# The real problem with the Google ads (it ain't pretty) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 14, 2005, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-problem-with-the-google-ads-it-aint-pretty/326182 "2005-10-14T04:46:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2005, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-problem-with-the-google-ads-it-aint-pretty/326182/81 "2005-10-18T23:32:49Z")
I’m in no way speaking for the Chicago Reader or the SDMB, this is just my personal opinion. The big problem with the “let’s target Straight Dope advertising rather than just using AdWords” plan is that it requires an awful lot of work (and, therefore, more money) on the Reader’s behalf. Do you think that we could arrange more per-click than Google can – with all of its leverage – and, in fact, so much more as to pay for all of the labor to contact, negotiate with, and service a huge group of advertising clients plus additional profit? I tend to doubt it. There are sites that I visit where ads do detract from the experience; [Snopes.com](http://Snopes.com), for example, with its pop-up ads. But, text only ads at the bottom of the page? Heck, I read the SDMB as much as the next user – probably more, a lot more – and I’m not experiencing ad-induced seizures yet. There are well-known ways to block the ads as well, posted on this very board. The ads are relevant (as much as possible) to the thread, or at times give humorous results. In short, why the histrionics? I don’t flip out because I pay for bus fare and stare at ads. I don’t flip out to pay for cable and have to watch ads. I don’t flip out to buy a magazine and see ads. If ads means that I, the consumer, pay less – heck, as long as they’re not those god awful “punch the monkey” dancing googobs, or something playing through my speakers, then as far as I’m concerned, fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![slaphead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@slaphead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slaphead)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-problem-with-the-google-ads-it-aint-pretty/326182/82 "2005-10-19T09:05:11Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > The key here is _community_. That’s what Dopers have in common. You can sell events and other products to the community. Not unless there is something about the community that makes them want the same things. Otherwise you might as well go and sell things to the ‘community’ of people who go the 8pm showing at the cinema > [@Aeschines](#): > > BTW, all advertising is “targeted.” Do you think TV spots run without any regard to demographics. Nope, but the more targeted they are, the more they cost. Highly targeted=highly expensive, unless your targets conveniently group themselves together into, say, an Amish GBLT web forum. Google ads are targeted approximately to the subject under discussion - more precision than that will surely need more analysis, more programming, more cost. 100% more cost for how much more income? > [@Aeschines](#): > > my overall point is that they will not bring in the survival money, On the other hand, you could take the other approach and try to keep your expenditures under control. Chasing revenue at all costs isn’t such a great plan > [@Aeschines](#): > > Yeah, it’s such pie in the sky to make a few bucks off a fairly consistent community of people. How are we consistent? What can you come up with that I and a random bunch of other dopers would want to buy? Find something to sell to **Scylla** , **Liberal** , **Sampiro** and \*\*Lekatt, \*\*to pick some personalities at random. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-problem-with-the-google-ads-it-aint-pretty/326182/83 "2005-10-19T22:51:11Z")
What’s with the dumbshits posting in this thread, “I don’t know why people are panty-twisting over these ads–they don’t bother me at all!”? The second paragraph of my OP says pretty clearly, > [@Me](#): > > At the end of the day, however, they just don’t visually bother me that much. Which is not to say that the reality behind the ads doesn’t trouble me. _Read the fuckin’ OP._ ---
**Author:** ![fubbleskag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fubbleskag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fubbleskag)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-problem-with-the-google-ads-it-aint-pretty/326182/84 "2005-10-19T23:00:41Z")
we have ads? ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-problem-with-the-google-ads-it-aint-pretty/326182/85 "2005-10-19T23:08:58Z")
> [@slaphead](#): > > Not unless there is something about the community that makes them want the same things. Otherwise you might as well go and sell things to the ‘community’ of people who go the 8pm showing at the cinema The members of the community show up consistently at the Dope and are presumably interested in the Dope and its goings-on. My theory is that you can sell Dope-oriented events and merchandise. I don’t know why I have to repeat this so much. > [@](#): > > Nope, but the more targeted they are, the more they cost. Highly targeted=highly expensive, unless your targets conveniently group themselves together into, say, an Amish GBLT web forum. The advertising is pretty much free if the Dope is running ads for its own products. It’s the product development itself that could be expensive–or not, depending. It could be as simple as having, say, a New York restaurant holding “Dope Night” with Dopers in their own special room, etc. The restaurant could advertise for “free” with the Dope getting a cut of the proceeds. Or whatever. And the more you build the community through such events, the more attractive the Dope becomes and the more people want in. I think too much attention is paid on this site to who is being good and bad (moderation), and not enough to Dopers as people in the real world. Less anonimity would further encourage good behavior on the board and more participation in events. A virtuous cycle. Again, I’m not suggesting that this is going to make hundreds of thousands of dollars. But the notion that this board can’t pay its server costs and admin fees and whatever is a joke. I think tiered memberships alone could bring in a ton of money. > [@](#): > > Google ads are targeted approximately to the subject under discussion - more precision than that will surely need more analysis, more programming, more cost. 100% more cost for how much more income? I am talking about _marketing_ not just about advertising. Real product creation. Ads are just a small part of that. > [@](#): > > How are we consistent? What can you come up with that I and a random bunch of other dopers would want to buy? Find something to sell to **Scylla** , **Liberal** , **Sampiro** and \*\*Lekatt, \*\*to pick some personalities at random. As I said, there is the simple fact of our spending a great deal of time here together. But I would also note that while the different forums attract different types of posters, the individual forms have more internal consistency. