December 19, 2007
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MOVING THE AD ON XANGA SITES
We’re trying a 72 hour trial of moving the ads that appear on free Xanga sites
We’ve gotten loads of complaints over the years about the ads at the top of Classic (free) pages, since they push down the content on a page. On top of that, they don’t make us much money – especially since a ton of classic users hide those ads using JavaScript
. We really need those ads to show somewhere on the page. We tried moving the ads to the bottom of the page, but nobody clicked on them there. That really only left the body of the page… but we’ve been *very* wary of mixing Xanga Ads with Your Content.
But recently we made some mockups of sidebar ads, and even tried a test run of the new ads yesterday. We were surprised to find that most users don’t seem to mind. That said, we’ve heard some strong reactions as well (including from people who are hiding the ads currently*) and wanted to ask for your feedback.
What do you think of the ads on the side of the page – is it OK?
For those people who dislike the side ads… would you prefer to choose an option for where the ad appears (say, Top, Side, or Middle)? Or would you just hide the ad no matter what, out of principle?
* To users who are hiding the ad, we’ve noticed many of you are using one-column layouts. So we’ve made some tweaks so that one-column layout don’t show ads, for now. Hopefully you can use the time to adjust your layout to be more ad-friendly…
Comments (347)
Hmm… None of the ads bother me… Its the people who don’t pay for their blogs that bother me… :-s I may be too harsh.
Anyway.. what ever you do is fine and dandy I hope it works for you and your get clicks galore!
I will always be a supported of Xanga.
The ads do not bother me at all, I see ads on other websites and it does not bothered me
Keep up the good work you been doing
I also just get on with it and accept why some websites have to have ads on.
Doesn’t seem like a problem, side works fine. You supply a free blogging site, least we can do is help generate what little revenue you need to sustain it.
Personally, I would choose not to see the ads EVER. But I cannot stand website ads. That said, it wasn’t anything I noticed right away on anyone’s page. But I do think Premium users should not have to deal with them in any capacity.
I have read the same stuff all day. I personally don’t undertand what the issue is. I think most people will be over it in a few days.
I completely understand the need for advertising, especially if you’re offering a free service. If they don’t want ads on their sites, users should just get Premium. However, the side ads seem to be overly large compared to the scale of other content being pushed down (like “Who gave the eProps?”).
i don’t mind the ads at all, and i totally understand why you need them there. i say put it on a spot that is most clickable. i doubt people will stop using xanga because they don’t like the placement of their ads!
jen from bunchedup.tv
it will be so great if we can move the ads somewhere else..!!
thanks!!
I personally don’t like the ads, but that’s why I pay premium.
The ads don’t bother me, I don’t even notice them most of the time, I know you guys need to make money. Put them where you think they will do the most good ^_^.
Doesn’t matter to me where you put it. I thought hiding the ads was a big no no?
Personally, I think it depends on the user’s layout. Why don’t you just give users the option to choose whichever ad position they like better? It could be another attraction to Xanga—more freedom! But if I had to pick one, I’d say the sidebar ads are a much better choice. It would, however, be even better if users could choose the background color of the ad so it can compliment the layout.
Options please.
I never minded the ads on the top of my page, never used code to hide them, but the sidebar ad is seriously annoying. I would say give users an option to put it on top, middle or side.
People need to understand that services like Xanga aren’t cheap. Someone needs to pay for the bandwidth, the salaries for the Xanga employees, etc. So it’s either ad money, or people need to cough up for a premium account.
I like it at the top much better. I’d rather not have my information compete with a flashing picture of some scantily clad model telling me to re-finance my home.
I only recently let my premium expire (I’ll be renewing after Christmas) and I have had no issue with the ads these last few months. However, on my end, the new side bar ads are terrible. I am on dial up and my computer is a little older. While my xanga page normally loads in about 30 seconds or so, this morning I was waiting upwards of 10 minutes for each page with the sidebar content, lagging noticably as it tried to load the google syndication ads. Not just my page, but any other non-premium site. Eventually I just gave up. Though Santa is bringing us a new computer for Christmas (shhh! it’s a surprise!) I know I am not the only one with older equipment and dial up. The ads don’t do anybody any good if you cannot even load the page. Sorry. Two thumbs down on this change.
Hmm, to be honest yesterday when I saw the side-bar ad I said, “What?!” outloud. Now that I think about it though, it really shouldn’t matter that I have an ad there. The only reason it bothered me a little is because I add a last.fm module there that is now being pushed down by the ad. And truthfully I didn’t care when the ad was on top of my xanga page at all. If anything, I thought that was much better, having it up there.
So whatever works! I know you need to supply what people demand, so the top/middle/side option sounds like a good idea.
I prefer it on top :X
It’s nice to be a premium member – no ads.
(but when i was a free member, I would’ve preferred the ad at the side or top)
I like the ads on the side of the page. BUT, I also like my layout (sorry xanga!). And, I personally don’t click adds just because… well, I don’t. But I think I like how they look best on the side of the page.
I’m going to be strictly honest with you – I’ve been a Xanga user for a long time now (over five years) and I stopped paying for Premium because the image hosting you offer here is frankly appalling – it screwed up photos like nothing else I’ve ever seen. And today I noticed Google ads in my blogs and frankly? Not impressed. I’ve been blogging here less and less because it’s lost that community feel and is full of idiot children who can’t type in complete sentences (much less use punctuation, grammar or a spell check) and this is one of the things that’ll push me out completely. It makes it look like one of those crappy old Geo sites. I’ll be on Facebook with the option of *not* adding dumbass stuff like minis to my blog, thanks.
I like it better on the side. Pete
i was completely unaware that people were hiding the ads.
the way it is set up now (this 72 hour trial) is ruining the overall look of the themes.
the point of themes is to be able to have more control over modules and
the complete “look and feel” of the xanga. however, i do realize that
advertising is necessary and important. therefore, as awful as this
sounds, i feel that xanga should go the way of myspace in this respect
alone: make hiding the advertising on the non-premium sites against the
terms of service. that way, you can keep the advertising on top,
without ruining the users’ themes. the rule wouldn’t be harsh, but
xangans have to realize that advertising is necessary to keep the
option of a free xanga. i’m just worried that xanga may lose a lot of
users this way, which, regardless of the fact that they may be “free”
users, would still hurt revenues.
however, an option to put the ad where you like (as a required module for free users) is a great idea.
prefer to choose an option for where the ad appears (say, Top, Side, or Middle)
I actually don’t care, but a little notice would have been nice. I was wondering if I had some weird sort of virus or something since some people said they couldn’t see it.
I definately like it better on the side.
they need to be back up top. they are HORRIBLE on the sides and ruin themes and layouts.
I see ads only in the comments page. I think that’s fine.
It caught me a liitle by surprise when it was on the side but I really don’t care where it is.
pleeeeease get rid of them. they were better on top. obviously, we all would prefer them not being there at all, but fine- the top it is i guess. the side ones are so frustrating, lol.
The side ads wreck up some lyt styles,
so I`d rather it be on the top;
or give us the option to choose =]
it really doesnt matter to me where it is but I would like it on side-bottom and not side top it get me a little confuss when I have music I need to stroll down and to see my pulse (Mini blog) to scroll down
that would be my only problem with it
now the sidebar ads move all the friends & photos down on my layout… i’d rather have it on top if this is how it’s going to look to tell u the truth.
I’d like the option to choose where to have the ad. I’d also rather you didn’t provide an option (ie bottom of the page) where it gets no clicks. No point in having the ad if it doesn’t get you revenue, and I don’t want to accidentely choose the wrong location.
booo. no ads. no ads.
boooooo.
if you HAVE to, top of the page was MUCH, MUCH better.
the “option” idea sounds GREAT.
i like the options-idea..
i think you should put them on the top and the side if it would help xanga- or perhaps make it part of the themes- users can select the layout as long as there is an ad?
I personally don’t want to see adds on the pages, but I understand that they’re needed. I never hide the ads anyway, unless the layout I’m using needs a webstat code so I copy the whole thing & the ad remover is there. I prefer them on the bottom because they’re not noticable. If you want them seen, the top I think was fine. PLEASE don’t have it on the side though! D:
Another reason why the ad should be on the top (or bottom) is because its more like the old Xanga. I’ve been on since ’04 and I really liked the old Xanga. Now you’re just trying to compete with Myspace, Facebook, or any other sites and I’m not a big fan of it really. I think the way Xanga used to be was good, before the mini feeds, nudges, that new profile, or what ever else yall have added. I’m starting to stray away from Xanga because of it, but I keep coming back because I love/need to blog and Xanga was my first so I keep coming back here.
