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Re-introduction of Banner Ads

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    #122
    pickarooney
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 35,467 Mod ✭✭✭✭pickarooney


    seamus wrote: »
    Actually there is a method of "punishment" which I think I've mentioned before.

    You create an horrific-looking image (tartan electric pink or something) with the text, "This space would look better if you didn't block our ads" in it, that's exactly the same size as the ads themselves.

    You embed it in the page for all users and have the ads overlaid on these images. So if you leave the ad alone, you're fine, if you block the ad, the horrible image appears.

    The image lives in http://b-static.net/vbulletin/images so that it's impossible to use a wildcard to block it, and you script it so that the name of the image is randomised every 30 minutes or so, making it very frustrating for anyone who tries to just block the image.

    You could randomise the name of the image every time the page loads, but that would probably be quite a performance hit.

    Great way to drive people away from the site. How hard is it to understand that a lot of people just do not want to see ads?


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    #123
    seamus
    Registered Users Posts: 68,317 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    pickarooney wrote: »
    Great way to drive people away from the site. How hard is it to understand that a lot of people just do not want to see ads?
    What people want isn't always reasonable.

    People want boards.ie to have no ads, respond to their queries within fifteen seconds and let them offload reams of abuse against anyone and everyone.

    The existence of ads online is so ubiqitous at this stage that only the most hard-nosed militant would give up using a site because of it. And most likely these people are nothing but leeches anyway, providing very little to the site. Those who actually contribute to the site in terms of content may be put a little out, but will continue to use it so long as the ads remain unintrusive.


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    #124
    pickarooney
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 35,467 Mod ✭✭✭✭pickarooney


    seamus wrote: »
    so long as the ads remain unintrusive.

    That's the thing though - all ads are intrusive to a lot of people, me included.

    The whole idea is deeply flawed - a third party pays boards for the right to annoy its users.


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    #125
    28064212
    Registered Users Posts: 10,634 ✭✭✭✭28064212


    pickarooney wrote: »
    That's the thing though - all ads are intrusive to a lot of people, me included.

    The whole idea is deeply flawed - a third party pays boards for the right to annoy its users.
    A third party pays for boards. No third party, no boards (certianly not at the level it's at now). The alternative is a subscription-only site. Which is more intrusive?

    Boardsie Enhancement Suite - a browser extension to make using Boards on desktop a better experience (includes full-width display, keyboard shortcuts, dark mode, and more). Now available through your browser's extension store.

    Firefox: https://addons.mozilla.org/addon/boardsie-enhancement-suite/

    Chrome/Edge/Opera: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/boardsie-enhancement-suit/bbgnmnfagihoohjkofdnofcfmkpdmmce



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    #126
    TouchingVirus
    Registered Users Posts: 8,584 ✭✭✭TouchingVirus


    So pay the nominal fee for the removal of ads.


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    #127
    seamus
    Registered Users Posts: 68,317 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    pickarooney wrote: »
    That's the thing though - all ads are intrusive to a lot of people, me included.
    That's just plain unreasonable.

    How else do you propose boards funds its activities?


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    #128
    pickarooney
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 35,467 Mod ✭✭✭✭pickarooney


    make an attractive subscriber package
    take a % cut off all adverts.ie transactions
    hold a sponsored egg and spoon race
    sell t-shirts


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    #129
    TouchingVirus
    Registered Users Posts: 8,584 ✭✭✭TouchingVirus


    pickarooney wrote: »
    make an attractive subscriber package

    It's been brought up before, Dav is open to ideas so suggest a few things you'd like subscribers to have if you want to give a hand
    pickarooney wrote: »
    take a % cut off all adverts.ie transactions

    Boards isn't Adverts. They are different companies now
    pickarooney wrote: »
    hold a sponsored egg and spoon race

    Has to be tongue in cheek, this is an internet site and not a kids sports day
    pickarooney wrote: »
    sell t-shirts

    shut-up-and-take-my-money.jpeg


    I like the idea of microtransactions, like the SA forums

    Want an avatar - not just a custom one: €1.
    Changing sigs: €1
    Custom user title: €1.50
    Getting rid of ads for a year: €25
    Username change: €3
    Want a hosted forum/private forum: €25/year


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    #130
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 4,630 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Two questions:

    Any estimates on the percentage of users who use ad-blockers? (I have to admit that I'm one of them.)

    Which would be more financially beneficial to Boards: a user subscribing for €50 per year but viewing no ads, or a non-subscriber using the site most days, for a few hours, and allowing ads? I suspect it's the former, as I can't see the latter earning €50 per year.

    If, say, the average user, using the site almost every day for a couple of hours, generated something like €20 in ad revenue per year, then Boards should offer a SubscriptionLite package (Eliot Rosewater's suggestion) which would completely remove adverts, but offer no other subscription perks, and Boards should offer this package for the same cost as the average user would generate in ad revenue, i.e. €20 in this example. I'd be willing to pay something of that order, and I'm sure many other would too.


