Annoying Blinking Ads
A while back, folks were upset by some rather graphic content that was coming up in ads from one of the advertising networks Persona Paper uses to generate income. I wasn't too keen on these particular ads, myself. Even though I prefer family-friendly content when I'm surfing the net in general, even the sexually explicit ads that pop up here and there don't tend to shock me.
What I find much more problematic are the ads that use an animated GIF. You know the ones I'm talking about? The ones with plenty of red, that flash repeatedly while you are trying to read an article that looks interesting?
I have a serious problem with ads that blink and flash. I think that ad networks really shouldn't allow them at all. But if they are going to, I would like to see them offer the ability for a site administrator or n individual user to opt out of seeing that kind of content.
Honestly, I'd really rather see the semi-pornographic stuff than to have my eyes and my brain assaulted by these flashing nightmares! They give me a headache and make me feel nauseous. They cause a pain that feels rather like someone has stabbed me in the eye with a letter opener. And on a bad day, I worry that one of them might trigger a seizure.
Really? Do I have to keep sunglasses next to the computer, just so I can read the desired content without getting sick?
So I will attempt to reload the page, in hopes that a different ad will be served up. Sometimes this helps, but often the same ad will return again and even again a third time. Apparently, this has something to do with the ads coming from a fallback network, that is only used when the primary ad server hasn't got anything relevant to offer.
So I guess even the advertising networks know that these ads are garbage? Here's a thought: the companies that serve these ads up for web sites like Persona Paper need to raise their standards. That's all, just set a higher standard for what kind of content they will and won't display.
If a lot of folks are ignoring their ads because they are distasteful, it can't be good for business. So it's in their best interest to do something about it.
This is my Business post for Dawnwriter 's A-W Category Challenge. This entry makes twelve categories covered, or exactly one-third of the challenge completed!
| BannerAds | Advertising | Monetize | AdNetwork | Categories | Category-Challenge | FOPP |
Image credit: Sunglasses by Ray Marsh/Pixabay ( CC0 1.0 )
Image Credit » http://pixabay.com/en/sunglasses-covering-eyes-protective-265839/
Comments
Kasman wrote on November 16, 2014, 3:54 PM
It beats me how any decent person (and by that I mean ad networks) can deem this porn to be 'relevant' to Persona Paper - or any other reputable site. Surely that sort of stuff should be restricted to pornographic sites.
maxeen wrote on November 16, 2014, 3:59 PM
They won't take notice ,they just carry on regardless and the sales will come in as averages..
Feisty56 wrote on November 16, 2014, 4:13 PM
I can guarantee the advertisers that I will never click on a single one of those annoying blinking ads. To my way of thinking, any item or service that must resort to this blink-blink-blink must not rate itself highly, because such ads cheapen the message -- and the item/service advertised.
Ruby3881 wrote on November 16, 2014, 4:25 PM
You'd think, wouldn't you? But honestly I find the porn less annoying than the blinking. At least I'm not going to have a seizure if I happen to gaze over to the side of the page and see some scantily clad woman in a ridiculous pose...
Ruby3881 wrote on November 16, 2014, 4:26 PM
It's sad that their sales don't go down as a consequence of garbage ads. It would definitely encourage them to improve their standards....
Ruby3881 wrote on November 16, 2014, 4:28 PM
That's the way I look at it, Deb. If they have to create such cheap looking ads, their budget must be really low. To me, that signals either a cheap product, or a company that is unwilling to invest in quality marketing. Either way, they aren't getting my click - and definitely not my purchase!
