Results 1 to 24 of 24

Thread: New Look BABB?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Posts
    16,686

    New Look BABB?

    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?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
    Posts
    11,516
    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.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Posts
    12,545
    Is that why I see funky stuff on my screen when opening the BABB?

    I saw TEXT TEXT TEXT...

    And >>>> ...

    (or something like that)

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
    Posts
    11,516
    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.

  5. #5
    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?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Posts
    12,545
    Quote Originally Posted by 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?
    Oh, it just makes me want to click on one. Ok, I already did. ops:

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
    Posts
    11,516
    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.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Posts
    16,686

    Re: New Look BABB?

    Quote Originally Posted by The Bad Astronomer
    [edit]If they blink and flash at epileptic-seizure-inducing rates...
    Thank you for not doing that! 8)

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
    Posts
    2,501
    Well... could we at least see the:
    Quote Originally Posted by The Bad Astronomer
    blink and flash at epileptic-seizure-inducing rates
    8)

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Posts
    2,258
    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).

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Posts
    16,686

    Re: New Look BABB?

    Quote Originally Posted by Lurker
    Well... could we at least see the:
    Quote Originally Posted by The Bad Astronomer
    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.

  12. #12
    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.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Posts
    9,088
    Shades of blue---Commodore-64 flashback! Cool retro effect
    Does it increase your revenue stream if we click on a few ads?

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Posts
    1,008
    Quote Originally Posted by sarongsong
    Does it increase your revenue stream if we click on a few ads?
    LINK

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Posts
    3,116
    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!

  16. #16
    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!)

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Posts
    16,686

    Re: New Look BABB?

    Quote Originally Posted by 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!)
    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.

  18. #18
    what you need is a pointing hand,




    that perhaps moves as it points to the ads..

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Posts
    16,686

    Re: New Look BABB?

    Or better yet, a foot



    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?

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Posts
    1,732
    Quote Originally Posted by The Bad Astronomer

    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.

  21. #21
    Quote Originally Posted by SciFi Chick
    Quote Originally Posted by The Bad Astronomer

    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.

  22. #22
    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 :-?

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Posts
    323
    Yeah the people bid on adwords, and whoever bids the most gets shown. Some adwords don't have very high bids.

  24. #24
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Posts
    16,686

    Re: New Look BABB?

    Quote Originally Posted by 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 :-?
    Well, I guess the bottom line is, it all makes cents. For the BA. =D>

Similar Threads

  1. What's the age of the BABB?
    By Candy in forum Off-Topic Babbling
    Replies: 106
    Last Post: 2004-Jun-25, 12:14 AM
  2. BA on the BABB
    By Wingnut Ninja in forum Small Media at Large
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 2004-Jan-25, 12:23 AM
  3. I'd rather be BABB'ing than ...
    By NASA Fan in forum Off-Topic Babbling
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: 2003-Oct-21, 04:38 AM
  4. New to BABB
    By EUROPA in forum Astronomy
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 2002-Aug-15, 08:06 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •