ParanetOnline
The Site => Site Suggestions & Support => Topic started by: Priscellie on December 12, 2007, 12:55:17 PM
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I never thought I'd say this, but... the new ads look great, Fred! Very understated and out of the way and harmonious with the layout, not to mention actually topical. Hopefully they'll bring in a little cash to offset the cost of running the second domain! It boggles my mind that as successful as Jim is, you're still having to cover his site expenses out of pocket. Pony up already, ROC! :D
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Once upon there was a little site for entertainment news called CHUD.com.
Nick, the guy behind CHUD, *hated* site ads. Said they'd never be on his site.
Problem is, the site got really popular, and he couldn't afford not to do ads, so he started using them. The companies he used, though, while targeted, were exceedingly obnoxious and if they didn't crash your browser, would take over huge parts of the screen (and often overlap what you were trying to click on). It's still a great site, but most of my friends won't go there because of the ads.
Thank you for not going down that road, Fred. ;)
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After careful searching, I finally figured out what ads you were talking about. Yeah, I'm glad we're not being bombarded. It's really well done. Thanks.
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Google's been pretty good at providing solid targeted ads.
And don't worry about Roc not paying me. With the Cafe Press T-Shirts, the Google Ads, and especially the Amazon referrals from the store part of jim-butcher.com, I'm actually making a small profit from running the site. Which is a good thing -- it gave me the freedom to consider things like this site-split upgrade and helps take the sting out of the fact that I'm self-employed. :)
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Out of curiosity, how much more would it cost to run the site ad-free?
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Out of curiousity, does this mean that because I'm a registered user on the board, I'm going to start getting junk email from these Google ads?
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Out of curiousity, does this mean that because I'm a registered user on the board, I'm going to start getting junk email from these Google ads?
Certainly not! You will never receive junk email from this or any jim-butcher.com-affiliated site.
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(Stops mailing Todd.)
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Gotta say, I concur. The ads are well done and not obtrustive in the least. One question... When the time comes, where're ya gonna put the Countdown Calendar now?
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Gotta say, I concur. The ads are well done and not obtrustive in the least. One question... When the time comes, where're ya gonna put the Countdown Calendar now?
True. Only 14 days until "My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon," after all! :D
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Everyone could make the countdown their sig file so that it follows you everywhere you go.
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I'd miss Priscillie's Sig line... I love it!
I want one! Well, maybe not, cause then it wouldn't be so precious. It's Unique!
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(Stops mailing Todd.)
Mickey - are you the one sending me those emails???
I don't mind the emails, I just hate junk mail.
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Yeah, good placements. I was very anti-adverts for years until I upgraded to a new dedicated server in July, then I suddenly really wanted them ::) They're very subtle as well and in theme with the site. We've had a few odd adverts creep through like dating agency sites, which we've filtered out (for the kids... ya see). We actually make it so the ads disappear when people log in. As we get more guests to the site than members, it's actually proven quite good. I've been able to save between $70-150 per month on the server costs, which is more than enough.
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Yeah, it's interesting. I was in my football poll thread earlier today and there was an ad for some sports thing.
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Oh wow, I didn't even notice the ad at the bottom of the page 'til now. Like everyone said above me, well done Fred on making them not obnoxious!
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Gotta say, I concur. The ads are well done and not obtrustive in the least. One question... When the time comes, where're ya gonna put the Countdown Calendar now?
Well, they're making it onto the front page of the main site, but if I feel especially moved, I can bump the top ad for a bit if I must (not my preference though).
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s'pose the ads are more important. For your cross sampling needs, I personally visit this site nearly day and have been to the "main" site twice since.... April??
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Hmm, maybe because I'm on my work computer (it blocks most ads) but I don't see any ads anywhere. I'll have to look when I get home! 8)
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s'pose the ads are more important. For your cross sampling needs, I personally visit this site nearly day and have been to the "main" site twice since.... April??
Yeah. The ads provide a pretty interesting window onto site use, and as I suspected, the forums make up the lion's share of the traffic (in terms of visits/page loads). Prior to putting them on the forums, I made about 5000-6000 "impressions" (ad-loads) per day. Yesterday I made nearly 20,000. Granted, with ads at the top and bottom of the page, I *think* I'm technically making two impressions per page load, but that's still fairly impressive.
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Yeah. The ads provide a pretty interesting window onto site use, and as I suspected, the forums make up the lion's share of the traffic (in terms of visits/page loads). Prior to putting them on the forums, I made about 5000-6000 "impressions" (ad-loads) per day. Yesterday I made nearly 20,000. Granted, with ads at the top and bottom of the page, I *think* I'm technically making two impressions per page load, but that's still fairly impressive.
Is there a difference, in terms of benefit to you, if the ads are actually clicked?
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Is there a difference, in terms of benefit to you, if the ads are actually clicked?
Yep. The ads work on a "click-farming" basis. That said, I think Google gets tetchy if folks click the ads just for the payoff, as it were, so I think the official thing to say is "Please support the site by visiting our sponsors." :)
Just don't click-for-the-hell-of-it. If I had a friend who clicked on every ad that popped up, for example, that might look to Google like I was "abusing" the ads, dig?
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This is a hoot.... the ads change per the content of the page....
On this site, it has made for more than a few LOL moments... of which I can remember none at the moment.
(I have the Anti-Shawn mind... his reads and remembers for a decade until the precise moment to use it, mine read and records, but refuses to retreive)
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In the Flamethrower and Gardening thread there was an ad for a flamethrower kit. Where we were talking about Foamy, there was an ad for getting supplies for pet squirrels. Ya gotta love it.
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Heh - I just told someone he's smarter than his avatar looks and came up with an ad for Pacifica University, Graduate degrees in Psychology and Mythology studies!
I love it!
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I see no adds. But then I run NoScript.http://noscript.net/ (http://noscript.net/) Never understood why people leave their browsers wide open to all the malicious codes, spyware, google tracking software, etc. All you need to do is read the current news about the adobe flash exploit effecting thousands of web pages to see you must take some actions to ensure your safety. Not like someone is going to do it for you.
Just because I visit this site, I don't think that gives google or any other site the right to exec, java code, or anything else on my pc. Just because the admin here has injected their code links into the page. Yes I understand it is to generate revenue for this site. But it is still a non-transparent/hidden relink to another sites code. No different then how they inject malware into your pc. So I just block it all. If the code isn't coming from this domain, It isn't needed to view the site. And I hardly think google is trustworthy. If you think they have your best interest at hearts by logging all your searches and viewing habits with sites linked to google stats, google adds, etc. Then you might be in for a shock.
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Your lack of willingness to support the site and general bitterness about Google is noted. Thanks.
It's also not something I want discussed in this thread. I'll lock if it folks go the bitching route.
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No worries, Iago, If posts to date are a representative cross sampling, most of us are getting a kick out of the ads...
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Your lack of willingness to support the site and general bitterness about Google is noted. Thanks.
It's also not something I want discussed in this thread. I'll lock if it folks go the bitching route.
Not me. I think they're funny as hell. I will, however, hold you personally responsible if my child orders a flamethrower kit...
btw...Look for the Borders ads. They have print out coupons. I've already saved money on books using those.
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btw...Look for the Borders ads. They have print out coupons. I've already saved money on books using those.
Nice!
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Keep mentioning the Borders ads...you made one pop up, Helen.
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Keep mentioning the Borders ads...you made one pop up, Helen.
No problem. I printed out another one last night and used it today. I went to Borders and bought Hawthorn the first three Fury books. Did I mention I got them at Borders?
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WHOO - HOOO! GOT ONE.... reels it in!
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I'm sorry Helen, did you say you went to Borders?
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I'm sorry Helen, did you say you went to Borders?
Why yes, yes I did. I did, in fact, go to Borders. I enjoy Borders very much. I bought Hawthorn the first three Fury books at Borders.
Did you need a coupon for Borders, Pharoah?
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Not at the moment, but you never know when a coupon for Borders might do some good - after all, I often find myself at Borders, saying, "You know, since I'm at Borders, it sure would be nice if I had a coupon for Borders."
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By coincidence, I recently bought the first, second, and fourth Fury books at Borders, because I'd been emailed a 40% off coupon for Borders Books. In fact, I could use another such coupon, should the Google Ads deities see fit to bestow one upon me-- to be used to buy the third Fury book, of course.
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I've got "Free Books" and "Literary Review". Go figure.
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By coincidence, I recently bought the first, second, and fourth Fury books at Borders, because I'd been emailed a 40% off coupon for Borders Books. In fact, I could use another such coupon, should the Google Ads deities see fit to bestow one upon me-- to be used to buy the third Fury book, of course.
Which you will, of course, buy at Borders.
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Still getting "Free Books". Hmm. Borders... Free books... subliminal?
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>>
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How odd...there was a Borders ad on the page. I'd have never expected another Borders ad, as we never talk about Borders around here.
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It's so strange that I haven't seen a Borders Bookstores Coupon on this page given the number of times we've posted about Borders Bookstores Coupons.
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Success! There's a Borders Bookstores Coupon on the top of the page.
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This borders on obsessive behavior, people.
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ROFLMAO - Careful... the mods may call in the Borders Patrol to reign us all in.. ;D
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I've been bordering on psychosis for years.
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You can always get the same Border's coupons in your email by subscribing to (http://f.chtah.com/s/40/266588556/2003_borders_mail_on.gif) (http://reg.cheetahmail.com/regp?aid=266588556&n=100). Of course that doesn't support this site, but it's another coupon you can use.
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Yeah, but it's more fun to see how many different ways I can say Borders.
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We don't have a Borders close enough for me to get use from a coupon. Which makes me sad cuz I have a Borders card from when I was in Greensboro. Now, if there were coupons for Barns And Noble and Books-A-Million, I'd be all set.
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...I've got an ad for Tony Hawk's Proving Ground... Who mentioned Tony?
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Your lack of willingness to support the site and general bitterness about Google is noted. Thanks.
It's also not something I want discussed in this thread. I'll lock if it folks go the bitching route.
I thought this was the authors official page? I would assume buying the books is supporting the site. If it was a fan driven site, I would support it. But seeing as it is suppose to be the official authors site, and run by someone who made lic. deals for a rpg game. Would not really qualify as a fan driven site in my book. Sorry if your bitter that my perspective on it differs from yours.
And I would hardly say I was bitching or bitter. Just pointing out that I don't like hidden relinks to other sites burried in the pages. Ads or not.
If your finding the cost of running this site to prohibitive. Why not just add a donate button? I have no problems donating to a site to help maintain it. But I'm not going to open my browser to exec other sites code, that I don't know what it does, nor visit or use those sites. just for the sake of viewing adds I will never click on. I get bombarded with enough adds, without allowing them to send them to me willingly.
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It's Jim Butcher's official site, which is what my fan-site for Jim turned into. I run it; Jim doesn't. It vastly predates the RPG license, which grew out of my friendship with Jim (and to date, I've spent many thousands of dollars on the RPG which I can't make it back until we get the thing published... which has been a long, hard road and isn't done yet).
The only compensation I get for providing this site is revenues gotten through folks clicking on ads (which aren't "hidden" or "buried" -- they're simple banners at the top and bottom of the page) or buying books or t-shirts through the "store" page on http://www.jim-butcher.com/store/
You can choose to support the efforts I've made to provide this site, or not, but you can't expect me to look kindly on you when you come in here and pee on my pocketbook.
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I thought this was the authors official page? I would assume buying the books is supporting the site. If it was a fan driven site, I would support it. But seeing as it is suppose to be the official authors site, and run by someone who made lic. deals for a rpg game. Would not really qualify as a fan driven site in my book. Sorry if your bitter that my perspective on it differs from yours.
And I would hardly say I was bitching. Just pointing out that I don't like hidden relinks to other sites burried in the pages. Ads or not.
