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October, 2024

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Adblock FAQ

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00000000
Posts: 11075 - Karma: 82,508

As you may or may not know, advertisements are how we keep Newschoolers running. The majority of our readers understand this and support the site by not blocking ads on it.

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Why should I unblock ads on this website?

Because they enable us to keep Newschoolers free! Not only do they do that, but they allow us to reward our content creators, offer new features, better coverage and much, much more.

Does blocking ads really negatively impact you guys?

Yes! Very much so, and not only Newschoolers, but other sites/people in the industry who depend on ads to survive.

If 50% of our users are using adblock, we need to work twice as hard just to sustain Newschoolers.

What should I do then?

Please support us by unblocking ads on Newschoolers.com. This helps keep things going, and creating the content that you're checking out.

I feel some of your ads are too instrusive.

We work with some of the most reputable ad companies, and although we're not perfect, our ads shouldn't auto-play audio or cause too much havoc for you. If that does happen, please let us know so we can get it fixed.

How can I support Newschoolers if I really do hate ads?

Buy some Newschoolers merchandise, become a donator, contribute positively to the website, share links on Facebook, etc.

I'm not blocking ads, but I'm seeing a message that I am!

Please let us know what your web browser is, and what platform you're viewing the site from (mobile phone, computer, etc.) and we'll investigate this and try and fix it.

I have a lot of questions you didn't answer here.

Please feel free to leave them in the comments, and also check out this post on Destructoid, which explains a lot of the ins and outs of ads and ad blocking.

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Aug 5 2013 4:41PM
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CMYK
Posts: 1101 - Karma: 336
And yet, despite providing that great destructoid article, you completely ignore its content. Like the anonymous user, I too felt greatly annoyed at the fact that your red button "doesn't seem to go away UNTIL I unblock. So there wasn't any choice to keep viewing without having it 'nagging' me all the time whenever I visit your site, and covering search fields etc."

Also from the article: Clearly, fighting your readers head-on is not the right solution. Guess how easy it was to block that reminder with Adblock plus. Two clicks.

I love newschoolers, and have been around since 2007. I've donated, showed it to all my friends, and uploaded pictures and videos here rather than on third party sites. I'd be glad to pay a one time fee, hell, I feel that it would help ameliorate many of the immaturity and idiocy I see here.

This annoying button is not the way to do it though. Like destructoid concluded, the effective way around this is by offering premium content for users who want/can afford it, not by relying on a bunch of teenagers to pity you.
Aug 5 2013 5:53PM
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00000000
Posts: 11075 - Karma: 82,508
We're already in the midst of seriously considering this option -- but like anything else in the world, it costs money... Just think about the scope of Newschoolers compared to other websites and what we would have to implement to create premium "sections" of the entire site.

If 10% of the adblock users were to stop, then we could probably implement something like this over the winter.
Aug 5 2013 6:15PM
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00000000
Posts: 11075 - Karma: 82,508
We're not trying to "fight" anybody -- we're simply testing out ways to try and make up for this lost revenue. That revenue would be used to better the site, which in turn (we're hoping) will improve your experience as a whole.

What adblock message did you get hit with if you don't mind me asking?
Aug 5 2013 6:18PM
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00000000
Posts: 11075 - Karma: 82,508
You can disable it in two clicks actually.
Aug 5 2013 6:19PM
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CMYK
Posts: 1101 - Karma: 336
True, but with my way I don't have to do it every week.

I guess all I'm trying to say is that as a user of this site, I don't feel that this is the best way to go about this. Who knows, maybe it is, but that destructiod article you posted cited only a ~3% change after a similar campaign. It seems that you've made your choice though.
Aug 5 2013 6:21PM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,633
Sadly a one-time fee won't do the trick. You'd pay it, we'd get some revenue, but then NS would be in business for another 14 years and we'd start to need money again. An online business above and beyond all else needs recurring revenue to continue operations.

As for the quality content thing in exchange for money... I'm all for it. Do you suggest that we create a subscription model? To be honest, the more this discussion comes up the more I think we should seriously look at this... would you pay a monthly subscription for top quality content?

