BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: New Answers

Photography Question 
- Carolyn M. Fletcher

BetterPhoto Member
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What's With The Ads?


What's with the big ads in the new entries page? And 5 across the page?? Like it wasn't already hard enough to navigate with 4 across. At least they could have made the ads the size of the thumbnails. Come ON BP, what are you thinking??


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August 08, 2006

 

Joy Brown
  I'm right with you, Carolyn...the ads are so DISTRACTING, not to mention a bit tacky!!! Is this the photo contest page or an advertising forum???


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August 08, 2006

 

Charlene Bayerle
  I AGREE!!!!!!
This really does take away from the idea of a "contest". I think everyone who enters BP, already knows there are classes, etc., available.
Jim....please remove the ads...they are so distracting and I think you started this site as a "contest" and has turned it into a advertising site. :(


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August 08, 2006

 

Justin G.
  advertisements = money for site = more profit from over-priced classes.


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August 08, 2006

 

Charlene Bayerle
  You are right Justin....but it is really unfortunate that such a wonderful site has turned into an advertising agency....


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August 08, 2006

 
- Virginia Leone

BetterPhoto Member
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  AWFUL idea!!!! The ads are so distracting and they take away from the enjoyment of browsing the pages. I hope they are just temporary.


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August 08, 2006

 

Tamera S. Phillips
  I have to agree the ads are distracting and now the thumbnail photo's are even smaller. I understand why they are doing it but we all know about the classes..right?


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August 08, 2006

 
- Carolyn M. Fletcher

BetterPhoto Member
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  Right! And what happens when someone uploads a pano?? All the shots will be right off the screen on the right side.


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August 08, 2006

 

Marie Fields
  I have to agree with all of the above. I REALLY dislike the addition of those ads!!


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August 08, 2006

 

Charlene Bayerle
  Jim, can you hear us???? I hope so!!


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August 08, 2006

 

m. schwendener
  It's good for me, as I spend way too much time looking at the new entries and the ads will spoil the attraction ;-)

That said, I don't think it fits with the otherwise quite elegant and unobtrusive design of the site .

Manuela


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August 08, 2006

 

m. schwendener
  Maybe the numbers of entries had just gotten too big and the ads are supposed to discourage some of the contestants ;-)

Manuela


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August 08, 2006

 

Bob Cammarata
  Maybe class sizes are dropping and cash flow is down.
I see nothing wrong with advertizing on pages that most people visit.

The placement of these ads is an aggressive and prudent marketing strategy.

Bob


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August 08, 2006

 

Ariel Lepor
  The placement of these ads really detracts from the site. How about a non-flashing ad at the bottom or a small one at the top? I don't think that placing them every 10 photos or whatever makes people want to use those classes any more. It just makes browsing photos more difficult! Google seems to know how to put in several ads per page without making it difficult or annoying to use the site.

I have a good ad-blocker extension for Firefox, so I don't see the ads (unless I disable it). :) I do, however, see a big space every several images.

Ariel
ScrattyPhotography
ScrattyPhotography Blog


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August 08, 2006

 
- Carolyn M. Fletcher

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  I don't have as much of a problem with the ads (although they should be the same size as the thumbnails) as the five across the page. 4 was bad enough, this is impossible!


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August 08, 2006

 

m. schwendener
  And four of the five going to the same page...


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August 08, 2006

 

Pat Worster
  Please! Please! Please! get rid of the ads!!!!!


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August 08, 2006

 
BetterPhotoJim.com - Jim Miotke

BetterPhoto Member
BetterPhoto Crew: King
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Jim Miotke's Gallery
  Hello Friends of BetterPhoto,

I hear you. However, we have done studies that indicate that many people visit our site and leave without knowing that we sell courses or Web sites. Our contest is a fun, free attraction that we provide in the hopes that it will increase our audience. Our goal is to continue to be the best photography resource on the Web. If people use the site without supporting the site, this free contest will not continue.

Now let me clarify some confusion and errors stated above. This new display has many of the same features as before, as well as many enhancements that I want to make sure you all are aware of:

1) The gallery photos are not smaller. They are the same size that they have been for a long time.

2) 50 gallery photos display on each page. There were 40 before. By adding one column, all we are doing is using up the white space that was to the right and left. This is not changing the way the other photos are displayed.

3) These advertisements do not cover up gallery photos. Each ad simply pushes the gallery photo one across.

