The One and Only DVD Talk Ad Feedback Thread (pop-ups, unders and more) (merged)

GeoffK · 08-02-02, 05:49 PM

I thought I'd start up a dedicated thread here in the feedback forum for people to discuss the ads which appear on DVD Talk.

First off, if you are ever experiencing problems with ads including: loading issues, click through issues, pop up or under issues please email me at talk@dvdtalk.com. Once in a while there IS a problem with an ad and the absolute quickest way to let us know is to drop me an email.

Recently there was an issue with a pop-up ad and while dozens of people posted threads about it, not one actually emailed us to let us know that there was a problem....

As many of you know, since the beginning of DVD Talk, we've always been very sensative to the needs and desires of our membership. We were very late to adopt any form of intrusive advertising, we've limited the amount of adult ads which appear on the site (so that they only appear at night 'after hours'), and the banners from adult companies must meet very rigerous standards. We also are very sensative about overloading people with email and we never sell our mailing lists to anyone else.

I started DVD Talk because I felt there was a real need for a place like DVD Talk for people to come together and talk about DVD, get good information, get access to great deals and not be hastled while they are there. I continue to have this same commitment to the site today.

Part of that commitment is working hard to ensure that we are able to support DVD Talk as a FREE membership community. Basically what that means is, that whatever you would have to pay for a membership or 'subscription' to DVD Talk (which covers the cost of your use of the sute) is paid on your behalf by advertisers. So basically on your behalf I have to go out and find advertisers who are willing to pay to advertise on the site and pay for the cost of members use of the site.

It's a careful balance, and even in tough times (and believe me there have been a few VERY tough times) we've heald fast to our commitment NOT to have members reach into their pockets to pay for our site!

I've stated several times before that I really do also hate pop-ups, I've never liked them on any site and think they are WAY too intrusive and completely over abused across the net. Having said that, this month an advertiser approached us and basically said that we would ONLY get the campaign if we accepted a pop-up ad.

It was a tough call, but we made it, and after the testing that I've done with pop-unders these past few weeks, I figured we could figure out a way to run the campaign without inundating you with pop-up ads.

Basically the first test didn't work and the cookie that was to be set to limit the pop-ups only worked on a few members, but now that's resolved and people should only get the pop-up 1x ever 6 hours.

I can't say we'll never have another pop-up ad on the site again, or some other fairly annoying rich media ad. What I can say is that I am VERY commited to making sure that if we MUST run something like that, that we have the ability to limit your exposure to it. So that OVERALL the experience here is a pleasant one and not riddled with intrusive ads jumping out at you right and left.

As always I welcome your comments and feedback. I take what you have to say VERY seriously and it does have a VERY real impact on what we do on the site.

Thanks for your Understanding and Support
Geoff

das Monkey · 08-02-02, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GeoffK
Recently there was an issue with a pop-up ad and while dozens of people posted threads about it, not one actually emailed us to let us know that there was a problem....

Apologies. I should have emailed someone (not you ... I know you ignore my emails

). Considering the recent announcement about how unhappy we'd be with regard to a new pop-up campaign, I figured what was happening was intentional and not a glitch. Had I know at the time it was just a coding error and not the new DVD Talk trend, it wouldn't have bothered me. **** happens. No problems there.

Anyway, I'll keep the feedback to myself for now (and there was much rejoicing) as I've had enough "shut up -- your opinion doesn't matter" for one day.

das

Wizdar · 08-02-02, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by das Monkey
I just farted.

Yeah, but you’re forgiven.

There is a considerable difference between “shut up -- your opinion doesn’t matter” and “I disagree.”

N’est pas?

joltaddict · 08-02-02, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by das Monkey
I'll keep the feedback to myself for now (and there was much rejoicing) as I've had enough "shut up -- your opinion doesn't matter"

I just love that you were able to work both Poo and Farts into two seperate, working metaphors.

codefree · 08-02-02, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GeoffK
Recently there was an issue with a pop-up ad and while dozens of people posted threads about it, not one actually emailed us to let us know that there was a problem....

