# We’ll soon start running Google text ads on the SDMB **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [September 23, 2005, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119 "2005-09-23T20:32:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ed\_Zotti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/fbc32d/32.png) [@Ed\_Zotti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ed_Zotti)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/1 "2005-09-23T20:32:15Z")
In our ceaseless but so far futile effort to make a buck off the Straight Dope Message Board, or at least not lose our shirts, Google “AdSense” text ads will soon start appearing on SDMB message-thread pages. Some answers to what we anticipate will be FAQs: **What will the ads look like, and exactly where will they appear?** They’ll look like text, as one might suppose, consisting of a few words of promotional copy plus a hyperlink. Typically three or four ads will appear across the bottom of each thread, right above the reply box. We’re told that this is the optimal location, since you’ve finished the thread and are now deciding what to do next. We’re banking on the possibility that your eye will light on a Google ad and you’ll think, “Gosh, maybe I do need a new bulk e-mail list!” and click away. Theoretically the ads will bear some relation to the thread you just read, so you’ll find them of interest. **Some of the ads don’t seem relevant to the threads** We know. We’re curious to see how this works out. When threads are new or have only a few posts, Google doesn’t have much to go on and serves up generic ads. Threads with more history get ads that are more pertinent, although this is not a precise business. In a thread about why photographers ask people to “say cheese,” for example, some of the ads are from folks trying to sell you cheese. **How do you get paid for these ads?** It depends on the deal Google has with the advertiser. Sometimes we get paid per page view. More often we get paid each time someone clicks on a link. **I know! I’ll organize the Teeming Millions to click on every ad! You’ll make millions!** Please don’t do this. Google has been known to blacklist sites that fraudulently run up the numbers. That said, we encourage you to click on any ad you find interesting. **But you promised we wouldn’t see ads once the board went to paid subscriptions!** Hush now, we did not. We’ve always run ads. If these things were any less intrusive they’d be subliminal. **If you make money on ads, will service improve?** As always, we make no promises. However, our server contract is up for renewal, and prices have been falling. We anticipate some adjustments. For now we’ll say no more. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/2 "2005-09-23T20:49:37Z")
I saw some of these here when Jerry was testing them. They’re plenty unobtrusive. Can’t really see these Google Ads being an issue. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/3 "2005-09-23T20:59:34Z")
Don’t we these things base themselves on searching after terms used? We discuss some pretty strange things here. Next thing you know, we are going to see ads for personal lubricant, calamari recipes, photography equipment, and engineering tools. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/4 "2005-09-23T21:02:44Z")
> [@Scott Plaid](#): > > Next thing you know, we are going to see ads for personal lubricant, calamari recipes, photography equipment, and engineering tools. You say that like it’s a bad thing… ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/5 "2005-09-23T21:04:39Z")
I suppose it could be worse. At least they’re not huge and flashing. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/6 "2005-09-23T21:07:34Z")
Fine. But one single pop-up and I’m gone. ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/7 "2005-09-23T21:10:12Z")
> [@Scott Plaid](#): > > Don’t we these things base themselves on searching after terms used? We discuss some pretty strange things here. Next thing you know, we are going to see ads for personal lubricant, calamari recipes, photography equipment, and engineering tools. Those are not strange by themselves, but the thing here is that they would all be at the end of the same thread. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/8 "2005-09-23T21:11:12Z")
As long as they continue to blend in as well as they do now, I have no complaints against them, although it will probably take me a bit before they stop taking me by surprise. (Of course, being UNDER the quick reply box would be even better in my book, but I suppose there’s no chance of that 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/9 "2005-09-23T21:11:39Z")
> [@AngelicGemma](#): > > I suppose it could be worse. At least they’re not huge and flashing. Shhh, don’t give them ideas they are jut down there, and might be listening. V | | V ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/10 "2005-09-23T21:14:14Z")
> [@TellMeI'mNotCrazy](#): > > (Of course, being UNDER the quick reply box would be even better in my book…) Likewise. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/11 "2005-09-23T21:19:12Z")
Would it be possible to move the ads under the post reply button? As they are now. they’re intensely ugly. Not intrusive, so much, just ugly as sin. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/12 "2005-09-23T21:23:45Z")
I have a strange urge for popcorn now. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/13 "2005-09-23T21:24:48Z")
So these ads place themselves automatically, I take it? ---
**Author:** ![Jayrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Jayrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayrot)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/14 "2005-09-23T21:34:14Z")
The three ads I see right now are for Buying Mailing Lists. quote = “20% Off ! 16 Million Experian B2B Leads.” Great… ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/15 "2005-09-23T21:35:39Z")
Of course there’s currently one in some MPSIMS thread (forgot to note which) that says “HELP KATRINA HURRICANE RELIEF” in very big, very bold, very black letters. Hopefully that’s a rarity, because _that_ is annoying. ---
**Author:** ![Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/db5fbb/32.png) [@Hirka\_T\_Bawa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hirka_T_Bawa)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/16 "2005-09-23T21:35:53Z")
Here I am, reading a post about the new Google ads… And what is the ad on the bottom when I’m reading this? “Area Code Targeted Leads” “Opt-In Email Marketing” “Mailing Lists” “Mailing Lists at Hoover’s”. It looks like Ed wasn’t kidding when he talked about the mass market email lists 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/17 "2005-09-23T21:36:18Z")
Hmm. My Adblock already seems configured to prevent the display of Google ads, which is nice, since it turns out we actually pay cash money for the site. Charging _and_ showing ads? Seriously, weak. ---
**Author:** ![sciguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@sciguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciguy)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/18 "2005-09-23T21:36:27Z")
I was wondering about them. They just sort of snuck in, in a “huh, how long have those been there?” way. My question is: how long until we start seeing “weird thread / ad combo” posts along the same lines as the perennial “sequential title” threads? I mean, right now the ones I"m looking are “Area Code Targeted Leads”, “Opt-in Email marketing”, “Opt in email” and “Mailing lists”, so Ed’s bulk email comment seems eerily prescient. Or google went off of the “bulk email list” keywords. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/19 "2005-09-23T21:36:43Z")
Hate’em. I guess, I don’t hate’em _that_ much, if they mean we can stay without paying LOTS more money for subscriptions. still hate’em, though. ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119/20 "2005-09-23T21:38:05Z")
They don’t bother me in the least. I use Firefox and Adblock. All I see is a peaceful blank line. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-ll-soon-start-running-google-text-ads-on-the-sdmb/323119.md?page=2)