Y'know, I would not presume to speak for Fred, but official site or not, there are bills associated with running a site this large. Fortunately, Fred (iago) chose the least objectionable way to ensure the site continues to exist. Since you have them blocked, it's not even really an issue, is it? For the rest of us, we don't care since they don't interfere with anything, and thanks to the Borders ads, I'm saving money on my book purchases. Always a plus.
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Box - You make an awful lot of assumptions for someone with so little time logged in on the board. We're a pretty friendly place, with a lot of really awesome people who like to be NICE to one another!
Perhaps you should take a little time and get a feel for the place?
This is a message board attached to Jim's site, and as I understand it, iago and the other mods have been doing the work they do here on pretty much a volunteer basis, in fact, absorbing expenses out of pocket. I could be wrong, of course, I'm not sure. At any rate, it's not like Iago's going to retire on what he's making here.
And I'd have to say, if you stick around and take a good look, this message board is definitely driven by the fans. (In mmost cases, right into the gutter, but dfriven, nonetheless.)
Oh, and in iago's defense, your opinion may be valid, but your delivery definitely smacked of bitter bitching, too, as does this one. You might want to work on that. I have no idea if you truly are a pompous, arrogant, snide snark in real life, but it's definitely how you're coming across on "paper" to me.
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It's Jim Butcher's official site, which is what my fan-site for Jim turned into. I run it; Jim doesn't. It vastly predates the RPG license, which grew out of my friendship with Jim (and to date, I've spent many thousands of dollars on the RPG which I can't make it back until we get the thing published... which has been a long, hard road and isn't done yet).
The only compensation I get for providing this site is revenues gotten through folks clicking on ads (which aren't "hidden" or "buried" -- they're simple banners at the top and bottom of the page) or buying books or t-shirts through the "store" page on http://www.jim-butcher.com/store/
You can choose to support the efforts I've made to provide this site, or not, but you can't expect me to look kindly on you when you come in here and pee on my pocketbook.
Well I don't know how this turned from my saying I don't like adds. To some assumption that I refuse to support this site. Add a donate button! And yes I don't like google. Don't see what my opion of them has to do with this site. But whatever.
Box - You make an awful lot of assumptions for someone with so little time logged in on the board. We're a pretty friendly place, with a lot of really awesome people who like to be NICE to one another!
Perhaps you should take a little time and get a feel for the place?
What assumptions might those be? That an official site cost is covered by the publishers? Or possibly a part of the rpg lic? Don't see how those assumptions would be wrong to make. Nor do I see what I posted has anything to do with being nice to others or not.
If anything, this is just the bitter over reaction from a bunch of people because my opion on add driven finical compensation models differ from your own. So I'm now being accused of "not being nice" as well as a slew of derogatory statements.
You might want to work on that. I have no idea if you truly are a pompous, arrogant, snide snark in real life, but it's definitely how you're coming across on "paper" to me.
Oh yes, you come across as a really nice friendly person. Since you have no basis on which to base such derogatory remarks.
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I'm not going to start a flame war in here, but I do want to point out that maybe you don't see how your posts come across, LB. I went back and reread your initial post and your response to Fred, and in the first one it sounds as if you think we're all fools for not objecting to the ads, given that the script is so dangerous and all. In the second it sounds as if you believe Fred's trying to grab all the money he can for...what? Maybe that isn't your intent, but you come across as rude and snarky. Personally, I'm impressed by how calmly Fred's taking the apparent insults. Then again, he and mods tend not to be overtly nasty regardless of the provocation.
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I'm not going to start a flame war in here, but I do want to point out that maybe you don't see how your posts come across, LB. I went back and reread your initial post and your response to Fred, and in the first one it sounds as if you think we're all fools for not objecting to the ads, given that the script is so dangerous and all. In the second it sounds as if you believe Fred's trying to grab all the money he can for...what? Maybe that isn't your intent, but you come across as rude and snarky. Personally, I'm impressed by how calmly Fred's taking the apparent insults. Then again, he and mods tend not to be overtly nasty regardless of the provocation.
Well, I guess I don't see it. But if that is the way my post came across, then I apologize. I guess I let my distaste for company's that log and keep records of everywhere you surf and search offensive. I guess I let it bleed over into my posts.
