Page 1 of 2

No more ads in the forums for registered users

Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2015 1:19 am
by wololo
Hey guys, today I want to announce a step I took to improve the experience on the forum:
Today I'm glad to announce that the last big ad that was on the forum is gone for registered users.

Wololo.net is supported by ads. We pay for the server costs, contests, giveways, etc... through advertising that we display on the site.

As you might or might not have noticed, the number of ads on the forum had significantly decreased since we moved to the new forum theme. As a matter of fact, only one ad was remaining for registered users, and I felt it was added in a non-obtrusive way, at the bottom of the forum.

Nevertheless, I know that less ads is better for everyone if we can afford it, and I am regularly trying to remove big ads while not cutting into the budget. I'm happy to claim this victory today, and hope it will stay this way for a long time.

Are all ads gone from wololo.net?
No. As one of the biggest communities on the console scene, we still heavily rely on advertising to handle our costs. You will still find advertising in the following use cases:
- The occasional "deal" message at the top of the forum. I feel this one is a win-win situation, where I let you guys know of ongoing video game deals on the web, so you can get games and accessories cheaper, and we get a commission. If people don't like this, I'll think of a way to let people opt-out of this message
- Unregistered users still see ads on the forum. Registering is free, there is no catch
- Registered users who use the old theme still see ads. That's mostly because I'm lazy, and it's another incentive for people to go with the new theme
- The blog and Downloads section still rely on advertising. But I am constantly looking into ways to reduce obtrusive advertising while keeping the site afloat, so stay tuned.

Re: No more ads in the forums for registered users

Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2015 8:23 am
by Thrawn
Actually those ads as registered user never bothered me... so why did you remove them?

ME THINKS it is the duty of EVERY INTERNET USER ON THIS PLANET AND ON MARS, to take self prevention and protection regarding advertising / phishing / malicious linking and all its forms... so why again did you remove those few adds again?

Its true, a clean site is MUCH MUCH MOAAAR appealing then an add and what not infested html / java garbage bucket that calls itself a homepage... but still I'm on my PoV that every user should take that matter in his own hands.
Add blocking, disabling plugins, removing and or protecting against toolbars... such are the first steps everyone should consider... just disabling adds is like throwing a fish into the starved mass, but when the fish is gone... what then?

Yeah just my thoughts and rants on that.

Re: No more ads in the forums for registered users

Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2015 9:51 am
by Darth Agnon
Hey, @Wololo, thanks for that :D. PS about the "Deal" and "Heads up" messages at the top of the forum, I actually like them, so please don't get rid of them. Personally, I think that offering us partner links to Amazon, etc. deals is a fair deal: you've gone to the trouble to find the deals (even if you have some sort of auto system set up ;) ), so it is only fair that you should get something out of it (also, you've said that they cost nothing more, so 'tis fair).

Re: No more ads in the forums for registered users

Posted: Sun May 31, 2015 6:07 pm
by yatto
Thanks for removing the ads for registered people ! Very few sites really care for their viewers, and that's why Adblock exists (for me it's always off on Wololo and other valuable sites).
I know that a lot of sites are hurt by AdBlock, and in particular high-tech sites : their visitors are experienced people, whose first reflex is to install AdBlock when they have a browser. Here, instead of trying to get the ads pass through AdBlock, you are respectful of your visitors, understanding that noone likes ads. I hope the site will stay alive and kicking for long !

Re: No more ads in the forums for registered users

Posted: Sun May 31, 2015 7:13 pm
by fatman01923
Well I have adblock but I disable for any site I visit frequentely including youtube and wololo. :) I honestly do not mind ads at all, as long as its not a popup. Most users probably didn't mind the ad at the bottom either. If you put it back, I would be glad or adding a donation widget for monthly costs would be a nice little plus in my opinion.

Re: No more ads in the forums for registered users

Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2016 11:05 pm
by The Vitalist
Cool. Ads suck.

Re: No more ads in the forums for registered users

Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2016 2:35 pm
by Yoti
ALOT of ADs on blog pages while viewing on mobile device.

Re: No more ads in the forums for registered users

Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2016 4:38 pm
by wololo
Thanks, I am aware of that and working with the ads agency to fix it, In the meantime, can you clear your cookies and try to reload the page? You might end with a different design of the site with less ads (about 1 out of 3 chances)
Apologies.

Re: No more ads in the forums for registered users

Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2017 9:23 am
by Beatnukem
Not only a lot of ads, but also very fishy scripts. Going to your blog and my browser asks for permission to use my microphone and access to files... looks like I need to start using noscript and ad blocker on your page. I like your work and I understand you need to make a living, but with the current state of your page and the amount and type of ads there is no way I disable my Adblocker.

Re: No more ads in the forums for registered users

Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2017 9:30 am
by wololo
I'm sorry about that. Would you mind sending me a screenshot at wagic.the.homebrew at gmail so I can report it to the ads agency? Thanks in advance.
It helps if you have the url of the offending scripts.