The new ads on the top on the forum make WHT look cheap and nasty.

No........, before I'm flamed to a crisp, it's not jealousy.
Ads are a necessity - one which we all have to live with, but putting them on WHT lowers the tone, credibility, and in my opinion goes against the main reasons I visit - impartialality and fairness to everyone.

This board must be one of the most popular on the net, frequented by probably the largest proportion of web hosts, out there.
I sincerely feel sorry all the new start-ups who visit WHT hoping to gain new custom, share ideas and generally hang-out, now they have another obstacle to overcome :(

Sorry Matt, think you just offered all those forums out there struggling for half of WHT's membership a new 'leg-up'.

Ah, well .... hit me with your rhythm sticks everyone....

Eladesor.

I have to agree i dont like the size of them my eye keeps wondering up to that big blob of text instead of the forum, and whos gonna read the whole text for every advertiser, i cant figure out why he switched to the new ad format, it woud be better for the advertiser and us if he ran standard size ads...

Get a donation system setup or somehow charge hosts for something. Maybe the privledge of replying to requests?

Only allow host you know won't break any rules do this, and make sure they are very clear on the rules.

Just get that giant ad away from there. I can't imagine how huge that is for someone on 800x600, probably takes up the whole screen.

I'm viewing with 1024x768 and Its obtrusive!

Get-Hosted.com :
I like the Idea, sound fairer.

Eladesor.

I think the simple banners you had before looked just fine.

They probably weren't effective enough if they needed to take this measure. I say they go back to smaller ones, maybe just a couple/few small buttons, and make hosts pay. This way you can still advertise and get money from that, but also get money from the hosts. Your visitors will be much happier too without that huge ad.

I think they are alright. They might want to shorten the paragraphs.

They have to eat. It's free to you, not free for them (matt...). Stop whining. I know you will say the banners looked fine, but if they were not serving the purpose for advertisers (meaning the space was so small, you never looked at them or clicked at them) then new methods have to be implemented.

Whatever works for the business to keep it going has to be done!

haji:
Expressing and opinion, is hardly whinning.
Thank you the input though, but I'm sure most people are aware of that already.

Eladesor.

Yep! You can always tell the difference between an opinion and whining.

Please remove those ugly ads! My whole screen is ****ed up throw it!! This ads are bad for the image of WHT!

Originally posted by haji
I think they are alright. They might want to shorten the paragraphs.

They have to eat. It's free to you, not free for them (matt...).

But WHT is free for Matt, the server, connectivity, etc is provided already :D Nothing really wrong with displaying ads though ... but the size does really bother me (because they make me read the ads! :) )

cheers,
:beer:

The server may be free (then again in the end someone has to pay for it), but it does not run by itself. View it as a business and not a charity show!

That's the idea. That is how advertising works.
(because they make me read the ads! )

Regardless of which thread you read on WHT, you see countless enquiries about hosts. Has any one used…. Can someone recommend….. Any experiences, good or bad about…..
These are genuine enquiries from people who have taken the trouble to ask about a host or possible service, before taking the ‘plunge’ and then possibly getting ‘stung’.

What sort of an impression do users get, when having asked a question, before parting with their hard earned cash, got a couple of replies, then in comes turkey legs (sorry Chicken, couldn’t resist) who edit the posts (for what ever reason). But guess what; sitting above all the time was a 5 line advert advocating the wonders of very same company the writer was asking about.

The mod may have acted according to the forums rules; users might have given genuine replies, advising the writer to ‘steer well clear’ – but it doesn’t look very professional, does it? What happened to being impartial?

Eladesor.

Well I don't mind them. I've gotten so use to the bombardment of ads from popups to thoses crazy boxes on cnet and zdnet.

All I ask is that the ads be removed from the indiviual threads. I don't mind on the startpage and in the seperate forum areas. Just would be nice to keep ads out of the actual threads.