Kasman wrote on November 16, 2014, 4:29 PM
At my age I might! LOL
Ellis wrote on November 16, 2014, 6:46 PM
I'd rather see the semi pornographic stuff too...I get fed up relying on memory..lol
MaeLou wrote on November 16, 2014, 6:49 PM
We choose "family friendly" options but they somehow seem to come through. Of course, the blinking ones aren't what we are looking for either. I know elitecodex is making changes with ad networks but to be honest, I'm not one to know what is going on with them since a.) I hide mine and b.) Will is the one that does the programming and coding for the ads so I don't know which are which anyway.
bestwriter wrote on November 16, 2014, 7:05 PM
What I have noticed is that we get to see what we have surfed about. At this moment I see a whole lot of products that I had searched for on eBay. I have brought this to the notice of 'contact' .
bestwriter wrote on November 16, 2014, 7:07 PM
'What you search is what you get' At this moment eBay is busy on my page :)
paperdaisyflower7 wrote on November 16, 2014, 10:49 PM
they are on both sides then there is the green blinking one on the bottom lol
midastouch wrote on November 16, 2014, 11:31 PM
This article really resonates with me. I find it extremely annoying to be disturbed by such pop up ads especially when I am engrossed in reading an interesting article. I wish I knew how to block them off completely; most times I just have to bite my lower lip and stop myself from cursing whoever!!!!!!
Ruby3881 wrote on November 17, 2014, 1:18 AM
Actually, the annoying ads are displayed by the fallback ad server when the primary server has no content for you...
Ruby3881 wrote on November 17, 2014, 1:22 AM
LOL, Bill! Or an apoplectic fit, anyway!
Ruby3881 wrote on November 17, 2014, 1:30 AM
That gave me a real chuckle! Thanks John :)
Ruby3881 wrote on November 17, 2014, 1:34 AM
I know Will has done his damnedest to keep the ads sorted, Heather. He's to be congratulated for putting up with all the fuss and flap he's had to go through, trying to keep things family-friendly.
I know you don't want the blinking ads any more than I do. It's definitely not an indictment of you, when I vent about them! I just don't understand how anyone would make such ads or approve them for their network. It just makes the brand and the network look low-class...
Ruby3881 wrote on November 17, 2014, 1:38 AM
Contextual ads are nothing new. It has to do with cookies that are placed on your computer when you surf commercial sites. If you look up perfume, you'll see perfume ads afterwards. If you read an article about dairy farms, you'll get ads for milk products, etc. But if you've recently cleared your cookies or you block sites from putting third-party cookies on your computer, or you even just have a browsing history the ad network considers irrelevant, you'll get the fallback ads. Right now those are mostly the nasty, blinky ads that are trying to get you to upgrade software or scan your computer, or whatever...
Ruby3881 wrote on November 17, 2014, 1:38 AM
Ach! That's way too much blinking for me! I'd have to either refresh or close the tab.
Ruby3881 wrote on November 17, 2014, 1:40 AM
If you block the ads, you deprive Persona Paper of its income. you will also fail to register as a page view when you visit friends' content - so each time you read a post your friend will be out the two coins your page view should accrue for him. This is why I don't block ads.
celticeagle wrote on November 17, 2014, 10:38 AM
I find the blinking irritating too. I am up at all hours and sometimes the blinking when I haven't slept is almost like a hypnotic device. Ugh! lol
MegL wrote on November 17, 2014, 1:32 PM
DON'T CLICK ON THOSE BLINKING ADS. Some of those blinking ads are malicious. Many will ask you "is your computer slow?" They are blinking to get your attention because they know you wouldn't look at them otherwise. Those are the malicious ads that add unwanted spies to your computer or even viruses and trojan to collect your data! I know eliteCodex is trying to get rid of those ads.
AliCanary wrote on November 17, 2014, 1:36 PM
Not sunglasses, but a well-placed post-it note will conquer those little suckers. I keep a pad right beside my computer.
seren3 wrote on November 17, 2014, 6:35 PM
I use Ad Block PLus because I can't even read my emails with those animated ads. Lightning bolts, dancing women, whatever. It is too distracting. So I don't see any ads here or anywhere.
MarshaMusselman wrote on November 18, 2014, 12:54 PM
I don't get seizures from seeing the blinking ads, but I don't like them any more than you do, Ruby. ( I know your name starts with a 'K', but I never remember what it is). I especially don't like the ones that I see on this page where it says that my computer disk space is low. Even if it were true, which it isn't, but if it were, that wouldn't be the best way to rectify the situation. In fact, it could cause more harm than good.