4) Panoramas will look better in this new display. We have fixed the problem where panoramic images were pushing all images to the side.

We need your help and support to get the word out about the greatness of BetterPhoto. Your help will keep us going and growing stronger each day.

Thank you for your support,
Jim Miotke
President, BetterPhoto.com, Inc.


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August 08, 2006

 

Ariel Lepor
  That's great about the improvements, Jim, but don't you think there is a way to get the word out that you have classes without making the site any less pleasing to use?


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August 08, 2006

 

Jane M
  Actualy I soon got use to the ads, though maybe if they were restricted to column 1 and column 5 they would be less obtrusive whilst still getting the message across to new visitors?
It's obviously a necessary balancing act between free contest, advertising and website revenues. Just be careful which photos the "Learn to take photos like these" ads appear next to, put them next to some of mine and you might not get much extra business :-)


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August 08, 2006

 

Charlene Bayerle
  Jim, why not make those who have a "free gallery" pay for that gallery.
If you're looking for revenue....or put the ads at the top of the contest...where the rest of the advertising appears. I can hardly believe that anyone who uses this site doesnt know about the classes, etc. You send out newsletters all the time....and those that don't have any information under their name, when entering or q&a, really don't care about classes. They won't take one anyway.
You ask for the member suggestions, and I think the members are asking for you to remove the ads....or how about if you use one of the members pictures as an advertisement....instead of those big square ads.
I know everyone is going to think that I have now cursed myself in getting a finalist, because I voiced my opinion, but I really don't think that is how you at BP do things.
Thank you
Charlene


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August 08, 2006

 

Kay Beausoleil
  Since we seem to be stuck with the ads, could BP at least put them all in one column? (BP could get one more in that way ...) The contest pages look cheap the way they are now.


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August 08, 2006

 

m. schwendener
  Thank you for replying, Jim :-)

> many people visit our site and leave without knowing that we sell courses or Web sites.

Personally, I found it very clear on my first visit that behind the links 'Courses' and 'Get a Website' I could find just that - and the pulldown lists make it even clearer what you have to offer.

But if many others leave without noticing that, I understand that you want to do something against it.

I have the feeling that we would be much less against the ads if they were static at the top of the page and not moving about between the new pictures.

With the eyes of a first time user I'd also like to mention that five big pictures of which four lead to the same page looks either like a mistake in linking them or as spamming. Or cigarett ads, for that matter.

It's your site and you provide an excellent service on so many levels - with the way the ads are placed now you risk to make the step from 'excellent' to 'okay'.

At first I thought the ad pictures had been uploaded by accident to the contest entries and would just get pushed to page 2 after some time. Even now that I know that's not true I still think it _looks_ like that.

Thank you for listening :-)

Manuela


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August 08, 2006

 

Brian A. Wolter
  Correct me if I am wrong, but on the BP home page on the left it says Online Photography Courses with a link that says View all of our courses. Below that is the Course Calculator. In the What's New box it also talks about courses given. I don't see where people could miss that. Putting the ads in the contest entries just really makes it look unpleasing IMO.....


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August 08, 2006

 

Irene Troy
  Until a few minutes ago I did not really know what all the fuss and bother was about. I saw this post last night, but did not have the time to look at what everyone was talking about. At first I thought people were complaining about the banner ads, and then I went and looked at the photo pages and OMG! I am a huge fan of BP and have already taken a number of classes – all of which, IMO, have been excellent. I found this site a couple of years ago and right there on the home page I almost immediately saw the info about classes. I have never entered a contest and it took me some time to really notice that the contests existed. I’m sorry, Jim, but to me these ads just look tacky and take away from the formerly nice flow of this site. Of-course, I am anything but an expert in marketing and do not know the issues behind the decision to redesign the site to include these type ads.


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August 08, 2006

 

Sharon Day
  "If people use the site without supporting the site, this free contest will not continue."