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    #131
    Rev Hellfire
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,346 ✭✭✭Rev Hellfire


    gvn wrote: »
    I'd be willing to pay something of that order, and I'm sure many other would too.
    I'd imagine most wouldn't, its why all the companies with paywalls aren't fairing too well except where they provide specialised content.


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    #132
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 4,630 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Rev Hellfire wrote: »
    I'd imagine most wouldn't, its why all the companies with paywalls aren't fairing too well except where they provide specialised content.

    If something like seamus' suggestion is implemented, where users have little choice but to view adverts or annoying banners, then I suspect the demand for a cheaper (but less feature rich) subscription option would increase. Those who want additional features could still pay €50 per year, but those who just want to remove the unavoidable annoyance could pay €20; it would be a lot easier to get people to pay €20 in this case than €50, I believe.


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    #133
    pickarooney
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 35,467 Mod ✭✭✭✭pickarooney


    For long term users perhaps, but someone who's only signed up last week is not going to fork out 50 quid to get rid of some hideous pink tartan images. He's just not going to come back.


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    #134
    TouchingVirus
    Registered Users Posts: 8,584 ✭✭✭TouchingVirus


    pickarooney wrote: »
    For long term users perhaps, but someone who's only signed up last week is not going to fork out 50 quid to get rid of some hideous pink tartan images. He's just not going to come back.

    Somebody who's that put off probably won't sign up in the first place. It's not like the first spot you see ads is after you sign in after signing up. They know what they're getting from their very first visit.


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    #135
    Nodin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 46,938 ✭✭✭✭Nodin


    "Yuri Gargarin watches"???????????


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    #136
    pickarooney
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 35,467 Mod ✭✭✭✭pickarooney


    TouchingVirus wrote: »
    Somebody who's that put off probably won't sign up in the first place. It's not like the first spot you see ads is after you sign in after signing up. They know what they're getting from their very first visit.

    I'd say most people sign up because of a particular question they want answered. There needs to be a motivation to stay afterwards. I could be well off the mark.


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    #137
    Mr. Loverman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,001 ✭✭✭Mr. Loverman


    Dav wrote: »
    I would add that if all people are going to do is say "go get Ad-Block and it won't matter" or something similar, I would point out that those ads are quite literally paying the wages of 12 people and that we're not Google with tons of money in the bank :)

    Thank you for saying this.

    I really think AdBlock is a bad thing for the internet. No adverts, no free content...


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    #138
    TouchingVirus
    Registered Users Posts: 8,584 ✭✭✭TouchingVirus


    pickarooney wrote: »
    I'd say most people sign up because of a particular question they want answered. There needs to be a motivation to stay afterwards. I could be well off the mark.

    I don't think the motivation for hanging around before now was "Hey, no ads"


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    #139
    Where To
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,455 ✭✭✭Where To


    This is the only site I have ever paid a subscription to, and I was here a long time before I decided to do that. If I had felt I was coerced into doing so I wouldn't have stayed around long.

    When I click on a site with a paywall or a psychedelic front page my bounce rate is 100%.


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    #140
    -Corkie-
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,025 ✭✭✭✭-Corkie-


    I rooted my phone today and updated the software and now I have ads..........

    Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr........ Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.......

    /hate ye all now....


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    #141
    Wibbs
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 60,159 Mod ✭✭✭✭Wibbs


    Nodin wrote: »
    "Yuri Gargarin watches"???????????
    [watch nerd] well Node if they're advertising an original vintage Gargarin spec Sturmanskie from a banner ad I say jump with both feet and drop me a PM. They're kinda shíte quality, but you could flip if for 600 quid on a good day..[/watch nerd]:D

    Rejoice in the awareness of feeling stupid, for that’s how you end up learning new things. If you’re not aware you’re stupid, you probably are.



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    #142
    Tombi!
    Registered Users Posts: 6,689 ✭✭✭Tombi!


    Wibbs wrote: »
    [watch nerd] well Node if they're advertising an original vintage Gargarin spec Sturmanskie from a banner ad I say jump with both feet and drop me a PM. They're kinda shíte quality, but you could flip if for 600 quid on a good day..[/watch nerd]:D

    Ah, so I understand now why you're the mod of the timepiece section. :cool:


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    #143
    quarryman
    Registered Users Posts: 7,496 ✭✭✭quarryman


    Boards.ie: Danny wrote: »
    You subscribe, you've nothing to worry about :)

    Danny
    Boards.ie: Danny wrote: »
    Pfft, with all these new ads it's easily more :pac:

    Boards.ie: Danny wrote: »
    It was already noted and on the cards.

    Danny
    Boards.ie: Danny wrote: »
    You don't honestly think that'll last, do you?

    We'll get to it, and if there's a significant rise in old skin users it'll be sooner rather than later :)

    Danny

    TBH, it actually looks like you're rubbing people's faces in it at this stage.


