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Flash ads: a serious discussion - I think they may get out of control (already are?)

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skodeo7
Posts: 14949 - Karma: 9,234
I know its good for NS' ads to be successful. But I was skeptical when I heard the integration of a bunch of flash ads. I am seeing THE FIRST ONE. For the movie premiere IF3 fest in Motnreal. This shit is fucking stupid. I feel like I'm about to have a fucking seizure. Now I am seeing about some guy with his mashed potatoes & carrots BLINKING AT ME. I may not be the admins new favorite for starting this thread but I think we need to have a serious discussion about this.
Aug 2 2007 10:16AM
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skodeo7
Posts: 14949 - Karma: 9,234
by the way, I have Firefox which you can get a plug-in which blocks ads. I had ALWAYS had it disabled on NS so I could help support NS' sponsors. But with the advent of these new ridiculous ads, I have enabled it. I'm just saying. If I'm complaining about it, everyone else must really hate it.
Aug 2 2007 10:19AM
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steezyjibber
Posts: 15967 - Karma: 11,026
this site is going slow as hell for me

and i hate the fucking ads on the right
Aug 2 2007 10:19AM
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Snowcase
Posts: 11456 - Karma: 634
I don't want to have a seizure. It also slows my computer down significantly. Keep them static or I'll have to do the same as duncan.
Aug 2 2007 10:21AM
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JGP.
Posts: 2785 - Karma: 474
I am really dissapointed with how it looks. I think the flash adds are horrible. the adds combine take up more space than the freakin site. i may have to switch to firefox just to block these.....
Aug 2 2007 10:25AM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,633
Hmmmmm... less than positive response here eh?

I am interested to hear what everyone's opinion is on this for sure. Give it a bit of time and we'll see how everyone adjusts to it.

There is going to be some give and take with the site, things like the right sidebar banner are a give, but the revenue we will be able to generate from that spot will definitely be a take on our part. Adpoting the proper standard ad sizes will allow us to sell ads to all kinds of companies who will provide the revenue we need to do things like buy right to broadcast major competitions online...

It is definitely a hard thing, as it was for us when we began the discussion on the tall vertical banner. On one hand we didn't want to clutter up the site, but on the other it is a highly requested and valuable spot.

Now, to remind you the rest of the redesign of NS has not been completed, so things will integrate a little more smoothly once that happens. As well, you haven't yet had a chance to see any of the fun new stuff we're going to be able to do, but coming into winter that certainly will be a huge payoff that you guys will get.

Please lets keep an open discussion going here!

Aug 2 2007 10:44AM
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45.
Posts: 3164 - Karma: 170
i like the new size and whatnot, but i think they are to flashy and they keep irritating me, for example when i am reading a thread there is this constant flashing light to the right and it pisses me of, i feel like i have a massive twitch in my eye, next thing you know im going to be shaking uncontrollably and drooling all over the keyboard
Aug 2 2007 10:55AM
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Snowcase
Posts: 11456 - Karma: 634
I just really don't like the banners at all. Honestly, not one of the ads has ever caught my attention enough to click on it. I have them all blocked now, including the old ones. I don't mind change but come on guys, since when have you cared about conforming to industry standards? Also, what industry are you referring to? If it's the ski industry no one gives a fuck about ads unless it's people trying to make money.
Aug 2 2007 10:58AM
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skodeo7
Posts: 14949 - Karma: 9,234
I think its a given that, the larger the ad-space, the more money NS makes. I'm all for NS making money, but not at the demise of members sanity. Flash ads CAN in fact be done tastefully if they are kept very SUBTLE. So far, subtle is the last word I would use to describe the ads that are in place. Its really distracting if your trying to read a thread when you see this blinking crap on the side. I mean, flash at the top of the page may be one thing (the very top ad space), but when you have flash ads flashing in your face when your trying to legitimately read a thread is silly.
Aug 2 2007 11:04AM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,633
The standards are advertising standards on the internet. Its not so much conforming, but making it easier for companies to submit their ads. So with our old sizes when we asked companies for a banner, they would have to go out and get their graphic designer to make custom ones just for NS. This was cool sometimes, but a lot of the time just meant that they submitted their banners 3 months late.

This way, most companies will have banners already made up that we can use, and then be able to make creative for NS that will fit with their other campaigns.

Is it the banner spot, or the flashiness that you guys are disliking?

Aug 2 2007 11:07AM
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skodeo7
Posts: 14949 - Karma: 9,234
Its not so much the spot. For me personally its the flashiness I can't stand. I don't mind standardized ad size, it makes a lot of sense for NS to use standard industry size (bigger ads) but having them blinking all over the place is what really bothers me.