Eladesor,

I always like to hear from people who complain as to what exactly is the solution to their problem. What is your solution? If it is good, they might even implement it.

haji:

QUOTE]Yep! You can always tell the difference between an opinion and whining.[/QUOTE]

Thought you knew the difference?

To answer your question, I would have thought the answer pretty clear - just read my threads again if you need clarification.

Eladesor.

I like the new ads - a lot better than some flashing banner :)

Well... my opinion (no one asked for it, but I have too much time on my hands so you get it!)...

I like the new ads in a way, however I don't like them being everywhere. You don't need the ads on every single post. The main category listing, fine, the forums, fine, but the actual posts too? There's a reason I don't subscribe to any magazines, there's about 2 articles in them and the rest is adverts anymore. True, you have to pay for those and this is free, but still, too much is too much. I'm one of those saps still on 800x600 and it takes up about 80% of the screen with the header images plus the adverts.

Hey Lonny,

Your biased, banned and exempt from answering in this thread :D

Ha .... got u going there, didn't I ;)

Cheers Lonny.


JustinK:

Good points. I'd agree - take them off the threads.

Eladesor.

Is WHT also running a bit slow lately? I loaded up the page and saw all this text and was wondering where the forums went! They loaded up after a few seconds, but left me wondering for a moment!

I think these ads may work, when used properly. There's just too much text up there making it obtrusive and distracting. Stick with the facts, minus all the marketing hype and spare those that aren't clueless newbies.

Originally posted by Eladesor
What sort of an impression do users get, when having asked a question, before parting with their hard earned cash, got a couple of replies, then in comes turkey legs (sorry Chicken, couldn’t resist) who edit the posts (for what ever reason). But guess what; sitting above all the time was a 5 line advert advocating the wonders of very same company the writer was asking about.

The mod may have acted according to the forums rules; users might have given genuine replies, advising the writer to ‘steer well clear’ – but it doesn’t look very professional, does it? What happened to being impartial?

Eladesor.

Turkey Legs here, heh :D

I don't see how it has anything to do with being impartial, members might ask questions about any host, including one of our advertisers. I should hope they get honest answers back, but that depends on the members of course.

Be assured that we hold our advertisers to the same rules that all members must follow. No special perks. No ads allowed within threads, except in the Advertising Forums, etc. Any edits you see are due to a member who has decided that these opportunities aren't enough, and they've decided (or at least attempted to) promote themselves within the main forums.

It isn't that companies cannot discuss their products or services, make clarifications, etc, it is that they are not allowed to introduce anything about their products or services into threads.

I'll admit that I'm not certain exactly what you meant so I may be clucking up the wrong chicken wire fence (as they say). If I can answer any questions, I'll be glad to, or if you have any suggestions, please do list them.

Originally posted by Chicken


Be assured that we hold our advertisers to the same rules that all members must follow. No special perks. No ads allowed within threads, except in the Advertising Forums, etc.

::points up:: Ummm what's that advertisement doing in the thread then? :)

Chicken,

No assurances required, I appreciate that the rules are applied to one and all. The impartiality doesn't stem from that.
I'm not the best at explaining things but, here goes...
I suspect that if you did a survey of all the members on WHT very few would have actually read all of the rules. I think they're something that tends to get overlooked until your not sure about something (so you a have a look) or they are pointed out to you (again, so you have a look for clarification). Hence it tends to follow that when someone new arrives, they just 'dive' straight in.
Let's suppose that they 'dive' straight into a thread started by someone telling everyone how 'the host from hell' (apols if there is one :) ) just ripped them off. It might be true - it might just be a grudge, it doesn't really matter. Then in steps a MOD and edits a post.
All the time a 5 or 6 letter ad is singing away the virtues of 'Sell your soul to the host from hell'. I know that WHT doesn't endorse them, you know it and the majority of regular members will - but the newbie might see it as an endorsement.

Probably not a good explanation - I am 'clucking' at straws here?