I know i’m just one person & you can’t satisfy everyone, but I hope you do keep this in the very (very very veryyy, if neccassary) back of your mind!
Sorry this is a blank xanga, but I don’t want to use a different one.
I spent time looking at the ad layout in my free site. Anyone with any sense knows Xanga must make money to survive so I have no quarrel with ads on my page and never have. Putting them on the left seems a good place for them, as good as any and better than most.
Maybe mix a few things of interest among the ads, changing them here and there. If there are new and different fun things in the mix the ad area may be more appealing to study on the page.
Something you might consider, a xanga poll attempting to discover the internet sites xangans love to purchase from. Xanga could then negotiate with those sites using them in the ad spaces. If you go with places people prefer to buy from in the first place it would be beneficial to everyone, Xanga, the purchase site and the Xangan.
Best regards and Merry Christmas,
Becca
it would be nice to have no ads at all.
xD
anyways.
good luck with getting what you need to get done :”]
Why are you giving an option to make the layouts ‘ad friendly’ which I assume means taking the scripts that are being used against the TOS off and allowing the ads to remain? If people are abusing the TOS by hiding the ads, they should either get a warning and then the site shut down, or just shut it down without any notice, because they already know hiding the ads is against the TOS.
As for the rest, I’m all for allowing some choices, so even though I pay for my site, I’d vote for a choice of where the ads are placed if I was using Xanga for free.
The ads are ridiculous. I don’t really intend on giving you any input on how to correct this as I have none. Still, you asked for feedback, so this is it. The ads look dreadful on the sidebar.
Hey, you know I think it’s an improvement…. and shoot, ads are how free websites stay solvent. I love how asshats complain about shit like that.
One comment I do have though is that it makes the ad look like part of someone’s profile. Kind of makes the ad seem like the user’s ad, not xanga’s ad. I think it’s optimal placing (because putting it on the other side would just be ugly) but maybe there’s a slightly more obtrusive way of having the ad out there?
The sidebar is fine or you could also have the option of putting ads in between the entires instead of on top.
I noticed the ads on the side recently. One thing I did notice is that the ads don’t seem to look the same as the ones that were across the top. The ones at the top always seemed to have pictures of whatever they were advertising and these side ads seem to be mostly google links. Or at least that’s what I picked up on whenever I saw them. I guess I would prefer the google type ad to the big picture ad, but really an ad is an ad so makes no never mind to me.
I prefer the option to have a choice. Personally, I liked them at the top. At least they were not intrusive (how they are now). They way it’s displayed right beneath our profile info makes it seem as if we’re endorsing the contents of the ad, not Xanga. For instance, I use my Xanga as a photoblog and short story outlet. When I noticed the the fairly jpg of the bikini model from divavillage.com sharing space right next to all my content, I was very disappointed.
I don’t much care for the ad on the side… Yes, it’s a bit annoying to have it right on top of everything, but then it’s something you can look past. The entire rest of your page is intact below it. Putting the ad in the sidebar is a bit distracting and pushes other, more important, things even farther down the page. I say either return it to the top or give us a choice.
I don’t have an ad…I paid for premium…if they don’t want ads they should go premium too…
I hate, hate, hate the ads in the sidebar. It makes it look like *I* put them there. Please put them back on the top.
eh, i still prefer the ads on top, i really don’t mind them there. i have adblock anyway… but it doesnt get rid of the space. and i don’t care.
Before I moved to premium I thought the ads looked good at the top. – it really stood out.
I think it sometimes up to where the site provider places the ads as well for social sites - there want to make money to provide the best service possible for it users and where the ads will get the most noticed.
Keep up the great work Xanga
Remember this is your show, you do put them ads where ever you want.
the ads are your revenue. If people find scripts that block/remove the ads delete their sites, they’re free anyway.
You cannot be too nice in this world.
Nice guys wake up with grease around their rim and a quarter in their hand.
ads on top please. thanks
I don’t like ads at all, but I was just reading an article about how most internet users are very good at completely ignorning them. If you have the time, try a few options, otherwise, don’t bother. It won’t make a difference in the end.
sidebar ads? waaay better than the old banner =)
good work!
I don’t understand how you can complain about an ad if you are using Xanga for FREE?… I mean, sure, as a premium user if you slapped an ad in the middle of my content I would be upset. BUT, if I was getting xanga for free and simply mooching off of your servers then I figure you have the right to put the ad wherever you guys please.
Your ball, your rules.
Thanks!
Eric
i don’t like it. it’s disruptive with the flow of the content; cuts out information. either put the ads in the same format (ie, same bg color, font, blahblah) or give us an option to let us decide where we want the ads to be: side, bottom, wherever.
No ads altogether. They’re annoying. You should just put them on like the frontpage, the feedback log and other suches.
Sorry for hiding for classic xanga ad for the xanga, but I don’t against that if there is an google ads on my web.(Only not cover my web content), I prefer that the google ads put on the top of web.
oops…sorry if you see my comment on a previous post….I was just asking about that!
I actually prefer the ads at the top. I see them and I’ve clicked on them when they pertain to me.
I think it’s pretty stinky that people put in script to get rid of them. If they want a site where they don’t pay, then they shouldn’t mess with the ad.
Hi John! I actually like the ads in the middle of the page, in between content, Ala PerezHilton.com (in between every few blog entries). I feel like they are both 1) non threatening (as in not an eyesore) and 2) I ACTUALLY look at them, because its where my eyes land (looking at content). Top of page ads I typically dont look at because I immediately think “ADVERTISEMENT”. Even though its obvious that the “in between content ads” are indeed, ads, I still tend to look at them because I was reading there anyway…does that make sense? Side, Top, and bottom ads I’ll only look at if the Ad appeals to me directly, but middle of content ads I look at regardless of whether I want to or not
I also agree that its fine to have ads on people’s sites that dont pay for this service…are you serious? You think you can just get everything for free? You think Xanga magically runs itself? Perhaps you can start your own blog server, pay for all the equipment and employees and do it out of the kindness of your heart, ad free. Your kids, pets, and family will starve and you’ll live in a cardboard box, but HEY! Look Ma! No Ads!
I understand the need for ads. I would prefer a choice as to where those ads appear.
I feel that the ads should stay at the top. I don’t hide mine and it never really bothered me up there. The side ad would get very annoying and mess up my color scheme
What’s been bugging me lately is the drop down ads. It it’s static, I don’t care. If they are animated ads, I want them on top where I can scroll by them; I can’t read something while the stupid duck is crossing the street or whatever.
i think sidebar ads are better. but maybe that’s just because i’ve been acclimatized by Google.
i liked it much better in the top.
it’s blocking my blogs! =/
Hmm, I was wondering why they’d moved.
They’re okay there. And the ones on top of the site are okay, too, so long as they don’t expand or make noise.
okay, well i don’t mind the ads, but mines in the middle of the page and its blocking my comment button & no one can comment my new post & thats upsetting since i spent hours working on it. okay well i only have one more day to go… please put it back on top.
i think it would be better if the ads were below all the other side modules? Its smack dab in the middle between my profile and tags. I don’t mind the ads in the body, but it would look a little nicer if it actually fit in the box for it, and wasn’t so blatently obvious.
I have a theme that I really like. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a separate side content, therefore the ads appear in my main content area.
So, I was one of those people who had written an entry on this subject.
But to make this comment short and sweet, I would like to have the option for where the ad appears on my site. That would be great. Thanks. I am glad I got this off my chest.
I had no idea you COULD hide the ads, but I will happily have them on my page, theme or not, if I could put them where I liked.
Actually, I may even keep it at the top, depending on what my site looks like at the time. I don’t mind them on the side either, though…
There wasn’t much point in this comment, huh? Just a number to the “really don’t mind” side.
I dont’ mind having ads on my page. What I do mind are the type of ads that show on my page. My blog is about the memories of my 18 month old son that died. The last thing I or anyone else reading my blog wants to see are bereavement ads or ads for gravestones or grief counseling. IT is seriously distasteful and tacky. I upgraded to premium, but I would still like to see this addressed.
i love the options idea.
brilliant, yet i don’t mind them on the side.
(tho, i liked them better on top)
I was a little disoriented with the side ads – I didn’t mind them on top to begin with, I’m sure I’ll get used to it if they stay on the sides. Doesn’t make a difference to me. I don’t post here often because I feel like this place has completely died. There seems to be a lack of interesting content and interaction and with much better blog sites popping up, I’m not here often enough to have a very strong opinion on the matter.
I do not like it on the side. Having a dating ad right there with my post is a bit weirdy. I prefer it at the top. Thanks for taking our opinions into account!