I can understand this statement, however, I find the fact there needs to be ads to generate more interest disturbing. It worries me to see changes that seem to be adversly affecting the fun of browsing the daily entries, but what bothers me the most is the thought that BP would have to charge for the contest. No ads = no contest?? If BP charged to enter the contest I would likely pay if at all possible (I don't think I'd go out and get a job to do so :D). I can say with certainty if there aren't photos to browse I probably wouldn't visit the site. I enjoyed browing the daily POTDs at DPC a lot. While I never entered there I was considering it and the next thing I know it's no longer around. I've visited sites only offering courses. I find these types of sites deadly dull. There aren't even any galleries to look at. I visit photo sites because I enjoy photography. When the photos go I'm afraid I lose interest. I HOPE BP doesn't discontinue the contest because of a lack of support. I really enjoy this site. I would miss it if there were no longer a contest or galleries. I say charge for everything if the situation is that desperate. At least we'd still have entries to look at each day :o)!


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August 08, 2006

 

Charlene Bayerle
  I have one more question.....if advertising for classes, etc., brings more entries, then how will the judges be able to judge another 10,000 images?
Maybe it is time to charge a small amount for the smaller gallery and maybe then some of the people who only enter the contest,would either buy a gallery or not be able to enter the contest. By the looks of things, I would say that BP has a huge amount of websites and galleries already adding to the revenue for the site. And, maybe, if the classes were not so expensive, more of us could afford to take them.
Just some suggestions Jim....this is certainly not personal....we all love this site!


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August 08, 2006

 
chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny

BetterPhoto Member
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Chris Budny's Gallery
  Perhaps a compromise on the ads in Recent Entries... either shrinking them down in size a bit, or a positional change, say, an ad placed at slot #1 and #55 (so, 2 per page instead of 5.) Top left, bottom right. Maybe slot #28, if you needed a third one in the center. That is if the ads can't be moved to a static location in the header or footer area, perhaps somewhere visible when you have to click the Next or Previous arrows.

When I visit the homepage today, I see the word "Courses" 9 different times, and "Learn" or "Learning" 4 times, without scrolling at all... I'd think the message of online course availability is pretty clear!

Perhaps if the contest is becoming an expense to BP (ie, time spent having staff judge 26,000+ entries each month) some changes are needed there? Maybe a per-user limit, per month (ie, instead of the 30/31 entries max as it is now, 15 or 20 per month, per user?) I'd hate to see the free contest disappear, because I enjoy it, but also because I think it is a lure for membership in the site as well.

And a final suggestion, if the business needs to increase revenues. Maybe the Free Galleries are only free for so long (ie, an expiration date on them at which point the member must either upgrade the gallery to at least Premium, or the gallery is closed.) I'm not sure how well that would work, if you don't have some way (perhaps via IP addresses) of tracking who really creates and "owns" each Free Gallery, regardless of user name...

Just thinking out loud on all this... I enjoy BP immensely, and certainly don't envy those who have to run it as a business and face the realities, goals and performance of the business!


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August 08, 2006

 

Kara L. Hendricks
  I too have to say, there has to be a better way to advertise yourself and courses without placing LARGE ads among the entries... The regulars that browse, know of the courses that are offered.. But, I do strongly feel that the contest and galleries are a BIG part of what keeps the majority coming back... I love looking at the daily entries but think the new ads are alot like a commercial cutting into your programming every 10 seconds.. Before long.. You turn off the TV out of aggravation. Hope it goes back to the way it was.. I do understand the need to advertise.. But, this, Might turn off the target audience... My opinion... no more..


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August 08, 2006

 

m. schwendener
  _Fewer_ contest entries for people with free galleries than for paid ones? Would seem fair to me (or even: contest only open for paid galleries).

Manuela


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August 08, 2006

 

Jessica Hughes
  LOL..! You guys at BP can't seem to get away with anything, can you? I mean c'mon guys, this is a free site, it's very entertaining...yeah, the ads are tacky, but hey, they've got to make their money somehow. Just enjoy what you have, while you have it. :)


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August 08, 2006

 

Jessica Hughes
  Oh, I want to add, I would start complaining if these ads started showing up in my BP Gallery, until then, it's fine with me.


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August 08, 2006

 

Ariel Lepor
  m.,
The purpose of this site is for free contests (among other things). Paying to get a bigger gallery shouldn't make the contest unfair.
Jessica, I agree that they have to get money some way (like by selling sites, galleries, and classes), but I'm sure they could get the word out about those things without making the ads tacky.


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August 08, 2006

 

Charlene Bayerle
  Jessica, I think you just gave BP a great idea....better check your website tomorrow!!!!


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August 08, 2006

 

Sharon Day
  I don't find the ads "tacky" just distracting. There's no doubt in my mine we'll get used to them since they appear to be a done deal. Realistically it's no worse than magazines where you have to skip several pages of ads to pick back up on an article and magazines aren't exactly free.