JustinK - You beat me to it...

Eladesor.

The new ads suck! Blahhhhhhhhhhh :angry:

Originally posted by JustinK


::points up:: Ummm what's that advertisement doing in the thread then? :)

If you mean at the top, that wasn't what I meant. I meant within the thread (the posts) themselves.

As you probably know, I have nothing to do with the ads, and although I do moderate here, I also participate just as other members do, have to abide by the same rules, etc. The one ad at the top honestly doesn't bother me, but that me. I personally don't like the sites where every square inch of the page is filled with blinking button ads (the sides, the bottom, etc.) and there are ads in the middle of the pages, text ads which look like content but are really affiliate links, etc. I mean, this is still refreshing to me compared to many sites. Now I understand that you might not feel the same way, so I'm just giving my opinion, not criticising any of yours.

There aren't ads when you reply to a post :D (silver lining?)

Originally posted by Eladesor
. . . . Let's suppose that they 'dive' straight into a thread started by someone telling everyone how 'the host from hell' (apols if there is one :) ) just ripped them off. It might be true - it might just be a grudge, it doesn't really matter. Then in steps a MOD and edits a post. . . . .I find that most "<<< Mod Edit >>>" within posts are due to self promotion type posts. :rolleyes:

Originally posted by Eladesor
Let's suppose that they 'dive' straight into a thread started by someone telling everyone how 'the host from hell' (apols if there is one :) ) just ripped them off. It might be true - it might just be a grudge, it doesn't really matter. Then in steps a MOD and edits a post.
All the time a 5 or 6 letter ad is singing away the virtues of 'Sell your soul to the host from hell'. I know that WHT doesn't endorse them, you know it and the majority of regular members will - but the newbie might see it as an endorsement.

I get you now. About editing... I really try not to edit people's opinions as much as possible, but somewhere there is a line (it is about as grey as a line can be grey), where the person's opinions becomes more of a vicious attack on the host being dicussed. I determine this on the fly, as you can guess, but in general some factors are considered:

1) Is/was the person a client, or are they just commenting?
2) Did they search for the host and dig up multiple 'dead' threads?
3) Are they being unreasonable or intending to start a flame war.

Etc., and you can tell there isn't an exact science to it.

People don't like their comments edited. When it happens, we get email from them. We also get emails from hosts who feel they are being targeted by members, as well as reports by other members who feel that something isn't right. This is really just a big pain (in the sense that we have to decide what to do about the whole mess and email various people up and back, sometimes trying to help them resolve their problems a bit more constructively), but one we try to deal with in the most reasonable and fair way we can, without getting directly involved or being put in the middle. This is sometimes impossible, but that is the aim, heh.

As far as the advertisers go, Matt held off taking too many at the start and has attempted to pick ones he feels will deliver. This hasn't been overly popular with some people (let's no go into that again now Dennis ;)), but the aim there was to attempt to attract some solid advertisers. This obviously isn't fool proof but if a host, any host, ever let you down, you are free to discuss it.

We get the most complaints from unsubstantiated posts either praising or warning against hosts. If anyone (host or member) raises concern about a post, we do the best we can to investigate the matter. Ultimately the goal is to help people and I'm willing to do what I can to resolve any issue or problem that anyone has, within my abilities.

There are probably 15 more posts posted since I started writing this way too long novel, heh... sorry, hope you skimmed it *whoops*

Writes too longingly yours,
Chicken

Ahhh ok. I thought you meant that, but then I also thought you could have meant the other thing but if you meant the first thing and the second thing then the actual thing that I .... am completely cross armed so I'll stop. Anyway... thank for clarifying. :) I still think the ads in/over the threads should be stopped and leave it to just the category and forum displays.

The advertising idea in itself is nice (I still don't read the ads, but a nice change for those that do)... just needs to be put up in less spots in my opinion.

