Forum Ads

[OZ1LQB]

Dave, if it's to keep the forum alive, it's totally acceptable from my side, I'll let them scroll onto the screen :-)

[madires]

With the ad-blocker disabled I sometimes get a white space between the top ads and the first forum post. When scrolling down the white space becomes smaller and then vanishes completely. When not scrolling down and just waiting for the ads to update some large (height) ad appears replacing the white space. Appears to be related to the height of ads (reserved space?). Browser is current Firefox on Linux.

BTW, I got a few ads for a company known to scam customers (side effect of ad brokers).

[mikeselectricstuff]

Blank space at the top issue seems to have sorted itself now

[Kean]

Because I didn't mind the original ads here, I decided to add some exception filters to AdBlock using the Developer Tools AdBlock tab and then some manual editing/cleanup.  I believe ABP uses the same syntax.

I am new to this, but these first few seem to restore the Supplyframe ads but will still exclude others, specifically the obnoxious sticky footer ad using Publift Fuse.
Also AliExpress as I didn't work out that one yet.

Code: [Select]

@@||eevblog.com/images/comm/
@@||search.supplyframe.com/partner/26/ipo950/
@@||ads.supplyframe.com/openads/
I am not sure if I have allowed enough for ad revenue to still go to Dave.  Some items don't easily allow exceptions, and I am still learning the syntax.
These additional ones may help with tracking the ad impressions for Supplyframe, but I am guessing about the unique codes.

Code: [Select]

@@||ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/trackimp/N30602.3326152SUPPLYFRAME/
@@||googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/viewthroughconversion/343924239/
@@||google.com/pagead/1p-user-list/343924239/
@@||google.com.au/pagead/1p-user-list/343924239/

I left out a bunch of others I wasn't sure if they were more likely tracking rather than impression related (yeah, same same).  Obviously the google.com.au one is because I am in Australia.

[Aldo22]

Hmm, not very oscilloscope-friendly! 
This is what it looks like on a Voltcraft DOV702.

[Kean]

Dave, when temporarily removing the additional dynamic top ad, you may have accidentally removed too much...

The image URL for the AliExpress multimeter ad is now broken - note the missing g in png.  I see a broken image even with AdBlock disabled or using another browser.

Code: [Select]

<a href="https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DeGHVOl" target="_blank">
<img src="https://www.eevblog.com/images/comm/ReferralProgramAliexpress.pn">
</a>

[KE5FX]

When I first started hanging around here, it seemed like there was an option for paid memberships, but I never managed to actually find it.  Later, I found I had access to subforums like Supporters' Lounge, even though I'd never paid for it.  So I'm still not sure how that works.

IMHO: feel free to make the ads as obnoxious and intrusive as you want, but give people a straightforward way to pay for annual memberships to turn them off.

(That said, I never found the top banner ads to be the least bit objectionable, since they have always been on-topic for the forum.  I have in fact clicked through to TI several times and bought parts and demo boards as a result.)

[free_electron]

Ads to the right or the bottom of the page is fine with me. Top, not so much. i hate having to scroll to read something interesting.
But absolutely no pop-up ads, especially the one where you have to wait x seconds to be able to skip , or the one where you need to fish for the close button.

i will give bonus points if the ads are for free samples or discount coupons for the likes of JLCPB , PCB way or others. (still no overlay allowed !. )

[RoGeorge]

After the recent changes I am getting a consent-request from EEVblog, to collect my online activity and my browsing hardware specs, and to share this with hundreds of data brokers.

This is the first time when I get such a request.  I know I can refuse to share my data, but it still means EEVblog now has in place mechanisms to collect all that data.  I don't like that.

If you plan to keep the collecting of personal data as a permanent feature, then I'll have to give up posting on EEVblog (I don't even login into Google or YouTube any more, for this same reason). 

Anyway, it was nice to be part of the EEVblog forum for these last 10 years.  Thank you all, Dave and visitors, for keeping this place so alive for so long. 


Never thought of this before, is there any EE forum on the dark web? 

[thm_w]

When I first started hanging around here, it seemed like there was an option for paid memberships, but I never managed to actually find it.  Later, I found I had access to subforums like Supporters' Lounge, even though I'd never paid for it.  So I'm still not sure how that works.

If you have more than 1,000 posts you are added to supporters lounge automatically https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/supporter-lounge-access/
If you are subbed on patreon you can ask dave to add you to Supporters memberlist

IMHO: feel free to make the ads as obnoxious and intrusive as you want, but give people a straightforward way to pay for annual memberships to turn them off.

Turning them off is as simple as using an adblocker.
Support can be: direct payment, patreon, his referral links, ee store purchases, youtube (least efficient), etc: https://www.eevblog.com/donations/

[Whales]

Typo in Aliexpress ad turns it into a broken image:  https://www.eevblog.com/images/comm/ReferralProgramAliexpress.pn 

Just tried to turn my adblocker off.  The ads at the top of the page are tolerable and fine, if anything they're interesting.  The sticky ad at the bottom of the page is rage inducing and has made me turn my adblocker back on.  Preventing me from scrolling to get past an ad feels like a greasy salesman is squishing himself up in my face and taking control of my computer.

I have not seen the consent popups.  Are they EU only?  Do they state that the "EEVBlog" is the party responsibly for collecting and holding your data?  That would be weird.  Maybe they're normally also blocked by your adblocker (consent blocklists) and turning it off has revealed them at the same time?  I might be wrong.

[EEVblog]

Dave, when temporarily removing the additional dynamic top ad, you may have accidentally removed too much...

The image URL for the AliExpress multimeter ad is now broken - note the missing g in png.  I see a broken image even with AdBlock disabled or using another browser.

