Flagship - The Independent Magazine for Gamers

Full Version: Ad Placements on the Flagship magazine website
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Some may decide to not even read this particular discussion thread, since not everyone finds subjects such as advertising related issues to be interesting or exciting. Better to simply read about games, they may be inclined to think.

I will make clear, up front, that final decisions regarding ads, advertising layouts, advertising schemes, and all things related to advertising do not belong to me. I'm simply a guy who is doing a little volunteer work to get the new Flagship magazine website up and running smoothly. Part of that effort, however, encompasses implementing a layout scheme whereby ads can be placed on the site, if Carol and Colin decide that ads should play a role in the website, at all, and if so, to what degree and extent.

Until such time as they make decisions in these matters, everything that you encounter on this website that is advertising related is simply me going about trying to come up with some possible advertising layout and placement possibilities. That's why things may seem like they are still changing, or even expanding, in some instances, because I am still fiddling with this and that, making changes of a wide and varied nature.

In the paper version of Flagship magazine, the one that some of you site users subscribe to, the amount of space that exists is limited. That is the inherent nature of the beast which is a standard paper version print magazine. That has always been the case, and that will always be the case, where paper version magazines are concerned. It is not an issue that is Flagship magazine specific.

In this day and age, space on a website is plentiful and abundant, compared to space availability in a paper version magazine. This website, from my perspective, is and should be an extension of the magazine, itself. Accordingly, the increase in space allocated to the Flagship concept, wherein the space on the website is factored into the equation along with the space in the magazine, itself, presents a range of new advertising options and possibilities.

An ad is not simply an advertisement. It is also something that contains information and which conveys information. An ad can be a paid ad, or it can be a non-paid ad. An ad can be entertaining or non-entertaining. It can be aesthetically pleasing or ugly as Hell. As Carol well knows, on more than one occasion in the past, I have e-mailed her with comments about, and critiques of, ads that were carried in some of the issues of Flagship magazine.

Contrary to what some might think, ads do not necessarily have to be about a way to make money. Ads are, in a nutshell, tools. They can be used effectively or ineffectively. They can be resorted to with one end in mind, or they can be multifaceted in what they seek to achieve. It certainly is not my desire to saturate the new Flagship website with ads. Yet, to accomplish or to facilitate certain things, it is necessary that one avail themself of certain tools.

The old Flagship website was replaced with this new Flagship website. In part, it was accomplished by changing the tools used to effectuate the end goal of having a website. I destroyed the old Flagship website in order to create this new Flagship website. To create new perceptions about ads and advertising, I may also need to destroy established perceptions and entrenched views about ads and advertising.

It helps to know what site users think about thinks like ads, ad schemes, ad layouts, and ad campaigns. I am not ad crazy, mind you. Rather, it is simply one of many things that I must deal with and address, as I continue to build this new Flagship website, and transition things from the old site to the new site.

In time, the reason that I do certain things, and why I make certain changes to the website, will become increasingly clear. Just bear with me, if you will, even as you voice your respective opinions about what you like and dislike along the way.
I recently added a plug-in to the new forums that shows who has been online today. Thus far, I have received no complaints about this addition to the site. Yet, in reality, all that it does is to advertise something to site users. It conveys information. You may not think of it as an ad, in the traditional sense, but ultimately, it serves the same, basic function as a traditional ad.
Here's a suggestion on the adverts....

When someone clicks on them, you should not take them away from your site.
Change the links to open a new window or tab instead.
If you don't know how to do that, send me a note and I'll tell you how.

Otherwise, I think the ads are pretty good & I like finding new games through them.


GrimFinger Wrote:I recently added a plug-in to the new forums that shows who has been online today. Thus far, I have received no complaints about this addition to the site. Yet, in reality, all that it does is to advertise something to site users. It conveys information. You may not think of it as an ad, in the traditional sense, but ultimately, it serves the same, basic function as a traditional ad.
I think the Ads add to a site, not detract, so for what it's worth I would say continue and have fun with them!
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