MPU

[The_Pope]

Hi Guys,

Following some reader comments I thought it would be best to create a dedicated thread. The topic? Our new MPU banner ad. MP-what, I hear you say? MPU is the advertising lingo speak for the rectangle or box banner ads that you might have seen on other websites and may have seen now on bit-tech.

We appreciate any negative feelings you might have towards them but please understand that they are only there as a necessity to cover the costs of updating bit-tech every day with some of the best tech content anywhere on the web, free of charge.

Regrettably, there will always be a minority who seek to freeload all internet content. To everyone else, to long-term readers and new-found friends alike, we ask that you please do not use ad-blocking software on bit-tech. Unlike many other websites, we do not clutter our pages with "sponsored keyword" type advertising in the text, nor do we employ pop-ups, pop-unders or many other intrusive forms of advertising. There is even a growing trend of masking Google Adsense and other text-based advertising to make it look like genuine content in an effort to trick you into clicking.

We don't pushing gambling, porn, viagra, Instant Messaging Smilies laced with spyware or any of that stuff. We work hard to make our advertising relevant and presented tastefully.

We ask that you support our endeavours. We are, of course, very open to feedback. You can leave your comments below or feel free to email us directly.

[ch424]

?? I can't see any change.. has anyone got a screenshot?

[DougEdey]

As I said in the AW9D max thread, it was just the ad on the content of the page, and I do use the current banners, its more the fact it was as close to the centre of the page as you could possibly get without being in the centre.

I'm just concerned that BiT may one day go the way of Hexus, and then I'd just move away as I can't read a page of content when there is 20 ads all flashing away at me.

The ads are very relevant, in fact the only ones I don't click on are generic ones for a website (like the Microdirect one) and ones which I have no use for (like the crucial one). The reasoning behind this is that, I know what Microdirect do, the ad tells me what Microdirect do, but there's nothing there which actually gives an example of what the do which is "better" then the competition. Like the Ebuyer ads normally give a product example. The crucial one is just because I can easily find what I want in terms of memory, and generally I find that Crucial memory is too expensive for what I want.

[The_Pope]

Great feedback DougEdey. You are totally right on the "branding" front and I personally agree with you, which is why I push our partners to use the ads for individual offers where possible.

I'm not going to comment on specific other sites. However, generally speaking, I think it is obvious when a website's design is such that the content is only there to support the advertising, rather than the content being the content and the advertising complimenting it in tasteful way.

We have had people accuse bit-tech of chopping our content up into many many pages "just to get more banner impressions" and "why can't you just do it all on one page?!?". I would have thought the answer to that is rather obvious:

a) The Table of Contents drop-down menu allows you to dive in at the pages which interest you

b) Who could reasonably handle Tim's 10,000-word reviews on a single page? Who's browser could handle loading 400 photos from a mod project on a single page?

We divide things at natural intervals to make the reading easier. That's it.

[DougEdey]

Originally Posted by The_Pope

We divide things at natural intervals to make the reading easier. That's it.

It also helps when I send some of the links to friends, same principle why newspapers make articles in columns, or limit normally to smaller spaces. People get bored on one page.

And the ol' four second rule of course.

[M4RTIN]

i am quite happy with the way the ads work, they are round the edges of the page so they dont get in the way of reading reviews or the forum. i have looked at quite a few aswell so they do work..

as long as the ads stay on topic with the site, ie no "hot thai girls want you call" and crap like that i cat see how anyone can moan

[specofdust]

Can someone post a screeny of these MPU ad thingies? 'Cos personally, I don't think I'm seein' 'em.

[ch424]

Do you mean like this? It looks fine to me.

[DougEdey]

No, the MPU new software detects how many times you've seen it, they go after 3 (i think) but it shows up the first time I looked at the Abit review.

[mikeuk2004]

I dont have a problem with the ads as they are very minimal.