(whooooaaa the top banner just got wider, is it just me?).
Aug 2 2007 11:09AM
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Snowcase
Posts: 11456 - Karma: 634
I guess I'm still sour on the fact that ns was sold. It didn't really bother me until I started to see some changes and now I feel like NS cares more about making money than how the site looks. Can anyone say the site looks better with these ads? I know the members opinions will always be a priority but I can't help the feeling that ns will soon be going downhill.
Aug 2 2007 11:10AM
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skijunkiedtm
Posts: 9229 - Karma: 61
flashynes^

im tempted to switch back to firefox from opera just because i can block the adds on firefox
Aug 2 2007 11:10AM
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Snowcase
Posts: 11456 - Karma: 634
I don't like the top banner. It's the first thing you see and I really don't want to see a banner every single page I look at. I know that's what you're trying to achieve but I will never click on the ads and it's not like they're telling me anything new. The ones I've seen so far are just company names with the exception of the seizure inducing ad which I blocked within 30 seconds. What next? Banners on the splash page?
Aug 2 2007 11:17AM
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snwbrdmilf
Posts: 22441 - Karma: 2,805
There is one banner that covers up "The Site - Interact - My NS - Media - Resources" that's really annoying.
Aug 2 2007 11:18AM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,633
No way do we care more about making money than how the site looks! You've got to remember, this is just the first of many changes to the look and feel of the site.

You see, some people thing that the corporate "man" just wants to exploit everything for more money. While this is semi-true, under these circumstances if we don't cater to the users, and the look and feel of the site, then there's nobody to put our message out to. If you guys leave, we're completely fucked and so is everyone else.

How Newschoolers looks and runs is the most important thing to us, and you've got to bear with us while the plan comes to fruition. This is only a first step in many things that will change leading up to winter, and I can promise you that this is the only one you'll have a negative response to.

Look at this - http://dewtour.motocross.com/

That is made by the exact same live streaming team that we have at our disposal. Look at the quality of the broadcasts... fuckin sick!

Please just bear with us... you'll understand the changes soon!

Aug 2 2007 11:19AM
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45.
Posts: 3164 - Karma: 170
there shouldnt be, clear your cache
Aug 2 2007 11:19AM
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Snowcase
Posts: 11456 - Karma: 634
I look forward to seeing them but why not make all the changes at once like last year?
Aug 2 2007 11:22AM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,633
Everyone has always really freaked out when we made the changes all at once... so we wanted to try the slow release method this year. We hoped that it would be less of a shock, though perhaps we thought wrong. :)

Plus this way we get to get used to everything one change at a time. For instance, one lesson we learned today is that super flashy banners aren't the way to go. :)

Aug 2 2007 11:25AM
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Ryanvdonk
Posts: 12811 - Karma: 1,971
the adds wouldn't be so bad if the flash animation wasn't looped, just have the adds stop playing after it goes through the animation once or twice.
Aug 2 2007 11:29AM
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Snowcase
Posts: 11456 - Karma: 634
I hate change. In my life, change has only brought me more difficult things. If it works, why fuck with it? I'm not talking about the look of the site, I think it needs a fresh face every year. Some things just really bug me.
Aug 2 2007 11:34AM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,633
Yeah at least give us until the end of the winter before you condemn us to death. :) Thanks for the support and trust nomen... I promise that we'll deliver!

Aug 2 2007 11:35AM
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Jorgen.
Posts: 1361 - Karma: 35
I don't mind the size of the adds but like others said it's the damn flashing that pisses me off.
Aug 2 2007 11:40AM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,633
K we're working to fix it right now... we'll try changing up the flashing ones for more static, and see how that goes. Sound good?

Aug 2 2007 11:44AM
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45.
Posts: 3164 - Karma: 170
someone posted above that the flashing wouldnt be so bad if it wasnt looped together, maybe if it cycled through once then moved on to something else it would be better
Aug 2 2007 11:46AM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,633
Definitely a decent idea... we'll try a few different things and see how it all goes!

Aug 2 2007 11:54AM
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papasteeze
Posts: 12055 - Karma: 913
hahahaha...  I didn't even notice them until I read this thread however, I did notice something blinking off to the right but I guess I was ignoring it. 
Aug 2 2007 12:28PM
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45.
Posts: 3164 - Karma: 170
you know i now am catching myself clicking random things so a new add will appear at the top, i really want to see some more EC ones
Aug 2 2007 12:35PM
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dweezileast
Posts: 9661 - Karma: 276
I don't see what the big deal is. They don't bother me in the least, and I've gotten to sign up for a lot of contests as a result of the banners.
Aug 2 2007 12:46PM
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comeatmebro
Posts: 10720 - Karma: 66
i dont even see the flash ads...where are they?
Aug 2 2007 1:00PM
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Pipe_Munky
Posts: 10888 - Karma: 2,184
i was a little bitter about the big media company moving in but i'll reserve judgement until everything's in place and runnnig.



