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Topic: Banners |
CrystalZ
Level 7
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Member Since: 05/15/04
Forum Posts: 1513
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Banners
Posted on 01/30/05 at 06:13:28 GMT |
What is up with these banners? Are they even member banners? Or are they advertisements?
If they are member's ads then the members name should be under them like they are with the first few that we had. If they are ad's then the little headline "Member's Banner Ad" needs to be removed because that is very misleading.
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Lucky Duck Thrift
Nearly new cds, movies, books, and household goods. Make me an offer I can't refuse!
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Norbert
Administrator
Developer
Member Since: 08/09/03
Forum Posts: 223
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Re: Banners
Posted on 01/30/05 at 09:48:21 GMT |
What is up with these banners? Are they even member banners? Or are they advertisements?
If they are member's ads then the members name should be under them like they are with the first few that we had. If they are ad's then the little headline "Member's Banner Ad" needs to be removed because that is very misleading.
Good idea, I'll put the member's name in front of the tag line.
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Norbert
nlgw at sitelibrary dot net
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Norbert
Administrator
Developer
Member Since: 08/09/03
Forum Posts: 223
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Re: Banners
Posted on 01/30/05 at 15:17:14 GMT |
I wonder whether I should test "bridge pages":
These are pages on SL where the banner links to.
- On this page the SL member can set the stage why
he/she/they thinks it's good to have that banner.
+ It contains a link to the member's profile.
- It should contain title / description of the site.
- It should contain a link into our Web directory
where the site is or may be listed.
- It may contain some sort of feedback device
(Bookmark Parking Rating / Review / Mail etc.)
- It may contain links to similar sites or pages ("See also:")
- It may contain a screenshot of the site.
- It may iframe the homepage - if possible.
+ It has to contain a link "Open site in new Window".
Here a few more thoughts about the banners, not sure
where we agree or not:
- NO animated banners
- the banners are stored on the Site Library server (to avoid cloaking and tracking of OUR visitors)
- the banner links through redirect to count hits on SL
- banner size is 468 x 60 pixels, this has to be the size of the picture when displayed alone
- banner file format has to be .GIF or .JPG (what about .PNG?)
- banner file size should not exceed 15.000 bytes
- it should not contain crass colors that collide with the SL color system
- it is stored with a short text or the name of the site
- the information must not be misleading or otherwise objectionable
- links to adult sites are not allowed as SL tries to stay family safe.
?
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Norbert
nlgw at sitelibrary dot net
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CrystalZ
Level 7
Editor
Member Since: 05/15/04
Forum Posts: 1513
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Re: Banners
Posted on 01/31/05 at 07:19:39 GMT |
Here a few more thoughts about the banners, not sure
where we agree or not:
- NO animated banners
- the banners are stored on the Site Library server (to avoid cloaking and tracking of OUR visitors)
- the banner links through redirect to count hits on SL
- banner size is 468 x 60 pixels, this has to be the size of the picture when displayed alone
- banner file format has to be .GIF or .JPG (what about .PNG?)
- banner file size should not exceed 15.000 bytes
- it should not contain crass colors that collide with the SL color system
- it is stored with a short text or the name of the site
- the information must not be misleading or otherwise objectionable
- links to adult sites are not allowed as SL tries to stay family safe.
?
1. We already have the rule there are to be no animated banners.
2. By storing it on our servers it will lead to server overload afterawhile. But if this is the case then there needs to be a limit of one banner per member and no members having multiple names (EVERYONE INCLUDED).
3. I personally don't care where it gets routed through or if it is direct.
4. I agree on the size.
5. Format I don't know that much about so Jos would probably know more about that one.
6. I know very little about sizes so again Jos would know more about it.
7. Colours it's a good idea but most sites only have one banner used everywhere they have it. I have one banner of that pixel size. So this may be problem with members.
8. I agree with the text thing.
9. I agree.
10. I think that if a site can't be listed in SiteLibrary it shouldn't be able to have a banner here. Whether or not it's listed there it doesn't matter but if its all affilaites or porn links do we really want to subject our members to crap sites?
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Lucky Duck Thrift
Nearly new cds, movies, books, and household goods. Make me an offer I can't refuse!
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CrystalZ
Level 7
Editor
Member Since: 05/15/04
Forum Posts: 1513
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Re: Banners
Posted on 01/31/05 at 07:22:35 GMT |
I wonder whether I should test "bridge pages":
These are pages on SL where the banner links to.
- On this page the SL member can set the stage why
he/she/they thinks it's good to have that banner.
+ It contains a link to the member's profile.
- It should contain title / description of the site.
- It should contain a link into our Web directory
where the site is or may be listed.
- It may contain some sort of feedback device
(Bookmark Parking Rating / Review / Mail etc.)
- It may contain links to similar sites or pages ("See also:")
- It may contain a screenshot of the site.
- It may iframe the homepage - if possible.
+ It has to contain a link "Open site in new Window".
Bridge pages means when clicking the banner it would go to that page first before going to the site? Or just a separate page (perhaps by clicking the tag line)? If bridge page means the first I don't think this is too good as banners ads should go either through our counting system or directly to the site in my opinion. How many sites do you know that don't do this?
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Lucky Duck Thrift
Nearly new cds, movies, books, and household goods. Make me an offer I can't refuse!
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Norbert
Administrator
Developer
Member Since: 08/09/03
Forum Posts: 223
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Re: Banners
Posted on 01/31/05 at 08:57:25 GMT |
2. By storing it on our servers it will lead to server overload afterawhile. But if this is the case then there needs to be a limit of one banner per member and no members having multiple names (EVERYONE INCLUDED).
"Server overload" can mean here file size or traffic:
a) 100 banners at 10 000 bytes each is just 1 000 000 bytes;
b) traffic is independent on how many banners we store, but how many pages we serve. But traffic can be still a point.
