Extra large ads and surveys

1. STAFF

   pauldeedsposted 14 years ago

   Over the course of the next few weeks we're going to be running some extra large brand advertisements on hubs, in the HubPages share of the impressions.  With these ads will come advertiser surveys that may slide in from the edge or bottom of your page.  If you'd prefer not to see these surveys, you can opt out by navigating to the safecount.net consumer options page, and clicking the Consumer Opt-Out button (you'll have to do this once for each computer and browser that you use).  If you'd rather not have these large format ads on your hubs at all, and your hubs are not commercial, you can set the ad level to medium, low, or none.

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      LeslieAdrienneposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you.....

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      cashgoldposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you for the ADS..

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   Cagsilposted 14 years ago

   Thank you PaulDeeds.

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   Urbane Chaosposted 14 years ago

   Thanks for the heads up..

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   wrenfrost56posted 14 years ago

   Thanks V much for keeping us informed.

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   AEvansposted 14 years ago

   Thank you for informing us.

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   RedElfposted 14 years ago

   Thanks, Paul. It will be interesting to see what they look like.

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   1. STAFF

      pauldeedsposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      You should be able to see them in there full glory on this hub.  You may need to signout first.

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         Urbane Chaosposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Paul.. if I can comment here..
         
         Personally, I love the larger ads, especially the flash based ads.  On most sites that I've visited they are unobtrusive, but at the same time they offer valuable content to the person browsing the page.  In your hub, the ad seems to blend nicely with the rest of the page - and that was one of my biggest concerns.
         
         With that in mind, the main reason why I joined HubPages was because of the simplicity of design.  I can write an article, post it, and readers can enjoy the article without a lot of the nonsense that other sites have.  As long as the ads remain unobtrusive, and can still offer a good ROI, I think it's an excellent idea.  However, thinking mainly of the flash based "pop up" advertisements, I would be a little leary of using such advertising methods. 
         
         I'm sure that it has both its pro's and con's, but only time will tell if it's going to be a viable alternative to other marketing avenues.

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   Sage Williamsposted 14 years ago

   Thanks, Paul for keeping us up to date.

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   livewithrichardposted 14 years ago

   Thanks, are our visitors going to be subjected to these "slide in" surveys? Also, if they choose to participate in the survey will they navigate away from our hubs through them?

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   1. STAFF

      pauldeedsposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, visitors to your hub that haven't opted out may be prompted to take a survey.  The surveys only appear on a fraction of the impressions.  I believe the survey happens in an overlay, and they will be returned to viewing your hub if they complete or abandon the survey.

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         G Miahposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Hmm, very interesting. To opt out or not to opt out, that ia the question.
         
         Hmm...

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         Justine76posted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Good thing there is an opt out ...If there was no cance to  opt out, I wouldn't be able to read hubs with the ads, as my computer shuts down when it encounters flash or overlays or pop ups. I wonder how many other people have this problem and might not read hubs after the first time their computer freeezes?

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   Mrvoodooposted 14 years ago

   This sounds incredibly spammy, like pop-ups in disguise.
   
   But maybe it's not going to be as bad as this sounds in my head, and my opinion certainly isn't going to change matters either way, and I appreciate that the bills need to be paid.
   
   Could be worse, I could have irrelevant ads for whitening yellow teeth, and how to get a flat stomach all over my hubs.

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    Mishaposted 14 years ago

    Thanks for letting us know so it does not get us by surprise

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    wsp2469posted 14 years ago

    Hey!  I'm impressed!  (I'm not being Captain Sarcasm either!)  I am surprised that HP is allowing us some control over this!  Thanks!
    mind you, I probably will be too busy to adjust any of the settings but it's truly nice to know I CAN if I take the time to do so!

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    flread45posted 14 years ago

    It is sooo big it scared me.

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       wsp2469posted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I've had dates who have said the exact same thing!

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          B.C. BOUTIQUEposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          hahahahahaha
          
          the ads and surveys do not bother me, but thank you for letting me know! 

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    shinujohn2008posted 14 years ago

    thanks for the info

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       BL Tweenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I thought it was pretty good, at least people will know its an ad, some of them are so small they don't catch the readers interest. Thanks.

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    Randy Godwinposted 14 years ago

    I assume they will not be of any benefit to the hubbers themselves,am I wrong?

