Topic: New advertising behavior on the forum? (Read 5511 times)

datro · « **on:** February 17, 2020, 12:18:39 pm »

Has there been a policy change regarding advertising displays on the forum web site?

Today (for the first time) I am seeing occasional advertising windows just appear out of nowhere at the top of the forum web page (using a "swipe down" transition). This is VERY annoying. Is this by design?

datro · « **Reply #1 on:** February 17, 2020, 12:31:12 pm »

Quick update: It looks like this may be Google-related...still investigating.

alan_b · « **Reply #2 on:** February 17, 2020, 12:38:34 pm »

Seeing these pop up when scrolling too. This kind of behavior will lead me to cancel my paid subscription.

Advertisers: I will never use your services promoted this way.

josh.reichmann · « **Reply #3 on:** February 17, 2020, 12:52:25 pm »

Hi all,
Subscribers will not be seeing ad content on the site. The forum has always been free and only the marketplace is a payed feature which is a relatively small space on the forum

Ads have been on the site and forum before, in order to keep the lights on this will be a part of our business.
It’s still being worked out and the placing, content and quantity is being adjusted. Once again, this is (like %99 of the web) a reality for us in order to stay afloat for you

Josh

alan_b · « **Reply #4 on:** February 17, 2020, 01:03:56 pm »

Quote from: josh.reichmann on February 17, 2020, 12:52:25 pm

Hi all,
Subscribers will not be seeing ad content on the site. The forum has always been free and only the marketplace is a payed feature which is a relatively small space on the forum

Ads have been on the site and forum before, in order to keep the lights on this will be a part of our business.
It’s still being worked out and the placing, content and quantity is being adjusted. Once again, this is (like %99 of the web) a reality for us in order to stay afloat for you

Josh

josh.reichmann · « **Reply #5 on:** February 17, 2020, 01:06:52 pm »

Quote from: alan_b on February 17, 2020, 01:03:56 pm

I believe subscribers (payed) don’t see this.

digitaldog · « **Reply #6 on:** February 17, 2020, 01:06:56 pm »

Seeing the same (new) oddity on Mac OS under Safari. Very ugly and needs to be fixed.

digitaldog · « **Reply #7 on:** February 17, 2020, 01:07:15 pm »

Quote from: josh.reichmann on February 17, 2020, 01:06:52 pm

I believe subscribers (payed) don’t see this.

Nope. But I should ....

josh.reichmann · « **Reply #8 on:** February 17, 2020, 01:09:39 pm »

Quote from: digitaldog on February 17, 2020, 01:07:15 pm

Nope. But I should ....

Or I believe you can click on it to make it disappear.

Slobodan Blagojevic · « **Reply #9 on:** February 17, 2020, 01:10:43 pm »

No ad issues on my side (Europe).

digitaldog · « **Reply #10 on:** February 17, 2020, 01:12:18 pm »

Quote from: josh.reichmann on February 17, 2020, 01:09:39 pm

Or I believe you can click on it to make it disappear.

I can but shouldn’t have to, nor did such a message/ad ever show up in the past. If I go to another page, I get yet another ugly ad.

alan_b · « **Reply #11 on:** February 17, 2020, 01:24:25 pm »

It's one thing to see relevant, industry-related ads in an area integrated in the site design. This shows you have business partners who believe in supporting your site and the community that we contribute to. Random Google-like ads for air fresheners, tree services, etc. come across like you're looking to make a quick buck. Just my opinion as a subscriber.

Jim Kasson · « **Reply #12 on:** February 17, 2020, 02:48:49 pm »

Quote from: josh.reichmann on February 17, 2020, 01:06:52 pm

I believe subscribers (payed) don’t see this.

My experience is a counterexample to what you're saying. It makes it hard to click on some menu items.

Jim

datro · « **Reply #13 on:** February 17, 2020, 03:18:05 pm »

Quote from: josh.reichmann on February 17, 2020, 01:06:52 pm

I believe subscribers (payed) don’t see this.

Incorrect. I'm a paid subscriber and I am still seeing it. And to say "you can always click on it to get rid of it" is beyond missing the point. I would suggest you re-think this, especially given the discussion and decisions previously made when the main site started a subscription plan. The fact that these ads have NOTHING to do with photography is especially irritating. I can live with the "marketing" bar at the top with photography-related stuff, but these pop-up ads are not wanted in any shape or form.

Slobodan Blagojevic · « **Reply #14 on:** February 17, 2020, 04:41:02 pm »

Quote from: Slobodan Blagojevic on February 17, 2020, 01:10:43 pm

No ad issues on my side (Europe).

Ok, spoke too soon, just got my first ad:

KeithR · « **Reply #15 on:** February 17, 2020, 05:30:38 pm »

Yep! As a paying subscriber, I am also getting ads on each and every page I go to.

josh.reichmann · « **Reply #16 on:** February 17, 2020, 06:11:29 pm »

Kinks being worked out with new ad script. Subscribers on both the forum and main site will not see ads after all is sorted.
Thanks

Josh

digitaldog · « **Reply #17 on:** February 17, 2020, 07:00:57 pm »

Quote from: Slobodan Blagojevic on February 17, 2020, 04:41:02 pm

Ok, spoke too soon, just got my first ad:

Perfect, you now can make your own tin foil hats

stevesanacore · « **Reply #18 on:** February 17, 2020, 08:47:57 pm »

I've been a subscriber since it was first offered and I'm also seeing the ads - very disappointing. Hope you fix it soon.

kj · « **Reply #19 on:** February 17, 2020, 11:13:20 pm »

+1 to the list of subscribers seeing the new and annoying ad behavior. Prior versions, where they occurred, I didn't mind. This new version is intrusive.

Once upon a time, the idea of a subscription fee (if I recall right) was that even the older version of ads would go away permanently with enough participation. Perhaps I missed it, but was the outcome of that 'fundraising drive' ever published? I'm content with what we've had (and subscribed from the beginning to be supportive anyway), but don't want to see ad content go up.

Thanks!

Author Topic: New advertising behavior on the forum? (Read 5511 times)