New York times has had success with this - http://paidcontent.org/2013/05/20/new-york-times-ceo-calls-digital-pay-model-most-successful-decision-in-years/

Right now every time this comes up en masse people state they wouldn't be interested in subscription. Monthly subscription is the only thing that makes any sort of sense - one time fees are a temporary band-aid. If enough people were into this, then we could absolutely create a premium newschoolers experience.

So what would it be? It'd probably have to be in the $5-$15 / month range, depending on the nature of content we added for you / took away for everyone else.

In the meantime though, yes - we can get a bunch of teenagers to understand the value of the site. Its not pity, its them understanding the economics of what they love. Plenty of people with the tiny amount of promotion we've done with what lead you here have whitelisted NS and are now viewing ads.
Aug 5 2013 6:26PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
Most of the other forums I am on offer ad free browsing for donators/premium members. But as NS doesnt offer that, I will continue to use ad block

this is a good reason for non donors to DONATE
Aug 5 2013 6:27PM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,633
3% extra ads for the entire site is massive. That basically could bankroll:

-A new salary for a junior staff
-Major increase in revenue share programs for producers/photographers/journalists
-big new exciting feature, or 3 months of major feature improvements
-Newschoolers event

The list goes on.

As well, we can't base our numbers off of Destructoid, because already we know that we aren't the same as them. They had somewhere around 50% of people blocking ads right? We only have about 25%. There's a chance that because the ski industry is tighter, and Newschoolers is more of a meaningful community to people they'll listen to our request to unblock only ads on NS.
Aug 5 2013 6:31PM
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00000000
Posts: 11075 - Karma: 82,508
Like I said, we're just testing this option out. We simply don't have the resources or time to implement a gigantic site overhaul to offer a premium services.

I really appreciate you telling us that you don't think this is the best way to go about it. We take your feedback to heart -- trust me. Just note that so far it has been working at about a 15-20% success rate (depending on the message), which in my opinion is fairly substantial. My guess is that it'll plateau at a lower percentage though... but only time will tell!
Aug 5 2013 6:35PM
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CMYK
Posts: 1101 - Karma: 336
In response to the subscription model- Absolutely! especially if it guarantees quality content, insightful discussion, no ads ect. I feel that NS should retain a free section as well, but for those who really enjoy this site, and are willing to pay for well done content, a paid section would be amazing. (I also think as your demographic ages and matures-I was 14 when I joined) you'll see a huge amount of people that would be willing to pay for this. Perhaps a 5-10$ one time fee to get rid of ads for adblock users (you wouldn't get anything from them otherwise) with a 15-20$ a month premium site?

All of this of course depends on what you offer as premium. I think people say they don't want a subscription because 1. They don't want to pay and 2. They don't know what they'd be paying for. If instead you said we ARE doing a paid subscription, now how can we make this worth your $$ you might see some more cooperation.

Just my .02

Aug 5 2013 6:36PM
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CMYK
Posts: 1101 - Karma: 336
I'd like to start off by apologizing, you guys obviously know what the hell you're doing here, and have done your research. I came across a bit heavy-handed, internet advertising is something that really interests/annoys me.

As I stated above though, this strategy does not work for me (and apparently Balto above as well) if you are seeing good numbers with it, then by all means, let me block in peace. If it isn't working to your liking though, I would love access to additional content via a subscription model if that ever becomes economically viable.
Aug 5 2013 6:41PM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,633
There is no way we can launch a tiny fee for adblock users, that would devalue the site to everyone else. If you use AdBlock, you must realize that we're going to try to convert you. You're taking our content and giving nothing back, and a $5-$10 fee is meaningless. We need to keep going back and forth to figure out something better. If that option was available, everyone would take it and we'd lose way more than just a few people who disrespect our hard work enough to use AdBlock.

The only solution long term is twofold:

1) Appeal to people using AdBlock that we need them to look at ads, and that we're very willing to have an open discussion about them doing so to maintain free content.

2) Develop a subscription model which gives access to premium stuff / features / whatever that is so awesome its a no-brainer for any hard core NSer to join.

