Why online ads do not work

BBC article

[John_Caius]

An interesting take on online versus offline advertising:

Part of the problem, for me at least, is that the web is still such a poor medium, in terms of speed of access, navigability, layout and quality of content, that the adverts turn a website from being barely usable into one that is just unacceptable

Having reviewed some of the ads features on the Creative Showcase, I have realised one thing.

Some of them are really rather good, and if they had been presented to me in a way which didn't irritate or annoy me then I might well have looked at them properly.

[news.bbc.co.uk...]

[SlyGuy]

A good read, John, thanks for pointing it out. I enjoyed reading the user comments at the bottom, especially:

If TV adverts ran in a banner down the side of the TV screen, caused the audio to drop out and the picture to slow down and if you actually looked at one it changed channels to QVC and would not let you back to the programme you were first watching, people would block TV adverts too. Adverts should be optional.

- Chad

[killroy]

I could not help it but have a strange thought pop into my head. I'm wonderign if anybody has ever done this:

Have you ever simply provided a small text link or links along the side of the screen labeled: "Click to view ad for product XYZ" or simply "View this Ad"?

This would bring back control, and would perhaps tickle some curiosity. Just because it "obviously won't work" doesn't mean it couldn'T work practically.

Perhaps people would enjoy beeing in control, and more so even, If I would se a link link that and decide to click it I would EXPECT to get a popup, nice and big with a big colourfull add, rather then a small squished box.

Hmm, something to try...

(PS: If it works I'll claim all credit ;)

SN