I hate the side ads. Hate them hate them HATE THEM. I liked them better at the top. I would prefer them on the bottom. Does anyone click on them anyway?
I think having ads on my personal xanga is stupid anyway. Advertising is taking over everything. =/ But besides that, I think people are going to find ways to hide them regardless of where they are. If the side ads become permanent I’m going to find a layout without left side modules.
personally, i prefer having the ads on the top of the page.
OPTIONS
But you know that.
I think it would be great to be able to choose where you would like the ad. I personally do not like it on the side and would prefer to have it on the top, however I have noticed that other people like it on the side. I think this option of being able to choose where you want it would be great.
I think flexibility on where to place the ads is good. If nobody chooses the position to place the ads then just leave the current spot as default.
Hmm I’ve been reading through a few of the others who’ve commented on here.
I like the suggestion about being able to set the background color of the ads.
Actually I much prefer the picture ads on top over the text ads on the side. However, some of the picture ads were a bit bothersome when they had scantily clad models or advertised some scary movie and it showed for example a zombie or something else that may be detrimental to children. That was always a bit disturbing for me.
If you guys do decide to keep the ads on the side modules though, could you please make it so that it’s the last module? That it doesn’t come before the subscriptions or blogrings?
And perhaps a scroll bar if you keep the ads on the side module? The text ads are rather long…
Sorry if I seem altogether too negative. ><”
I think it was a great idea that you guys added “Mini”s to generate more revenue and I think it was an even greater idea that having Mini’s on one’s site is completely optional.
I love how you guys take the time to create so many option! I remember when you first came out with the new editor styles! I rather detested them and absolutely loved how you gave us the option to change back to the classic editor.
Thanx so much for caring about us free xanga classic users! =)
It wouldnt be a problem if I could actually read other people entries or my own when its in public view. But I cant. The ad covers up half of my entry. Its VERY annoying.
Well I have an add blocker on my computer, so it just looks like a random empty side bar to me. Until I saw this I had no idea what was going on. I think you should move it back up to the top, I really hate that extra side bar.
I think on top is actually the least intrusive and probably the best place for interested parties to click. When it’s on top, it doesn’t really interfere with the layout of the page or the content. I vote for top.
Or, if you have the $$, you can just become a Premium or Lifetime member and bypass the ads entirely!
i didnt realized that it was changed until u mentioned it. i think im to use of just logging in w/o pay much attention towards thee ads. anywho, the ads are fine at the side of the page : )
i like it on the top.
its uglllyy on the side.
Hi John, I know what you mean about trying to keep ads from user content such as adding links to popup ads. Keep up the good work and hope this gives you more hits. I think the ads right now are very reasonable. I know if it gets bad I’d move back to blogspot. I keep a restaurant review blog and if you provided some xanga tag for ads, I’m willing to add some ad links to the end of my entries if they related to my blog entry.
If you can limit the ads to those which do not have any kind of perceived movement, either as gifs, javascript or flash content, then I might go along with it. However, if you stay with what I’m seeing now on sidebar ads, I’m outta here.
Your ads in general stink. Anything with adyieldmanager is close to unethical.
I HATE IT!
I don’t care if there are ads. I mean, everyone needs to make money one way or another. I still like Xanga.
As long as the add doesn’t get in the way of what I’m trying to see (i.e., a thing at the top filling half the page and making me need to click to get rid of it) I could care less if it’s top, middle, left, right. . .
I don’t see how (classic) people can have problems with adds, since that’s how their “free” xangas are paid for!
side ads are horrible. i noticed them immediately. i like the option of letting us choose where they go.
Putting the ads in the sidebar makes them look more like content than when they were at the top, which bothers me since I don’t endorse many of the ads I see. I think it’s a good idea to give users the option of where to put the ads.
They bothered me for a couple of visits but now I hardly notice them. Put them where you have to, it is fine. I am just happy I get to use this great site for free. Thanks
It wouldn’t be so bad if the ridiculous ads weren’t so huge. I’m losing a lot of faith in you, xanga. I imagine I’m just going to totally migrate over to facebook. At least their ads aren’t so obnoxious.
I like the look without the ads on the top. Mixing the ads with content I’m a little hesitent about…but for those that want to learn more about what I’m talking about…that works.
Choice with the ads…on the side like the test run…not on top.
I hate the side ads. I noticed them right away. I’d prefer if they were on top or we could choose where they go.
I was fine with the ones at the top. The Google ads on the sides are really annoying… I don’t mind them at the top at all, though.
I highly dislike the adds on the side. On the top or bottom of the site is fine.
Personally I like the ad on the top best. I don’t hide the ads, I realize that if I’m not ready to pay for premium on an account, Xanga will place an ad on my site…it really doesn’t bother me. However, I really didn’t like it on my side bar. It seemed too intrusive to me.
i actually didn’t mind the ad at the top or bottom (under the classic layout). i wouldn’t hide the ad either. HOWEVER, the ad on the side does bother me – not because it’s on the side, but where it’s actually placed (in between my profile & subscribe option, which messes up the entire “flow”). perhaps we can have the option of where the ad actually appears (like how we get to move the rest of our modules around)?
The top is just fine. Just make it so that people can’t use layouts that hide the ads. Side is much too distracting. You have such a large community that it won’t matter if a few people here and there don’t like the fact that you have to get paid to continue providing us this free service. If anyone is so anal and inconsiderate about the ads then maybe it’s time they step it up to Premium.
I want the best of both worlds – no ads, and free xanga. Sadly, I know you guys can’t pay bills unless there’s some incentive for folks to go Premium. I’ll probably put up with the ads for now, and go Premium when I can’t stand it any longer. I just wish they weren’t for dating sites!
I like it better on the top because you can scroll down and then you don’t have to look at them!! Personally I don’t like them on the sides because I’d rather not have half naked people and vodka ads side by side with my content. I don’t want to be associated with trashy ads for free ring tones and ill matching google ads. (my theme is black and tan and google ads are white.) When they are on the side it almost seems like I put them there and I would NEVER do that. Its obvious that they are not put there by me when they are on the top.
So to shorten was I just said- I don’t like them on the side at all.
Premium is not that expensive at $4 a month.
Xanga offers a wonderful blogging community for free and the ads don’t bother me…besides the ’Sag Harbor’ ad which is a funny name for middle aged women’s clothing.
I don’t like the ads. but i understand that you guys ‘need’ them there. So, it’d be GREAT GREAT GREAT if you guys had like…an option of where to keep them.
Ohhh that’s why I have adverts slap bang in the middle of my blogs! I really don’t mind the ads (apart from on the side) but an option would be a good idea. Merry Xmas =D
I like the idea of having an option to move the ad myself.
I think it’s a bit confusing on the left side, because I thought it was put there by the blogger. For a second I thought that the particular blogger I was reading was endorsing some anti-blushing book, which I thought was weird. Maybe it could go on the right side, as to not be confused with some sort of custom module or something. I also like the idea of getting to choose where it gets displayed, and the idea of making it necessary to have it on your page if you don’t pay.
ads never bothered me at all… are you hoping for more clicks of the ads to help keep sponsors or anything?
I don’t hide the ads. The top or the side is fine with me
Actually, I’m very annoyed by the side advertisments. They not only draws away from my content but are loud and obnoxious. Flashing faces of random celebrities or product is not when my site is about. I’m not promoting these advertisements. The layout chosen on one’s page is very important when thinking about the placement of the advertisement. You must choose a place on the page that OVERALL does not effect any layout. This, to me, would seem to be the top or bottom of the page. When the users complained about the advertisements on the top of the page, they are complaining about the advertisement, not the placement. We all know you must have these on our pages for income. These users just don’t understand that. Please place the ads back on the top of the page where they interfere the LEAST with the content on our Xangas. Thank you.
i have no problem whatsoever with ads. its very understandable and i really love xanga. the only problem/complaint i have is that the side ad is blocking my main body. it doesnt line up with the screen and it goes into my blog. im not sure if its my screen resolution but i just bought a laptop and i cant change my screen resolution. help? if that gets fixed, i dont mind having the ads at all. =]
having the option to choose where the ads appear on your page sounds brilliant! i still prefer it on top
the only problem i have with them is when you change the basic setup, like no boxes on the left, the ad tends to cover up the blog part…idontknowif you ve changed that or not i havent been on today…but that made the whole site kinda useless…it would be good if the ad was in its own box and you could contorl the width of it, just like you can hide the search bar
Ads dont bother me. I think I hid mines though.. I have to unhid them.
i hate that!! it looks really ugly on my site. just totally take it off!!!!
