The internet is becoming unusable.

[noodlemanc]

Do you actually have to click the ad for it to count as a view or will looking at the page be enough? I always hear how sites need ads to survive, or do they need to you click the ad. If I have no intention of clicking on an ad what is the point.

Both advertising models exist out there: Pay per click and pay per impression. PPC is the more popular and profitable one for regular websites, but PPI is around as well -- it pays pretty badly though.

 

[Southern Dad]

Do you actually have to click the ad for it to count as a view or will looking at the page be enough? I always hear how sites need ads to survive, or do they need to you click the ad. If I have no intention of clicking on an ad what is the point.

Both. Many websites sell ads based upon a certain number of impressions. Software counts the number of times that the ad is displayed. Some ads are sold based upon click throughs. And some are sold based upon both. In some industries the PPI (Impression) model is king and the inventory for such ads as the banner sell quickly. When you visit a website look at how many ads are "house ads." These are ads where the company advertises for itself. Those are the unsold slots. We market that unsold inventory to third parties but many run ads touting their advertising or their own products.

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Of course many websites need ads to generate revenue. Very few people would suggest otherwise. Otherwise, many websites simply wouldn't exist. But a banner ad and maybe a sidebar ad is a little less obtrusive than 17 ads surrounding the content, half of which are animated flash ads. Even worse is when they disguise the ad to look just like the "next" button for a page and cause you to inadvertently click on the ad.

The website belongs to the provider not the viewer. It is their decision to put as many or as few ads upon it as they wish. If the user chooses not to visit their site because there are too many ads, that is a choice that they have. But the choice of how many ads or where they are placed is solely at the discretion of the website owner.

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Ever see look up something local then see that ad pop up when you are viewing a site from another state and wonder how that happens? There are ads that are delivered based upon your cookies, search patterns and IP address locale. Advertising is big business.

 

[samiwas]

The website belongs to the provider not the viewer. It is their decision to put as many or as few ads upon it as they wish. If the user chooses not to visit their site because there are too many ads, that is a choice that they have. But the choice of how many ads or where they are placed is solely at the discretion of the website owner.

Wow, thanks, genius! I never thought about that!

Here's another genius idea: if someone doesn't like something, they say why they don't like it, instead of just cowering away. Maybe that way, others can learn. How else do people learn?

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Ever see look up something local then see that ad pop up when you are viewing a site from another state and wonder how that happens? There are ads that are delivered based upon your cookies, search patterns and IP address locale. Advertising is big business

It's pervasive. It's everywhere and on everything. Hell you cant even watch a popular TV show without the "Duracell catch of the day". The worst is arena naming, and when they change it all the time. Just creates confusion. And then you end up with stupid name like the 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre. I wouldn't be surprised if soon we have Coca Cola Peachtree Rd. signs.

 

[MacNut]

Both. Many websites sell ads based upon a certain number of impressions. Software counts the number of times that the ad is displayed. Some ads are sold based upon click throughs. And some are sold based upon both. In some industries the PPI (Impression) model is king and the inventory for such ads as the banner sell quickly. When you visit a website look at how many ads are "house ads." These are ads where the company advertises for itself. Those are the unsold slots. We market that unsold inventory to third parties but many run ads touting their advertising or their own products.

So if you run an ad blocker, is it still clicking through when it hits the block, or does that get rejected. If it says 10 ads blocked, does the website think they were viewed or do those get tossed back as unseen. I guess it would be the same for if I skip through commercials on TV or leave the room. In their mind I saw the ads even tho I never saw them. Is that how websites count it as well?

 

[Southern Dad]

So if you run an ad blocker, is it still clicking through when it hits the block, or does that get rejected. If it says 10 ads blocked, does the website think they were viewed or do those get tossed back as unseen. I guess it would be the same for if I skip through commercials on TV or leave the room. In their mind I saw the ads even tho I never saw them. Is that how websites count it as well?

I believe that ads still count as served. That is a question that I'll ask to get an answer so from some that will know. I don't believe the website has a way of knowing that the ad was blocked. On some sites, I zoom and the right rail winds up hidden, those ads are still there but I didn't see them.

On a television program, the ads were delivered but you choose to forward through them. No different than if you go to the kitchen when an ad comes on.

 

[localoid]

If the site is using Google's ad network the code to test if the user is blocking ads is fairly simple; for example:

if(typeof(window.google_render_ad)=="undefined") 
{ 
    //They're blocking ads, display your banner
}

Ultimate guide to detecting adblock software