[BrandyHagz]

Hi everyone.

I know there are several threads going on this topic – but I’d like to just make one thread, so I am sure to catch all of the questions and comments.

The new advertising system is in its testing phase – currently, there are NO filters installed, which means that words that might be triggering (pregnancy, etc) will be linked. I am working on this.

This roll out is in the “testing” phase – we are working hard behind the scenes to make sure everything will run smoothly.

Please, continue to complain/vent about it – the more information I have from our users, the more I can do to make this work better for us. The ad’s are here to stay – but I can make them better…so please let me know what I can do (aside from removing them, which is not an option).

Thanks!

[BrandyHagz]

The loading issue is my *main* issue at this point - I am working on finding a fix for that.

[SydneyRN]

My main complaint is that the sites that it refers us to often seems to hit on sensitive topics. For example, family was underlined in one ad I read and it referred me to a family tree website where I could "research my ancestors". I have heard that family tree references can be a sensitive topic for people in closed adoption situations.

I guess that is similar to the lack of filters that you referred to Brandy. It grosses me out that the word pregnancy refers us to a cord blood banking website, which turns something sensitive into a source of advertising. There are many people on here who are struggling with being pregnant or not pregnant, it seems to demean that experience.

I don't know if this is an option or not, but I have seen postings from Yahoo which have sponsored links at the end of the post. To me, that would distract less from the post but still provide some revenue. Or, I'm so addicted to the forum and these ads distract me SOOO much that I might even pay a nominal fee monthly for the right to turn the ads off.

[BrandyHagz]

Thank you Sydney, please keep the comments coming.

I will continue to work to make the system work better...

[Shoshana]

I find it very distracting from a visual and an intellectual perspective. Links at the end of a post would be much better -- I do understand the site has to support itself...

I find the links, with no connection to the content or meaning of the post, to be amazingly ridiculous, and often, as others have mentioned, in very poor taste. There is research that shows people are less likely to respond to advertising when it is offensive so I guess there's a chance that this will backfire. I'm sure the active members won't be annoyed enough to stop posting but I can't imagine that our audience is so lacking in sophistication as to respond to the links.

I'm still having a significant problem with the loading -- I know you're working on it Brandy. I guess I overstepped when I posted the name of the company last night. On a few other threads, people have said that you can download a firewall to prevent the ads. I did some quick investigating and apparently this will not be an easy fix for this particular company.

Oh well.

[BrandyHagz]

Elizabeth,

I share your frustration - I do.

I think these ad's can be used in a tasteful and non-offensive manner - but my main concern right now is the fact that it seems to be affecting the load time on the forums. It won't matter how targeted we have the ad's or how specific we have them, if it makes the site load slow and act chunky.

So, please bear with me. I am taking notes on "target" words that are problematic - and please, everyone post those words here...but my main focus right now is getting this load time/hang up problem resolved.

When we first started talking about this months ago - I was under the impression that the ad's would be targeted to adoption related items only...but I'm seeing items like DNA Synthesizers and stuff - which, in my opinion, shouldn't be here.

I am trying very hard to advocate for the members here - while keeping in mind the needs of the owner. I'm sure, in the end, we can come up with some type of "compromise" that will address everyone's concern. It just might take some time.

I'm in the middle of a very large life changing thing right now...so, this couldn't have come at a worse time - I'll be mostly 'away' next week...but I will continue to work with our head developer in getting these issues resolved as quickly as I can.

[Shoshana]

Here's one! The phrase ear infection as used in a thread. Text that pops up is for a dr mom otoscope -- catch ear infections early, avoid late night trips to e.r., doctor recommended.

So now we receive for-profit, unsubstantiated medical advice. Ugh. At least the posters who share their children's medical tribulations are quick to say -- ask your doctor!

[drmalcolm]

Hi Brandy,
Thanks for starting a thread dedicated especially to this--it's a good idea to keep the discussion in one place, as you suggested. Here are my thoughts:

I think that Sydney and Shoshana have great points about the inappropriateness of some of the ads.

I've not noticed anything with the loading, but that may be because it's been fixed since I last logged on.

I find the blue hyperlinks very irritating, but manageable if I don't run my mouse over the specific post (that way, they don't pop up). It's too bad that the site has had to resort to this, but the fact that it is free to me--and is such a valuable resource--does make me understand that such ads help pay the bills.

Thanks for listening and for your hard work. Guess they figured you needed a new "project" to handle!

Christina

P.S. Oh gosh, I just read your post from when I was posting. So sorry to hear about your "life-changing experience." I hope it is resolved and am very sorry that I joked about a new project to handle. Best of luck to you!

[BrandyHagz]

Someone has advised me that they've seen an ad for "The Morning After Pill" - if anyone runs across that again, can someone please post the target word.

[angelkisses0102]

medical is the keyword for the morning after pill...

[BrandyHagz]

I'm trying to 'learn' the method behind the madness here - I think (but I'm not sure) it only hit's the TOP THREE posts for ad's...or the first three on the thread that have target words. I'm not sure.

I've noticed that I can use a target word that I've seen elsewhere further down in a post and it will not link it.

I'm still trying to figure all of thise out - so bear with me

[carney10]

My browser is not doing the hyperlinks. I have an ad blocker installed. guess that is what you need.
I actually had no idea what everyone was talking about.
Lisa

[NeshRoo]

I find them distracting, and offensive. I DO understand the boards "have to make money", but THIS??!!! I feel it detracts from the post, and the loading thing is making me crazy!!

Also, if these offensive, and random ads are available, why is it people can't post URLs for other sites?? Is the only difference that it's ok if Adoption forums can make money (whihc I do not have an issue with), but NOT ok if they can't? I can see it may be an issue with "content", but the content in some of these text links is...well, offensive, thoughtless, and annoying.

My 2 cents, always free...

[Shoshana]

Last night the text surrounding the hyperlink was normal. This morning the paragraph that contains the hyperlink is bolded and the font is increased. That makes it even more distracting.

Funny, eyes refers to eyeglasses, ears to yahoo music, and unfortunately, psychologist refers to online psychotherapy. The later, in my professional opinion, is exceedlingly tacky and very likely unethical.

[BrandyHagz]

Also, if these offensive, and random ads are available, why is it people can't post URLs for other sites?? Is the only difference that it's ok if Adoption forums can make money (whihc I do not have an issue with), but NOT ok if they can't? I

Yes, that’s correct.

Adoption.com funds this free resource for its members – and by funds, I means it pays for the server’s that we have to have to run the site, the system administrator who runs the servers, me (admin) who runs the site, developers who maintain the look of the site and continuously work to improve it…etc.

This isn’t a cheap operation – in fact, its pretty expensive – and we have to have some way to recoup the expense of running the site…this is NOT a money making effort – its an attempt to ‘break even’. The forums have never been a lucrative arm of the site and the owner of the site isn’t expecting it to ever be…he is, however, expecting it to sustain itself…which is why these ad’s were introduced to start with.

So, in short, the answer to your question is yes, that is why we don’t allow the linking of other retail sites – because we don’t earn a commission when members link to their sites – its purely economical and some may say selfish – but in the end, if we aren’t breaking even, the forums may no longer be an asset our owner is willing to pay for.

Its possible that we could offer a subscription based service in which the ad’s would not be visible – I know Sarah had talked about it in the past – and that may be an option sometime in the future. I’d rather continue to keep the forums free for our members and make changes to the inline text ads that make them more user friendly.

Many of the “Big Boards” out there like ours are moving in this direction…and this is something I knew was coming (I just didn’t know it was coming last night) – its going to takes some ironing out – but I’m sure, in the end, we can make everyone happy.