I’ve been on Xanga for about.. 2 years, I’m guessing. I’ve had old sites and such, and I had never once encountered a problem like this. As I went on my page yesterday, I was quite appalled by the ad on my webpage. I covers half the information in my blogs, and I was quite annoyed. It’s also messing with a lot of the layouts and such. I am using one of the ‘hiding ads’ codes, and it works a lot better for me. I think it would be better if you let us choose where we want ads, if we necessarily need them. Also, this whole.. Mini/Ads/RichText whatever, is getting quite a lot of people into a huff. Layout makers need that certain text that you recently took away, and can’t make them anymore until it’s back. If it’s back, then my apologies. Honestly, I never use the Mini’s because there is no point in them and they’re pretty useless. As for the ads, like I said above, hopefully they’re not needed, but if so, let people choose where they go.
Because of all this ‘new change’ Xanga is becoming less appealing, and I find myself losing interest. Please, fix these unnecessary problems, and I’m sure a lot of people would be happier.
Here’s a totally obvious solution;
Have everyone choose where they want the ad – top, or side. For smaller layouts, let the ad go on the bottom or something..? Not sure how to solve that problem.
But I definitely say let people choose. I like the ad up top, its surprising that so many people don’t like it.
Please provide us options, I am really not happy to see they appear in my sidebars. They are pushing the contents down and it’s annoying.
What ads?
I would like the option of choosing where the ads go, that way, everyone gets to decide and they can adjust them with however their layouts are…..SEE, EVERYONE’S HAPPY….
……please give us the choice…..like maybe a button that asks where we would like the ads to be placed….let’s work this out ok?
I really don’t like the ads on the side. It might be because I’m just used to the top, but when it’s on the side and mixed in with the content, it feels in-your-face and disruptive to the layout and content. When it’s on the top, it’s relatively out of sight and out of mind as soon as you scroll down.
But that said, I agree that it would probably depend on the user’s layout as to where they’d want it. I’ll probably change my mind later and would love the option to switch it around as I get different layouts.. :]
Glad you’re looking into this and open to xangans suggestions.
personally i think that xanga is so well-known that the ads are not needed. if you put them at the bottom, that’s great. i’ve been seeing a lot of sites, and on mine, the layout covers the actual content. if this continues, i will have to switch to livejournal, which does not add ads and has the same service.
i agree with http://www.xanga.com/iwantyou_quotes. the louds draw away from the content and are so annoying.
fix these. put them on the bottom. you guys keep changing small things which are fine – but this is huge.
i say if you hate it that much, buy a LIFE subscription and shaddap.
sometimes the ads are too big.
especially when the xanga is for graphics and the such. if there was a slimmed down one, that would be all the more better.
I think it’s okay since it’s the best I can do for Xanga.com when I’m not paying for my blog but I would like to ask that you would PLEASE limit the ads to atleast two or three on the page because this is supossed to be a Blog site for people to connect to others NOT an advertisement machine. I have WAY too many ads on mine.
Thanx.
Aleah
like others have said, make it optional where the ad in placed on their page. I don’t mind ads because I appreciate the free, but i really don’t like it right there, first thing people see when they view my page. I’d rather it be at the bottom of the colum or at the top of the page.
I definitely prefer top banner ads to sidebar ads. On the side, they get mixed in with content–it looks like something I put there (which I find invasive) instead of part of the “wrappings” of the site. I understand the need for advertising on free sites, but I prefer it above my site banner–this distinction tells me “this is a Xanga ad” rather than “this is part of my content.” I would appreciate at least being given a choice where to put it.
I am an “older than average” classic xanga user. I am a 55 year old mom. I have a group of other older moms that I correspond with. I did not mind the ads at the top but I don’t like them anywhere else. It destroyed the theme of my weblog. I have a spiritual theme and to see “pimp my”… whatever was more than I cared to see. It was in the column adjacent to a picture and quote of Mother Teresa It was just too much. I want the ads back at the top, please.
I don’t like the look of the ads simply because they normally contain things like “Free Penis Enhancement! Click Here!”
How does that appeal to me? It’s gross.
But if you moved the ads to the top of the page, I would personally keep them there if it ment they didn’t have to screw up my page.
Please, place them back at the top.
i don’t mind the ads
!
it would be nice to have options of where to put it-upper left or right corner, upper middle, or right hand column<—that would get in the way of my background…but i can adjust
it’s horrible and ugly, i’d like it back at the top of the page. it moves my right side module all the way down so you can’t see it until you scroll halfway down the page. it’s an eyesore. at least make it so it’s below any modules. but i’d prefer just to have it at the top of the page like normal.
The top and the sides are better than mixed with the content, IMHO
Just in general here, if the ads are not making you much money… wouldnt it be better to rethink the whole concept in general? I mean, if there must be ads so be it… but if they are not providing you guys with much benefit, where is the pay off? Maybe you guys need better companies in which xanga related folks would be more into? I dont know, good luck on that.
hm i dont mind the ads too much except on some i noticed it blocks some of the blog portion of the page :
I’d love to be able to choose the location of the ads! I totally understand the need for the ads, but I prefer their appearance at the top.
Thanks Xanga for always seeking improvements, and thanks for the option of having Classic (free) account!
The ads… are annoying. Hmph. And since I do layouts, people keep messaging me asking how to get rid of the “ugly ads”. What’s annoying is that on some people’s sites, it completely blocks their content, and you can’t even see their main modules.
what ads? I never even noticed them, they must be very small.
Ilena Holder…..>Rose Garden by Awe-Struck ebooks 12.20.07
i would like it on the bottom, please!
I preferred the ads at the TOP…but if other’s like the side, then having a CHOICE of the local would be awesome. I too totally get why they are there, and have never tried to hide them. But when they were at the top, in the top tool bar, I felt like what was above that line was “Xanga”, and what was below was “Me”…with the ads on the side, literally in the placae where my “About Me” module usually is, it just feels like it interferes with ”Me”. Thanks for asking for feedback, BTW.
I’ve never been bothered by the ads at all. Put them wherever, it’s your damn site. I don’t see why people have to complain so much about them. They’re getting a free service, after all.
It’s all good.
What about putting the adds on the right side instead of the left? Most people have left sided columns and it just throws off the page’s balance, right sided however would not. buut Really, do whatever you feel xanga ,seeing as I’ve been using you for pretty much 3 years totally free; nothing you could ever do, besides make me pay, would make me leave haha
If we freebies must have ads, they look better on the side, even though it seems to slow up the page loading (and I’m on high-speed connection!)
It seems the page loads faster with the ads at the top.
Speaking of ads…what’s up with these latest pop up ads for Chevrolet and such? It’s very annoying when trying to read someone’s blog and those suckers pop up and get in the way!
Ads in general dont catch my attention, I never click on them.
They are just annoying and in the way.
I suggest just having ads on xangas main page since everyone goes on there. There is no reason to have ads on our weblogs. There are tons of free web journals out there, so why should we have to pay to not have ads on this one?
i dont like the side ads. what they do, is, it comes over on top of my comments and i cant read them and its annoying. i think you should just get rid of them or, since i use an ad remover, they should come off, but their not.
Ads suck. That’s why I paid for Xanga.
But you know what else sux? I’m STILL seeing ads on my subscriptions page (subs.aspx)! What gives! Bleh, sneaky Xanga =P.
or give each person a choice. that would be good!
Honestly I don’t mind the ad at the top of the page.
I’m used to that even on other pages.
That side one just doesn’t set with me at all for some reason.
i prefer it @the top.
i prefer the ads on the top. i go on sites and it is covering over the top of their site so i can’t read it.
I like it better at the top too… I never thought it was that obtrusive. On the side, it messes with the content of the theme.
I think the adds are annoying as heck. I would rather have them at the top where they use to be. Would it be okay to move them up to the top again?
I think it’s better on top! Other than that, i agree with some of the other comments in that we should just be able to choose the option as to where it goes. And please only give us the options that generate the most revenue, i’d still like to do what’s best for you guys.
option please
I think I like it at the top much better, because it doesn’t feel as much a part of my actual blog.
No, I didn’t like the new ads at all. I understand the need for revenue, but this was just annoying.
Options please.
I have NEVER hidden ads on my page. I have a Classic layout and what do I care if it pushes my content down? I think my viewers are smart enough to scroll down a few pixels. What I don’t like about the side ad is that is makes my side module near invisible. Either give me another place to put the ad like at the top of the page where it was before, or let me move my side module above the ad, or let me have another place in a Classic layout where I can put my side module.
I’ve already posted my opinion in the Themes forums. Just give the option.