I would rather pay an annual fee to enter the contest than see a limit on the number of times we can enter OR to see the contest discontinued for any reason. I don't bowl, golf, go to movies, heck I don't even watch much tv. This is what I do for entertainment so I guess I don't mind the ads if that's what it takes to keep the game going :o)!

Sooo, I guess my previous point was that DPC bit the dust and I've always wondered if it was because they charged to enter??? While I may be one of the few that wouldn't mind paying an annual fee to play I wouldn't want it to adversly affect the contest.


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August 08, 2006

 

Cesar J. La Rosa
  I have read this whole discussion and I agree that the ads are distracting, but like Sharon, I wouldn't say they are "tacky" and as long as our Member Galleries are respected, I understand the site needs them; as Sharon said, there are ads in a magazine and commercials on TV; we can skip the pages of a magazine or go and make a cup of tea when the commercials come on TV. I agree with Christopher that opening the free galleries to everybody and giving all those people the chance to enter the contest every month must have caused BP some problems they may not have expected. The number of entries must make it awfully hard for the judges to look at all the photographs and besides, that is a lot of work and time spent every month.

Manuela's suggestion sounds sensible: Only Premium or Deluxe Gallery members may be given the chance to participate in the monthly contest.

I think BP has the right and is able to limit the time a free gallery remains active. Sending those free members an email telling them that their gallery is about to expire unless they upgrade wouldn't hurt anyone.

We have seen all the improvements made in the site and we all appreciate them. We are happy to be members of this community and would like to continue being part of this family.

By the way, what happened to the "Email this page" button? I think that was one more way to advertise the site and didn't disturb at all; on the contrary, it made it easier to send a link to our photographs to people we wanted to share them with.


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August 08, 2006

 

Ariel Lepor
  Forcing people to pay in order to participate in this site is wrong. (After all, should people only be able to learn and have people tell them what is right and what is wrong with a picture when they pay? People pay to have a place to display all their work or sell it or learn from pros.) Paying is for increased gallery space - not the privilege to participate, and it should stay that way.
BTW, I don't think that the ads are tacky, but I used the word because of the previous comment and it didn't really matter. I still think the best idea is to make the ads not annoying to look at yet obvious that they are there.


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August 08, 2006

 

Jessica Hughes
  I agree. The ads themselves are not tacky. I have to laugh though, when I read, 'the ads are distracting' because it is the purpose of advertising, isn't it? To distract the viewer, and introduce something different? :)


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August 08, 2006

 

Sharon Day
  Cesar, very good points!

Ariel, good points too. I don't think there is a right or wrong to paying. I don't see a small yearly fee in order to participate in the contest or even the Q&A as be a bad thing. Maybe it could be the price of a Premium Gallery. Looks like anyone would be able to afford that, and one great benefit might be that maybe they'd be able to keep the riff raff out of the Q&A. Of course the downside is we might lose some valuable contributors as well. There are several great contributors in the Q&A that seem to have no use for the contest at all. As for the ads, if they don't go away we'll get used to them.

I'm sure my piddly opinions don't matter but those definitely are free :D.


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August 08, 2006

 

Ariel Lepor
  An ad is ideally a way to introduce new material to everyone who visits a page without making the page less desirable to use. After all, when we are viewing the contest entries we are viewing the contest entries. We don't have to do always see that BP has classes. Google can do it right - so can BP!


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August 08, 2006

 

Jessica Hughes
  Let's look at it this way for a minute. This is a business. A business needs to make money or it will sink.
Let's say you were a portrait photographer. You've been in business, what, ten years now? You have clients that have been with you from the beginning, and clients that are coming in for the first time daily. All of these clients are asking for different things. One wants a better choice of paper. One wants a quicker output on their proofs. Another would like to include a prop that you don't currently have, or a background color that you haven't been able to purchase yet.
You WANT to please your clients. You want to make them happy and you want them to enjoy the experience. The only problem is, you don't have the funds to make these upgrades. You decided to put a few things on the back burner, and you upgrade, pleasing the clients. Do you get an overwhelming flow of gratitude? Probably not, but you do get customers that are happy and return to have their portraits done.
Consider this. Everytime you do upgrade, someone is there to complain, because it's not quite the same as it was before. Or, you've had to change your pricing so that your business doesn't sink. That is where you will hear the feedback from your customers. They are not happy with some of the changes that you have made. So what do you do? What can you do? You can't give in to every demand. You listen, yes. You try to come up with an alternitive, but if you can't, you do what you can to get by.