Long term there's still lots to discuss in terms of what works that is for sure... but its got to be a reasonable balance. Internet users are going to start seeing some of their favorite sites go away because of things like AdBlock, and the idea that you have to either look at ads, pay a little bit of money or both is going to become part of the norm for keeping around the stuff you love. On the publishing side, we need to not get too greedy and make sure that we offer a quality product to our visitors that is priced reasonably and doesn't use too many offensive ads.

Remember that we're replacing a model with print say, where you pay for the subscription and then are served more than 50% ad content. Imagine if half of all pageviews on NS (or half of each page) was an ad? AND you paid subscription?

Taking that into account and its not so unreasonable to at least come up with a balanced on all sides approach.
Aug 5 2013 6:51PM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,633
Get more people to join you in the demand for a subscription model on the site and we'll start building it. :)
Aug 5 2013 6:52PM
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roddy116
Posts: 10630 - Karma: 7,456
Okay fine ill stop using adblocker if i dont have to see trailer trash girls wearing first drop.
Aug 5 2013 6:56PM
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1337
Posts: 31054 - Karma: 29,246
I haven't seen one of those ads in months
Aug 5 2013 7:06PM
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CMYK
Posts: 1101 - Karma: 336
You act like this is some sort of barter or negotiation. It isn't. I (with the help of adblock) have everything I want. You do not. Your only appeal is some sort of argument to my pathos, an argument that has shown time and time again to be difficult to make via a digital medium. At the end of the day, I value my own, personal enjoyment of the web in a way that I dictate way more than any sort of loyalty or other emotion you try to make me feel. The 5-10$ was my attempt at a (admittedly mild) compromise. It's really the only thing that I would do short of subscription. Remember, you are asking me to pay and nothing to change, or for me to fundamentally change my preferred way of browsing the internet.

Short of some sort of SOPA protest-esque blackout, I think you'll have a hard time convincing hardcore internet users to change their habits. There's simply no incentive. And as far as NS going away, you, along with others have too much invested in this site to allow it to fail. You'd sell out before you let it fall away. And even if it did, there's always powder, freeskiier, TGR....
Aug 5 2013 7:16PM
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roddy116
Posts: 10630 - Karma: 7,456
okay then ill take it down.
Aug 5 2013 7:39PM
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Sklar
Posts: 8864 - Karma: 31,612
What would these "Premium services" be?

Exclusive content seems to be something that was suggested, but where is this content going to come from?
Is it content that is already around? In that case do you plan to separate that content, so free users would not be able to view content they once had access to?
Or would the new revenue be used to bankroll people who are able to create higher quality content sort of like a magazine does?

The business side of this situation is pretty intriguing to me.
Aug 5 2013 7:41PM
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CMYK
Posts: 1101 - Karma: 336
This is what I'm saying. I feel like this would be a win win for both the consumer and the producer, not to mention the media platform (NS)
Aug 5 2013 7:57PM
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.AR6rider.
Posts: 15976 - Karma: 8,799
Haha what the fuck is this Wikipedia shit? Begging for people to turn off ad-block and asking for more donations? What a joke. First thing I did was ad-block the shit out of that annoying red "button," and I hope everyone else does the same. Pathetic, NS. Pathetic.
Aug 5 2013 8:41PM
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Hammyslapwagon
Posts: 1261 - Karma: 1,409
.....No thanks would have sufficed also =/
Aug 5 2013 8:45PM
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freeskibum82
Posts: 6355 - Karma: 5,055
the ads are annoying. and the banner needing my support is even worse. i did the same.

wonder how long before they start banning people who dont like that. so this is mousseau's first marketing move eh? might want to rethink that.
Aug 5 2013 9:08PM
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Skiingsnow
Posts: 1567 - Karma: 797
harden he fuck up, it's a couple of little pictures and it helps them make NS a better place
Aug 5 2013 9:29PM
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Dirac
Posts: 1304 - Karma: 335
I don't like how the ads are directed at me. Skiing ads are one thing but these ads are just creepy. Clearly tracking my online activity. I unblocked the fucking ads but I don't know how much longer I can do it for. I just hate this shit. I will gladly pay a fee for an ad free NS instead of this BS.
Aug 5 2013 9:40PM
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00000000
Posts: 11075 - Karma: 82,508
We would never do that. I'm pretty sure you know that though.