Oh, and I might ad, for all of google’s hyped up “relevant” adds, they aren’t terribly relevant at all. I’d click on something, if I saw something remotely interesting.
Also – when do I get that little “life” icon?
Is it just me or is something funny going on with Xanga? I mean like error. Right now, several of them.
I think the option of choosing where it could be would be the best. I HATE it on the side. It pushes all my stuffs away
Eee, I don’t like them in my module. I don’t mind the ads, but I’d at least like an option as to where to put them. I honestly didn’t mind them being at the top of my page. They’re really irksome to me when they’re on the side though.
I personally don’t mind the ads.Now, since I have Life Premium, I don’t worry about it… But last time I definitely was a Classic User! And I didn’t mind the ads at all coz I understand you guys need it. And if I were still a Classic User, I say leave it at the side. It’s more viewer-friendly, if you know what I mean.
have an option. i liked the top better but i can see why some people wouldn’t. on the side, it looks like it’s supposed to be my content, my subscriptions and links and stuff but… oh shit it’s a google ad! yeah… i don’t like that.
Top is far better. I don’t like them on the side, not at all. But, really, it is your prerogative. I’m surprised you’re as open minded about it as you are.
The ads were fine on the top and will be fine on the side too. I just hope you don’t put them in the middle with our content. Also, I don’t think putting them on the bottom would be good for you, but it would be just dandy for us. All in all, I’d just say to put the ad where ever you’d like to, seeing as it’s free for us and you need revenue to run the site.
Thanks for xanga, I’ve been using it for years
The ads are annoying when they are so obtrusive. However it is understood they need to be there somewhere. Just make it less obtrusive somehow. It seems like a lot of people suggest the non-premium users to go elsewhere and blog. If they all went elsewhere why would xanga even need to exist then? HA.
The movie ad for Jack*** is the ad that really bothers me. I have many Christian friends and family members who use Xanga and this ad is in appropriate. If your going to make ads more visible, you need to screen them better.
The new side bar ads are horrible. I liked the when they were on the top more.
But I do think you should give people the opition.
whatever is fine. i have no preference. i personally dont mind that the ad is at the top of the page because it makes it easier to click the left side that takes me back to the xanga homepage–it’s convenient.
um i think moving the ads to the side or even the bottom of the site would be the best option for unhappy users… i do sometimes feel bothered by the “look” of my xanga site with random ads on the top of the page… but i’ve been using it for 5 years or so and been ignoring that…so i’m actually fine with it…
thanks for taking this into account!
i prefer it on the top, that way it isn’t pushing the blog’s contents down so much
I’ve have “been a member for 1776 days” and I have always been a free user. The ad at the top has never bothered me, even though I have a banner at the top of my site. To me, with the ad on the side, it looks off. I’m sure it’s mainly because I’m not used to it, but I don’t really like the ad underneath my profile picture at all.
My suggestion would be to either leave it at the top or give us the option to choose where we would like the ad.
I also thought that classic users were not allowed to hide the ad. Why not suspend/close the accounts of people who are doing so? I think it’s silly and childish for someone to hide the ad on a free site. If you don’t like the ad, either pay for premium or don’t use the site! You shouldn’t complain about something you get/use for free!!!
i’m using opera and the ad change is preventing me from viewing the whole page =[
TOP TOP TOP TOP TOP TOP TOP ADS WERE FINE! I hate the ads mixed in with all my stuff on the sidebar! TOP
I guess it’s not a huge deal to me where the ads are, but I wouldn’t mind having the option of where I’d like the ad to be.
I used to hide the ad on my page, but I don’t think my code works anymore. It does kind of ruin the feel of a theme, I don’t care much. I hope to go premium in the near future, anyhow.
I never really notice the ads. Of course if a layout was very pretty I’d be extremely annoyed by the ads, but that can’t be helped. As long as it isn’t in the body of the page (oh no!!) I’m cool with wherever it’s placed.
If anything I’d prefer the options idea.
and, if not just put it back on top if anything,
because that’s where ads always are and they get some attention.
….and the ads on the sidebar mess with people’s content, so yeah.
i dont like the ads on the side i prefer them on the top.
when there on the top it dosent look so cluttered and
well.. plain ugly. On the top people can hide them if the
site owner wants. On the side it looks ugly and if were
trying to be neat it’s not so neat so give us the option
of the side or top, AND the option to hide it if we want.
is it possible to place the ad on the right side of the screen? That way, it’s still very visible but not obstructive.
Set up a polls module and chuck it onto your Xanga, John, to gain more feed back! LOL!
I prefer to be given options to choose where to place the advertisement, just what you offered for the “Currently Listening;” “Currently Reading” section.
its annoying to have the ads on the side, right in the middle of my content. PLEASE MOVE THEM BACK UP TO THE TOP!!
i don’t hide the ads..but it can get annoying when i post and there’s an ad right underneath my information.. just put the ads back up on the top.. i didn’t mind them up there…
I really liked the ads at the top better.
I wish I could afford premium, but I can’t.
But I do agree with someone who posted a comment to this blog…could you make the ads smaller…if ya’ll are gonna leave em at the top, I mean…? Thnx!
x x x
Ellen
Side I mean…sorry! lol
Honestly I don’t care about the ads at the top or side of my page. I actually prefer it at the top. I don’t want to get rid of the ads on this site, because I want to be able to keep it free. If I was really that bothered because OHMYGOD THERE IS AN AD ON MY PAGE, I’d purchase a membership. It’s that simple. I even click on them myself if they seem interesting– I just want this site to stay free. : )
i don’t think anyone actually clicks on the ads or uses them really. regardless, i’m also going to use an ad remover because there has been one developed for the sidebar ad. mainly because the ads make the page & layout look tacky no matter where you put it. the colors don’t flow with any layout and gets in the way of pretty much everything.
i don’t like the ads on the side bc they’re way too long. i’d prefer the ads to just be at the top of the page like they used to be.
i totally dissagree with what some of you are saying . an ad at the top of the page doesnt really bother me, i just use ad removers because it looks better w/o the ad (duh). anyways, i dont really understand why you want to put ads on peoples blogging site, beacause people dont go to the sites to click ads. if they really wanted to do that anyways, they could go to the front page. so w/e. ill stop using an ad remover if its hurting you all, but i really think the floating ad is a turnoff, and it looks really bad. its big, large and takes up alot of space.
so yeah, i prefer top of page, and just having people stop using ad removers, since an ad at the top of the page isnt that painful.
what about making the ad an irremovable module? so that everyone can move it around their layout, but they can’t remove it. that was just a random suggestion after reading comments from various people above me.
btw, personally, i like it on the top better. but if it’s more lucrative at the side, Xanga’s all yours and no one can stop you. lol have a great day!
The ads on the side are awful!
I would much rather have them on the top.
When they are on the side they make my layouts look ugly.
yea i have a problem..
i have a chatbox thingy on the right side of my xanga and the ad is pushing it downwards
>.<
can u change it plz?
To be honest I don’t think you should have to move the banner…if you don’t make money, we don’t have xanga. Xanga users are getting to finicky. I have premium right now so I can’t see the banner on my main site.. I still have a private site on here though and I don’t pay attention to that banner one little bit. If they don’t want the banner let them pay for premium..honestly how will you guys make any money if you keep offering your free users the same options as the premium users? If you feel this is something you HAVE to do…then by all means I would prefer the banner stay on top of the page and not mix in with my layout.
Thanks!
V
i’d prefer an option to let me select where the ad will appear on my site. the ads being mixed in with my content is pretty obnoxious to me. also, lately it seems to be putting up a lot of irrelevant ads. i know for a while it was tailoring the ads based on the content of the blog. for example, if i would type a post about something on my site, or say i was listening to a certain cd, ads for that band, or that topic, would turn up. i didn’t mind that as much. plus i’d think it’d be more effective advertising when you’re tailoring the ads to the content on the site, so people interested in that content and reading it, would also be more likely to click on those ads promoting the same sort of content… just a thought.
I was annoyed by the ads on my own site, but now that the lovely Elle has supplied me with premium, I find that I do not care……since I only have to deal with it on other people’s.
To be perfectly honest, the ads don’t bother me but I’d rather not have them on my page because I think it looks better that way so I hide them. Also, I would only like the ads on the top. Anywhere else, I would totally get annoyed. So, please leave it at the top. ]: & I agree to what poorcookie said.
i prefer top more than the side, bottom is the best, but as you said, they get no clicks there. And anyways, i’m currently a premium user, so i guess it dosent really matter for me, but thats just my opinion.
i would love it if there was an option to it…
i really dislike the ad on the side…
i feel like it’s not suppose to be there…
it’s kinda bugging me too…
PLEASE HAVE AN OPTION
keep it on the top.
