How to get better ads on Instructables

Instructables has been invited to join Federated Media Publishing. FM Publishing represents websites like ours to marketers to get more engaging and relevant advertising. More advertising revenue helps us develop better features and be more responsive to your, always excellent, requests.

When I crack open a copy of some kiteboarding related magazine, I spend almost as much time looking at the ads as I do the articles: The pictures are gorgeous, it reminds me of good times, and I get to check out the latest gear. Now granted, I'm just as likely to build my own stuff as buy new, but I do like to look and get inspired about what to build next. In a good magazine, the ads don't get in my way, and, in fact, I'd probably miss them if they were gone.

I've always imagined that the web would soon reach this same level. So, I'm excited about working with FM Publishing because they will take us one step closer to this ideal. To make this work, I need your help. Check out this short survey. I just took it and it honestly required less than 2 minutes and doesn't require any personally identifying information (unless you want to give them your email address for further follow up). It doesn't even require that you be logged in or have an account with Instructables. Also, post comments with your thoughts on this process as a whole. The people at FM will be watching the comments and your input will be invaluable in creating the content you want to see.

Comments

[emuman4evr]

Ugh I hate those ads that replace the content on sites. The ones where you mouse over words and a little pop up appears. Please don't do that to isntructables.

[hintss]

thats a totally different ad company.

[lemonie]

I was surprised to find one of those old-skool cheap & nasty annoying ads here today (imagine it wobbling and beeping) L

[radiorental]

I do not like FM's method of inserting ads directly in to/under content. Yes they are context sensitive but I would prefer to see a more modular approach. That is, not having to decipher the ads from the content. I spend a small percentage of time on some blogs working out what is content and what is an FM ad. I would very much like it if they placed the ads in a dedicated section similar to the google ads on the right. BoingBoing ran an FM ad trial some weeks back. It didnt fit well and now they're gone. With my UI design hat on, I feel integrated FM ads would be an even worse fit here given the specialised content. Keep it to the side or dont do it at all - pauric

[ewilhelm]

If Boingboing has corrected their problem, can you give another example of a site that does a poor job?

[radiorental]

techcrunch has some inline ads, both FM and Google. The FM ads appear to be flash animations, very distracting.

[radiorental]

ok, I'm fairly sure techcrunch had fm ads earlier today. I cant find them now. Point being, I dont do drugs and I'm pretty sure I saw inline colour FM ads somewhere once... I really didnt like them from both a user perspective and a design feel.

[ewilhelm]

Apparently they're watching your comments! (actually, I saw what you were talking about earlier today.)

[OneManUniversity]

Flashkit has the WORST ADS because there are sooo many. It takes forever to load just because of the many ads, most of them flash based. Pair that with the heavy html layout, and you have loading torture...

[fungus amungus]

BoingBoing still has FM ads on the site. The top ad on each side of the text is through them. There's also a little "FM Advertise Here" button.

[binnie]

MAN WE ARE LIKE TOTAL BROTHERS!!! rofl I probly spend more time looking at the ads!

[lemonie]

Why has no one pointed out that this is spam? Is ewilhelmn that good that nobody spotted it?

[ewilhelm]

sshh! Don't tell anyone. I gotta eat, ya know?!

[Aeshir]

I actually want ads to be on this site. Like, think about it, everybody has trouble finding materials for instructables. And if it's going to be paying to keep this site up, so you don't have to pay for it too (REALLY sucks when that happens). The ads should also not be at the top of the page, they should be at the side, but not squishing everything in. Then you don't have to scroll more. I HATE that.

[cry_wolf]

I'm being watched! This is against my pricavy! Eh i don't give a crap anymore =D

[modio]

as long as its not pop-ups and not ads all over the place, then im good. would the ads help get an Instructables forum?

[ewilhelm]

A forum is on its way! Click the triangle next to explore in the navigation menu and notice that we jumped the gun a little bit.

[ewilhelm]

Fixed now.

[trebuchet03]

popups OR anything that puts itself infront of content :P

[mrmath]

Banner ads are cool. Popups are not. Nor are the kind that fly in front of the web page with the close [x] bit. Most annoying of all is something I ran into last night for the first time. I rolled over a banner add, and it created a popup. I couldn't believe it, so I closed the popup, and rolled over the ad again. The same popup. The ad was between my mouse and the close button, so I wasn't even rolling over it the first time. SO ANNOYING! Avoid annoying advertising, please!

[ewilhelm]

Obviously, we have total control over the ads. So, if you see something that doesn't fit (inappropriate or something) or something that gets in your way, let me know. Either post a comment or send me email. I'll try to review everything, but sometimes I miss stuff.

[skautistic]

Whatever keeps Instructables up and running without watering-down the community too much. Although you guys own Instructables the fact that you asked about the community's feelings shows you'll handle this properly

[fungus amungus]

Someone's gotta pay the bills and so I'm totally fine with ads.

[Jack Daniels]

a forum would be awsome