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-problem-with-the-google-ads-it-aint-pretty/326182/86 "2005-10-20T01:54:52Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > The second paragraph of my OP says pretty clearly, > > _Read the fuckin’ OP._ The first paragraph of this post says pretty clearly, _Get a fuckin’ hobby._ ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-problem-with-the-google-ads-it-aint-pretty/326182/87 "2005-10-20T01:56:24Z")
Except that it’s actually the SECOND paragraph! Ack! Jeez, I must be a real dumbshit… 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![1010011010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/ea666f/32.png) [@1010011010](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1010011010)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-problem-with-the-google-ads-it-aint-pretty/326182/88 "2005-10-20T02:10:46Z")
The SMDB has Google ads? Oh! That must be what would be in the pale blue area after “Advertisements” at the bottom of the threads if I didn’t have ad blocking software. They should make ad blocking software that, in addition to not actually showing the ad, gives you the option of simulating click-through to make some money for the sites you like. Incidentally, Google tracks what ads succeed at a given site/community, so they will become more targeted and more valuable over time, assuming there’s any appreciable rate of clicky clicky. But, yeah, I hadn’t noticed until I was prompted by this thread to look for where the ads are supposed to be. ---
**Author:** ![Foaming\_Cleanser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Foaming\_Cleanser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foaming_Cleanser)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-problem-with-the-google-ads-it-aint-pretty/326182/89 "2005-10-20T02:18:51Z")
Is there any way for the Straight Dope and/or Google to know whether the ads on these forums or anywhere else are being blocked by a particular browser? ---
**Author:** ![Catalyst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@Catalyst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catalyst)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-problem-with-the-google-ads-it-aint-pretty/326182/90 "2005-10-20T02:33:17Z")
> [@Foaming Cleanser](#): > > Is there any way for the Straight Dope and/or Google to know whether the ads on these forums or anywhere else are being blocked by a particular browser? Hm. I suppose that one could look at the discrepancy in hits between [boards.straightdope.com](http://boards.straightdope.com) and [pagead2.googlesyndication.com](http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com) for each browser, though that will only account for methods like editing the hosts file, which prevent the browser from ever actually contacting the ad server. You’d have to have the hit count for both servers, though, and I don’t know that either party has that info for the other’s server. In any case, I doubt anyone’s doing so. ---
**Author:** ![PETERFI](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2bfe46/32.png) [@PETERFI](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PETERFI)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-problem-with-the-google-ads-it-aint-pretty/326182/91 "2005-10-20T04:24:13Z")
As I was unwise enough to blatently plug early in my membership and thus wreak the flames of the pit, hence my relative silence since, I publish a [blog of comedy, commentary and satire](http://thepeterfiles.blogspot.com) which has google ads which has given me the, er, Straight Dope as it were, on Google Ad Revenue. Revenue from hosting Google Ads depends on several factors: How much the advertiser is willing to pay for a click How much the advertiser is willing to pay per impression per thousand views What ads you create room for What ads your content draws How many clicks you actually get How many total views you get per day for the ads you have made room for How many ads you make room for (up to three blocks [of up to 5 slots] per page) The first thing I notice is that there is no ad on the page that I am filling this form out on. That need not be the case. The SDMB could have designed the board in such a way so that we would be forced to see ads to the left and right of the reply to thread form box. In not doing so they have reduced the number of overall impressions that they are getting, but improving our overall quality. Thanks. Next, they have stuck to relatively easy on the eyes background neutral colors. That is a matter of choice. Web page owners can make text ads apear in some pretty awful color combinations and event rotate them in sequence if they like. As it happens, many professionals seem to think that text ads are more effective than banner ads that have color and pictures and they load faster too, so they score well on smartness here too. As for lame text, the SDMB has no control over this. Google ad context is determined by the content of the page on which it appears, through some funky algorythym based on the text on each page, that is to say, on us. As Johnny Cochran might put it: If the ads are lame, then we are to blame. ;j If you want more interesting ads then you have to add text or themes in