In general I hate ads, if it comes through the door it barely touches the floor before it hits the bin, if it arrives in email it goes to deleted almost before it marks itself as read when highlighted (set to 5s), if its a phone call I have to use all my composure not to go ballistic (Excuse me, were doing market research for...:angry: )!

I most of all detest pop whatevers and full screen exploders.

However, the ads here are tastefully done (which is a rare thing on the internet) and while I dont like ads as it may be obvious by now I also realise that nothing is free, and regardless of the cost of this server etc, there is the time cost to these guys, etc.

I guess what I'm trying to say is I really hate ads but the way they are here can be put up with by me at least.

(How about an avertising forum where after x amount of posts you go on a scaled rate to stay in while still retaining the amount of posts restricted per week? That way newbies/startups get a chance and established players with the money to flood cant overpower the system).

Anyways, thats all I had to say here.

I don't mind them.....

They have to make money some way...

Originally posted by Eladesor
The new ads on the top on the forum make WHT look cheap and nasty.

No........, before I'm flamed to a crisp, it's not jealousy.
Ads are a necessity - one which we all have to live with, but putting them on WHT lowers the tone, credibility, and in my opinion goes against the main reasons I visit - impartialality and fairness to everyone.

This board must be one of the most popular on the net, frequented by probably the largest proportion of web hosts, out there.
I sincerely feel sorry all the new start-ups who visit WHT hoping to gain new custom, share ideas and generally hang-out, now they have another obstacle to overcome :(

Sorry Matt, think you just offered all those forums out there struggling for half of WHT's membership a new 'leg-up'.

Ah, well .... hit me with your rhythm sticks everyone....

Eladesor.

Maybe you would like to host webhostingtalk.com?

The site gets many hits a day and that costs $$$.

Thanks for the constructive advice – such an original idea to!

Eladesor.

Originally posted by Palm


Maybe you would like to host webhostingtalk.com?

The site gets many hits a day and that costs $$$.

I think we have already determined that the site is hosted for free by www.voxel.net (http://www.voxel.net/)

Eladesor is right - ads are a necessity and we have to make up our mind...

I don't mind them. In fact I wish there were more. If I'm sometimes looking for a service I will go to Host Search and just scan the adds before anything else. I like either lots of ads or no ads. I don't like only a few being roatated. The same ones get anoying.

Originally posted by Sesran


I think we have already determined that the site is hosted for free by www.voxel.net (http://www.voxel.net/)

i thaught it was hosted by them for free too...

That makes like no sense what you just said.

The most annoying part is that you see the same 2-3 ads over and over and over and over . . . I don't have any soloution though! If this forum needs $$ and in time it will; beacause I don't think Voxel will provide any 'cluster soloution' when needed in the future, and if you look at the number of members, WHT is growing pretty fast and I can imagine the bandwidth is growing pretty fast!

That is what I'm saying. Seeing just the 3 ads is annoying. Either get more or get rid of them all together.

Clustering is what we do best :-)

Originally posted by Jonah
The most annoying part is that you see the same 2-3 ads over and over and over and over . . . I don't have any soloution though! If this forum needs $$ and in time it will; beacause I don't think Voxel will provide any 'cluster soloution' when needed in the future, and if you look at the number of members, WHT is growing pretty fast and I can imagine the bandwidth is growing pretty fast!

Originally posted by netsolutions
That makes like no sense what you just said.

I was refering to what Sesran said.

I personally like the new ad better, more text means less image download. And the text tells a lot more than the images.

I also think it is reasonable and necessary for Matt to put ads up. After all, unless someone is hosting webhostingtalk.com AND paying Matt at least the minimum wage, Matt has got to earn a living. The glory of operating a popular forum is satisfying, but that doesn't feed the stomarch.

As long as the ads are informative and quality are strictly controlled, I would like to see more of them.

by the way, any one knows the rate for the ads?

<<MOD NOTE: Please email Matt directly for ad rates and info>>

Peter