Sneaky / ethical advertising .....?

what's your thought?

[Bradley]

Click on this link:
[technoscout.com...]

Don't get wrapped up in how cool the product is, but instead - don't click on anything and wait a couple of minutes and see what happens. :)

My first reaction was that it was obtrusive, but then I started thinking that maybe that was pretty effective at closing sales......any thoughts? ethical?

[brotherhood of LAN]

I think its ok!

They are probably doing it 1/2 minutes after targetting the people that actually bothered to stay.

The ad that floats across carries the same message as the pop up when you entered the page, meaning it also blankets the likes of me who shut down pop ups before they even get a chance to open :)

lycos.co.uk does something similar, but it loads as soon as you hit the page

[toolman]

Thats a Live Person Chat window...they've created their own icon to entice you to speak with a real person to take the order. Probably a real turn off to most people.

[brotherhood of LAN]

hmmm live person chat? I got a small ad offering a discount floating in from the left

[toolman]

Click on it

<added />I think this method will erode trust in the visitors mind. It's a little too sneaky.

[brotherhood of LAN]

I dont know about it being "sneaky" but i see where you are coming from.

IMO, if there really is someone on the other end, you gotta say that speaking to a live person (or at least an intelligent one) is better than sifting through blank faced web pages.

But I agree to an extent that their is a degree of deception going on there....

[toolman]

One of the basic principles in every usability book I've read is to build trust and gain the confidence of your visitors. By linking someone directly into a chat session with a "real" person basically without their knowledge or consent beforehand is a "shock" and could be perceived as "hard sell" tactics and create the opposite effect of the one desired. I seriously doubt the conversion rate will go up on this page.

[Purple Martin]

Personally I find floating ads very annoying, as they distract me while I'm reading the content. I don't like blinking ads/banners/anything for the same reason. I'd rather find an alternative site that doesn't use distracting tactics.

Of course, I realise that the whole point of advertising is to grab my attention so that I consider clicking through. I guess advertisers just can't win with me - float/blink and I'll leave, don't float/blink and I might not notice the ad at all!

[Brett_Tabke]

Interesting concept. I had to switch to ie to see it though.

[Woz]

It is a very prevalant form of advertising in the Asian Region. Somewhat to intrusive for my tastes though.

Onya
Woz

[Liane]

I suppose it may have moderate success, but anyone looking for information on a web site is not necessarily interested in speaking to a "live" person just yet. Personally, I'd rather see a prominent link which I may choose rather than have it forced on me.

I would consider that a great service and worthy of praise if done less boldly. I hate the idea of having it "in my face" if I don't want it to be there. I like to investigate my purchases first and IF interested, then I would contact them or use their handy link which offers a real live person to chat with.

Overall rating: Rude and intrusive as is. Potential for improvemnet ... A++!