the post that lead to the possibility of more interesting ads. For example, a post about positron nucleatides interacting with neural peptides in embryonic states while methyl phospher compounds of Lindsey Lohan’s Paris Hilton Beatles [White Sox World Series Tickets for $25?](http://thepeterfiles.blogspot.com/2005/10/want-25-chicago-white-sox-world-series.html) Karl Rowe iPod Video Francisco Idol might help make the ads at the bottom of the page more interesting. More relevant to SDMP, if it resulted in an ad from a giant pharmaceutical company, the click through might be worth a lot more than a nickle. Especially if the tarket audience was M.D.'s. I’ve been running Google Ads for a few months and have very few clicks, most of my meager revenue is from exposures. But the clicks I have had have generally been worth at least more than a dime and one was worth more than a buck. This suggests that the revenue side of the discussion is under-rated, especially since google pays for impressions and to keep up, a whole lot of impressions are generatied by the SDMB. Clicks that result in sales may be worth even more. I suppose it is worth saying that if you really wanted to keep rates down each one of us would right-click a google ad each time we visit. But then, we did pay, so we don’t have to. Oh, since they get such a large volume, they may also get better rates as well, but I am not certain of that. So, it could be a lot worse, I don’t begrudge SDMB the revenue. I am darn sure that they are making a lot more than I am since you have to earn $50 to get a check and I estimate that it will be next Easter or the one after that before I have enough clicks/exposures to earn that, but if Google ads are good enough for the Chicago Tribune Website, then by gosh, the should be good enough for the SDMB. At least we don’t have the other ads the Trib runs here. You want annoying, try ignoring some of those. Besides, some of them can be tempting. ---
**Author:** ![Exploding\_Kitchen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Exploding\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exploding_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-problem-with-the-google-ads-it-aint-pretty/326182/92 "2005-10-20T05:12:27Z")
I never had seen a single Google ad. Go Firefox! ---
**Author:** ![Nilor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a4c791/32.png) [@Nilor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nilor)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-problem-with-the-google-ads-it-aint-pretty/326182/93 "2005-10-20T06:39:08Z")
> [@Exploding Kitchen](#): > > I never had seen a single Google ad. > > Go Firefox! Or any other ad for that matter ---
**Author:** ![PETERFI](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2bfe46/32.png) [@PETERFI](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PETERFI)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-problem-with-the-google-ads-it-aint-pretty/326182/94 "2005-10-20T19:00:53Z")
> [@Nilor](#): > > Or any other ad for that matter Odd, I have Firefox, and I see Google ads when I don’t see any others. Must be a setting thing I disabled. Hmmn. ---
**Author:** ![Foaming\_Cleanser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Foaming\_Cleanser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foaming_Cleanser)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-problem-with-the-google-ads-it-aint-pretty/326182/95 "2005-10-20T20:29:00Z")
> [@PETERFI](#): > > Odd, I have Firefox, and I see Google ads when I don’t see any others. > > Must be a setting thing I disabled. > > Hmmn. You need to download Firefox’s Adblock extension. Firefox has a context-menu item allowing you to block all images from a particular site, but Adblock narrows it down to a particular server, and a particular ad from that server if you choose. ---
**Author:** ![PETERFI](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2bfe46/32.png) [@PETERFI](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PETERFI)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-problem-with-the-google-ads-it-aint-pretty/326182/96 "2005-10-21T02:17:20Z")
> [@Foaming Cleanser](#): > > You need to download Firefox’s Adblock extension. Firefox has a context-menu item allowing you to block all images from a particular site, but Adblock narrows it down to a particular server, and a particular ad from that server if you choose. Thanks, very helpful. Any idea what Firefox extension is wiping out quicktime videos, even when I **want** them to play? Can I turn that off for one site only? Anyone? Buhler? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Foaming\_Cleanser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Foaming\_Cleanser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foaming_Cleanser)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-problem-with-the-google-ads-it-aint-pretty/326182/97 "2005-10-21T02:39:33Z")
> [@PETERFI](#): > > Any idea what Firefox extension is wiping out quicktime videos. . . . Are you sure Firefox is at fault? Instructions are [here](http://kb.mozillazine.org/Safe_mode) to start Firefox in safe mode (not the computer’s safe mode). This turns off all the extensions so you can know for certain whether the they are causing any conflicts. ---
**Author:** ![PETERFI](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2bfe46/32.png) [@PETERFI](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PETERFI)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-problem-with-the-google-ads-it-aint-pretty/326182/98 "2005-10-21T14:45:27Z")
> [@Foaming Cleanser](#): > > Are you sure Firefox is at fault? Instructions are [here](http://kb.mozillazine.org/Safe_mode) to start Firefox in safe mode (not the computer’s safe mode). This turns off all the extensions so you can know for certain whether the they are causing any conflicts. Thanks, I will try that! * * * [Want $25 World Series White Sox Tickets? You won’t believe this!](http://thepeterfiles.blogspot.com/2005/10/want-25-chicago-white-sox-world-series.html) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-problem-with-the-google-ads-it-aint-pretty/326182.md?page=4)