We simply want to expand our content producer programs. I'm sure there's someone on NS that creates content you enjoy -- whether it be a photographer, journalist, or producer.
Aug 5 2013 9:41PM
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00000000
Posts: 11075 - Karma: 82,508
That'll depend on what the members want.

At the moment we're hoping to continue to find ways to reward members putting out quality content that the community wants to see. Having a small percentage of our members whitelist NS would be one way to do that.
Aug 5 2013 9:45PM
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00000000
Posts: 11075 - Karma: 82,508
Agreed!
Aug 5 2013 9:46PM
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Dirac
Posts: 1304 - Karma: 335
seriously. How the fuck does it know I buy landscaping equipment?

Click for larger image
Aug 5 2013 9:47PM
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00000000
Posts: 11075 - Karma: 82,508
What would you pay for an ad-free and/or premium type subscription?
Aug 5 2013 9:48PM
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1337
Posts: 31054 - Karma: 29,246
well actually, NS pretty much uses ad revenue for 100% of its expenses. So basically to pay the guys that run it, reward some of the content producers that provide much of the material on the site, and various other expenses, NS relies heavily on ad dollars. If everyone had the same attitude as you did, ns would not continue.

The ads on NS are seriously so unobtrusive that it's pretty easy to forget you even allowed adblock to skip over NS. Remember, it's JUST FOR NS, not your ENTIRE WEB BROWSING EXPERIENCE
Aug 5 2013 9:50PM
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Dirac
Posts: 1304 - Karma: 335
At least as much as a magazine subscription.
Aug 5 2013 9:59PM
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00000000
Posts: 11075 - Karma: 82,508
And that's okay.

We're not forcing you to change the way you browse or interact with NS. We're asking you to consider whitelisting us. Consider being the key word.

It was two extra clicks and now you're good to go and have nothing to worry about ever again. No need to get upset about it -- we're simply looking for feedback and hoping a few people will deal with the ads. Who knows, they might even enjoy them... or the content created by that added ad revenue... which goes right back to the members who create said content.
Aug 5 2013 10:01PM
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00000000
Posts: 11075 - Karma: 82,508
I'm curious -- were you running an adblock extension during the winter/spring?
Aug 5 2013 10:02PM
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eheath
Posts: 61604 - Karma: 123,113
Click for larger image

some of you guys are so damn butthurt about adblock
Aug 5 2013 10:06PM
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1337
Posts: 31054 - Karma: 29,246
The attitude of a loser, the logic of a 2 year old. Congratulations on your decision, you're right, we can't make you change your mind. Just saying the several tens of thousand's of page loads you waste hundreds of hours on every year on NS (you're a pretty regular user) could help improve the FREE forums, services, photos, news, videos, and discussions you view nearly every day.
Aug 5 2013 10:21PM
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123+ski
Posts: 2832 - Karma: 581
just noticed the little red thing today, forgot I had installed adblock, and successfully stopped it on ns. To be honest, it seemed kind of empty without it.
Aug 5 2013 10:31PM
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Keith.
Posts: 967 - Karma: 88
Why is this in site discussion? Sticky it in NSG and it'll probably get atleast 5x views if not wayyy more.
Aug 5 2013 11:27PM
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fujarome
Posts: 8630 - Karma: 1,561
make the ads appropriate and relevant, and I think you'll get a lot more support.

no one wants to see trailer trash tits flopping around, and regardless of web history, no one on here is looking to buy heavy construction empty.
Aug 6 2013 12:16AM
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Sklar
Posts: 8864 - Karma: 31,612
I think so, I switched back to Firefox from chrome sometime in the winter because chrome was fucking up my computer, Adblock was installed on Firefox and I never bothered to change it.


I think the sticky point in "premium services" is where you draw the line on what makes that tier and what doesn't. The way I'm thinking about a subscription based service is by comparing it to a magazine.
To me the premium content would then be defined as content that would be of the caliber to be published in a magazine, and I'm not sure how much of that level of content there is being produced by regular members. This isn't to say that I don't think there is that level of content on the site though.
For instance, when I was part of the program, I wouldn't post anything that I would submit to hopefully be published in a mag, because I would rather have it go to a mag even if I would have gotten paid for it being on ns.
So to get that level of content I think you would have to raise the standards and in turn the compensation for that content to something more similar to a magazine in order for that kind of system to be sustainable, which would mean paying a lot more for content and moving away from the whole "user generated content" thing.
Aug 6 2013 12:22AM
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acc
Posts: 4122 - Karma: 222
I was going to donate more until I saw that there's tax charged. I know that's not your fault but wtf.

