[DocJohn]

Hi folks,

When we were a part of Psych Central, we ran ads from our advertising partners there. We carried on those partners when we separated in 2020. By and large, the advertisements you see on the site help pay the monthly server bills and related costs to running our community.

A few weeks ago, these advertising partners sent me an email letting me know they are shutting down the program we're a part of and recommended a different firm to take over our advertising. I've been working with this new firm to implement their advertising on the site in the next week or two.

This is a transition period I wanted you to be aware of. We're going to be trying out some new stuff that our old partners didn't do. We're seeing what works and what doesn't. In the end, I want to maintain the community experience you've been accustomed to, which is minimal advertising when you're logged in (non logged-in users see more ads).

We just need the new partner to perform in a similar manner as our old partner. But during the transition, you may see some new ad formats or what-not you don't see today. Some layout issues with our templates may occur. Be assured that during this period, we'll be working on fixing the issues and ensuring your experience here remains largely the same. I'm extremely sensitive to "too many ads" on a site and will work to ensure that doesn't happen here.

I'll post to this thread when we're ready to roll out the new ad formats. And I'll post again when all of our efforts are complete. Feel free to drop any questions you may have in the thread, but I've shared pretty much all I know at this time.

Best,
DocJohn

[Nammu]

Did it change already? I’m having trouble with ads on the bottom and top of the screen plus random full screen ads that pop up and when I hit the x to get rid of them I’m taken to a screen that says I don’t have permission to be there and I have to navigate my way back to where I was. Very very irritating

[unaluna]

Im getting weird stuff too, and norton virus keeps beeping at me. I dont HAVE norton virus. This just started happening a couple of hours ago.

I just scanned my phone for viruses and it appears okay, so... but these weird ads and quizzes do not seem legit.

[Crazy Hitch]

I'm in Australia and ALL ads have completely disappeared. I'm not complaining.........

[Mountaindewed]

Lol I got some message that Cher had died even though she didn't.

[DocJohn]

We're testing only on the Spring template at the moment. If you don't want ads during the test period, please change to a different style for now. Once we're done testing, implementation will occur on all styles. Right now, for testing purposes, all members are seeing ads even when logged in. When we fully implement the new ads, logged-in members will see only one or two ads per page.

[Nammu]

I’m on the desert template. This is very frustrating and if it continues I may not.

[lizardlady]

Thanks for the heads up Doc John. FWIW, I'm using the psych central template and everything looks the same.

[Pflowers]

Ads have settled down considerably, so I reckon it's gwine be alright!

[Nammu]

Yes they have disappeared from the desert template. They were so annoying. Especially that full page pop up. Thank you for whatever you did.

[Discombobulated]

I wonder if a change of browser may help? I use DuckDuckGo sometimes especially with a local news site which is plagued with ads, it makes a huge difference.

[nonightowl]

Originally Posted by Discombobulated

I wonder if a change of browser may help? I use DuckDuckGo sometimes especially with a local news site which is plagued with ads, it makes a huge difference.

After all this time with this technology, I still get browsers and search engines mixed up. I've used DuckDuckGo's search engine a few years now and they are giving better results than in the beginning. I know they also have a browser and they tout privacy, saying Google spies on people. I don't know, I think everyone is spying on everyone now.

Some sites do say things like for a better experience, use Chrome, Firefox, or Safari. Notice Edge and isn't mentioned, lol.

Trying another browser might help, I guess. I never considered installing DuckDuckGo on my phone because Safari works just fine.

At the senior center, they have Firefox, Chrome, and Edge. For some reason, Chrome "remembers" my sites even when we try to clear cookies. They recommend I use Firefox, but I don't like how this site looks on there.

I don't know about ads, but they have gone away now...both on Safari on my phone and on Chrome at the library. I use Chrome out of habit, and I just don't think of other browers.

Technology what it is, I say it never hurts to try another browser. DuckDuckGo is turning out to be a decent search engine, but it's a stupid name and logo,

[lizardlady]

This is by no means a complaint, more of an FYI. I use the Psych Central theme. As of this morning there are no ads visible!

[rewin]

Dear @DocJohn

Is there an Update regarding the transition to the new advertisment partner?

[DocJohn]

Yes, the transition is complete.

For now, if you are a Premier Poohbah (a supporter of MSF), you will not see any advertising. We may introduce ads to this level of support in the future, but for now, we're going to see how it works without any ads for such members.

Non-logged-in people and all other members see ads.

[Blitter2014]

Originally Posted by Crazy Hitch

I'm in Australia and ALL ads have completely disappeared. I'm not complaining.........

Likewise in Australia and both Edge and Firefox display no Ads which is awesome. Give me another five years and I'll remember that the acronym is MSF.......

This site has been a central thread of support for so many lives DocJohn - thank you for everything you've done for us all over the years in maintaining this safe space

[nonightowl]

I’m suddenly seeing ads again after months of absolutely nothing!

This is Safari, on my iPhone. I don’t know about other browsers, here or on a computer. They appear right in the middle of a thread or at the bottom. I’m trying to ignore them by scrolling by…

FYI I stay signed in as it’s convenient.

———
Sent from my iPhone

[Blueberrybook]

I am seeing tons of annoying ads at the bottom of the screen blocking screen content, close one another pops up. It is very annoying! I am on Google chrome. I really find these ads super distracting and annoying.

[DocJohn]

We are doing a test of showing one bottom ad to folks…

[Blueberrybook]

Sorry to say but I find this very annoying and distracting...

[Nammu]

If it was just the bottom, it might be fine, but for me it is also the very top and one squeezed into an opening between the first and second post on every page. Very annoying.

[Blueberrybook]

I think they are slowing down my page loading as well

[Nammu]

The top ad and the one squeezed between the first and second postings have disappeared. Only have the one on the bottom. Still irritating since it has movement but is an improvement over three. Thanks

[unaluna]

And speeded things up back to normal!

[nonightowl]

Originally Posted by Blueberrybook

I think they are slowing down my page loading as well

Me too and I don’t have a fast or strong connection to begin with. Can’t afford it. I do notice sites with a lot of ads or images/videos are slower to load. More data to load. There’s a weather website I like that is like this.

Right now I just see ads on the bottom which is much less disruptive.

———
Sent from my iPhone