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Embedded Text Ads: Another Bad Idea
from the ugh dept
Rafe Needleman is debating whether or not he likes the so-called "embedded" text advertising from Vibrant Media's IntelliTxt. It isn't all that new, but the concept is gaining sites that will use it. In fact, InfoSync, which is the link in the post beneath this one has used a similar advertising method for a while now. Basically, it underlines certain words within the text of the page, and if you mouse over the word, it pops up a little advertisement. Rafe points out that, as a writer, he doesn't necessarily like his text to be riddled with advertising that way. However, my complaint is from the standpoint of a reader. I don't know if I'm different that most surfers, but I tend to use my mouse cursor as a sort of "pointer" to help me keep track of what I'm reading. When I read sites that have this kind of advertising, it becomes very difficult to read, because just as I get somewhere, a pop-up blocks what I'm reading. It's quite annoying. At the same time, it also makes it much more difficult to pick out actual links. Yet another bad idea that tries to make online advertising intrusive rather than fitting it into what users are looking for. Trust me, the last thing I want to do is to be interrupted in the middle of a sentence I'm reading.
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Pop-up blockers to the rescue!
I'm sure there will be pop-up blockers that will remove the offending pop-up code from the original HTML text.
Then I'm sure the advertisers will come up with some other hair brained scheme that will annoy you even further.
The only way to make these people realize we don't like this is to NOT buy their products! :)
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Not All Browsers Are Affected
I too don't care for this type of advertising, however most of the people that I talk to that use this type of advertising say the money is pretty good.
The good news is that not all browsers support this type of javascript. For example, if you're an Opera or Firefox user, you simply won't see them. :)
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What we need now
I think what we need is to have some sort of mechanical arms extend from the screen, grab your head, force open your eyes to the monitor, and scream "COKE IS THE REAL THING" in your face. Only 24% percent of people don't hate this idea, too.
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No Subject Given
I just wonder how long that will last.
I mean, really. None of the keywords grabbed makes any sense to have linked, nor does it make any sense to click on them. Furthermore, unlike banner ads, it does very very little to develop mindshare.
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