Sorry...yes...I'm rambling.

You know, this contest is free to us, but it is not free to the people who provide it.


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August 08, 2006

 

Ariel Lepor
  Yes! Look for an alternative that most people don't mind!


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August 08, 2006

 
- Gregory LaGrange

BetterPhoto Member
Contact Gregory LaGrange
Gregory LaGrange's Gallery
  Most things that are a priviledge do cost something. That's why it's usually called a priviledge and not a right. You have to pay for "How To" books.
What also came back up is the idea of a entry limit. There's something about picking your top 15(arbitrary number) that people just really see that as a big snag.


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August 08, 2006

 

anonymous
  Ok, peoples.....

I really think you need to find something else to whine about. I have checked it out, who cares, photos are the same size, it is JIM's site and he can do what he likes with it!

If he wants ads to bump up revenue or for whatever reason he chooses, it is his RIGHT, and if you don't like it, then maybe go and pay for a really expensive personal website that you then have the RIGHT to do whatever you want with.....

Ok, I've vented.....feel better now.


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August 08, 2006

 

m. schwendener
  I'm not saying "don't advertise". I'm saying "the way those ads look and are placed now they make the pages look ugly, they take some of the pleasure away of looking at the new pictures and they will make me think twice about recommending the site". And I'm telling BetterPhoto so, because the ads as they look now are changing my impression from 'outstanding site' to 'another site where you can upload your photos' and I'd be sorry to see that happen.

Manuela


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August 08, 2006

 

Brian A. Wolter
  I hear people saying that BP should charge for the free gallery,why? The free gallery is already limiting those members on the contest as it is. You are only allowed 30 photos in that gallery. The free gallery member can really only enter 15 photos to the contest per month since the photos are not judged until almost the end of the following month. Well during this time the free gallery member has to wait until the next month to enter photos again because he has the limited space in the gallery. He has to use the next 15 photos for the following month's contest. If he doesn't have the space available, then he has to starting deleting photos which are already in the previous month's contest being judged.
Also setting a time limit for the free gallery wouldn't work in my opinion because when the gallery is up, the member can just register again under a new username and get another free gallery for how ever long the gallery is allowed to be active. Then just continue the process over and over again.

Just my opinion.....


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August 09, 2006

 

Charlene Bayerle
  I think we're all getting off the main subject......
We are not "telling" Jim what to do, we are suggesting ideas to Jim so the site doesnt look like such a huge advertisement....the ads are "primary" and the contest is "secondary." If I was running a business, which I am, I would want my customers to give constructive comments, and maybe, they would be right. I don't have to listen to their ideas, but I would sure give them a really good look.
We all know this is "JIM"S site and he is in it to make money, and we have all made it very clear that we really enjoy BP.....but those "huge" ads look like that's what this site is all about. Everyone has a opinion and that is what q&a is all about. We are just giving opinions. I'm not whining and I do have a "life".....I can live without BP and I'm sure they can live without me.
These are suggestions, as customers, to let Jim know how we feel these ads look like. And to maybe find a way to improve the look of the site.
These conversations always turn into personal fights and that is not the purpose....
Jim can do whatever he wants, he does, we can only suggest!!!!!!


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August 09, 2006

 
- Carolyn M. Fletcher

BetterPhoto Member
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  I'll second what Char said.


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August 09, 2006

 

Sharon Day
  Excellent, Charlene!!! I hope my observations haven't come across as "bossing" either because I don't want to offend anyone. I just can't stand to be without an opinion ;)!

As for having a life...


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August 09, 2006

 
- Dr Silly

BetterPhoto Member
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Dr Silly's Gallery
  Ok here's the Doc's 2 cent, no make it 1 cent. Add's are a pain. But hay that's part of busness. Go to a movie now a days, now that's a real pain.

But this is a small think to get upset about. Make a suggestion with out getting upset and if it doesn't change go on having fun with your photos and the contest. The add's are a pain but they also are not a big deal.

Just have fun. And pray a site like this does not close down.