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       Marisa Wrightposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Randy, when HubPages is testing a new ad, they do it in their share of impressions - so we don't lose out if it turns out to be a dog.  If it works out, they'll then make it common to all.

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          Randy Godwinposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          This is good news, thanks Marisa!  I still dislike this quote thing though!

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    Dame Scribeposted 14 years ago

    Good Q, Randy can we split on the BIG ads? 2 for you and 2 for me? if that makes any sense lol

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       Urbane Chaosposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       HP can have the big ads... I was thinking that they should leave all the google ads for us!

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    theirishobserver.posted 14 years ago

    I would actually welcome better style ads on my hubs...most of what I am getting are small text only ads and they look very amaturish......

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    webismineposted 14 years ago

    Good to know early

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    Randy Godwinposted 14 years ago

    Hmmm.  Won't these ads detract from the small ones we make money on?

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    habeeposted 14 years ago

    I was wondering the same thing, Randy.

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       Sally's Troveposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Me too.

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    sarovaiposted 14 years ago

    Thank u Paul.

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    rebekahELLEposted 14 years ago

    habee, the ads only appear when it's HP's turn if I understand.

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    Randy Godwinposted 14 years ago

    So, they won't appear during "our turn"?

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       blue dogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       silly, randy.  that would mean increased revenue for us.

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          Randy Godwinposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Doh, what was I thinkin'!

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             blue dogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             there's a new theory that small ads out-perform large ads.

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                Randy Godwinposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                Ah, the old "size doesn't make a difference" test, huh?  How ya doin' Blue Dog?

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                   blue dogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                   doing good, randy.  just hurt my head by falling off the turnip truck.  imagine, large ads not performing as well as small ads.

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                      Randy Godwinposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                      I know what you mean,Blue Dog.  That's what happens when you're riding on the turnip truck and not drivin'!

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    JeanMeriamposted 14 years ago

    Will the larger ads be running during our impression times eventually? They do get a lot more attention.

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    nanospeckposted 14 years ago

    Hope it doesn't drive away my outerworld fans!

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    Peter Hogganposted 14 years ago

    I have a question, are these ads contextual and will they only show on related hubs?

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       JeanMeriamposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I have a hub that is about tantrums in toddlers. The large ad was Jesus is the Difference.:-) Contextual... I don’t know

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          Justine76posted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Of course it is...

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    Dao Hoaposted 14 years ago

    Thank you for the heads up Paul.

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    Ghost32posted 14 years ago

    Thanks, Paul.  Don't imagine I'll be opting out of anything, but (as has already been stated) it's nice not to get any surprises.
    
    Well, I like SOME surprises....

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    Jane@CMposted 14 years ago

    I was just reading a hub by Tobey (I think) and this large ad crossed over the page and interrupted my reading! Can't tell you what the ad was for, but it was annoying!

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       Sally's Troveposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       More than annoying.
       
       I've been contributing here for two years and will continue to.  But if my first experience of this site had been watching these "big ads" roll over a topic of interest to me that I found through an Internet search, I'd be out of this site forever.
       
       Tasteless, but worse, it just makes HP like any other site looking for bucks. It makes it all about money and dilutes the value of what goes on here...what has gone on here.
       
       It interferes with the reader's focus.
       
       So, do you want to encourage meaningful content (content which is valued on the net), or do you just want to rake in bucks?  There's a balance here that I think you need to assess. Like, is this a site for writers, or a site to generate the bucks? Balance.

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          Mrvoodooposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          or do you just want to rake in bucks?
          
          I think the answer to that is now obvious.
          
          I first joined HP because it seemed like a quality site, now not so much (sorry HP crew but it's true).  It's like two sites in one now, hubs generally look pretty good in the hubbers share of impressions, but if you are unlucky enough to log in during HP's share it's a different story.  Yellow Teeth, PAYDAY Loans, completely unrelated ads of every description, and now forced surveys.
          
          Whilst we may not lose out directly on money because these are in the HP share of impressions, we are most likely missing out on links, tweets, etc.  that may have occurred from impressed visitors if only our content hadn't been presented so terribly.

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             Justine76posted 14 years agoin reply to this

             we will loose readers. If I came to HP and a big floaty ad showed up, Id leave and never look back. A big reason this is the only site I joined is the lack of apps and surveys and all that facebook teenager shiny stuff

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                Sally's Troveposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                Amen.