I owe you some $$$
Aug 6 2013 12:37AM
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LoathesRaisins
Posts: 3612 - Karma: 4,735
As long as I'm not seeing half nude women in ski gear, I will keep NS white listed.
Aug 6 2013 1:24AM
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icon1234
Posts: 3081 - Karma: 1,475
Fucking pathetic. Not going to remove ad-block just based on principle now. Like seriously? This was your best solution to this issue? Annoy your customer base to death so they will comply with your requests? Yea not playing that game.
Aug 6 2013 1:27AM
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Skiingsnow
Posts: 1567 - Karma: 797
You're a pussy
Aug 6 2013 2:46AM
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Parrish
Posts: 8695 - Karma: 1,009
I had you guys on the whitelist on my laptop, but I forgot to change it on my desktop. Fixed it now so enjoy the revenue.
Aug 6 2013 3:17AM
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mattytru
Posts: 2788 - Karma: 5,618
the only problem for me is that without adblock ns is literally too slow to function
Aug 6 2013 3:40AM
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00000000
Posts: 11075 - Karma: 82,508
That's the plan! Ads might be a little stale in the summer months, but we guarantee a ton more ski specific ads once Fall rolls along.
Aug 6 2013 7:38AM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22708 - Karma: 76,633
It is a negotiation - we the staff of these sites are able to determine the quality of what is done and make decisions based on the user bases' actions. If we are losing $75,000 / year to AdBlock (which was about what it was before this started) then we make a decision based on that. It isn't money that didn't exist before either, as it is money that we used to have before the rise of adblockers.

You sit there behind your monitor demanding everything for free and giving nothing in return, which is fine - and I'm not stupid enough to think I can't stop you - but this is our way of giving fair warning that we are not able to provide the services to the level we could if people block ads. If they want subscription then great, but we need to have the discussion.

To simply give in and offer ad free newschoolers into perpetuity for $5 is downright insane. If you're someone who believes that this is your right as an internet user, then sadly you will be faced 5-10 years down the road with some pretty fucking shitty internet content. Content is massively expensive and is something that requires large revenue streams to produce in a long-term basis.

Also please don't think I'm simply appealing to your pathos - I'm appealing to your intellect. I'm engaging in a discussion with you where I'm simply letting you know that its damaging. You can not care if you want, and we can have a discussion about what else to launch - but I'd prefer that you know its damaging. I don't care if you feel guilty, but there will be a subset of people who do want to help out by viewing ads that will simply unblock NS becuase they didn't realize it hurts us.

Finally, you can click on the reminder and ask it to block that too. Two clicks to a perpetual ad-free NS experience where you go back to your land of free internet. I can't stop you, and I don't want your $5 to pathetically pretend like you actually want to help. If you want to help, block that and then engage in the subscription discussion, buy some merch or help out as a content contributor.

If in the end you are one of the people that simply refuses to unblock normal ads, refuses to buy anything, refuses to donate and refuses to talk subscription... then this is the internet and we're not going to kick you out. All I ask is that you do your best to contribute to the site in a positive manner, so at least you can assist with making the community better if not assisting with the monetization.

Aug 6 2013 7:39AM
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00000000
Posts: 11075 - Karma: 82,508
We appreciate you at least trying!

Hopefully we'll be able to streamline some of our systems in the future to make everything run a bit smoother & load faster.
Aug 6 2013 7:39AM
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00000000
Posts: 11075 - Karma: 82,508
We'll be dropping some new product in the NS store this week...

Click for larger image
Aug 6 2013 7:45AM
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00000000
Posts: 11075 - Karma: 82,508
Interesting! I'm wondering how many other content creators use adblock as well.

FYI we're hoping to move our content programs to complete rev share... ie; if you run an adblock while watching "freed the streets", then they won't be getting paid for your view.
Aug 6 2013 7:47AM
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