Doc


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August 09, 2006

 

Marie Fields
  well.. I know I won't be browsing any more... I'm just one of those folks that doesn't even watch tv (or if I ever do I religiously MUTE all commercials)... I throw away junk mail without even looking at it and go through magazines tearing out the ads before I read it... I really hate being bombarded with ads and don't respond to them well at all! Very agitating to me and just not worth the aggravation. I tried to look at some of the previous finalist pages today and it was just way too distracting for me. Oh well... I used to love browsing the pages and it was fun while it lasted but I guess all good things come to an end.... :(


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August 09, 2006

 

Amy JACKSON
  The Ad on the top caught my attention and did not bother me but the following ads were very distracting.

I started with a free gallery and upgraded to a premium within a month. I think that many people that are active on this site do upgrade soon. I think it is a great idea to limit the time the free gallery is active. I also think you could increase the price of the premium gallery. I would also love to see some type of premium gallery + with a few more options but I do not want to pay for a deluxe website.


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August 09, 2006

 

Ariel Lepor
  Isn't the size of a free gallery enough to make people want to upgrade unless they have a different place they display their work? If a free gallery is disabled after a month, people would still be uploading photos for contests and discussions and that doesn't decrease BP's cost. It would just make it more difficult for others to find your work and comment.
(Note the terms "Free" and "Premium" as opposed to "Trial" and "Gallery".)


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August 09, 2006

 

Amy JACKSON
  If it is more difficult to find ones work it will encourage them to upgrade, $22.00 for a premium gallery for a year is a very fair price to pay. Obviously "Free" gallery would have to change to "Basic Gallery".


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August 09, 2006

 
- Gregory LaGrange

BetterPhoto Member
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Gregory LaGrange's Gallery
  Golfers and tennis players claim that the slightest noise is a distraction, because without the noise they can putt or get their serve in. But with any little sound or movement in the top row of the stadium, they aren't able to do their thing.
So one of yall tell me how any of those ads are preventing you from clicking your mouse over a picture so you can look at it?


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August 09, 2006

 
- Dr Silly

BetterPhoto Member
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Dr Silly's Gallery
  me, me, me, just kidding. LOL I believe if you came to this site for the first time the add's would not be a problem. It is different so now the problem. JUST HAVE FUN. :O)


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August 09, 2006

 

Donna Dunbar
  I have read everyones comments and yes when I first saw the adds I did think they were a little distracting, however distracting or not I think this site is one of the best or the best on the net and this site and many features of it are Free.In order to keep this site going they need revenue and revenue comes from the classes and the galleries.


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August 09, 2006

 

Sharon Day
  Ok, when I first saw the ads I was irritated. Carolyn had the guts to say what a lot of us were thinking but didn't want to say out loud. I too felt the ads got in the way of browsing the entries, but after giving it a chance I have to say the layout really is a lot nicer. It's hard to say how long it would have taken me to notice the panos had been dealt with if Jim hadn't mentioned it earlier, but since he did I decided to browse some past finalists pages and those blasted panos are not taking up a whole page row now. That's something to be thankful for. IF there was no other way to fix the panos other than ads I'd be grateful for them just for that reason. I found the panos ten times more annoying than the ads. I'm sure after a few days they won't even register on our consciousness but should still be effective for catching the attention of newbies to the site. I'm old so it takes me some time to get used to something new. What's everyone else's excuse :o)? JK!


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August 09, 2006

 
- Dr Silly

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  Your right Sharon change is hard on us old folk's. Hahahaha. :O)


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August 09, 2006

 

Bob Cammarata
  Different is not always so bad.

...Let's live with it and move on.


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August 09, 2006

 

Irene Troy
  Charlene - I wish I had said what you did, as well as you did! Ads, no ads, contest, no contest; free galleries; pay-galleries; the bottom line is that this is a business and those who stand to profit or not from the business are the ones who must make the decisions. We can, and obviously do, suggest, but no one here is going to accept responsibility for the success and/or failure of BP but Jim and the other crew. Lets not get all nasty, insulting and upset over a minor irritant. I don't like the ads, but I'm committed to BP because I feel that my photography has improved since coming here and that, for me, is the ultimate reason for the site! Now, back to real life and more serious issues such as how to photograph the moon tonight.

Irene


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August 09, 2006

 
- Gregory LaGrange

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  Katherine Hepburn said getting old isn't for wimps.