I HATE IT. I liked it when it was at the top of the page.
why don’t we have the options since opinions differ, and people can customise their blog according to where they like the ads best?
If you really need the ads to keep xanga up and running, I have no complaints. I’d hate to see xanga go down because ads could no longer be put on the blogs, and then funding for xanga went away…..
I think the option to make a module for ads is a great idea…hope you can come up with something that works for everyone!
I hate the ad on the side =/. I liked it better when it was at the top since it didn’t really interfere with my layout.
i like the ads much better on the top than on the side.
Give an option..
Side or top. I honestly like the top better, since my site looks better that way. But some users I know have a big banner up top, and I’m sure they’d like it on the top. Let us choose.
I personally think that there shouldn’t be any ads. I’m on livejournal as well and the basic free account has no ads at all. I personally like Xanga better. But if you have to have ads, then 1) clean them up. I don’t want to see scantilly clad women or stuff like that. 2) let us choose where to put them or 3) let us have the option of having them or hiding them like the search bar. Or just put them back up on top.
If I knew how, I’d just hide the ad.
I really don’t like them, but as long as they keep xanga free, I suppose I’ll tolerate them.
I know I hide the ads, but personally, I am not in favor of the ads on the side. I prefer it on top. When I read people’s entries, I don’t like the idea of me glancing to the left every three seconds or so to see the ads.
But it was be really cool if you gave us an option on where to keep the ad.
I’m a subscriber, but I go to my Xanga friends’ classic pages, and I think having the ads on the side works very well.
i hate them they mess up my layout move them back to the top please!
I think the sidebar ad is annoying. Maybe give the users an option of putting the ad at the top or side would be a great addition.
i’ve got to say… i’m not a fan. but i like how it’s on the side rather than at the top of the screen.
it be nice to choose were to put the ads, thank you
I prefer the ads at the top.. I know ads are part of a necessary thing to keep the site going.. so seeing them at the top is better. I personally don’t want to scroll down and read ads while I read entries at the same time.
Do whatever supports your business model. Those ads keep Premium rates low and I’m sure are important to your revenue stream. I personally prefer Xanga over myspace because I can choose to create my page without ads by being a premium member. Also, I believe you will get more clickthroughs with the ads on the right side of the page. Ugly or not, you are still offering members a choice to go adless. Do what you need to do and Merry Christmas to the Xanga team! Great job this year.
The ads don;t bother me either. I think you have to have them on the non premium ads in order to pay for them.
i really don’t like the side ads because it covers up my comments, because i don’t have the standard modules on any of my sites. the top ad is okay with me because it doesn’t cover up anything. at this point i can’t even read some of my comments, so changing that would be really nice. thanks. :]
the way I have my site laid out, the add is SMACKDAB in the middle of my page.
Ithe ads themselves don’t bother me, but the way this one decided to position itself does.
i like them better at top, personally. i can ignore them easier, and in the side-bar it seems to jolt my side content.
sorry, i know that doesn’t help their clickability. it would be nice having the option of where to place ads?
Because I like to make layouts, and the friends I know like to make artistic layouts, your ads are disruptive to the emotions we want to convey through our designs on our backgrounds. I’d prefer to keep them at the top of the page because quite frankly, I know the code to erase them there… And I know that advertising is important, but there are plenty of people who keep their ads on the top of the page despite the codes available. Honestly, in my community of Xanga, everyone is pissed off with the new arrangement. Please resort to old ways….
yes i prefer it on the side
aw man am i the only one who likes it on the side?><’
I think you should put the ad on the left side module.
i think it would be nice if we could choose where we put our ads, but if anything, i liked it on the top much, much better
meh, keep the adds, they are kinda fun to read!
it’s alright on the side…expcept that it pushes down my sidebar content which is annoying…though i only have [right] sidebar on one page…
As long as premium users don’t have to see them (I’m premium off and on when I can afford it), it isn’t a bit deal. I like that my page title is the focus now, instead of a google banner ad.
Ads don’t bother me as long as they’re clean. Clean as in not having half-naked men and women etc.
– Becca
i didn’t know people were hiding the ads either – i actually don’t mind them at all but I prefer it at the top of the page.
thanks and happy holidays!
michael
I agree with porcupinesol who posted before me, the required module is a good idea. =]
If that is not possible, moving the ads back to the top of the page would be so much better.
i don’t understand why people are always trying to get rid of the ads. i think that as long as the ads aren’t the types where they randomly pop up and over the text, it’s ok. i also prefer the ads at the top. so what if they push down the text a little? at least if it’s on top, i’ll be less likely to accidentally click on ads that i don’t want than if it was right underneath my subscriptions box.
I was initially surprised why the ads are there, but i am okay with them!
i can deal with top ads (i don’t think i’ve ever scrolled down far enough on someone’s page to see a bottom ad,) but the sidebar ads are ridiculous. advertising is one thing, but putting it right smack in the middle of someone’s page is another.
the adds on top was way better, i got pics on the side, now they’re under the add..it looks crappy =(
i would like the option of choosing top side or bottom! i ddin’t mind it being on the top!!!
I’d rather the top
I hate it at the side of my blog
looks like complete crap
yeah, i agree. i think that we should have options. i think that it will just make xanga all of the better.
an layout guide that provides the option to move the ad to the side, top, or bottom, would be nice.
the side ads really, really bother me. i don’t mind so much on the top, because i can scroll down and forget about it while i’m trying to read the posts. but on the side, those horrendous things are always there. i would prefer to have the option of placement, please!!!
I haven’t seen any of these side bar ads, in fact I don’t recall seeing many ads at all.
Even when I do they are always something silly that I’d never want in the first place. That said, I’m not much of an ad person.
I say Ads give you money with which you use to improve Xanga. Improving Xanga is a good thing. Therefore you getting money is also a good thing. And how could you possibly get money? You could make ads appear on sites in a way that no one would be able to hide them. Or, give Xangans more reasons to pay for upgrades. But the latter times more time and money.
I’m all for ads, as long as they’re not on my site.
i noticed the side ads when they distracted me from the content i was reading. i was fine with them at the top of the page, but understand the need to generate revenue.
i thought i was going crazy when i first saw the ads on the sides. i thought i clicked on something to make it appear on the side. but then after couple of mins trying to figure out how to hide it, i gave up. but i’d perfer it on the top at least. ad on the side of the blog looks random..
Side bar ads don’t bother me… got to do what you got to do. They blend in with the content enough to not annoy anybody but stand out enough for somebody to read them.
Hi. It would be great if you could put the ad on the bottom of my “blogring” section instead of in between. Thanks.
It would be nice to have a choice as to where the ad appears on the page.
I guess I understand that this is a business, i just find the ads distracting, although they are not on my site because i am a premium member i find them extremely distracting on others… i am still not going to click on the ads, and especially if they are noticeably annoying.
One of the reasons why I was planning on moving to a different blogging service once my Premium ends was because of the large ads on the top of the page. Having it on the side is a great idea, I think (less likely to be seen)–although I did notice some of them are overly garish with flashing images. Reminds me of MySpace…if you could just stick to the text-based ads like Blogger does, that might be better!
i dont mind the ad but I think you should make an option tab as to where to put it.
But some people,like on mine, have ONLY left side modules and I wouldnt mind if the ad went under those.
: )
Absolutely not to the side ads. What’s worse than pushing the content down is pushing the content in so that it gets narrower. I’m strongly against it. Just keep the ads where they are.
It’s terrible on the side. I’d rather have it be on the top of the page.
BUT having an option would solve a lot more issues, so I hope in the end that’s what you’ll do!
options?
the left side ads screw with all the layouts, make them all unreadable and actually, ugly. :/
but i realize you need these ads, so we should be able to put them wherever…
I really don’t like the ads on the side of the page. I would much, much prefer them to be on the top.
I like the option of choosing as well as the ads on the top of the page.
I don’t mind the ads at all. Do whatever is easier for you.
i think its fine but i think there shud be an option on the L&feeel page for users to change the position of the ad. one click and everyone is satisfied. wooooo
it would definantly be awesome if we could put them where we want on our page! i don’t like it on my left module. it looks weird, and if i have the left module disabled, it interferes with my blog where i can’t even read because the ad is covering the text!
it would be even better if they didn’t exist at all.
thanks!
I don’t like the ads on the side of my page. It looks like I am endorsing these websites. I preferred them on the top. Thank you for letting us have the input!
