Ad Test in Progress

[Kestryll]

I know someone will notice and ask so I'll answer it ahead of time.

The randomly rotating banner ads on the bottom of the page are being tested as replacements for the text checkerboard up top.
Some forum members want to advertise up there and I don't really want to add more rows so this allows a finite space to hold infinite ads, in theory... (we need a 'worried' smilie)

For the advertisers some of these banners are either temp banners or ones I cobbled together from screenshots of your sites for testing.
Obviously if you have a banner you'd prefer to use let me know and we'll get it sized and replace the temp one.

[Kestryll]

In retrospect I may move the checkerboard to the very bottom of the page to act as 'quicklinks' to the advertisers for when their ads are not the ones on tops.
I'll have to think about that.

Or I could put a link to a 'Sponser Page' in the Nav Bar and just give th checkerboard it's own web page.


Hmm... options...

[Tweak338]

Looks kinda funny at the bottom.

[Kestryll]

Yeah, it's not the best place for them but it is a good out of the way place to test sizing, appearance and functionality. Eventually, when everything is nailed down, I'll move them up top.

I wanted to see the PHP 'random' coding in action and give the advertisers a chance to see it without overwriting the current ads.

That darn coding is a pain in the backside! One wrong quotation mark and a capitalization out of place killed it earlier today. Took me far longer than it should have to find them too.

[paradox]

There should be a space between the ads vertically (a gutter in newspaperspeak).

[shark92651]

My .02 worth:

If you move the checkerboard to the bottom you still have the issue that it will continue to grow and take up valuable real estate as you add more advertisers. I would suggest showing 4 or 6 rotating banner ads at the top, with another static graphic ad that says something like "Click here for a list of all sponsors and for advertising information" or something to that effect. Clicking on that banner will take you to a seperate page that has a list of all advertisers banners and whatever information you want to display about how to advertise. Then ditch the checkerboard altogether.

[SemiAutoSam]

How about a scrolling ad somewhat like the one on this survival blog

http://www.survivalblog.com

The up scrolling banner I'm speaking of is on the right side

[mcubed4130]

I know someone will notice and ask so I'll answer it ahead of time.

The randomly rotating banner ads on the bottom of the page are being tested as replacements for the text checkerboard up top.
Some forum members want to advertise up there and I don't really want to add more rows so this allows a finite space to hold infinite ads, in theory... (we need a 'worried' smilie)

For the advertisers some of these banners are either temp banners or ones I cobbled together from screenshots of your sites for testing.
Obviously if you have a banner you'd prefer to use let me know and we'll get it sized and replace the temp one.

Personally I detest, scrolling - flashing - blinking - etc... as it annoys me.

If you are going to change this. Please DO NOT do any flashing or blinking...

Scrolling / changing pics (cross fade or something) - please put a delay in the multiple many of seconds category i.e. 5-10+ The change every second junk, is really quite distracting.

-M3

[Tweak338]

lets just copy Arfcom..

[SemiAutoSam]

Fixed it for you.

lets just copy Barfcom..

[xenophobe]

lets just copy Arfcom..

+1

Graphical ads take up much less space, and the smaller ones could be just on the main forum page, but you could charge more for larger banners which would rotate at the top of every subform and thread....

[Kestryll]

We're in the final stages of the ad testing.
In spite of my best efforts the html and php codes seem to work!

Barring any issues from the advertisers themselves the randomly rotating ads up top and down below will be in use and augmented by the new 'Sponsors' link in the Navigation Bar. This link will take you to a larger version of the old 'checkerboard' for quick access to sponsor sites.
Advertisers will also have more space on the 'Sponsors' page for a description of what they do/offer.

Let's hear those thoughts, comments and opinions, you're going to give them to me anyways or this wouldn't be Calguns!

[fast318]

Much easier on the eyes and displays better on my cell phone

[RudyN]

I like it so far. makes it easier to use.

[TonyM]

I had to turn off images on my browser. Browsing from work over REmote Desktop the new scheme is too visable.

Is there a "lite" version (the text only one) of vbulletin installed here?

ETA.... Nevermind... Firefox's handy add-ins fixed me up.