Good Lord man! We even have to report problems this widespread to the mods to get their attention. Yikes! What are there roughly 12 mods and not one of them was on all day yesterday?

X · 08-02-02, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by codefree
Good Lord man! We even have to report problems this widespread to the mods to get their attention. Yikes! What are there roughly 12 mods and not one of them was on all day yesterday?

I was on most of yesterday and exerienced none of those problems (as I stated in another thread in this forum). Neither of two completely different computers and environments showed the constant popups that people complained of. And believe me, I make a point of bringing up things when even response is slow!

Static Cling · 08-02-02, 10:21 PM

I didn't get the dreaded V pop-up until today, after all the fuss had died down. During the "once per click" V madness, I didn't get a single V pop-up.

For issues like rampaging pop-ups, the mods can't really do anything anyways, so people are better off just firing an e-mail directly to Geoff.

das Monkey · 08-02-02, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wizdar
There is a considerable difference between “shut up -- your opinion doesn’t matter” and “I disagree.”

N’est pas?

Well it's officially "tomorrow" in my neck of the woods, and I'm ready for more arguing ...

For my first trick ... that comment wasn't at all directed at you, buddy. There was, however, a lot of "shut up" going on in these discussion threads, much not directed at me, but others who IMO had valid concerns. Moving on ...

das

P.S. Did you go to bed and wake up French a few days ago?

das Monkey · 08-02-02, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by joltaddict
I just love that you were able to work both Poo and Farts into two seperate, working metaphors.

I'm a Monkey ... what do you expect?

Anyway, I didn't mean for my fecal metaphors to distract from the topic at hand, which is important for all of us.

DVD Talk Ads: Children's Playtoy or Vicious Backyard Killer? You Decide ...

das

kilcher · 08-02-02, 11:30 PM

I have no problem with pops at all, assuming it's limited. Once every 6 hours is nothing and I think it's a fair price to pay for having a site like this.

Another thing I'd like to bring up... It's common knowledge that there are pop-up blockers and browsers that disable pop-ups out there so I think it's disrespectful to discuss such things on this site. It's one thing to do it but an entirely different thing to use this site to publicly tell everyone how to circumvent the medium that helps pay for it. I don't know how Geoff feels about it but I think it's wrong.

Anyway, I think the amount of advertising is fine as it is. This site is an invaluable resource and I'm all for anything that keeps it going.

Bushdog · 08-03-02, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by das Monkey

Apologies. I should have emailed someone (not you ... I know you ignore my emails ). . .

Hey! I've had to email him over some things also, and he just completely ignores the emails.

Wizdar · 08-03-02, 10:43 AM

Strange. I emailed him about the prospect of duking it out with das in the new thread, and he got back to me fairly quickly.

G. Noel Gross · 08-03-02, 11:57 AM

Here's a really good article on the state of 'net advertising ... in short ... pop-ups and "rich-media" aren't going bye-bye ...

http://www.dallasnews.com/business/s...ads.3ee02.html

waporvare · 08-03-02, 02:09 PM

What about an advertisers forum? I would think some advertisers would be giddy with the thought of a forum where they can advertise whatever they want, pop-ups and all.

Josh H · 08-04-02, 11:18 PM

I have no problem with the ads, though I was out of town this weekend and missed the V problems.

I say do whatever it takes to keep the site free without hurting you're pocketbook, and hopefully to make a little profit too.

waporvare · 08-05-02, 07:44 AM

How about a sub-forum in each forum that is purely for advertising. These vendors wouldn't be able to say your not running the ads throughout the site.

It would be sort of like those women magazines. They start with 30 pages of advertisements. It's the consumers choice to read them or not. It would be the DvdTalk members choice to go where the advertisements are.

das Monkey · 08-05-02, 08:57 AM

• Quoth vapoRware •
How about a sub-forum in each forum that is purely for advertising. These vendors wouldn't be able to say your not running the ads throughout the site.

It would be sort of like those women magazines. They start with 30 pages of advertisements. It's the consumers choice to read them or not. It would be the DvdTalk members choice to go where the advertisements are.

