The ads are getting annoying on this site

[Slinger]

Jeff,

I understand this is your site and you are making income off of it. I can deal with the news stories being directly linked through your site so we don't open a new window to someone else's website but this VRay pop-up at the bottom of the page on every single page I go to is ANNOYING!!!!!!!!!!!

Sincerely,

Someone who enjoys coming to your site but is beginning to get annoyed with all the advertising aka Chris

[Jonathan Sanchez]

I agree we should support cgarchitect.. however, I think it would be best Jeff if once the viewer closed the vray ad, it stayed closed instead of reappearing after every page click.

[-MerlyN-]

Thats funny. Can you post a screenshot cause I dont get any ad's at all on this site. Maybe Adblock Plus is filtering them away, though...

[mattclinch]

personally, given the current financial climate, i cannot begrudge anyone trying to make a living wherever possible. especially startup companies who are simply advertising their wares, whether through advertising or other means and not when that advertising supports a free resource that i use or check daily.

 

annoying or not, it means that this great website which you use is free. would you rather pay a subscription?

[Slinger]

Matt: actually yes, i would to not have ads everywhere. I actually do this on numerous computer forums I frequent. $25/yr with no ads.

 

Nils: I will not use ad blocker b/c then it simply eliminates all ads and there are some good things to view.

 

 

The issue I am having right now is going to any new page in a thread or whatnot, this damn VRAy 2.0 ad pops up at the bottom of the screen

Edited November 2, 2010 by Slinger

[Professor]

I can't even close it at all. There is a Close button on the right hand side, but it doesn't let me select it. Is it disabled? Sounds like closing it doesn't really do much anyways if it just pops up again on the next page. Personally, I cast my vote as "not preferring" the ads, but I do understand their need. This one in particular is awfully glaring. I think I'm seeing "V-ray" spots when I close my eyes

[Devin Johnston]

I don't have this problem at all and even if I did I'd be Ok with it. Jeff is trying to run a business he isn't doing this for fun (any more) so I don't begrudge him any attempt to keep food on the table and keep this site running so we all can benefit, or would you prefer a yearly subscription?

[Ricardo Eloy]

I don't have this problem at all and even if I did I'd be Ok with it. Jeff is trying to run a business he isn't doing this for fun (any more) so I don't begrudge him any attempt to keep food on the table and keep this site running so we all can benefit

Second that.

[Jeff Mottle]

Well as predicted everyone starts to bitch anytime something little changes around here. It's going to cost a lot more than $25 a year to get rid of ads I can tell you that much. More like $100 per month per person. I am and will continue to experiment with different ad types on this site, that much is not going to change. Ads become less effective over time which is why the only way to make them work is to continually play with placement, size, type etc. I have however configured this banner to only show up 3 times per 12 hour per person. I'll be experimenting with this frequency too.

 

Guys, like it or not, something has to pay my salary, my server costs and my overhead. Given none of you are sending me checks every month to visit this site, ads are the ONLY thing that is going to keep this site open. If you would prefer that it go away, that's exactly what will happen if there is not a continued source of income. I think it's a pretty small price to pay for this site to put up with ads. Seriously people...deal with it! I am so tired of the constant bitching every time I try something new around here to help keep this site going. Christ!

[anejo]

I have no problem with the VR ad or any other ad on this site. These ads don’t influence my income, nor do they prevent me from doing my work or finding relevant info on the forum or anywhere else on the site.

To say the vr ad is “annoying”, or “it stayed closed” are very weak arguments with little or no substance to back those complaints.

It's unfortunate that Jeff had to remove the ad. My vote was to keep it.

[jinsley]

I think a lot of people are tired of the constant bitching every time CGA implements something new. People don't realize the type of involvement, on an individual and financial level, it takes to run a site of this scale.

 

and we all enjoy it for free.

 

Give the guy a break. This site offers a support group and resources I never experienced before I found it on the recommendation of a friend many years ago... it changed my art and turned something I loved into a career that feeds my family.

 

if you don't like the ads, if you can't appreciate someone trying to get by and make a living... then don't participate.

 

The less I have to read junk threads about how horrible a banner is and how it messed up your surfing mojo, the more time I can spend studying and trying to contribute back to the community.

[Fooch]

I think a lot of people are tired of the constant bitching every time CGA implements something new. People don't realize the type of involvement, on an individual and financial level, it takes to run a site of this scale.

 

and we all enjoy it for free.

 

Give the guy a break. This site offers a support group and resources I never experienced before I found it on the recommendation of a friend many years ago... it changed my art and turned something I loved into a career that feeds my family.

 

if you don't like the ads, if you can't appreciate someone trying to get by and make a living... then don't participate.

 

The less I have to read junk threads about how horrible a banner is and how it messed up your surfing mojo, the more time I can spend studying and trying to contribute back to the community.

 

 

+1

[Brian Smith]

No offense intended, but anyone that doesn't see the logic in heavy VRay 2.0 advertising at this time is simply naive to smart business. I'm guessing here, but imagine Jeff can probably make more in the month before and after 2.0's launch than in the entire previous 12 months of 1.5 sales. Not advertising hard now would be like not advertising hard before an election. Noone likes election advertising, but not having an election at all would be a hell of a lot worse.

[Bwana Kahawa]

I think a lot of people are tired of the constant bitching every time CGA implements something new. People don't realize the type of involvement, on an individual and financial level, it takes to run a site of this scale.

 

and we all enjoy it for free.

 

Give the guy a break. This site offers a support group and resources I never experienced before I found it on the recommendation of a friend many years ago... it changed my art and turned something I loved into a career that feeds my family.

 

if you don't like the ads, if you can't appreciate someone trying to get by and make a living... then don't participate.

 

The less I have to read junk threads about how horrible a banner is and how it messed up your surfing mojo, the more time I can spend studying and trying to contribute back to the community.

 

Well said. I can honestly say, I didn't even notice the ad was gone today, until I read this thread. I'd much rather have ads than have to pay, so I can't begrudge them one bit. And at least they're nicely designed, unlike some horrific banners and popu-ups you see on other sites!

[Brodie Geers]

More like $100 per month per person.

 

O.o

 

Are you being facetious?

 

-Brodie

[Slinger]

Jesus Christ, Allah, Buddah or whomever you believe in people. As I stated in my original post, I have no issue with all of the embedded banners. I know this is Jeff's main source of income now. However, I know a lot of people who have sites and forums as well and offering a premium paid service to eliminate 'annoying' ads is a big seller.

 

The only complaint I have is the VRAY banner running at the bottom of the screen on every single page of this forum I go to.

If you do not understand that, then I pity you.

 

To James, you obviously miss the point here. I could do the easiest thing and turn on adblockers and all kinds of other things to eliminate all the ads showing up but I am supporting Jeff's site but I do not. Taking this extreme and if everyone else followed, I guarantee you Jeff would lose tons more money then simply eliminating the 'annoying' ad at the bottom.My only issue to begin with is with this Vray ad being put on every single page but Jeff has addressed my complaint by making it show up 3 times in a 12hour viewing session.

 

Yes advertising is good. Yes advertising helps Jeff. Yes advertising can go too far.

[-MerlyN-]

I think a lot of people are tired of the constant bitching every time CGA implements something new. People don't realize the type of involvement, on an individual and financial level, it takes to run a site of this scale.

 

and we all enjoy it for free.

 

Give the guy a break. This site offers a support group and resources I never experienced before I found it on the recommendation of a friend many years ago... it changed my art and turned something I loved into a career that feeds my family.

 

if you don't like the ads, if you can't appreciate someone trying to get by and make a living... then don't participate.

 

The less I have to read junk threads about how horrible a banner is and how it messed up your surfing mojo, the more time I can spend studying and trying to contribute back to the community.

 

+1

[jinsley]

sorry, I wasn't aiming my comment directly at anyone... I read jeff's reply and just felt like voicing my opinion on the topic. Maybe not the topic of the VRay banner, but the topic of complaints in general about how CGA advertises, how CGA's galleries work, etc... the list goes on and on, and over the years I've seen quite a few.

 

How many sites out there have as much open debate and attention paid to those debates about how it is run and presented? Not too many I can think of...

 

and like Brian said, if Jeff wasn't placing VRay ads on every page right now... then that would be bad business.

