Comments on: Experimenting With a New Text Link Advertising Vendor http://www.fatpurple.com/2010/06/22/experimenting-with-a-new-text-link-adverting-vendor/ Web Design, Information Architecture, Usability, Marketing, Software Tue, 27 Dec 2011 20:52:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Glen http://www.fatpurple.com/2010/06/22/experimenting-with-a-new-text-link-adverting-vendor/comment-page-1/#comment-474 Glen Wed, 23 Jun 2010 23:36:18 +0000 http://www.fatpurple.com/?p=290#comment-474 Sophie - sorry to see you go, but thanks for the comment. I'd like to clarify a bit further. I'm not advocating the use of inline links - popularized by companies like Kontera - that place sponsored links within the context of your content. I find that even when these links are visually distinguished from standard links, generally by using a different color and double underlines, they detract from usability and site quality. So yes I agree with you. However, using sponsored text links in a designated "sponsored links" area of your site is a different story. I plan on placing them in a clearly labeled section in the right column of this site. This is really no different than the use of Google Adsense/Adwords. Yes you can argue that Adsense detracts from the overall quality of a website, but some sites are created with the purpose of generating ad revenue. It's one of the goals of this site. And Adsense isn't going away anytime soon. It is possible to balance a variety of advertising techniques - including text links - and still maintain quality content and design. Glen Sophie – sorry to see you go, but thanks for the comment. I’d like to clarify a bit further. I’m not advocating the use of inline links – popularized by companies like Kontera – that place sponsored links within the context of your content. I find that even when these links are visually distinguished from standard links, generally by using a different color and double underlines, they detract from usability and site quality. So yes I agree with you.

However, using sponsored text links in a designated “sponsored links” area of your site is a different story. I plan on placing them in a clearly labeled section in the right column of this site. This is really no different than the use of Google Adsense/Adwords. Yes you can argue that Adsense detracts from the overall quality of a website, but some sites are created with the purpose of generating ad revenue. It’s one of the goals of this site. And Adsense isn’t going away anytime soon.

It is possible to balance a variety of advertising techniques – including text links – and still maintain quality content and design.

Glen

]]> By: Sophie http://www.fatpurple.com/2010/06/22/experimenting-with-a-new-text-link-adverting-vendor/comment-page-1/#comment-473 Sophie Wed, 23 Jun 2010 08:31:06 +0000 http://www.fatpurple.com/?p=290#comment-473 Text links have a higher click through rate because users think they are being passed to useful and informative content, not being sold something. This is a really sneaky and dishonest way to get people to click through to sales sites. People have learnt to ignore banner ads because they want content, so don't trick them into clicking on an ad disguised as a link. Text link ads may 'help pass on credibility and search engine ranking juice' but they will destroy the credability of the site that uses them. Even if you're just using this service to get people to your blog site, you shouldn't encourage these businesses which erode the usability of the internet. I'm really shocked you think this is a good idea and I'm unsubscribing from your blog. Text links have a higher click through rate because users think they are being passed to useful and informative content, not being sold something. This is a really sneaky and dishonest way to get people to click through to sales sites. People have learnt to ignore banner ads because they want content, so don’t trick them into clicking on an ad disguised as a link. Text link ads may ‘help pass on credibility and search engine ranking juice’ but they will destroy the credability of the site that uses them.

Even if you’re just using this service to get people to your blog site, you shouldn’t encourage these businesses which erode the usability of the internet.

I’m really shocked you think this is a good idea and I’m unsubscribing from your blog.

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