The ads on the top were much better. When they are on the side, it looks like I am endorsing these ads when I am not. Thanks for letting us have some imput!
Cheers.
I do not like the ads. I especially do not like them on the side with my content. I’d like them on the bottom best.
Even though I have premium now…I didn’t mind the ads on top..gee I think you have a right to pit them there when the site is free* and I hope your headaches get better, John…you are so right.** they know sooooo little about the brain..it’s pathetic..if it keeps up..seek another opinion** take good care…Lee
Ps..if we ALL sent cards and packages..imagine what a difference it would make in one lonely soldiers day*** .
I would much rather have the ads be on the top… I don’t like them on the side, however I agree that an option to put the ad where you like is a great idea, so anyone who would rather it be on the side could have it that way.
I don’t mind the ads at all, but I have made a new year resolution to get my premium back! Xanga’s worth it, honestly.
I completely hate the ads on the side.
It makes my whole page look messed up.
I prefer them on top, or even more, not on my page at all.
i noticed right away, and got very annoyed.
please give us an option on where to place ads.
i would place them on the bottom.
the side is not very nice.
I’d prefer my ad at the top, where it’s always been, personally. It tends to cover my sidebar on the side it’s on now.
Also, you know what-You get too many complaints. However, I’d like to thank you for trying to address those complaints. I know a lot of times addressing one person’s complaint causes much more complaining, as is the case with the ads. In truth, I don’t think the people who were complaining about the ads on the top were complaining about the location of the ads so much as they were complaining that the ads existed.
this ads stuff is really pointless….
who’s going to really click in there to check the stuff out?
they should just put the ads in xanga’s main page…or only show after users logged in
side ads = awesome, I love them
sidebar ads are MUCH better to me than top ones.
And yes, I’m one of those jerks who doesn’t pay for my blog. I’m too broke.
oops I meant right side modules.
*crazy* *tired*
<3
Not crazy about the side adds, but didn’t mind them on the top of the page. The side adds seem a bit intrusive to me. That’s my opinion, anyway.
I like the ads at the top of the page. On the side it completely messes up my layout.
when will the option of moving the add back to the top be given to us???
I liked the ads on the top better… that way they are not mixed up with everything on my page… but really I can’t complain, after all I am getting this for for free!
i noticed the side ad on my site was moved to below my chatbox. i think if the ads DO need to stay on the side, that it SHOULD be there underneath the chatbox **or whatever custom module is there** so that it is still seen when you read the post, but it is less intrusive to the style of the layout.
it’s a good compromise i think since i dont mind it anymore if it’s under the chatbox, so maybe others feel the same way, and it’s also in a place where it cannot be blocked as you said.
To quote your blog:
“…So we’ve made some tweaks so that one-column layout don’t show ads, for now. Hopefully you can use the time to adjust your layout to be more ad-friendly…”
I think it’s not right to request users with a one column layout to adjust their site to work with the more intrustive ads. It’s seems like your blaming the user for having a 1 column layout rather than looking at the reasons why you would put an ad in the main sections of a user’s site. If you still feel that it’s the user’s fault for having a layout that doesnt work with the ads, then that is your call. There will be cases where a user’s layout, no matter how many columns, will look messed up with the ad. A user should not be concerned with adjusting their own site so that ads can be slapped into it and not mess up their layout.
I think it’s obvious that I would like the top ad back =P
yeah i like the idea of choosing where to put the ad. i would keep it at the top, because i don’t care if it lowers my page a bit. the sidebar takes up a big chunk and hides a lot of my stuff at the side. so….
I understand that these ads are necessary to fund Xanga. However, most
of them are very offensive and some refer to sites with adult content
(the others are definitely not
appropriate for teenagers). If I could block them, I would.
But if you must keep these ads, I prefer having the
option of specifying where they are placed on the page. On the side, they disrupt the look
of a site, be it in “Themes” mode or in the “Classic” mode (though they are slightly less intrusive on the top)
i hate the ad there. the left side is for personal info or interests and now it’s just really ugly. i rather have it at the top. it was fine there. or maybe even on the right, but please, don’t keep it on the left.
I personally don’t like any adds being placed on Xanga sites. The adds take away the look and is a distraction. I also don’t think it is fair or right that the people who purchase premium can have the adds removed. That should be an option given to all users of xanga. I know that not everyone can afford to pay for premium.
Although if you must keep the adds then i think moving the adds to the top of the site is a better idea. That way it doesn’t really take away from the look or cover parts of a persons site. Also i think maybe changing the way the add looks can help. I don’t think alot of people are going to click on the add. you can already see what the add is providing. Maybe consider putting a link that says click here for add or something. That way i think a person is more influenced to see the add that they don’t know about .
Thank you for reading my input
Screw the ads. Xanga is getting worse and worse with every ‘tweak’. It was such a good idea to put them in the side…yeahh…thats exactly how I like em. In the way of everything with the bright pink idiotic advertisements. I like em better up top. Didn’t bother me at all.
Please please please give us the choice where to put the ads! I don’t mind an ad at the top of my page, but I absolutely abhor the ad on the side of the page. Really. This is a newer account, but I’ve been using xanga for nearly four years and I’ve never been upset but it before… but I just can’t stand the side ad! It clashes so horribly T_T
I would like to choose were we put the ads
Oh man, I agree with newbie2005. I just noticed the ad on the sidebar remind me of the annoying ones that are always on Myspace. Less likely for me or anyone to click on them, I think. And they do look as if they are part of my Xanga page… particularly the image gif ads. The more I think about it, the more I wish I could see the ad on top. It never really bothered me anyway. And no, don’t place them on the bottom. If you give us an option to move the ad around, don’t give us the option to move it to the bottom. Needless to say, I’m sure the Xanga team knows it would be best to keep the ad on the top-half of the page where everyone can see it, so now I think it would be best to not give an option at all. Just keep ‘em at the top. Otherwise people moving the ad to the side will push it down with other modules, which would totally defeat the purpose of having them on the website in the first place.
PLEASE move it back to the top of the page. It really gets on my nerves after a while.. Pluc, if someone has a specific layout instead of the regualr xanga layout or whatever… the ads stay in the same place on the side as if this specific layout is like a xanga one, covering up the weblog part and all writing. So you can’t even read the weblogs sometimes!
I can’t wait till’ these 72 hours are over….
much better~~
i like how [today] the ads were moved to being in the middle of the content on the sidebar excpet all at the top.
I do not mind the ads at the top.
But the side looks horrible.
i like the idea of being able to choose the location but, as a free user, i’m cool with whatever you decide. thanks for giving us input into the decision! having ads doesn’t bother me, as long as they are not flashing.
Frankly, I’m very upset with the new ad placement. I don’t mind it at the top of the page, but at the side, mixed in with my content, is not ok. I understand that it’s a necessary evil for a free service. But, please, respect my content by not putting ads RIGHT next to it. Writing about anything serious next to an ad for Juicy Juice.
Ads bug me, but I understand the necessity of them. I like the idea of having an option. I’d rather them at the top than mingling with my personalized modules. Thanks.
^^
well i`d prefer f we had the option of hiding the ads. it`s really hard to make an entry if the ads just block our posts.
Please put the ads back where they were!
I had no problem when the ads were on top of my xanga site. Now that they are on the side, it bothers me. Makes me not want to look at my xanga anymore.
I have a huge problem with ads in general because most are offensive, plus nobody every clicks on them. I know you guys need to have ads on our sites to keep in business, but its really over the top. The panel is huge and annoying. And on some people’s sites, the ads block the entire blog. Also if this is a “test” than why aren’t the ads gone yet? its been well over 72 hours. And no matter how hard you try people will find a way of blocking. I’ve already seen codes for blocking the new ad placement. So my suggestion is at least let us have a choice as to where the ads go. Although I hardly mind paying 4 dollars a month for premium, it seems more difficult for younger users to do so, considering they don’t have funds to do so.
Thanks
well i’m PISSED i can’t read ANYONES posts because the ads are BLOCKING the words so i pretty much hate the ads with a PASSION right now so if you could fix that that would be just peachy
and i’d be grateful too sorry i’m just more than slightly annoyed not trying to be a bitch i’m sorry
p.s. have a happy holiday <3
The ads are really bogging up my content along the side…I have a HUGE strip ad before I can see any of my other modules. I wish I could move it..
I never minded the ad being there, but to have it in the middle of all my modules annoys me
The side ads ad too much clutter to the actual body of the page. I say move them back to the top.
I think Xanga should try the same kind of route like MySpace, where the ads are on the private page, not the public page. Also the content of the ads are sometimes inappropriate, which is a little upsetting.