My concern is that some site:
- goes down and gives a broken image in the page (happens all the time),
- changes the banner to something we do not like,
- uses cloaking, so you'll never see the dirty banner in US+Canada,
- tracks and targets some of our visitors, including bringing their PC down.
10. I think that if a site can't be listed in SiteLibrary it shouldn't be able to have a banner here. Whether or not it's listed there it doesn't matter but if its all affilaites or porn links do we really want to subject our members to crap sites?
To#10: I agree NOT to allow crap sites, no doubt, but would rather be a bit more flexible with the rule "can't be listed in SiteLibrary" if you mean "Web directory". I would also allow:
- Sites that are building up (if the banner says so: "please help build this xxx resource" - why not?)
- deep links that would not qualify as a Web site within the Directory (example would be a specific compaign like EFF's "Endangered Gizmos")
- why does a banner have to have a Web site behind?
To bridge pages:
[...] banners ads should go either through our counting system or directly to the site in my opinion. How many sites do you know that don't do this?
I know none that does it with ads. But these banners are not ads IMHO. And it is not really for all the banners either. I agree with your slogan: "Never be afraid to try something new. ..." 
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Norbert
nlgw at sitelibrary dot net
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CrystalZ
Level 7
Editor
Member Since: 05/15/04
Forum Posts: 1513
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Re: Banners
Posted on 01/31/05 at 09:56:17 GMT |
To 99% of web users banners are ads for whatever sites are there...in this case they are not paid ads but they are banner ads nonetheless but that's neither here nor there.
And in regards to the whole "not allowed in SL" thing, I just meant it should go along with the other guidelines such as no porn, content level, affiliates, weapons, etc, not the sub-page guideline however. If we allow the affiliate banners there will soon be 600 members all not active all sporting affiliate banners, ok maybe we will have 2 real ones.
I don't mind the banner link going to the deeper page with those different things you mentioned.
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Lucky Duck Thrift
Nearly new cds, movies, books, and household goods. Make me an offer I can't refuse!
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Norbert
Administrator
Developer
Member Since: 08/09/03
Forum Posts: 223
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Bridged Banners
Posted on 02/01/05 at 22:02:00 GMT |
Earlier in this thread, Crystal, you wrote: "[...] banners ads should go either through our counting system or directly to the site in my opinion. How many sites do you know that don't do this?" and I conceded: "I know none that does it with ads. ..."
If I see these banners not as ads, but as something endorsed by us I see two examples of what I have in mind with my bridge pages (well, I'll try to improve on these examples, of course): JoeAnt and Alexa
?
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Norbert
nlgw at sitelibrary dot net
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CrystalZ
Level 7
Editor
Member Since: 05/15/04
Forum Posts: 1513
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Re: Banners
Posted on 02/02/05 at 02:18:06 GMT |
I have a problem with the term endorsed. Endorsed means support given to whatever group etc...and that we agree with whatever the site is about. Maybe I don't agree with EFF or maybe Jos hates Canada lol. Just examples but you get my point. Also, by using the term "endorsed" we are taking legal responsibility for whatever content is held on those outside sites. So if they one day switch to "How to Build a Bomb" or "How to Hijack a plane" etc someone (or some government agency) could sue/charge us for that. Every site can offend someone in this world...someone may not like the color green, someone may not like chickens, etc etc etc.
Perhaps just have the bridge page and leave the endorsed etc term out? I do like that idea actually, it will be interesting to see what you come up with.
Will there be an unlimited number of banners a member can have in rotation? Or will there be a limit? And if there is a limit is there going to be a way to enforce it? As in perhaps limiting memberships to one per person and not 9 or 10 per person or perhaps after a said period of inactivity (no posts in the forums or anywhere; not just log in log out) the membership is revoked.
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Lucky Duck Thrift
Nearly new cds, movies, books, and household goods. Make me an offer I can't refuse!
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Norbert
Administrator
Developer
Member Since: 08/09/03
Forum Posts: 223
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Re: Banners
Posted on 02/02/05 at 15:28:39 GMT |
Quick Note: I used the word "endorsed" in the sense as we "endorse" a site that is listed in our directory. Probably my lack of precise English knowledge led me astray. Just as we will delete a site from the directory when it changes content, say, or starts to supports illegal activity we should remove that banner then.
- My idea is to remove it sooner from the banners. Thus, while a site still may be listed in the directory, the banner should go if (maybe) a number of members has *serious* concerns. I hope that we see it soon enough if a site comes near dangerous waters.
- So, yes, the verb "endorsed" is not the right here, we'll find a less binding term, maybe "recommend".
Limits: I have no idea, neither how that could or should be done. If we have more banners than now maybe a voting system can help (technically we have a number of such systems on the site). Or we could try some sort of point system like JoeAnt and Zeal. Or virtual money like blogshares. Currently I propose to follow Jos' words: "the more the merrier".
Technically, now - I think - every one of the banners has an equal chance that it is displayed. One can boost the frequency of one banner by entering the record more often than once, but this is a very crude method. Better would be to have more than one banner for - say - your Canada site.
Do you want that we make one or two more banners for 99% Canada?
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Norbert
nlgw at sitelibrary dot net
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CrystalZ
Level 7
Editor
Member Since: 05/15/04
Forum Posts: 1513
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Re: Banners
Posted on 02/03/05 at 05:40:02 GMT |
No I'm not interested in having 6 banners for my site. I get little traffic from this site, if any, so I'm not worried about it.
It's just I don't think it's fair that one site can have hundreds of banners for it is all.
But whatever not a huge deal.
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Lucky Duck Thrift
Nearly new cds, movies, books, and household goods. Make me an offer I can't refuse!
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