.l.u.r.

RobS · 12-31-2006, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forsh

The wife and I were just in a conversation tonight, since we got a new computer, about what multiplayer game we could play and relax a bit. I was like, "Hey, remember that cool flash golf game we player a long time ago, let's see if we can find it."

We did...

www dot electrotank dot com/playGame.electro?gId=124

....but now it looks like it got a low budget makeover with ads everywhere. I am noticing this as a trend when I go to revisit sites I used to enjoy. The net is really becoming one ugly place.

Oh, and we made a consumer decision to go find somewhere else to play golf online. *sigh*

So you expect it all to be free.. and every website owner to do it just for the fun of it?

Forsh · 12-31-2006, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobS

So you expect it all to be free.. and every website owner to do it just for the fun of it?

I'm not certain where you read those words in my post, but no. I just think that it's more advertising than I remember.

Heck tonight I was surfing for the Pride 2006 New Year's winner and the mma forum that came up was crawling in ads, I didn't even know where to click. Needless to say I won't be visiting that site again either.

On a different note, I visited a guild forum last week and a cms forum for information, and both are overrun with spam advertising. So much that the moderators gave up, I can even point you to a post where the mod admits it. Maybe I am just running into all the spam and ads this month, but wow....

RobS · 12-31-2006, 09:01 AM

I see your point... but as you know... websites DO cost money.. so there has to be some income.. and the most likely way is from ads...

Forsh · 12-31-2006, 09:17 AM

Fully agree, some sites just do a better job of integrating the ads with content than others!

RobS · 12-31-2006, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forsh

Fully agree, some sites just do a better job of integrating the ads with content than others!

So true.. its THOSE sites that do best...

Something we can all learn when building our sites..

Rob

jdrost · 12-31-2006, 09:56 AM

Balance is always good, if guests quit coming the webmaster will get the picture.

John.

jg123 · 12-31-2006, 02:41 PM

I only have a problem with ads when they try and trick visitors into clicking them.

Bottom line is, if you have too many ads it will annoy your visitors and they won't come back nor stay long.

Tyler Banfield · 12-31-2006, 02:45 PM

Forsh has a very good point. One or two well placed (and relevant) ads will perform much better than four or five ad units plastered all over a site.

I honestly think the best subtle advertising is including affiliate links within content. If you're writing about a product or service, including one or two affiliate links can easily bring you some revenue without taking away from your user's experience.

Hostnetric · 01-01-2007, 12:26 PM

I am ok with ads if they are well thought out and placed in good locations, however, I am one that will pay a small fee if I am frequent visitor to a site to get rid of the ads. I pay a yearly subscription to Pogo for my wife so that she can enjoy the games without any ads. This is an option that many site owners who have popular sites might consider implementing if they can. This way their income remains there and gives the consumer the option of which way they prefer to enjoy the site.

WagerX · 01-01-2007, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hostnetric

I am ok with ads if they are well thought out and placed in good locations, however, I am one that will pay a small fee if I am frequent visitor to a site to get rid of the ads. I pay a yearly subscription to Pogo for my wife so that she can enjoy the games without any ads. This is an option that many site owners who have popular sites might consider implementing if they can. This way their income remains there and gives the consumer the option of which way they prefer to enjoy the site.

I agree. Adds are the cost of free entertainment or information. I remmeber when HBO first came on the scene (yes, I'm that old).. I remember seeing no comercials.. what a revolution.. lol...

Hostnetric · 01-01-2007, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WagerX

I agree. Adds are the cost of free entertainment or information. I remmeber when HBO first came on the scene (yes, I'm that old).. I remember seeing no comercials.. what a revolution.. lol...

LOL do not feel bad I do too. I remember watching Smokey and The Bandit every time it came on for that month which seemed to be just about 3 times a day. LOL omg you are making me feel old now too.

Calisonder · 01-01-2007, 06:48 PM

you can have a lot of adds on a site, but you just need to be able to design around them so that they don't look like as many, there are a lot of clever unique ways to go about it

blm03 · 05-04-2007, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hostnetric

I am ok with ads if they are well thought out and placed in good locations, however, I am one that will pay a small fee if I am frequent visitor to a site to get rid of the ads. I pay a yearly subscription to Pogo for my wife so that she can enjoy the games without any ads. This is an option that many site owners who have popular sites might consider implementing if they can. This way their income remains there and gives the consumer the option of which way they prefer to enjoy the site.

I have done the same. It is worth it not to see the ads, plus I think you get more games too.

mvjenn20 · 05-05-2007, 02:17 AM

I agree - once ads intrude on your experience on the site, it means that there are too many and the site is too commercial. Its a fine balance but too many ads has me clicking away very fast. Too many brightly colored ads cheapen the whole look of a site in my view. Its hard to get repeat traffic if they don't feel they are getting value but are just seen as cash cows!