It was better at the top of the page. And I agree that most of the ads are very offensive and it is annoying if it looks like the ads are part of the content of the page.
It would really just be nice to have them wherever we want to have them.
As this was posted on December 19th it seems that the 72-hour trials are up. Any updates on what is happening with the ads?
Please move the ads back to the top of the page!!! Its covering my entire blog!!! Please Please Please do something about this!!! I like xanga a lot but if this keeps up I’m not sure what I can do.
Thanks
I dislike the google ads immensely. The side bar ads make it seem as if they’re supposed to be part of the default layout with modules and makes it incredibly misleading. The banner on top, that specifically stated ‘XANGA- then ad’ was infinitely preferable than this google ad. When it was by the xanga name, it was clear that ‘here is a XANGA ad, because they put it there’. The google ad makes it seem like I put it there, and that’s lame.
It seems, though, that the side ad isn’t likely to go away, if “lots of users like it”. At least, please make it so that the ad would be UNDERNEATH all the actual xanga modules. It’s annoying to have to go from profile—- then the ad, which means scrolllll dowwwwnnnn– and then to subscriptions and groups and whatever. It’s seriously jarring.
I also like the idea of making hiding advertising against the Terms of Service. It messes up some layouts, okay, but making an ad be somewhere on the page — top or bottom, depending, might not be that bad of an idea. Granted, I’m not sure how many people actually click on ads — I don’t, personally, because half the time (especially with google ads) the links are to some bizarre adware-filled site — but if advertising is that big a deal, just make it a requirement not to hide them.
I’d prefer if we could choose wear we want our ad. I wasn’t too fond of it at the top, but I don’t like it on the side at all. When someone has almost no content on the page, that ad makes the page scroll down, when it doesn’t have to. I don’t even think I would mind the top, just not the side. But a choice of ad posistioning would be awesome!
I respect the fact that xanga needs ads but on the side in the middle of someones content? Is that really necessary? C’mon John! It was fine at the top to begin with and I have no complaints for that placement. The fact of the matter is it ruins a lot of my layouts and blocks many others blogs and modules. I enjoy Xanga very much and I’d hate to move to…Myspace but I just might have to if this business keeps up. It seems like most users who do not have premium are very upset, so please reconsider your ad placement.
Thank You For Your Time
& Happy Holidays
I like the idea of being able to select an option where we can choose to have the ad on the middle or the top, because it seems some have a preference.. as for myself, I preferred to have the ad up on the top because it offers my xanga a better sense of symmetry.
72 hours have had to have gone by now…why is the ad still on the side?
has the option to move it back on top been given yet?
Where the ad is located on the side, it’s pushing down all my tags and subscriptions.
Are we able to choose where to put the ad?
okay well i hate the ads. they are soo .. annoyingg! and i think your exagerrating about “alot of people liking the ads” i highly doubt that many people like tehm .. you are just saying that so people come by see and then are persuaded by your opinions, when you rewally should have just sai d” what do you think of the ads” i think they should be on the top… or just no ads at all im sure that many people are buying premium with that thing that pops up when you make a new siteee. take the ads down please asap! its christmas gah!
I don’t mind them at all since the site is providing a free service. Wherever is fine too.
I’m long-time xanga user, probably for at least 4 years now, and I must admit, some of the improvements are nice, such as the new profile fill-out. On the other hand, there are things that I just don’t understand about xanga. The mini’s, the AD modules.. No one really likes them, but they are kept up. So, in my opinion, I’d definitely like the option. I mean, maybe also a choice between one with a large width, and one with more height? The tall ones really annoy me, and since they are in the modules, they mess up the layouts a lot. I don’t mind them as much on the bottom, or I suppose I could even deal with it on the top. Just please, please, please.. get rid of the AD modules.
I want to be able to choose where we place the advertisements; even considering to choose a different blogging site.
I don’t mind ads on my free site, I just really hate the dg.specificclick page that keeps coming up, even empty I hate it.
please take them off.
I know I’ve emailed you through the forum, but I wanted to give input on your previous entry regarding those ads.
Giving an option will be the best route, I think. That way, it gives back the “control” or freedom that users had originally. And for instance, the new themes [though I don't like them, and don't use them] .. I believe you can click and drag where to put what. People like that. Especially the ones that aren’t too familiar with HTML. If you give the users that don’t employ the themes the option of moving the ads to their liking as well, it’ll make everyone happy.
I’d prefer them at the bottom. But I didn’t realize that many people clicked on them anyways. The top was hide-able, and the users that didn’t like them there .. will probably be thrilled to see them -back- at that location. I noticed that the “older” population of Xanga users don’t mind the ads either way; just the younger ones. But I understand your money problem and placement of the ads.
I’ve come to a solid conclusion that you should give the option of moving them to any location AND if at the side, BELOW all the modules there. That way, people will still see them, but they won’t be all the way at the bottom. They won’t be at the top, so a layout will look clean. And they won’t be in the -middle- of personal content.
Oh, and another possible location, if you can keep the ads minimal and small, at the top right above the newest entry. Like where the search bar would be. That size, maybe slightly more thicker would probably be more desirable than the side ones. I don’t know if that would work well, but .. it’s a thought. But in summation, I think that giving the option would be best. And for those that choose the side, placing it below the modules.
Okay, done running in circles.
Thanks again for listening.
Good luck with the Gmail thing. I don’t use it so I don’t have any input.
i like them at the top. that way they don’t so much interfere with the content and aesthetics of the site.
ryc: Wow… you’re serious! Well. since you are, I will be also. Give me 24 hours? Or… for when?
Until the ads are returned to where they were (or we are given the option to put them back at the top) I am switching to a one column layout.
when will I be able to use this script?
var dateNow = new Date();
var offset = (-(dateNow.getTimezoneOffset()/60));
var off = -7 – offset;
dateNow.setHours(dateNow.getHours()+off);
var year = dateNow.getFullYear()-2000;
var month = dateNow.getMonth()+1;
var date = dateNow.getDate();
yearString = year;
monthString = month;
dateString = date;
if(year “);
er, that didn’t turn out right. but when will i be able to use javascript, in general?
the ads on the side are horrible!
they make the page too long and they are ugly
i think you should put them back at the top of the page.
they looked better there. and if you get money just from clicking the ads you can ask xanga users to just click on the ad then exit out!
and most people arent idiots and wouldnt click the ad anyways because, well they are ads and scams.
i liked the ads better on top.
(but for some reason, when they were on top, they didn’t show on my site when i got my new layout. i thought i might have some javascript, but couldn’t find anything that looked like an ad remover.)
Honestly, I’d rather just have no adds, but if that’s not possible, I’d like an option, because the side ad keeps pushing over into people’s entries making them DAMNED near impossible to read, or view.
I’m definitely all for using ads. But, with that said, I’d like the choice of placement, as it messes up many users’ layouts.
John, there’s an ad for Ann Coulter on the side of my page. Ann Freaking Coulter! Please make Ann go away, John. Have mercy.
I don’t mind ads, but I like there to be an option to where to put it.
Currently, the ad covers half my xanga page because of my layout.
I tried adding the script that you guys provided on the FAQs, but it still hasn’t worked.
i wish u could make it some that u could move it arround
let us move it around, dude
When I found out that the ad was in the side of the xanga page, I was trying to figure out if there was an option to change it back to the top. I`m sure I`ll get used to it being on the side, but I wish there was an option for the people who would like to keep it on the side or on the top.
The side option seems best…
Personally, I liked it on the top better
i HATE the ads on the side…i didn’t mind them on top AT ALL and am totally cool with that, but have a bunch of ugly words or random pictures next to my entries is not only aesthetically displeasing but it also makes it difficult to focus on the words in my entries…making the location optional (side versus top) would be WAY better.
The ads at the top of the page have never bothered me in my five years of using Xanga. (This is a new account created for special purposes.) I would like to say that the side ads DO irk me quite a bit. It just doesn’t look good. One of the major things that have kept me on Xanga is the design aspect of your own personal page, something that the newly-popular Facebook doesn’t have. (I also have several other issues with that site that I will not go into.)
Though the idea of choosing where one would like the ad to be displayed seems quite appealing..
ugh the ads suck behind, seriously much. ona good note, i think the ad decision (top, middle, bottom) thing would be ok… I try my best to get the darn things hidden but would rather them (if i HAVE to have them) at the top than in the middle.
I love how its been well over 72 hours and you guys still haven’t moved the adds or given us any updates. So thanks…thanks so much.
@PearlSkulls -
I really have to agree with this person. It’s been waaaaaayy past 72 hours, when IS IT supposed to move back?