And how much would you expect these companies to pay for an ad no one will ever see?

das

Wizdar · 08-05-02, 10:26 AM

• Quoth the Monkey •
And how much would you expect these companies to pay for an ad no one will ever see?

Another plate of poo?*

Seems to me that if we don't tell 'em...

*Deep breath, das. I'm only yankin' yo chain...

waporvare · 08-05-02, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by das Monkey
• Quoth vapoRware •
How about a sub-forum in each forum that is purely for advertising. These vendors wouldn't be able to say your not running the ads throughout the site.

It would be sort of like those women magazines. They start with 30 pages of advertisements. It's the consumers choice to read them or not. It would be the DvdTalk members choice to go where the advertisements are.

And how much would you expect these companies to pay for an ad no one will ever see?

das

Seems to me like advertisers know that most people go past the first 30 pages of ads in magazines yet they still advertise.

Geoff could run multiple banner ads that cycle through the new forum and take turns cycling in all the forums. All pop-ups could be contained in the advertisers sub-forum as well as pop-unders. Someone, somewhere has to set the precedent, why not here?

Do the advertisers explicitly state the ads have to be in a particular place? If not i say why not give it a shot?

LBPound · 08-05-02, 08:19 PM

Isn't it pretty early for the Adult Ads? I thought they generally came on at 11 PM but here it is just after 9 and I'm having big banners trying to sell me Sex Toys in the main DVD Talk forum.

Has there been a change in policy on the Adult ads?

Josh H · 08-05-02, 09:44 PM

I believe the adult ads have always started at 9 p.m. EST, as the main goal was to have people not get them at work and get fired, and most people are off work at 9 EST (6 pacific).

Surf Monkey · 08-17-02, 01:45 PM

Okay, the V ad is killing me. I get one on every page I visit and I have cookies turned off. Yuck.

I'm using IE on MacOS X 10.1.5

GeoffK · 08-17-02, 03:48 PM

I hate to say the obvious Surf Monkey, why don't you turn on cookies.

Rogue588 · 08-18-02, 12:03 AM

I have my cookies turned on and I still get the V ad. It's annoying, but i've learned to live with it. [like I said on a thread that I started...so long as it supports the site]

But, now i'm starting to get OTHER pop ups. Most of them are for Travel sites.

THIS is the one I got a little while ago. I only had one browser window open and I went straight to DVDTalk.com.

What's up with this?

GeoffK · 08-18-02, 02:10 AM

Pop-ups or popunders. Right now there are POP-UNDERS running in OTHER 1x every 12 Hours

If you have your cookies on you WILL still get the V AD but not on every page. More like 1x every 20 or so mins.

What's up with all this? Plain and simple, paying for the site so it can continue to be.

I know the first post in this thread is a long one, but I do encourage people to read it. It explains a lot of what's going on.

