New Look BABB?

[Maksutov]

Seem to be a lot more grey/silver backgrounds. Plus the Google ads are where the old Edmund Scientific ads used to appear: as part of the "header".

A result of the 2.0.14 phpBB upgrade?

[The Bad Astronomer]

No, I'm playing around. I'm fiddling with layout and such to see what I like.

I just found out that people with sites like are making a lot more money off google ads than I am, and since they pay for hosting, and eventually will pay for a dedicated host, I'm seeing what works now. This may only be temporary; in a few days I'll see how the ads are doing in the new location.

I added them to my blog, too.

[Candy]

Is that why I see funky stuff on my screen when opening the BABB?

I saw TEXT TEXT TEXT...

And >>>> ...

(or something like that)

[The Bad Astronomer]

Yeah. The software that runs this board is pretty complex, and I had to play a bit to figure out where things got displayed. I would use text to do that, then quickly erase it. I knew some folks would see it, but not many.

[Andromeda321]

Ok BA I know you need to keep this site running and all but I find the ads with dark coloring at the top to be really distracting from the rest of the board (particularly because the rest of the board is not as dark). Anyone else agree or is it just me?

[Candy]

Ok BA I know you need to keep this site running and all but I find the ads with dark coloring at the top to be really distracting from the rest of the board (particularly because the rest of the board is not as dark). Anyone else agree or is it just me?
Oh, it just makes me want to click on one. Ok, I already did. :oops:

[The Bad Astronomer]

Well, if the ads are the same color as the site, then no one sees them and no one clicks on them. If they blink and flash at epileptic-seizure-inducing rates with colors designed to be seen by a bat with its eyes closed located in a cave in another country, then people would send me death threats.

So I compromised.

[Maksutov]

[edit]If they blink and flash at epileptic-seizure-inducing rates...
Thank you for not doing that! 8)

[Lurker]

Well... could we at least see the:
blink and flash at epileptic-seizure-inducing rates

8)

[tmosher]

Mercifully, you don't use the technique that another board uses. Before you get to the forums from the main site, you have to deal with a full page ad that stays up for ten seconds or until you click the miniscule "skip" button hidden somewhere on the page.

Also, that same forum, uses pop-up ads (at least two at startup) that you have to close.

I do appreciate the change you made to the main page - moving the bulletin board link to the middle left makes it easier to click. Before, it sat just at the bottom left edge of my screen (1024 x 768 resolution).

[Maksutov]

Well... could we at least see the:
blink and flash at epileptic-seizure-inducing rates

8)
If you are subject to certain health problems, you see them for a millisecond, and then you either close your eyes, kill the screen, or look away.

If you don't, there's nothing funny about what happens next. :o

[The Supreme Canuck]

Can you dictate how many ads appear in one ad panel? If so, it looks like you could fit two more ads in per panel.

Added: I'm also noticing that sometimes they don't show up at the bottom of threads at all.

[sarongsong]

Shades of blue---Commodore-64 flashback! Cool retro effect :D
Does it increase your revenue stream if we click on a few ads?

[Lycus]

Does it increase your revenue stream if we click on a few ads?

LINK (http://www.badastronomy.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?p=417904#417904)

[Fram]

While I don't like the ads at the top, and certainly not in dark blue (I cannot ignore them!), I perfectly understand why you do it, so no problem! The board is still perfectly usable and the ads aren't too much 'in your face', so good for you and good for us!

[mickal555]

I don't mind the adds but the grey background is icky, and it looks uneven now :( . I suppose your still fiddleing.

I definetly understand though, no one clicks on my adds and they blend in really nice. If only clicking on them would open a new window. (I don't want to leave BABB!)

[Maksutov]

I don't mind the adds but the grey background is icky, and it looks uneven now :( . I suppose your still fiddleing.

I definetly understand though, no one clicks on my adds and they blend in really nice. If only clicking on them would open a new window. (I don't want to leave BABB!)
If you're using Firefox, you have the option of right-clicking on the ad link and choosing to either open it in a new tab or in a new window, thus never really leaving the BABB.

[Frog march]

what you need is a pointing hand,

http://www.tomnmarysue2.homestead.com/files/pointing_hand.gif


that perhaps moves as it points to the ads..

[Maksutov]

Or better yet, a foot

http://img179.echo.cx/img179/2382/foot6ho.th.jpg (http://img179.echo.cx/my.php?image=foot6ho.jpg)

to squash all those woowoo ads.

Wait, didn't we agree it would be better to click on those ads, so the woowoos wind up supporting the BA? :D

[SciFi Chick]

I just found out that people with sites like are making a lot more money off google ads than I am, and since they pay for hosting, and eventually will pay for a dedicated host, I'm seeing what works now. This may only be temporary; in a few days I'll see how the ads are doing in the new location.

I added them to my blog, too.

I'm curious. What gets you the money? If we buy something at one of the sponsors, or just clicking on it? Because if clicking on the ads gets you money, I would be happy to click on them every day. :)

[Frog march]

I just found out that people with sites like are making a lot more money off google ads than I am, and since they pay for hosting, and eventually will pay for a dedicated host, I'm seeing what works now. This may only be temporary; in a few days I'll see how the ads are doing in the new location.

I added them to my blog, too.

I'm curious. What gets you the money? If we buy something at one of the sponsors, or just clicking on it? Because if clicking on the ads gets you money, I would be happy to click on them every day. :)

I don't think he's allowed to give the answer to that under Google rules but I think that google get some money for each click and then they must pay the site owner a percentage. Just the click I think.

[mickal555]

I have them myself and I can say with 100% certancy that it's the click that counts.

It's funny though- some adds give you 3cents others give you 15cents and some give you 64cents :-?

[Stregone]

Yeah the people bid on adwords, and whoever bids the most gets shown. Some adwords don't have very high bids.

[Maksutov]

I have them myself and I can say with 100% certancy that it's the click that counts.

It's funny though- some adds give you 3cents others give you 15cents and some give you 64cents :-?
Well, I guess the bottom line is, it all makes cents. For the BA. =D>