Will someone rethink the pop-ups on this site? Please?

Guys,
I'm sure people are going to flame me for questioning the ATS "Gods" and all, but seriously...someone needs to re-think the blistering of ads on the site for users not logged it.

I come to the site without being logged in and I get slammed with damn pop ups, then half the screen is full of ads anywhere you click. It's rediculous.

I love this site. I love everything it's about. I love the community. I love everything about it, but aren't there a few other ways to generate revenue than bombarding everyone with the ads?

Pop up ads in the web business are like flipping off every person that comes to a website. It pisses off everyone. Why use it? The money..sure, as long as the money is more important than the userbase so be it.

Just being honest.

Well they could get rid of some ads for non-users but then they would have to add more ads for users or osme other way of revenue. Would you rather have them charge you for using the site? ATs is not a free site it costs money to keep up servers, hosting, etc.

It's a discussion forum, not a service.

I have a $100,000 server farm for one of my websites and I know how advertising works. For the traffic ATS gets and the amount of ads blistering every page, believe me, ATS isn't hurting at all.

I don't get pop-ups, wierd. I don't notice the ads either. I guess I must be lucky?

Funny how a pop-up blocker will stop them, huh?

We're not hurting at all?

Simon, why are you letting your accountant make complaints in the Business and Questions forum?

[edit on 30-11-2005 by Thomas Crowne]

Two issues here...

1) I think you're exaggerating the amount of pop-ups. I manage the advertising and I have a Firefox browser (not logged in) without any blockers, that I use to review the popups. There are an average of two when you first hit the site, then perhaps one more on a subsequent page load, then no others for six hours.

2) You're able to tolerate 14-30% advertising in TV shows and magazines, but not 0.2% from a website you enjoy? Why would anyone block our only means of financial support if you enjoy our services? Is that ethical?

ATS is currently running on a server-farm of 4 machines and requires over 2 terrabytes of total network traffic. That's not inexpensive. And with a weekly prime-time cable-network TV show launching soon, our needs will only increase.

From time to time, we've discovered advertiser banner ads that also spawn pop-ups, we've blocked those ads. If you're getting more than 4 pops in a six-hour period as a non-member, we should know about it.

I hate ads. But I love ATS - and that's the trade off. Fine with me. As SO says, it's still WAYYY better than TV.



Also, the way ads here work, the ones on the right side are GREAT for research. I've found some truly fine links and information there.

Use firefox and all your problems will be solved.

It really amazes me how many people HAVE NOT switched over to firefox. Its like night and day.

Now and then, I'll scan the new posts without logging in, just to see what's transpired overnight, or lunch...or whatever.
The most I ever get as far as pop-ups are concerned, is maybe one or two.
If they annoy me, it's right-click, delete...end of situation. They certainly aren't disruptive to the enjoyment of this site.

I'm sorry that SO has to keep coming onto threads, explaining why it's neccesary to have them...I'm sure he has much more important things to do to keep things progressing here. That he does so, speaks volumes about his desire to be forthcoming to every complaint, legitimate or not.

Soficrow has pointed out the google ads on the right side of the pages as we browse. I've taken her advice and started clicking on them for the relevant information they provide...and she's right, they are a benefit to whatever subject the thread has brought up.

Bottom line? The pop-ups are no real annoyance at all...and the google ones are good to have.

my $001.78 opinion

Originally posted by noslenwerd
Use firefox and all your problems will be solved.

It really amazes me how many people HAVE NOT switched over to firefox. Its like night and day.

No kidding! Get with the game people. You can still surf smut with Firefox.

Peace

[edit on 30-11-2005 by Dr Love]

[edit on 30-11-2005 by Dr Love]

Originally posted by SkepticOverlord
2) You're able to tolerate 14-30% advertising in TV shows and magazines, but not 0.2% from a website you enjoy? Why would anyone block our only means of financial support if you enjoy our services? Is that ethical?

We rarely watch television shows. I'll wait for the DVD. When we do watch, the remote is used to surf during commercials.

We recently viewed season one of Lost[/] on DVD. Each one-hour episode is ony 40 minutes long

...that means 20 minutes of commercials

I hate ads, too, esp popups. ATS has way fewer ads than most websites and they are tastefully placed, like the google ads mentined, or at the top (banner ads).

LOL, this should almost be a sticky topic, it seems to come up every week or so