08-02-02, 05:49 PM	#1
GeoffK G! Join Date: Jan 1999 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 6,934	The One and Only DVD Talk Ad Feedback Thread (pop-ups, unders and more) I thought I'd start up a dedicated thread here in the feedback forum for people to discuss the ads which appear on DVD Talk. First off, if you are ever experiencing problems with ads including: loading issues, click through issues, pop up or under issues please email me at talk@dvdtalk.com. Once in a while there IS a problem with an ad and the absolute quickest way to let us know is to drop me an email. Recently there was an issue with a pop-up ad and while dozens of people posted threads about it, not one actually emailed us to let us know that there was a problem.... As many of you know, since the beginning of DVD Talk, we've always been very sensative to the needs and desires of our membership. We were very late to adopt any form of intrusive advertising, we've limited the amount of adult ads which appear on the site (so that they only appear at night 'after hours'), and the banners from adult companies must meet very rigerous standards. We also are very sensative about overloading people with email and we never sell our mailing lists to anyone else. I started DVD Talk because I felt there was a real need for a place like DVD Talk for people to come together and talk about DVD, get good information, get access to great deals and not be hastled while they are there. I continue to have this same commitment to the site today. Part of that commitment is working hard to ensure that we are able to support DVD Talk as a FREE membership community. Basically what that means is, that whatever you would have to pay for a membership or 'subscription' to DVD Talk (which covers the cost of your use of the sute) is paid on your behalf by advertisers. So basically on your behalf I have to go out and find advertisers who are willing to pay to advertise on the site and pay for the cost of members use of the site. It's a careful balance, and even in tough times (and believe me there have been a few VERY tough times) we've heald fast to our commitment NOT to have members reach into their pockets to pay for our site! I've stated several times before that I really do also hate pop-ups, I've never liked them on any site and think they are WAY too intrusive and completely over abused across the net. Having said that, this month an advertiser approached us and basically said that we would ONLY get the campaign if we accepted a pop-up ad. It was a tough call, but we made it, and after the testing that I've done with pop-unders these past few weeks, I figured we could figure out a way to run the campaign without inundating you with pop-up ads. Basically the first test didn't work and the cookie that was to be set to limit the pop-ups only worked on a few members, but now that's resolved and people should only get the pop-up 1x ever 6 hours. I can't say we'll never have another pop-up ad on the site again, or some other fairly annoying rich media ad. What I can say is that I am VERY commited to making sure that if we MUST run something like that, that we have the ability to limit your exposure to it. So that OVERALL the experience here is a pleasant one and not riddled with intrusive ads jumping out at you right and left. As always I welcome your comments and feedback. I take what you have to say VERY seriously and it does have a VERY real impact on what we do on the site. Thanks for your Understanding and Support Geoff __________________ Former Owner/Editor DVD Talk 1999-2007/8 Editor Drink Spirits

08-02-02, 10:21 PM	#7
Static Cling Admin Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Texas, our Texas! All hail the mighty state! Posts: 12,839	I didn't get the dreaded V pop-up until today, after all the fuss had died down. During the "once per click" V madness, I didn't get a single V pop-up. For issues like rampaging pop-ups, the mods can't really do anything anyways, so people are better off just firing an e-mail directly to Geoff. __________________ Mike's Collection They stompled all over me. - Thunderball Hippies take things from all cultures and make it suck. - kvrdave

08-02-02, 11:30 PM	#10
kilcher DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 1,147	I have no problem with pops at all, assuming it's limited. Once every 6 hours is nothing and I think it's a fair price to pay for having a site like this. Another thing I'd like to bring up... It's common knowledge that there are pop-up blockers and browsers that disable pop-ups out there so I think it's disrespectful to discuss such things on this site. It's one thing to do it but an entirely different thing to use this site to publicly tell everyone how to circumvent the medium that helps pay for it. I don't know how Geoff feels about it but I think it's wrong. Anyway, I think the amount of advertising is fine as it is. This site is an invaluable resource and I'm all for anything that keeps it going. __________________ HBO Forum - Discuss Game of Thrones, True Blood, Boardwalk Empire, and more! iLoveTalk - Our general discussion forum. VeggieBoards - The largest and most active vegetarian forum!

08-03-02, 11:57 AM	#13
G. Noel Gross CineSchlock-O-Rama Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: Dallas Posts: 2,828	Here's a really good article on the state of 'net advertising ... in short ... pop-ups and "rich-media" aren't going bye-bye ... http://www.dallasnews.com/business/s...ads.3ee02.html __________________ CineSchlock-O-Rama \| MySpace \| Texas Frightmare Weekend

08-03-02, 02:09 PM	#14
waporvare DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: The Money Pit Posts: 8,148	What about an advertisers forum? I would think some advertisers would be giddy with the thought of a forum where they can advertise whatever they want, pop-ups and all. __________________ View My DVD Collection xbox live gamertag=waporvare

08-03-02, 10:43 AM	#12
Wizdar DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: wishing I was in Vegas Posts: 6,646	Strange. I emailed him about the prospect of duking it out with das in the new thread, and he got back to me fairly quickly.

08-04-02, 11:18 PM	#15
Josh H Retired Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 27,389	I have no problem with the ads, though I was out of town this weekend and missed the V problems. I say do whatever it takes to keep the site free without hurting you're pocketbook, and hopefully to make a little profit too.

