Google Ads

**dahamsta** · 09/11/2005, 10:32 PM

For some reason they don't appear in some locations, like in here. Perhaps the "Support" keyword triggers something that tells their engine not to deliver certain ads.

Final update on these for a while I reckon: Performance was a little down since I replaced the wee text unit above with a large one for guests, so I've put it back the way it was. The text unit is less obtrusive and I'd prefer it that way anyway. Bizarrely, in both cases the clicks - AdSense reward for clicks, not views - still came mostly from the 468x60 at top-right; I can only guess that the other ads drew attention to the standard one or something.

I've moved the big ad at the bottom of the page up slightly towards the content on the forum home page, the forum listing page and the thread view page; I think it provides a useful service while not being too obtrusive. I've also added a guest-only large ad that appears after the first post in each thread; registered members won't see this. That'll be it for a while, I very much doubt I'll be adding any more ads, as I don't want it to be in people's faces. I may move them around a little though.

I've never mentioned btw: Thanks to the people that do click on the ads. It provides a very useful revenue stream that allows me to spend more time on the site, and I'm hoping will allow me to eventually move the site to it's own server, possibly even in Ireland. I think they provide pretty good keyword matching - I wouldn't host them if I didn't think they did - particularly at the thread level, so I hope you guys are getting something out of it too.

adam

**Dodge** · 09/11/2005, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by dahamsta

For some reason they don't appear in some locations, like in here.

They do for me...

**dahamsta** · 09/11/2005, 10:52 PM

It's hit and miss Dodge. When I viewed the thread earlier neither the top unit or the bottom ad appeared; when I viewed it when you posted the top one was still missing but the bottom one appeared. The one at top-right always seems to appear; that's been running on Foot.ie for quite some time now, might be something to do with that.

adam

**jofyisgod** · 10/11/2005, 9:08 AM

What kind of price would subs be Adam?

As Gareth said, a lot of younger people may not have the ability/resources to pay.

The ads are fine btw, didn't really notice.

**dahamsta** · 10/11/2005, 9:25 AM

Cheap jofy, or at least my idea of cheap.

If you look at the subs page now - I won't link them, but they're available from the left-hand side of your CP - you'll see that the prices generally follow Boards.ie's model; however it occurred to me later that these are /way/ over what we'd need, and that much lower prices /might/ bring in a lot more people, and get stuff (i.e. skins) done a lot faster. I'm thinking now that I should drop all the monthly/quarterly options and just charge 10 or 20 euros - I really haven't decided - for a full year. Maybe a half-year option for people that are strapped.

Just 5 or 10 of these would pay for a skin, and if people wanted to continue their subscription the following year, well, how bad? Some of it could go in my pocket, some on improving the site with new features and capabilities (dedicated server, etc), some on a Foot.ie event or two, some to charity, etc.

(Please don't use the subs now btw, they're just there right now because I was demoing them to a client. The WorldPay and 2Checkout links won't even work, because I don't have accounts with them, but PayPal will accept them and you'll get nothing in return. I'll disable them later.)

As to young people not being able to pay, well, I doubt it would be much of a loss to them since I have no intention of taking anything that can be done already on the site away in order to make the subs more attractive. I /might/ disallow photo posting in the galleries, but since that's not even being used yet anyway, again, that won't make any difference.

adam

**John83** · 10/11/2005, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by dahamsta

For some reason they don't appear in some locations, like in here. Perhaps the "Support" keyword triggers something that tells their engine not to deliver certain ads.

There's one at the bottom of the screen for me now.

EDIT: But not now, after posting. Odd.

Bizarrely, in both cases the clicks - AdSense reward for clicks, not views - still came mostly from the 468x60 at top-right; I can only guess that the other ads drew attention to the standard one or something.

Didn't know that - I'll click one or two a visit from now on.

**dahamsta** · 10/11/2005, 11:15 AM

Although I appreciate the support John83, please don't click on them without /some/ purpose, because:

it's not fair on advertisers to have their ads clicked on just for the sake of supporting Foot.ie -- they have to pay for them, remember; and
if everyone did it, Google's systems could tag it as abuse and stop delivering useful/rewarding ads, or even suspend my account.

That being said, if you do actually see something that interests you, even if only just a little, please do click on them. You never know, you might actually find stuff that's useful, informative, cheap, etc. I actually have, genuinely.

adam

**John83** · 10/11/2005, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by dahamsta

Although I appreciate the support John83, please don't click on them without /some/ purpose, because:

it's not fair on advertisers to have their ads clicked on just for the sake of supporting Foot.ie -- they have to pay for them, remember; and
if everyone did it, Google's systems could tag it as abuse and stop delivering useful/rewarding ads, or even suspend my account.

That being said, if you do actually see something that interests you, even if only just a little, please do click on them. You never know, you might actually find stuff that's useful, informative, cheap, etc. I actually have, genuinely.

adam

Okey-doke. I've found interesting stuff in them before too, though not here. I'll just have to keep an eye out.

**Dodge** · 10/11/2005, 12:05 PM

The ad for this page is a Wolfe TOne CD!?!?! Oh and the ad at the bottom looks horrendous. Any chance you could move it to below the quick reply box?

**Dr.Nightdub** · 10/11/2005, 11:07 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Oh and the ad at the bottom looks horrendous.

I would've thought you'd love to click on something that said "Supercharge your Dodge"!

**Chippy** · 09/10/2006, 1:45 PM

Could one of the mods explain to me how a site that is supposedly vehemently against ticket touting, can have advertisements at the top of it's page linking to needaticket.com where tickets for wednesdays game are being offered for �200 ???????

**John83** · 09/10/2006, 1:49 PM

You don't have a choice with Google ads, I think.

**pete** · 09/10/2006, 4:03 PM

Moving thread to support....

**dahamsta** · 09/10/2006, 4:34 PM

No need for the tabloid headlines and commentary Chippy.

I can't get to that site, can someone confirm they're touting? Has it already been shut down, perhaps? I don't want to block anything before I have confirmation.

For the record, we've actively blocked several sites from advertising on Foot.ie for quite some time now. I've merged this thread into a previous discussion, see the earlier posts for details.

adam

reder · 09/10/2006, 5:10 PM

Needaticket.net are selling tickets for wed and san marino at ridiculously inflated prices alright.

**dahamsta** · 09/10/2006, 5:15 PM

Pardon my ignorance, but what's the face value of an Irish ticket these days?

**sligoman** · 09/10/2006, 5:22 PM

I paid 45euro for an East stand ticket for the Czech game.

**John83** · 09/10/2006, 5:27 PM

Originally Posted by sligoman

I paid 45euro for an East stand ticket for the Czech game.

From that site:
SEATED EAST STAND �200 PER TICKET
SEATED SOUTH TERRACE �130 PER TICKET

I've paid �36 for a South Terrace (touchline) seat, so they're marking that up rather a lot.

If you can block them, please do.