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Yeah, honestly, my reaction was more to the tone than the content. I know plenty of folks who are uncomfortable with Google; I'm not one of them (I happen to believe that privacy is dead, so a lot of the stuff that would bother you definitely wouldn't bother me, and besides, I WANT Google to advertise at me more effectively; but that's beside the point).
Regardless, sorry for reacting so strongly. When it's the few hundred bucks I might gain from running the site on the line, I get a little persnickety when folks get all tweaked about my efforts to sustain that. :)
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If anything, this is just the bitter over reaction from a bunch of people because my opion on add driven finical compensation models differ from your own. So I'm now being accused of "not being nice" as well as a slew of derogatory statements.
No, darlin, this is a bitter reaction to the way you present your opinion, not to the content of your opinion.
Oh yes, you come across as a really nice friendly person. Since you have no basis on which to base such derogatory remarks.
Sure I do. It's right there in your posts. That's all I've got to base it on, and I was being nice. I gave you the benefit of the doubt that you're not really how you seem to come across here in real life.
Now if you want me to get "not nice".... we could go there. But I'd really rather not. There are so many other more interesting ways to spend my online time... like making new friends. ;D
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Meh. Let's leave Lunch Box be. I think the appropriate apologies have been made on both sides, really, so I'm at peace, here. Back to your driving up the likelihood Borders ads will show up!
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Meh. Let's leave Lunch Box be. I think the appropriate apologies have been made on both sides, really, so I'm at peace, here. Back to your driving up the likelihood Borders ads will show up!
I use the Adblock Plus add-on for Firefox, so for a while I wasn't seeing any ads at all, but I've since set it to allow ads on this website. It's the only one I've made exception for, actually.
Although I've considered doing the same thing for the Borders website. The Borders Bookstore website, that is. Having reconsidered it now, though, I probably won't.
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Meh. Let's leave Lunch Box be. I think the appropriate apologies have been made on both sides, really, so I'm at peace, here. Back to your driving up the likelihood Borders ads will show up!
You didn't put Borders in boldtype, dude. The ad gods may take exception to that, and I have to go buy the last Fury book at Borders Bookstore.
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Borders is good an all, but again, there just aren't any near me. I sure wish I had coupons from Books-A-Million.
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{{Iago & Lunch_Box}}}
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And today's ads on this page:
Borders 20% off coupon and "Injury Lawyer Advertising".
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I got My Big, Fat Supernatural Wedding and Honeymoon today using Borders coupons I got from the site. They didn't want to let me use a separate coupon for each book, but I said I'd just pay for one using one coupon, then go back in line and use the other for the other book, so they just let me do it. I mean, how silly is that?
Will JB refund my money if I don't like the books? Just asking.
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I get the Borders ads and... Naughty or Nice.com ?!?! :-X
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Cool! Now they have Amazon Book Coupons!
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Cool! Now they have Amazon Book Coupons!
They have AMAZON book coupons? Wow, I've never seen one! I need to buy the Small Favor (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0143143395/iagonet) and Captain's Fury (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0143143387/iagonet) audio books off AMAZON! I wonder if I could convince Google to feed me some AMAZON coupons?
Amazon.com Amazon.com Amazon.com
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They have AMAZON book coupons? Wow, I've never seen one! I need to buy the Small Favor (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0143143395/iagonet) and Captain's Fury (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0143143387/iagonet) audio books off AMAZON! I wonder if I could convince Google to feed me some AMAZON coupons?
Never seen them either, must watch more carefully!
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I wandered in here to post about something else, but completely forgot about it when I saw the Amazon Books ad. Maybe if I do what I didn't with the B-word, I can get more Amazon Book ads to appear. Of course, if I do that, then they'll follow me around the site the way the B-word ads do.
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This isn't exactly the one I initially saw, but it's close.
(http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-)
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Unfortunately I still haven't had any luck getting an Amazon Book ad to appear. Maybe if I tried really hard and kept posting about Amazon Books I'll eventually get lucky?