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    skyfireposted 14 years ago

    I have ad-block plus enabled so i can't see those ads. And even after disabling it i unable to see the big ad. Any specific hub where i can see that ? I know 300x250 ad in sidebar but other than that is there any ad ?

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    Internetwriter62posted 14 years ago

    Sounds fantastic, Pauldeeds. I think larger ads will mean more clicks to and I we all want click. Great idea, I'm all for what makes hubs a better marketing vehicle. Thank you and great idea.

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    Research Analystposted 14 years ago

    Cool, Thanks!

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    lovelypaperposted 14 years ago

    Nice to know. Thanks.

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    Sally's Troveposted 14 years ago

    After a bit of time has passed since the introduction of the floating survey, I wonder if there are stats to share?
    
    I wonder after perhaps 100,000 floating surveys, how many got clicked? What data did you gather? Were the dollars earned good enough to continue with the program...
    
    Curious.

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    MyWebsposted 14 years ago

    I just got one of them float in from the side survey ads. I clicked on it and took it. It was about car rentals.
    
    I'm not sure if I like this or not. Those survey ads are very disruptive, but at least they do return you back where you started.
    
    Hmmm....If they make me more money, maybe. But I'm afraid I could see many users running away when they get one too.

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    Justine76posted 14 years ago

    Ive opted out several times now...and I stil am seeing them?

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       skyfireposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       If you're using Firefox browser then install "Ad-block plus" add-on and you'll never see ads on any site including HP.

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          Justine76posted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Internet explorer. I guess its not really a huge deal, I can just click the back button..but if I am reading something, I dont like to be zooped off to some survey about deoderant.

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             skyfireposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             You can disable ads from Internet explorer. Check this URL:
             
             vista4beginners.com/AdBlock-Plus-Filters-Internet-Explorer-8

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                Justine76posted 14 years agoin reply to this

                thanks!!!! 

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          Glenn Stokposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Ad-blockers and disabling pop-ups will only help us avoid these intrusive things. The problem still remains that our loyal readers, who could be anyone, will be frightened away.

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    Randy Godwinposted 14 years ago

    I abhor the floating surveys!  Personally, I would never return to a site with these things flitting around.  I certainly hope this isn't a permanent thing here. 
    
    It's actually a bit embarrassing to me when friends or relatives try to read my hubs and encounter these things.  A bit of overkill it seems.  A used car dealership for articles, colored flags waving on a rope.  (Too harsh?)
    
    Just my opinion, though!

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    Glenn Stokposted 14 years ago

    I'd like to add my opinion on these huge ads.  The first time I saw it I became afraid that I would lose readers. Whenever I see something like that fly across my screen on any site, I click away from the entire thing, never to return. It gets in the way of what the reader is trying to read. It takes the readers mind off the main reason why they are there to begin with and they lose their train of thought, which leads to frustration. We don't want to frustrate our readers. That's not a good thing.

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    sunforgedposted 14 years ago

    they suck! they dont detract from my earnings since they dont appear on my impression share and my traffic comes from search...but for every visitor who associates those crap fly away ads to the domain "hubpages" ..thats one more visitor that will skim to the next title when they look at their search results and it says hubpages
    
    
    boo! terrible idea

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    Sally's Troveposted 14 years ago

    My question is still out there and unanswered. 
    
    Is HP getting any worthwhile dollars out of large ads and parading surveys?
    
    Since I'm not a partner in HP, and HP is a private company, they don't have to answer my question. But still, it's an interesting question, because those large ads and surveys commercialize this site to enough of a degree that those who land here from a search looking for info will find this parading survey link, maybe click it, get distracted, and not come back again, because this is just the kind of commercialism they are not looking for when they are looking for information.
    
    shetoldme.com is an interesting case in point about this. Theirs is a good idea, because you can condense any info on the Internet, including your own, and so this site could serve as a digest or index of information. Plus, contributors can get a backlink. But that site is so infiltrated with ads that it is hard to see the information.
    
    I really hope HP doesn't go down that path.
    
    Does HP have a 5-year plan? A 10-year plan?

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    katiem2posted 14 years ago

    Thanks Paul,
    I appreciate the heads up and guidance as to how to opt out.  Peace

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