spam erodes consumer acceptance of other ad forms

but wait, pop-ups REALLY take it on the chin

[rcjordan]

But research he presented to the groups based on online surveys of PlanetFeedback users indicate pop-up ads are more annoying and less credible to consumers than either spam or telemarketing. [YEOW! -rcj] About 60% of respondents found pop-ups more annoying than spam. It also found a correlation between annoyance levels and likelihood consumers will try to block out other forms of advertising, such as TV, with devices like TiVo. [DOUBLE-YEOW! -rcj]

"Once the ad community publicly commits to consumer-centered principles, supported by enforcement mechanisms," said Mr. Blackshaw, ad models that "flirt with intrusiveness at levels comparable to or exceeding spam -- especially pop-ups -- will have a short, indefensible shelf life."

[adage.com...]

[darkblue1]

What does this mean to affiliates?

I say integrate your ads into your sites.

Combining the humble text link with editorial content seems to be an underutilized technique these days.

[BlueSky]

I'm part of that 60%. Pop-ups and pop-unders are definitely far more annoying than spam and give off the impression those who use them are peddling trash. I got irritated with so many sites opening unwanted new windows on my PC, that I set my firewall a long time ago to block ALL ads not just pop ups/unders. Once I did that, surfing the net was and is like the good old days before sites turned to such abusive advertising.

The only ads I haven't blocked are Google's because they aren't intrusive. If they start flashing and dancing around on the page, they'll be put on the block list too. Advertisers need to put themselves in their customers' shoes. You don't see ads jumping up and down in your face on newspapers and magazines while people are trying to read. If they hadn't been so abused by so many, I and others like me would probably be more tolerant of them. It's too late now. Once a person blocks all ads and sees how totally enjoyable the net is, he won't want to go back. I don't.

[1milehgh80210]

pop-up ads are more annoying"

Yup,deleting spam is an unpleasant but once-a-day task for most people.
Pop-ups can make the whole web experience unpleasant.

[darkblue1]

Advertisers need to put themselves in their customers' shoes. You don't see ads jumping up and down in your face on newspapers and magazines while people are trying to read. If they hadn't been so abused by so many, I and others like me would probably be more tolerant of them

I don't know if I agree with your analogy BlueSky

Firstly, if a magazine advertiser could pop up ads out of the pages they would. I guess the closest we’ll get are the inserts and those perfumed pages. But I really think that analogy has too many differences to count.

Also, the sad fact is popup ads work, and idea that anyone would forgo any money for the good of the Internet is just unrealistic when you consider human nature. Humans have, and will continue to act selfishly to the detriment of the greater world be it environmental or virtual.

What we need to do is find ads that generate the same money as pop-up yet are more palatable. The best I came up with was Text links.

[Die_Hard]

I know there a some billy joe six packs who hate getting barraged with pop-ups from the porn sites, and the freebie sites. but the site that has an occasional pop-up? As annoying as they may seem to be, we need to understand the reality of the advertising benefits. Pop-ups make us money. As hated as they may be, as long as they convert, we will continue to use them. And that is the bottom line.

[StanBo]

For me they are equally annoying.
But while spam is just being deleted, a pop-whatever also creates a mental note for me to avoid the site that spat it at me.
They do convert (and they always will), but sites that aim at the audience like us, webmasters should be vary of consequences.

[MonkeeSage]

"What popups? Oh yeah, I've got them all blocked." -Joe User ;)

Jordan

[StanBo]

Lucky you are...
The nature of my work demands that any and all ads must be visible to me at all times. I wish I could have all the spam blocked, just to compensate a little bit :))