Code: [Select]

<a href="https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DeGHVOl" target="_blank">
<img src="https://www.eevblog.com/images/comm/ReferralProgramAliexpress.pn">
</a>

Yeah I did that deliberately so it wouldn't show up.

[EEVblog]

After the recent changes I am getting a consent-request from EEVblog, to collect my online activity and my browsing hardware specs, and to share this with hundreds of data brokers.
This is the first time when I get such a request.  I know I can refuse to share my data, but it still means EEVblog now has in place mechanisms to collect all that data.  I don't like that.

That's not me, where do you see that request?
If it's an option, then yes, refuse that request.

[EEVblog]

Ads to the right or the bottom of the page is fine with me. Top, not so much. i hate having to scroll to read something interesting.

The forum has always has the ads up the top which you have to scroll past.

But absolutely no pop-up ads, especially the one where you have to wait x seconds to be able to skip , or the one where you need to fish for the close button.

There will be no pop-up ads.
As I said I am trialing the "sticky" down the bottom. Personally I think it's better than ads at the top you have to scroll past.

[Muttley Snickers]

I’d be sort of okay with them if there was the option to close the advertisement window, but there isn’t.   

Even on an extremely advertisement busy site such as Ozbargain they at least provide a close box for the advertisement window should the viewer feel they are interfering with their viewing pleasure, or worst still being really annoying which these ones currently are.   

[EEVblog]

Is anyone else seeing the bottom sticky automatically remove itself when you scroll right to the bottom of the page?
I'm now seeing that on Chrome and Firefox. I really like that.
Maybe the company made some back end changes, because it wasn't doing that last night.

[Muttley Snickers]

Is anyone else seeing the bottom sticky automatically remove itself when you scroll right to the bottom of the page?

Yes the ad disappears, but there is nothing to read on a forum page when you scroll that far down. 

[EEVblog]

Yep, confirmed, issues fixed.
I'll be able to put the header ad back on monday.

Their response:

Thanks for flagging all of this and for your patience. Our Integration team looked at the site and made a few changes.

Regarding the square ads and large white space, both of these issues should now be rectified. On Monday, we'll be able to get the leaderboard back up and running and ensure it is a 728x90 only.

We've also made a change to the sticky footer, so that it no longer overrides the content at the bottom of the forum. As you'll see, the sticky footer disappears once the user scrolls to the bottom of the page.

I understand your users have been discussing the sizing issues. I apologise that those large square ads were displaying incorrectly; that issue should now be resolved. As I mentioned previously, the quality of ads being shown to users will dramatically improve as ad networks familiarise themselves with your inventory. Right now, EEVBlog is a completely new site to the ad networks we work with. I've already seen highly relevant ads being served on the site, which is a very positive sign given we've only been live for a few hours.

[EEVblog]

Is anyone else seeing the bottom sticky automatically remove itself when you scroll right to the bottom of the page?

Yes the ad disappears, but there is nothing to read on a forum page when you scroll that far down.

Well, there is, but it's in horrible blue on back  I should really fix that sometime.

[Whales]

As I said I am trialing the "sticky" down the bottom. Personally I think it's better than ads at the top you have to scroll past.

Strong disagree.  The top ads I can scroll past, I have some semblance of control.  The sticky one gives me no control; I can't scroll past it, I can't close it, I am forced to have it there flashing and changing constantly in my vision even as I read a long topic.  It feels like a violation of consent EDIT: like an ad etched into your glasses.

[mindcrime]

Observations:

1. The ads I'm seeing are from JLCPCB and Future Electronics. Those are the only ones so far as I've noticed.
2. I don't use an ad-blocker and I don't mind ads, but...
3. My vision isn't what it was when I was younger and if I'm surfing zoomed in a couple of Ctrl+ levels, the ads are a bit obnoxiously large to my sensibilities. If I zoom out (Ctrl+0) it's not bad.
4. If the day ever comes when you can offer a paid membership to disable ads, I'd strongly consider signing up for it. Like I said, I don't mind ads on principle, but all things being equal, I'd rather just pay you directly than see the ads.

[pqass]

I'm not against ads but is it possible to keep them EE/technical in nature?   I don't really need to see foot health cures!   And the animation is very distracting (as well as ad rotation frequency). 

In firefox you can turn off GIF animation entirely via "image.animation_mode=none" sledgehammer.  But it's just as easy to tuck the ad below the bottom edge of my monitor.

[Psi]

I wonder how much income would be produced if there was a version of the forum that cost $20/year to get access to.
Verses the income from more ads.

I'm not saying we should actually do that, it's nice to keep things open, I'm just curious

[EEVblog]

As I said I am trialing the "sticky" down the bottom. Personally I think it's better than ads at the top you have to scroll past.

Strong disagree.  The top ads I can scroll past, I have some semblance of control.  The sticky one gives me no control; I can't scroll past it, I can't close it, I am forced to have it there flashing and changing constantly in my vision even as I read a long topic.  It feels like a violation of consent EDIT: like an ad etched into your glasses.

It does close if you scroll down to the bottom.
If you don't like it you can install an ad blocker or VPN, or browser that blocks these things. I'm currently typing this with the ab blocker off, but my VPN has blocked the bottom sticky and the SupplyFrame ad up top, leaving the other manual image ads intact.

[EEVblog]

I wonder how much income would be produced if there was a version of the forum that cost $20/year to get access to.
Verses the income from more ads.
I'm not saying we should actually do that, it's nice to keep things open, I'm just curious

Let's say 1000 people did that, that's still only $20k a year, that's a not a lot.