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    #144
    Orion
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,807 ✭✭✭✭Orion


    efb wrote: »
    why do people get arsey about ads- but I'm on boards where people expect so much for free!!!
    Ads don't bother me - I just use my innate noise filter to ignore them. But when they prevent a page from loading I either change site or block the ads.


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    #145
    Boards.ie: Danny
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,609 ✭✭✭Boards.ie: Danny


    quarryman wrote: »
    TBH, it actually looks like you're rubbing people's faces in it at this stage.

    And it looks like you're reading too much into it

    Danny


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    #146
    quarryman
    Registered Users Posts: 7,496 ✭✭✭quarryman


    I don't think I am.

    Regardless, I'm interested to see the business model behind this decision.

    Where are the increased costs that require ads embedded in every thread coming from?

    I understand the numbers of users have increased over the years but presumably this translates to an increased server cost which could be matched with the ad-clicks driven by the increased number of users (using the old ad system).

    The site is almost in entirely self-moderated for free by regular and long-time users. 

    Are there "features" that have been added that require maintenance of some sort? Licence fees to vbulletin?

    I'm genuinely curious as to the breakdown on the costs.


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    #147
    Penn
    Registered Users Posts: 33,712 ✭✭✭✭Penn


    quarryman wrote: »
    I don't think I am.

    Regardless, I'm interested to see the business model behind this decision.

    Where are the increased costs that require ads embedded in every thread coming from?

    I understand the numbers of users have increased over the years but presumably this translates to an increased server cost which could be matched with the ad-clicks driven by the increased number of users (using the old ad system).

    The site is almost in entirely self-moderated for free by regular and long-time users. 

    Are there "features" that have been added that require maintenance of some sort? Licence fees to vbulletin?

    I'm genuinely curious as to the breakdown on the costs.

    If I remember correctly (and I'm just speaking out loud as I have no actual connection to or knowledge of the inner workings of Boards), two site devs left and were replaced by about 4 new site devs, who work on new site features such as the new theme and generally helping to fix/improve the site, in ways that might not even be evident to us, or that may be revealed in the future (I have no idea what "moving from VBulletin to a new system they're making themselves" might entail as I know sfa about that sort of thing, but it seems like a pretty huge thing).

    12 people employed by Boards. That means they have an office. That means as well as wages, there are overheads such as insurance, stationary, computers etc. And as outside companies keep increasing their prices (like electricity), Boards has to pay more. But Boards is a free site.

    So a few more ads are necessary. Do you honestly think Boards would do something which they knew would upset people (which is evident by the fact that they apologised for it in advance) if they didn't need to do it?
    Dav wrote: »
    This is, unfortunately, one of those difficult but "absolutely essential to our business" sorts of decisions we've had to take.

    The reasons why they've had to do it are Boards' own reasons, and I accept on good faith that it's something they need to do.


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    #148
    Ken.
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,898 ✭✭✭✭Ken.


    Penn wrote: »
    If I remember correctly (and I'm just speaking out loud as I have no actual connection to or knowledge of the inner workings of Boards), two site devs left and were replaced by about 4 new site devs, who work on new site features such as the new theme and generally helping to fix/improve the site, in ways that might not even be evident to us, or that may be revealed in the future (I have no idea what "moving from VBulletin to a new system they're making themselves" might entail as I know sfa about that sort of thing, but it seems like a pretty huge thing).

    12 people employed by Boards. That means they have an office. That means as well as wages, there are overheads such as insurance, stationary, computers etc. And as outside companies keep increasing their prices (like electricity), Boards has to pay more. But Boards is a free site.

    So a few more ads are necessary. Do you honestly think Boards would do something which they knew would upset people (which is evident by the fact that they apologised for it in advance) if they didn't need to do it?



    The reasons why they've had to do it are Boards' own reasons, and I accept on good faith that it's something they need to do.
    You forgot the coke and hookers for the mod/cmod/admin weekly party


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    #149
    seamus
    Registered Users Posts: 68,317 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    ken wrote: »
    You forgot the coke and hookers for the mod/cmod/admin weekly party
    That's paid for by the profits from the chinese sweatshop in the basement of the Daft building, the boards money is untouched.


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    #150
    _blank_
    Closed Accounts Posts: 41,926 ✭✭✭✭_blank_


    gvn wrote: »
    Two questions:

    Any estimates on the percentage of users who use ad-blockers? (I have to admit that I'm one of them.)

    Which would be more financially beneficial to Boards: a user subscribing for €50 per year but viewing no ads, or a non-subscriber using the site most days, for a few hours, and allowing ads? I suspect it's the former, as I can't see the latter earning €50 per year.

    I've already asked this in this thread.


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    #151
    Nodin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 46,938 ✭✭✭✭Nodin


    Wibbs wrote: »
    [watch nerd] well Node if they're advertising an original vintage Gargarin spec Sturmanskie from a banner ad I say jump with both feet and drop me a PM. They're kinda shíte quality, but you could flip if for 600 quid on a good day..[/watch nerd]:D

    I bow to your wisdom Sir.


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