why is the web site now being bombarded with ads

Tuesday, October 16, 2007 by musicman1126 | Discussion: Personal Computing

all of us paying subscribers would like to see less ads by google... i mean come on enough is enough.  . lets get some common sence here...every page is just overloaded with too much ads    that just get in the way... is this the way to treat paying subscribers??? gives us a break will you  i almost dread just looking cause of alll the ads that are more than annoying,, help save us subscribers from this onslaught.... thank you
11 Reply 11 Referrals
ZubaZ
Reply #1 Tuesday, October 16, 2007 12:31 PM
Subscribes should see ads?
What URL are you seeing them at?
Have you logged off and back on?

Zoomba
Reply #2 Tuesday, October 16, 2007 2:45 PM

There are two subscriptions to keep in mind

  1. Object Desktop - A 1 year subscription to Stardock's suite of desktop enhancements (WindowBlinds, DesktopX, IconPackager etc)
  2. WinCustomize - A 1 year subscription to this site.  Provided ad-free browsing, several free skins, and a 20% discount on Master Skin purchases

You have a subscription to Object Desktop, not WinCustomize.  So you have all the software and all the downloads you want from WC, just not ad-free browsing.  We have to pay for the site independently of software sales. 

And we actually haven't increased the number of ads in quite a while, we've just moved a few around for better positioning.

-Mike


iBookChick
Reply #3 Wednesday, October 17, 2007 9:05 PM
Consider using Firefox with CustomizeGoogle and AdBlock Plus with all the filters. It's a whole new (CLEAN!) experience.

ZubaZ
Reply #4 Wednesday, October 17, 2007 9:18 PM
Consider using Firefox with CustomizeGoogle and AdBlock Plus with all the filters. It's a whole new (CLEAN!) experience
It also removes a revenue stream from sites you like (and want to stay in business).  It's a good thing to support things you like.  A subscription to WC isn't so dear.

Bebi Bulma
Reply #5 Wednesday, October 17, 2007 10:43 PM
I block ALL ads, and yes I am a subscriber. As far as I know...I thought the ads worked by users clicking on them, I wouldn't click on them anyway, so they get blocked.

ZubaZ
Reply #6 Wednesday, October 17, 2007 11:08 PM
I block ALL ads, and yes I am a subscriber.
I think you have the right.
I thought the ads worked by users clicking on them

I know that my sites report on page impressions for my ads. At the least displaying an ad lets the site owner know what's effective and what's not.




iBookChick
Reply #7 Wednesday, October 17, 2007 11:27 PM
I do not mean to offend; it's no different from those that subscribe to Satellite and use TiVo to watch shows without the commercials. I am not against a subscription to WC, rather the onslaught of so-called relevant ads throughout the world wide web that might encourage me to purchase one thing or another. If I were to purchase WC, it would not be for ad-free browsing. Alas, what allures me is the seductive discount to fabulous Master Skins, as I have been browsing ad-free since the release of Firefox back in July 2003.

ZubaZ
Reply #8 Wednesday, October 17, 2007 11:50 PM
I do not mean to offend
No offense taken.  You'd have to be a big, sweaty, gadget-making, board-breaking, power-plant-running, jerk to offend me.  And even then, we'd end up being the best of friends. 

Zubaz waves at RomanDA

iBookChick
Reply #9 Thursday, October 18, 2007 12:06 AM
I was about to say thank goodness I'm not any of the above- but, one day I might make a gadget.

Zoomba
Reply #10 Friday, October 19, 2007 4:13 PM

The way it works is this:

When a page loads, ads load on the page.  We are generally paid for ad impressions (and rarely for ad clicks).  Every ad loaded on a page gives us a tiny bit of money.

Ad revenue is one of the most significant sources of income for the site and is used to fund development, infrastructure and support costs.  The site is NOT cheap to run.

we have to either rely on users subscribing, or letting the ads load on the page.  The ads are the least aggressive way we can support the site.  THey let us provide free downloads and content to a lot of people.  If we didn't have the ads, or if more and more people blocked the ads, we'd have to think about what we could continue to give away for free.

I personally select the ad formats and placement on the site, and am the one who works with our ad services to determine what types of ads get placed on WinCustomize.  There are no pop-ups, pop-unders, slide-out trays or anything else that actually gets in the way of navigating the site.  Believe me, I hate annoying ads as much as anyone else, but at the same time I have to place them on the site to keep the lights turned on.

I ask that you not block the ads on this site (unless you're a subscriber, in which case you see none anyway), as it's those ads that let us provide the site to you.  There's no such thing as "free" when it comes to sites like this.  We need the revenue to keep operating.  If the site provides a service that you find useful, all we ask is that you let the ads load.  Ignore them, don't bother clicking on them, just let them load.  It's a passive act that helps us immesurably.


ZubaZ
Reply #11 Friday, October 19, 2007 4:50 PM
My wife should read these forums more.  Then she'd see that I am right sometimes.

Please, please, please let teh ads be free on sites you like and want to continue.

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