Public Service Announcements On Your Site

[Brett_Tabke]

I was just reading about a new web alert system that site owners can put on there site. As an example, Code Amber deals with missing children: [codeamber.org...]

How do you feel about PSA's (public service annoucements) on sites? Is it something you do run, or consider running?

How would something like the above effect/affect your visitors?

[Marketing Guy]

I would consider running it if my site was related to what was being announced.

With the Code Amber announcement its difficult. Although the information is relevant to everyone, and the more broad ranged site you have, the better for them, there is still the issue of relevancy.

I guess it would be down to the individual webmaster to decide what was appropriate for their site.

Scott

[txbakers]

I wouldn't do something like that. It reminds me too much of the news tickers crowding the screens on CNN and FOX.

I did put a simple gif file with a USA ribbon and "support the troops" on it. I felt that was universal enough and hopefully non-political.

[pendanticist]

My personal view is that finding missing/exploited children is appropriate for all websites and have had my Code Amber Ticker [webmasterworld.com] since November 22, 2002.

Amber Alerts (.org) are activated by Law Enforcement Agencies, whereas at Amber Alerts (.net) they are not.

If you are interested in helping, I urge you to visit http*//codeamber.net to participate in discussions on missing children, support parents of missing children, discuss State and Federal Legislation, get information on CodeAmber Child Safety Events and more.

Pendanticist.

[cfx211]

From a usability perspective you should keep your site as on point as possible. If you have a general interest site or a news site, then PSA's might be appropriate, if you run a missing persons site then an amber alert could be essential just like the Sierra club posting news about environmental legislation could be, but if you run a widget site then your users are coming there to see widgets not amber alerts.

We already live in a supersaturated media environment where its hard to separate out what you want from the rest of the noise. I think when users are really looking for something, they want to focus in on that topic and not be distracted by anything else no matter how good the intention is.

[lorax]

That's a tough one to answer. I don't necessarily agree/disagree with pendanticist's point of view but there has to be a limit. There are so many 'worthy' causes out there that I would love to support but if I did then I fear my website(s) would become billboards more than targeted marketing/informational sites.

I can see a dedicated space on a website which rotates through a selection of worthy causes as if they were (are) banner ads. All in all, it does come back to personal taste and preference.