Aug 2 2007 1:48PM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,633
Do the less flashy banners make it a bit better?

Aug 2 2007 2:03PM
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skijunkiedtm
Posts: 9229 - Karma: 61
yes
Aug 2 2007 2:07PM
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SkiMN
Posts: 4005 - Karma: 38
As much advertising as you guys can do, do it, but it cant fuck with the site. If it loads slower or stuff starts getting in the way (like a banner add between quick links and another important function that currently doesnt really exist) then it gets annoying and needs to be changed. If we can still load NS like before, and can get to stuff without scrolling past countless ads, its all good.
Aug 2 2007 2:32PM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
This site is going so much slower.. and the ads are freakin' me out. Enough said? :P

Seriously, the banner ad at the top makes it look really bad.
Aug 2 2007 2:49PM
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snwbrdmilf
Posts: 22441 - Karma: 2,805
I think the banners look just fine. It's not like they're pop-up ads. And I have no issues with the site being slower.
Aug 2 2007 2:51PM
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rxvcgiii
Posts: 690 - Karma: -19
The banners at the top definitely take away from the usual streamline look of this site. The sidebar banner isn't too bad...
Aug 2 2007 2:57PM
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skijunkiedtm
Posts: 9229 - Karma: 61
well im finally used to them and since that crazy flashy one hasnt come up i think they are fine now
Aug 2 2007 2:58PM
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andy_boy
Posts: 4434 - Karma: 107
I haven't seen the crazy flashy one, but I don't mind the sizes at all if NS gets better shit because of it.
Aug 2 2007 3:37PM
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lolatola
Posts: 223 - Karma: 10
I think the "New on NS" stuff should be moved above the sponsors stuff
Aug 2 2007 6:26PM
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Microcosm
Posts: 4765 - Karma: 153
what's going on? I have them all blocked.
Aug 2 2007 7:50PM
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Microcosm
Posts: 4765 - Karma: 153
I just unblocked it for a minute, holy shit this site has a ton of ads.
Aug 2 2007 7:51PM
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Holte
Posts: 10740 - Karma: 7,816
are a bunch of the ads frozen now? seems like it's a LOT less flashy and distracting than it did this morning. Good call if they are indeed more frozen.
Aug 3 2007 1:40AM
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rudager
Posts: 11335 - Karma: 4,624
Flash ads?
are these pop ups
or what'
i noticed that the top picture has gotten bigger and there are ads on that

but i dont get any pop ups
Aug 3 2007 1:47AM
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skodeo7
Posts: 14949 - Karma: 9,234
I'm pretty sure Doug cut WAY back on the blinky flash ads that were really distracting after I (and a few others) posted some severe hate on them.
Aug 3 2007 1:59AM
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mattster
Posts: 4120 - Karma: 41
alright guys, i didnt read the whole thread here, but you HAVE to tone them down and make them smaller, they look like shit
Aug 3 2007 2:09AM
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J.D.
Posts: 21362 - Karma: 5,142
Really? Some dude with mashed potatoes is blinking at you and you're bitching about it. It apparently doesn't take much to knock you off the "NS making money" bandwagon dude.

Doug, is the increase in income from these ads substantial? Would you miss it if it wasn't there? Yes? Cool. Keep 'em. If it'll double the income, put them everywhere. Go big or remain irrelevant.
Aug 3 2007 2:18AM
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J.D.
Posts: 21362 - Karma: 5,142
Only, no pop ups. That shit's just annoying. No one wants to go to a site that has popups.
Aug 3 2007 2:22AM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,633
Yes! You see we do listen to you guys, so when you didn't like the flasy ads we changed them!

Aug 3 2007 8:05AM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,633
We're talking an increase that is NO bullshit. Like more in a month than we used to be able to make in TWO YEARS.

If we can work this stuff into the site and get you guys stoked on it, its going to give us the cash to do some super fuckin' badass shit. See mod discussion for a tiny preview of things to come. ;) Sorry public you guys are going to have to anticipate... but believe me there's some amazing shit coming down the pipe.

Aug 3 2007 8:07AM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,633
I don't think advertisers even like popups. The hottest shit right now for internet advertising is rich media. Shit like a banner that has a teaesr in it, and then when you click it expands into a cool video about the product. Personally thats what I want to see happening. Quality video though thats very informational and entertaining.

Aug 3 2007 8:08AM
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