Only time i have a problem is when viewing this site at work. As almost everything is switched off (IT Dept are paranoid) the ads apear to float across the screen over the text and im unable to read properly as they are not locked to the right. But thats my problem and not bits

Generaly I dont notice ads as I ignore them that often I just dont seem to see them or notice them anymore.

[ozstrike]

I still don't know what you're talking about.

[Glider]

Originally Posted by ozstrike

I still don't know what you're talking about.

^ ^

[Dizman]

I don't mind the ads, because they are relevant to the content, and they aren't too flashy. Hey, if it keeps the *expletive deleted* in-text ads out of here and you guys in black, I'm all for it. I like this site because it is a very pro job without looking and feeling like a giant corporation. And the ads are minimal.

[zhangmaster12]

the ads are fine, no intext. o think that bit-techs ad format is great, new vids cards, psus, and all other pizaz i like

[The_Pope]

Thanks guys - we really appreciate your support. You can imagine how dispiriting it is when certain minorities promote ad-blocking like it's something to be proud of. We feel our advertising is tasteful and "ethical" in terms of placement and content. Without it, like many other sites, bit-tech would close down. It's that simple.

I'm hoping our partners can bring you guys some top Christmas specials for you to put on your Wish Lists

[Almightyrastus]

The only thig about the ads I am not liking is that the majority of them are flash as as such move while you try and read the rest of the page. I am glad the ads are there and that they enable the site to be run as it is but I would much prefer to have stationary ones.

[Tyinsar]

I really appreciate the thought you guys put into the way ads are presented on your site. The clean look your site has - without the "sponsored keywords", or pop-ups, or ads in the middle of the page, or any of the other junk that makes a site harder to read - is part of why I come to Bit-Tech. The articles & forums are of course the main reason but there are other sites I've moved away from because of the junk they started flashing in my face.

A great game can be ruined by a poor interface or an average one can shine because of a great interface. An otherwise good car can get poor sales because of uncomfortable seats or a badly designed dashboard while a mechanically below average one can succeed because of style and comfort. Bit-Tech rocks because you guys have the right content, technical knowledge, writing skills ... and none of the junk that gets in the way of that - the interface is clean and the pages are nice to read.

My only suggestion is localizing the ads (like I have seen on other sites) that way visitors would get ads from their own county - as an example I see that you sometimes have an ad from misco.co.uk - I went to that site and at the bottom of that page are several national flags. When I click on my flag it takes me to http://www.tigerdirect.ca . There are also links for several other countries. Setting up the site so that I (a Canadian) would see an ad from tigerdiect.ca would not only help them but it would suddenly become a useful link for me.

[Tyinsar]

Originally Posted by Almightyrastus

The only thig about the ads I am not liking is that the majority of them are flash as as such move while you try and read the rest of the page. I am glad the ads are there and that they enable the site to be run as it is but I would much prefer to have stationary ones.

Seconded (Some flash ads & animated gifs can be quite distracting / annoying - though most of your ads are not bad)

Originally Posted by The_Pope

Thanks guys - we really appreciate your support. You can imagine how dispiriting it is when certain minorities promote ad-blocking like it's something to be proud of. We feel our advertising is tasteful and "ethical" in terms of placement and content. Without it, like many other sites, bit-tech would close down. It's that simple.

I'm hoping our partners can bring you guys some top Christmas specials for you to put on your Wish Lists

& we appreciate the content of the site. If the ads promote (without being distracting or annoying) stuff I want to buy and stores I can buy them from (see the suggestion in my post above) at good prices (like Christmas specials) then I'd be an idiot to block them.

[r4tch3t]

Originally Posted by DougEdey

No, the MPU new software detects how many times you've seen it, they go after 3 (i think) but it shows up the first time I looked at the Abit review.

Ah that must be why I can't seem to find one of them. I want to have a look at the new McDonalds one so I can comment on it.
But as others have said, I love bit because of its cleanliness and ease of use. I have moved away from every other site and am exclusive to bit now, with a very occasional visit to other sites.
Plus its a bonus that the ads are actually what would be best targeted at me. I have personally used them a few times.
Good on ya bit