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August 09, 2006

 

Robyn Mackenzie
  For anyone who's concerned about the ads, just switch to Firefox as your browser with the ad-blocker on, and voila, problem solved - as Ariel pointed out above, you just see a small white space where the ads were.

I've taken a couple of BP classes, and don't need to be reminded about them, so I'm leaving my ad-blocker on.

BTW, I think the five across view is a big improvement, and the "fix" for the panoramas is great!

Katherine was so right... :o)


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August 09, 2006

 

Paul Dempsey
  Advertising is a fact of life but over advertising is sometimes hard to live with. BP has grown by satisified customers and participants passing the word on to friends and family. I can hardly believe that this latest move by BP will bring home the bacon. Why not make it like many other sites, stop seeing the advertisements with a paid membership (Premium Gallery)? Support the site as I would gladly purchase a gallery but why pay for something I get for free. I am not ashamed to say I have a free gallery. To me, the ads are like the date stamp on a photograph. Can you still enjoy the photo? Sure. Is it distracting? Darn right. Yes, it is BP's right to advertise all they want. But, when you already pay for a gallery, I am sure you may be a little upset and those of us who have a free one, well... we can just suck it up and go one with life. Again, since I have a free I'm okay with it but if I were a paying customer, I would be a little upset.


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August 09, 2006

 

m. schwendener
  Much better now 8-)

They are smaller, the text-only versions don't distract so much from the other pictures and they go to _different_ pages.

(Now if they would stop moving around.. ;-) )

Thank you for those changes :-)

Manuela


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August 10, 2006

 

Charlene Bayerle
  How about making the ads the same size thumbnails as the entries? Then your advertising would still be there but not quite as unatractive or obtrusive.
Just a suggestion.....


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August 10, 2006

 
- Gregory LaGrange

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  If the ad were in the corner when you viewed the photo at full size, that would be like a date stamp. This is like the "Sale" signs inside a store that stand next to the clothes display.


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August 10, 2006

 

Charlene Bayerle
  First Gregory, let me say your thumbnail mug shots are a riot!!!
As far as the "sale" signs inside a store, they are removed when the "sale" is over.


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August 10, 2006

 
- Gregory LaGrange

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  No sign, that's a really nice looking shirt. Sign there, this same shirt all of a sudden dosen't look good.


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August 10, 2006

 

Jessica Hughes
  That must be why I hate shopping. ;) Too many signs.


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August 10, 2006

 

Charlene Bayerle
  LOL Jessica!!!! Good one!!!!


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August 10, 2006

 

Tamera S. Phillips
  Are the ads smaller or am I just getting used to them?


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August 10, 2006

 

Sharon Day
  Tammy, you must be old too ;)! You are getting used to them LOL.


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August 10, 2006

 

Tamera S. Phillips
  Yep - I'm getting old! LOL. They just look smaller to me. Thank gosh it's not just me....


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August 10, 2006

 
BetterPhotoJim.com - Jim Miotke

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  Hi again - thanks to those of you who have expressed understanding and support.

Yes Tamera. Manuela was correct to observe that the ads are smaller now. Also, two of the ads have been replaced with "Did You Know?" text boxes designed to help get the word out about new features and enhancements.

Enjoy the contest!


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August 11, 2006

 
- Carolyn M. Fletcher

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  They're better for sure!! I still am having trouble navigating the page with so much across it...I have to scroll down one side and then go to the other side and scroll back up. It's making it a heck of a lot less fun to browse, at least for me. Any ideas what we can do to shrink down the page so it's not so wide?


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August 11, 2006

 

Sharon Day
  The size of the ads look no different on my display today than they did the first day I saw them but I don't have trouble with the scrolling aspect. I wonder if I need to set something on my computer to make them look the proper size? I know a while back in a Q&A someone told me how to make the text larger if I couldn't read it. Carolyn, I bet there's some adjustment you could make if you knew where to look. Maybe someone here can help.


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August 11, 2006

 

m. schwendener
  The size _was_ smaller, they all went to different pages and 3 of the 5 were text only, which lokked much less irritating than the ones with pictures.

At the moment however they are back to how they looked first. I trust this wasn't on purpose and will be changed again ;-)

Manuela


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August 12, 2006

 

Charlene Bayerle
  There is a new thread started about the ads....check it out.


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August 12, 2006

 

Michael S. Swaffar
  I'm just happy to be here and still very much appreciate the FREE photo contest, ads or no ads.


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August 23, 2006

 
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