08-05-02, 07:44 AM	#16
waporvare DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: The Money Pit Posts: 8,148	How about a sub-forum in each forum that is purely for advertising. These vendors wouldn't be able to say your not running the ads throughout the site. It would be sort of like those women magazines. They start with 30 pages of advertisements. It's the consumers choice to read them or not. It would be the DvdTalk members choice to go where the advertisements are. __________________ View My DVD Collection xbox live gamertag=waporvare

08-05-02, 08:57 AM	#17
das Monkey DVD Talk Hero Join Date: May 1999 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 35,881	• Quoth vapoRware • How about a sub-forum in each forum that is purely for advertising. These vendors wouldn't be able to say your not running the ads throughout the site. It would be sort of like those women magazines. They start with 30 pages of advertisements. It's the consumers choice to read them or not. It would be the DvdTalk members choice to go where the advertisements are. And how much would you expect these companies to pay for an ad no one will ever see? das __________________ DragonCon 2004 - 2005 - Lost in Hawaii - DVD Reviews You are not* entitled to your own opinion. You are only entitled to your own informed opinion.** -- Harlan Ellison quoting Gustave Flaubert

08-05-02, 10:26 AM	#18
Wizdar DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: wishing I was in Vegas Posts: 6,646	• Quoth the Monkey • And how much would you expect these companies to pay for an ad no one will ever see? Another plate of poo?* Seems to me that if we don't tell 'em... Deep breath, das*. I'm only yankin' yo chain...

08-05-02, 08:19 PM	#20
LBPound DVD Talk Legend Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 16,666	Isn't it pretty early for the Adult Ads? I thought they generally came on at 11 PM but here it is just after 9 and I'm having big banners trying to sell me Sex Toys in the main DVD Talk forum. Has there been a change in policy on the Adult ads? __________________ ultimatedisney.com

08-05-02, 09:44 PM	#21
Josh H Retired Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 27,389	I believe the adult ads have always started at 9 p.m. EST, as the main goal was to have people not get them at work and get fired, and most people are off work at 9 EST (6 pacific).

08-17-02, 01:45 PM	#22
Surf Monkey Banned Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: The City of Roses. Posts: 4,802	Okay, the V ad is killing me. I get one on every page I visit and I have cookies turned off. Yuck. I'm using IE on MacOS X 10.1.5

08-17-02, 03:48 PM	#23
GeoffK G! Join Date: Jan 1999 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 6,934	I hate to say the obvious Surf Monkey, why don't you turn on cookies. __________________ Former Owner/Editor DVD Talk 1999-2007/8 Editor Drink Spirits

08-18-02, 12:03 AM	#24
Rogue588 DVD Talk Reviewer Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: WAS looking for My Own Private Stuckeyville, but stuck in Liberty City (while missing Vice City) Posts: 15,082	I have my cookies turned on and I still get the V ad. It's annoying, but i've learned to live with it. [like I said on a thread that I started...so long as it supports the site] But, now i'm starting to get OTHER pop ups. Most of them are for Travel sites. THIS is the one I got a little while ago. I only had one browser window open and I went straight to DVDTalk.com. What's up with this? __________________ Marshall Mann: "What exactly is your beef with humanity?" Mary Shannon: "I have no beef with humanity. It's the people I can't stand." "I'm not a fan of facts. Facts can change all the time, but my opinion will never change." - Stephen Colbert \| owned \| desired \| ditchin' \| listen Wednesday 10p \|

08-18-02, 02:10 AM	#25
GeoffK G! Join Date: Jan 1999 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 6,934	Pop-ups or popunders. Right now there are POP-UNDERS running in OTHER 1x every 12 Hours If you have your cookies on you WILL still get the V AD but not on every page. More like 1x every 20 or so mins. What's up with all this? Plain and simple, paying for the site so it can continue to be. I know the first post in this thread is a long one, but I do encourage people to read it. It explains a lot of what's going on. __________________ Former Owner/Editor DVD Talk 1999-2007/8 Editor Drink Spirits