Advertisement in the Database!

What the he...!!! Google Ads, etc., all over the joint!

What in the world was THAT? They are gone now.

My goodness, Ulrich, I'm stunned! I'd be interested to know what it was all about, as well.

Maybe Dave will enlighten us?
It sure was scary!

They show for non-subscribers.

dave

Boy that was a good idea-we don't have to see them. This site is relatively inexpensive considering all the benefits here. Being able to upload all these pictures, and have a journal and a tradelist I've spent more on much, much less. If ads for non-members show (and those were far from the annoying pop-ups) to keep our costs down, I am all for them.

Thanks, Jenks. That's exactly what I had in mind.

Dave

I just had to log out and go see for myself what they look like. Very cool. Not intrusive - relevant to the content of the page ... nicely done. I like it!

Do you get paid per click, per view, per lead or what? 'cause I don't mind the little ads and if it generates income, I'll stay logged out of the DB, until I need to log in. The info is the same, logged in or out.

Cheri'

Cheri,

Google will pay by click, not by view. I don't recommend that you stay logged out, because there are many features that are only available to subscribers. As a subscriber, you are already supporting the site! Login and enjoy the benefits.

Those who don't subscribe can then support the site by visiting some of the advertisers. I think there'd be something like 10-15 cents per click, but I'm not sure (Google doesn't get specific on this area).

Also, this is still an experiment. Whether it stays or not is an unknown to me, at this point. I'm trying it out to see who notices it, who it bothers (it appears Ulrich is bothered), and if it generates enough revenue to be worth it. The jury is still out!

dave

ah, alrighty then. Whatever works is fine with me. =)

Cheri'

I love this! For people like me with nothing to trade it's great.

I thought I was seeing things lol, I saw the ads one day got off and came back on and they weren't there. I'm sure I have deleted my cookies and then had to login so that is why when I came back wasn't there.

For those who missed it:
http://davesgarden.com/t/391921/advertisement

Ads don't bother me much if they aren't pop-ups and don't move or blink. Just my 2 cents worth.

o yeah, gotta hate those flashing banners ... it's enough to make me leave and never come back.

But a well done ad is no problem. JMHO

Cheri'

Ulrich,

I repented of that to make this test, sorry it bothers you... So far nobody has complained! :)

dave

It only bothered me when it showed up on my screen. It does not since it is gone.

I can relate, Max. Things that aren't there don't bother me much, either. ;-)

LOL GW!

I personally don't find them offensive. Seldom do I log out; when I do, the Google ads appear as unobtrusive as they do on other sites that have them. (At least there is no annoying, blinking "You've Won!!!" banner ad like I find on some otherwise respectable botanical websites!)

I say if it generates a bit of revenue from the non-paying members, then it's worth it. I had to scroll all the way to the very bottom to see the two ads - definitely not a detractor from the overall impression of the site.

I second what Terry said in the post above. No problem here!

I third that emotion =)

In fact, if there were a way for subscribers to turn the ads on and off, I'd turn them on.

A lot of times when I'm looking something up in the PDB, it's because I'm thinking about buying it. If there were and ad there that I could click to see a website that sells it, I'd click it. As it is, I just start searching google for places that carry it (the next phase of my research). Same thing, only Dave gets credit for the click.

Cheri'

I was wondering what you were all talking about. I am usually logged in all the time, so don't have that log in page. But I finally figured it out, logged out, and logged back in. Then typed the password wrong and thought!"Oh oh, what is that password again!"
But I am here, the memory has returned!

hehehe...windy, you're sounding like me here, except i don't dare go see what they're talking about cuz i have a secret hiding place where i keep my important notes stashed for emergencies, but last time my puter pooted out on me, it took 3 months for me to find my secret hiding place, so i decided i needed a different place that was easier to remember, so...well, let's just say i need a note to give me a hint leading me to the secret place, so i can remember where it was! i should just get a safe, cuz the same thing happens to my money and my jewelry all the time...and my keys, and my mind...

Windy, I am like you. I had never seen the ads. So I logged out and back in. I still didn't see the ads. And then, there they were at the top.

Very well done! I heartly approve of the manner in which they are displayed.

I never see the ads--I have Norton Firewall on both my home & work computer. Why would someone not subscribe? So little $$ to support my crazy hobby. And I can get that little $$ back in one good trade!

Didn't even know there were ads, cuz I always log in. If you're a subscriber, you can choose whether or not you want to see them. I think it's a good idea that could be a real time saver for those of us who shop online a lot.

Good point, if we need something, let's see what these people have.

I agree -- If we could choose whether or not to see them, we could additionally support DG through our clicking the ads when we do want to pursue a purchase.

I like the little ads. I usually go into the forums through my newsletter every day. Before I log on, I can see them but once I'm logged on, they are gone.

Question, Dave. There were some I saw, but did not click to get into them. Is there any way to see specific ones again maybe if you know what they are related to? such as seed packets, garden gifts, etc?

hotlanta,

Unfortunately I have no control over which ones show when. (I can limit the ads so that ads from certain companies don't show up - I do that). If you were looking for a certain ad, you might try reloading the page a couple times and see if it will finally appear.

That's one big limitation of the system: I can't get reports on which ads were shown, when they were shown, etc and I can't put together a list of all the advertisers. Google handles all that and hides the details from me.

Dave

dave, is it possible to have it set up where subscribers can see them?

tiG, yes it is possible. I'd have to do a little programming change to make it a configurable option but I can do that.

dave

tiG, here's something to try: Go to your Preferences page and check off to receive the ads and see if they appear. I've got mine checked and it is working now. It's nice to be able to see them without having to logout (which is what I'd been doing all this time!!)

Dave

excellent dave! and I've been known to click through spending money I shouldn't so hope it helps! LOL!

ooo, cool Dave.

Thanx,
Cheri'

Thanks, Dave. I went to my Preference page and clicked on to receive ads. Then while looking at one of the other screens, I saw an ad that I was wishing to get back to. So, I guess they keep repeating within a certain time frame.