[abmitalia]

Dear Mr. Ortiz

You simply must have had a bad day for throwing out nervous statements like this. Sleep it over and than why don't you just pose a rendered arch viz ( your first ) and keep on making part of this professional , instructive and ''free'' forum site. Best wishes. RK

[Jeff Mottle]

O.o

 

Are you being facetious?

 

-Brodie

 

Not at all. The number of people who would pay for no advertising is VERY VERY small compared to the amount of money that this site needs to run and earns from advertising. Other forums in this industry have tried this very scheme and it's failed miserably. Here's why. People who are willing to pay to get rid of ads, are also the ones who have money to spend on the products the banners are promoting in the first place. Advertisers are interested in people who are decision makers, not those who don't spend money. The total revenue from an ad over the same timeframe of people paying to hide those ads I would make an educated guess at a 1000:1 ratio. So not a good idea.

[Slinger]

sorry, I wasn't aiming my comment directly at anyone... I read jeff's reply and just felt like voicing my opinion on the topic. Maybe not the topic of the VRay banner, but the topic of complaints in general about how CGA advertises, how CGA's galleries work, etc... the list goes on and on, and over the years I've seen quite a few.

 

How many sites out there have as much open debate and attention paid to those debates about how it is run and presented? Not too many I can think of...

 

and like Brian said, if Jeff wasn't placing VRay ads on every page right now... then that would be bad business.

I like everything about this site but this one ad bugged me. It was like it was stalking me.

Jeff made it less of an issue so I am happy. Like I said earlier, I have no issues with all the other ads. A lot of them I click on because they intrigue me and I get more information from the ad link, in part, by clicking it, Jeff makes money.

Like I said before, my only beef is the one ad popping up on every page but Jeff fixed it.

OK, i sound like a broken record now. I think the matter has been somewhat resolved.

 

To ralf: I can't post my renders for 2 reasons:

1. I work for an architecture firm and it is there property, not mine.

2. When I do post questions in regards to renders or animations, I post them over at the Kerkythea and Thea forums because those are the programs I use to render and animate.

 

 

The majority of my time on this great site is because of the relevance in the architecture field in news section and the hardware section. I come here because Jeff gets alot of heads-up on news. I also come here for the hardware section because I am a builder, gamer, overclocker, and I have a lot of knowledge in regards to hardware and like to help people in these areas. I also have learned a great deal from Andrew in the hardware section.

[mskin]

hey guys, give slinger a break. i personally haven't noticed this particular add, don' know why, maybe my settings. he's just giving a bit of honest feed back to the captain, i don't see anything wrong with that. He clearly enjoys the site, doesn't mind most of the adverts, but finds one to be perpetually annoying. i don't see pointing that out as bad taste or deserving of a bitch slap lecture - we all understand the financial need to support the site. Jeff can do what he wants with the feed back.

 

im just sayin' - its a great site, you think its a great site, slinger thinks its a great site. its a great community. where's the love?

[eagle_ear]

Arrrgh matey, shiver me timbers...

she sails on... Yea landlubbers will never find me booty:p

[mskin]

ah, i see the add this morning. it doesn't show on my linux box at home. iits a bit annoying.

Edited November 4, 2010 by mskin

[Jonathan Sanchez]

sorry, I wasn't aiming my comment directly at anyone... I read jeff's reply and just felt like voicing my opinion on the topic. Maybe not the topic of the VRay banner, but the topic of complaints in general about how CGA advertises, how CGA's galleries work, etc... the list goes on and on, and over the years I've seen quite a few.

 

How many sites out there have as much open debate and attention paid to those debates about how it is run and presented? Not too many I can think of...

 

and like Brian said, if Jeff wasn't placing VRay ads on every page right now... then that would be bad business.

 

though I agree in defending Jeff and his right to advertise, and try to support cgarchitect however i can...... I also think it's a good thing that we can voice our feedback about the site... it's what helps the management update their site to the attract a bigger crowd and keep the current one happy.

 

Jeff might be a little tired of the complaining.. but that "bitching" is called feedback which has helped him mold the site over the years to what it is now. I've been a member of CGA since 2003 and have found no other community like it... but have seen it become more of a cash maker for management instead of a community site for enthusiasts, although there is nothing wrong with that, I would also recommend management listen to it's members.

 

Look at what happened in the US gov for not listening to the people :-).... still love CGA Jeff, and I'm probably gonna buy vray 2.0 from you