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That's what I did with B-word, but now they follow me around the site. If I help you with the whole Amazon Book ads thing, then I'd probably end up with Amazon Book ads following me around the site, too.
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Would having a bunch of Amazon book ads following you around the site be a bad thing? Amazon books are fabulously useful. I love Amazon!
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Would having a bunch of Amazon book ads following you around the site be a bad thing? Amazon books are fabulously useful. I love Amazon!
It just feels vaguely stalkerish. I do love Amazon Books as well. Hell, I love Amazon.com.
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~coughes~ Star Wars ~coughes~ Dresden Files ~coughes~
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I'm not sure you understand the concept of what we're attempting, Wolfhowls. XD
Amazon.com Amazon Books Amazon
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Well anything is better the the Biblesource and Your Mama don't Dance banners.
Amazon.com Dresden Files Books
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I haven't seen one since my failed attempt to show the ad itself. I hope the Amazon Book ads haven't disappeared for good.
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I've seen an ad for Amazon Books a couple times since, but they've only been a link to a part of the Amazon Bookstore where you can find a listing of Amazon Books offered at a discount. Not an actual coupon for any Book you want to purchase from Amazon.com.
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The ad I saw was an actual coupon. I haven't seen that one since. It was one of those big ones.
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A big coupon for Amazon.com Books, you mean? :D
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Books - Amazon New & Used
Amazon bestsellers up to 40% off.
Bargain books under $10. Aff.
That's the only Amazon one I've seen.
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I think Helen is hallucinating about Amazon Books Coupons
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I think Helen is hallucinating about Amazon Books Coupons
I am NOT! I only saw it once. It was similar to the one we've all seen, but it promised an additional 20% off the percentage they already offered. It was one of the big ads. I am not seeing things. You're mean.
*pout*
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Prove it. :P
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Prove it. :P
It won't come back!
*sobs*
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I rest my case...
I think Helen needs to spend a little less time in Gardening.... ::)
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I rest my case...
I think Helen needs to spend a little less time in Gardening.... ::)
*sniffs and wipes nose*
Gardening....yes, I'll go back to Gardening. I always feel so much better after I've spent some time there...
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no, no, I said LESS time in gardening...
Helen???
....Helen???
.... Damn, she moves fast in that direction....
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Interesting...now I'm starting to see local ads. Such as one for an Irish pub in downtown Dallas I've been to a few times.
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I got one German language ad, several coupon ads, but no Amazon ad either.
However, the squirrel one from Weird was too funny. If you don't want to go looking, it's...
Squirrels Guest House
Find Hotels, Compare Rates, Read Reviews & More. Try TripAdvisor!
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I got an ad about following the serialization of a unique character, Saffron Sally.
I've never seen one of those! :-\
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Right now, I'm getting "Butcher Shop Supplies" and "Uneeda Prime Meats"
:D
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Yeah. The ads provide a pretty interesting window onto site use, and as I suspected, the forums make up the lion's share of the traffic (in terms of visits/page loads). Prior to putting them on the forums, I made about 5000-6000 "impressions" (ad-loads) per day. Yesterday I made nearly 20,000. Granted, with ads at the top and bottom of the page, I *think* I'm technically making two impressions per page load, but that's still fairly impressive.
Well, in the last two days I have been over to Amazon.com more than once and I never did that until I saw the ad at the top of the page about clicking from this site...
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Well, in the last two days I have been over to Amazon.com more than once and I never did that until I saw the ad at the top of the page about clicking from this site...
Well, right on then. Thanks for switching over. ;)
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You're Welcome. I pre-ordered 2 books! $$$$$
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Very funny...in this very thread the ads at the top of the page were for Butcher Shop Supplies...and Johnny Cash MP3's. Apparently, it can read our icons!!! :o
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Very funny...in this very thread the ads at the top of the page were for Butcher Shop Supplies...and Johnny Cash MP3's. Apparently, it can read our icons!!! :o
Or, y'know, the lyrics you put under them. :)
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Or, y'know, the lyrics you put under them. :)
Now Fred, there you go ruining a perfectly good bit of paranoia with mundane logic and facts...