3 ms·

I used to be on the fence, but I think things have changed for me within the last year. I don't think there's anything wrong with ads starting on launch day. I

by rscott 17y ago

I used to be on the fence, but I think things have changed for me within the last year. I don't think there's anything wrong with ads starting on launch day. I think it's easier for users to accept it when they first come to the site, rather than a few months down the line when they appear out of no where. It's just less jarring. Note: I have no data to back this up, it's just my feeling.

patio11 17y ago
Given that the people who are pathologically allergic to ads (if you think I am talking about you, dear reader, I am) disproportionately are early adopters and control the blogs et al which you'll want to get links from, I would say leave it off for the first while (to get the maximum love from the linkerati) and then integrate them later. As for not jarring people when you introduce them later: 99.999% of your visitors will not arrive on launch day, or in any short window from the opening of your service. From the perspective of the guy who signs up on your SNS twelve weeks from now after reading about it on Bob's SNS Addict Blog, the site had ads from launch day. But if you actually put ads on it on Launch Day, you might not get that link from Bob in the first place. P.S. On the other hand, if you charge money, charge money from day one. Even if you're not actually charging anyone because you mailed Bob a free invite code because you dig his blog especially that series on MySpace monetization and thought your new site would interest him. Free stuff = meh, the Internet is full of it. I am getting for free what other people are paying money for = proves my status as an expert on this field (validating my self-worth) and makes me like you enough to want to write a review in which I will (strike)brag(/strike) disclose that you thought I was an expert worthy of a freebie. Edited to add: SNS means "social networking service". Apparently its a Japan thing. Sorry!
- patio11 17y ago
  (Quick question: is SNS actually English? I'm having one of those "Have I been in Japan too long?" moments -- had another one the other day when I couldn't tell someone how Americans pronounce SaaS because I have never heard one say it.)
  - garply 17y ago
    I don't think it is.
    - lucumo 17y ago
      But it should be...
mlok 17y ago
Maybe there is a way to get the best of both worlds : Not having ads on day one AND getting users ready to expect them. Why not reserve some space for ads here and there from day one, but fill them with ad-looking text (à la google ads) about this or that feature of your own app? Then, a month later, replace those ads with real ones.
- vollmond 17y ago
  The content for these placeholder ads would need to be very carefully chosen to avoid misleading users when you switch over to actual ads (so they don't still think that's data about your service)
  - mlok 17y ago
    I agree, I don't think we should mislead or trap users, but rather accustom them to boxes of information which are there for curiosity, "related" stuff (graphically different : smaller grayish text?), or at least some kind of placeholder (a grey box will do). Those should definitely not be involved in any workflow of the service. My point is just to soften the transition, by preparing some ads areas so that they don't appear one day, stealing space from the app.

by rscott 17y ago

patio11 17y ago

Given that the people who are pathologically allergic to ads (if you think I am talking about you, dear reader, I am) disproportionately are early adopters and control the blogs et al which you'll want to get links from, I would say leave it off for the first while (to get the maximum love from the linkerati) and then integrate them later. As for not jarring people when you introduce them later: 99.999% of your visitors will not arrive on launch day, or in any short window from the opening of your service. From the perspective of the guy who signs up on your SNS twelve weeks from now after reading about it on Bob's SNS Addict Blog, the site had ads from launch day. But if you actually put ads on it on Launch Day, you might not get that link from Bob in the first place. P.S. On the other hand, if you charge money, charge money from day one. Even if you're not actually charging anyone because you mailed Bob a free invite code because you dig his blog especially that series on MySpace monetization and thought your new site would interest him. Free stuff = meh, the Internet is full of it. I am getting for free what other people are paying money for = proves my status as an expert on this field (validating my self-worth) and makes me like you enough to want to write a review in which I will (strike)brag(/strike) disclose that you thought I was an expert worthy of a freebie. Edited to add: SNS means "social networking service". Apparently its a Japan thing. Sorry!

patio11 17y ago
(Quick question: is SNS actually English? I'm having one of those "Have I been in Japan too long?" moments -- had another one the other day when I couldn't tell someone how Americans pronounce SaaS because I have never heard one say it.)
- garply 17y ago
  I don't think it is.
  - lucumo 17y ago
    But it should be...

mlok 17y ago

Maybe there is a way to get the best of both worlds : Not having ads on day one AND getting users ready to expect them. Why not reserve some space for ads here and there from day one, but fill them with ad-looking text (à la google ads) about this or that feature of your own app? Then, a month later, replace those ads with real ones.

vollmond 17y ago
The content for these placeholder ads would need to be very carefully chosen to avoid misleading users when you switch over to actual ads (so they don't still think that's data about your service)
- mlok 17y ago
  I agree, I don't think we should mislead or trap users, but rather accustom them to boxes of information which are there for curiosity, "related" stuff (graphically different : smaller grayish text?), or at least some kind of placeholder (a grey box will do). Those should definitely not be involved in any workflow of the service. My point is just to soften the transition, by preparing some ads areas so that they don't appear one day, stealing space from the app.