The adverts on OVF

[mr.hobblesworth]

Not sure if it's just me getting this but since we started having adverts, I have a grey strip at the bottom of every page. 9 times out of 10 there aren't even any ads on it but you can't click on page numbers etc until you 'x' the grey strip. Obviously this is very much a trivial issue and I'll probably get used to it, but it's a bit irritating especialy as there aren't even any adverts being displayed..

Edit - @robf just seen your original thread on so will post there. Could you delete this thread please?

[Mellor!]

I'm getting adverts for cucumbers, Vaseline and Durex. People on here must be looking at some strange things! 

[philmpv]

I'm getting adverts for cucumbers, Vaseline and Durex. People on here must be looking at some strange things! 

Targeted advertising based on your search history. Better hope Mrs M doesn't look at your phone until you clear your cache and cookies

[Aguar61]

It's really getting on my nerves to be honest. Sort it out, it's garbage.

[Sam Kelly's Left Boot]

Yeah, same here. Really annoying.

[MelbourneValiant]

My screen shrinks, I get a blue border that invades the outer edges if the screen.

[werstayinup]

That grey strip is doing my head in tbh as its on every page you go on

[NorthwoodValiant]

I'm quite enjoying my banner for organic milk that I can't get rid of, it's got very green grass on it so it reminds me what grass should look like when I go to Vale Park

[robf]

On 19/10/2022 at 16:33, werstayinup said:

That grey strip is doing my head in tbh as its on every page you go on

 

On 18/10/2022 at 21:49, Aguar61 said:

Sort it out, it's garbage.

 

I can remove it but if anyone wants to suggest how else I generate revenue to pay the bills I'd appreciate it. I've tried things in the past such as ad-free subscriptions and none of them work. This is a busy site so the costs are sky high especially as the server company have recently increased their costs. 

So, my only choice is to carry adverts. I deliberately don't have any adverts that cover content or pop-up/make noise etc. For instance, I would argue that the ads on here are far less intrusive than say the Sentinel website and many other forums.

That particular advert (which is a sticky) is the most visible. I would argue that it doesn't get in the way and you can still read threads while it sits at the bottom of the page.

I could remove that one and leave the others - but that sticky, by being the most visible, brings in the most revenue and so I'd probably have to make up the shortfall myself if I did. It's already pretty tight in terms of meeting the costs.

So, while I appreciate these comments - with respect it's easy to complain without offering a genuine alternative. Without the income they provide, I would probably have to close the site.

(note - moving this out of Port Vale Present as it's been posted in the wrong section)

 

 

[robf]

On 18/10/2022 at 21:17, mr.hobblesworth said:

Not sure if it's just me getting this but since we started having adverts, I have a grey strip at the bottom of every page. 9 times out of 10 there aren't even any ads on it but you can't click on page numbers etc until you 'x' the grey strip.

Actually on that particular issue I can have a look at fixing it by moving the page numbers up above the advert. Leave that one with me to look at over the weekend.

[NorthwoodValiant]

1 minute ago, robf said:

 

 

I can remove it but if anyone wants to suggest how else I generate revenue to pay the bills I'd appreciate it. I've tried things in the past such as ad-free subscriptions and none of them work. This is a busy site so the costs are sky high especially as the server company have recently increased their costs. 

So, my only choice is to carry adverts. I deliberately don't have any adverts that cover content or pop-up/make noise etc. 

That particular advert (which is a sticky) is the most visible. I would argue that it doesn't get in the way and you can still read threads while it sits at the bottom of the page.

I could remove that one and leave the others - but that sticky, by being the most visible, brings in the most revenue and so I'd probably have to make up the shortfall myself if I did.

So, while I appreciate these comments - with respect it's easy to complain without offering a genuine alternative. Without the income they provide, I would probably have to close the site.

(note - moving this out of Port Vale Present as it's been posted in the wrong section)

 

 

Do you know why it's just a grey strip though, shouldn't it actually be showing as some sort of advertisement?

[robf]

2 minutes ago, NorthwoodValiant said:

Do you know why it's just a grey strip though, shouldn't it actually be showing as some sort of advertisement?

It should serve adverts. I see them (there's no special privileges for me).

I can pass on the fact that some adverts aren't serving to the provider.

[robf]

On 19/10/2022 at 15:49, MelbourneValiant said:

My screen shrinks, I get a blue border that invades the outer edges if the screen.

Hmmm, do you mind messaging me with what browser you use as I can pass that on to the advert provider? It shouldn't look like that so apologies and I will try and get it corrected for you.

[smithie]

Is there a GoFundMe page l can give to in support of the people suffering this dreadful situation? 

[robf]

So, having thought about it I'm going to do an experiment...

I'm going to remove that sticky advert for the weekend and see what happens in terms of daily revenue. 

I will see if it means I won't be able to meet my outgoings. 

a) If I can still meet my costs then fine, I'll keep it switched off

b) If I can't then I'll post on this thread and throw it open to you to come up with a way of making that gap up - whether that's through some of you donating, having an paid ad-free subscription option and so on. I would repeat I have tried both of those options before and they didn't work, but it's worth another go. If I can make enough through other means then I'll keep it switched off - but if not, then the sticky ad comes back on. 

I don't think I can be fairer than that.