appreciate completely that advertising is a necessary evil in order to keep the site free. I've even used the Arlington ad myself. But some of the recent ads have been at odds with the site.
The embedded ads are breaking up threads often just with a large blank box which if your scrolling down a thread it comes accross as the end of the thread.
I've also noticed that the ads are often not advertising to the site members but are rather in competition against them. For example, there was one the other day in a payroll thread about outsourcing payroll.
With an increasing number of end users rather than just accountants and bookkeepers using the site I think that this advertising may be picked up by them but not the intended audience of the site.
I don't know how feasible it is but should not the advertising be aimed at the membership rather than in competition with them and also either not embedded in the body of discussions or at least repeated in every embedded gap as the blank spaces have caused me to miss replies so I assume that it will be doing that for others as well.
Just thought that I would mention what I am sure others are thinking.
The site remains excellent and as mentioned at the start of the thread I can see completely the point of the advertising. It's just those couple of minor niggles that I have and think others may be feeling the same... But could be completely wrong and maybe it's just me.
kind regards,
Shaun.
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
Many thanks for your post, I certainly take your comments on board. We've received a few emails from other members with the same concerns.
Advertising within individual threads is something we started experimenting with last week and we have also noted problems with blank spaces in threads. This appears to be due to ad placement issues and it is something we will address this week.
It's certainly not our intention to make it difficult for members to read threads, and if this is the case please accept our apology, and we will look at how often (if at all) adverts are shown within threads.
Regarding competitors advertising, I agree the forum should not be running adverts for companies offering competing services to our forum members (as per your Payroll example). The forum is for book-keepers, and although end-users (small business owners) may use the forum (which they are welcome to do), this advertising goes against the spirit of The Book-keepers Forum. I will put a stop to this ASAP and try and ensure that any adverts running are of a beneficial nature to members. Will be a bit of trial and error I'm afraid so please bear with us.
Again many thanks for taking the time to bring this to my attention.
Just like to add my voice regarding the inserts within the threads.
Again, like Shaun, i understand that advertising is a necessary evil but like Shaun, I have also stop short of reading all the posts because I thought i had come to the end, not realising that there was more below (I have my preference set to show newest at the top)
think that I'll take your advice and change my posts that way around.
On a linked subject, don't know about yourself but I personally hate it when you see online bank statements with newest first. Call me a traditionalist but I want my totals at the bottom of the page.
Hope that your having a good Sunday matey. It's an afternoon of Harry Potter ahead for me.
__________________
Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
I have spent the entire weekend not doing what I should be doing (clients accounts).
Some how have managed to stay on the forum for hours. I am sure there is a leak in the time/ space continuum that make hours seem like minutes, when on the forum
Have a good HP afternoon
Bill
Re the newest first. I just hate scrolling
-- Edited by Wella on Sunday 17th of July 2011 01:21:57 PM
