eBook Advertising

paulckennedy · 02-02-2010, 03:30 PM

Does the ePub model have the ability to support an advertising based data model?
If eBooks contained advertising, would you purchase anyway?
What would be a "fair" price for eBooks with generated advertising at sale?

cvkemp · 02-02-2010, 03:33 PM

The only way I would except ebooks that had ads in it would be if it was free.
I would never pay for an ebook and have to see ads.

bwaldron · 02-02-2010, 03:35 PM

I can't see any reason why it couldn't be done technically. However, the only fair price to my mind for an ebook w/ advertising would be $0 -- and even then I am not likely to be interested.

Books (print or electronic) are one of the few remaining refuges from advertising these days, and I very much do not want to give that up.

paulckennedy · 02-02-2010, 03:41 PM

But magazines and newspapers have always had an advertising model and it has kept subscriber prices low. Since eBooks are still a relatively new medium, wouldn't advertising be a way to reduce the end cost to consumers?

I definately like free but I personally can deal with some advertising as long as it is not overly intrusive and the price reflects the advertising.

kjk · 02-02-2010, 03:44 PM

As long as its not animated.

paulckennedy · 02-02-2010, 03:44 PM

Maybe a with/without advertising purchase strategy? You know, give the consumer the choice of purchasing the book at the advertising supplement price or instead buying at the full, ad-free price?

Shaggy · 02-02-2010, 03:47 PM

Cue the release of a script to recognize advertisement pages and automatically strip them out in 3...2...1....

calvin-c · 02-02-2010, 03:51 PM

As well as the 'type' of ad, it would also depend on placement. Pbooks, especially paperbacks, have long had ads-usually at the very back of the book, and almost always for other books.

I like the idea of consumer choice-I'd probably try the 'with-ads' version for the lower price, as long as I didn't find the ads objectionable. If I did, then I'd pay for the 'without-ads' version in the future. (Or maybe even for another copy of the same book if I found them *that* objectionable, and thought the book was good enough to justify re-purchasing it.)

Basically, I don't fear ads. The only reason for objecting to them, IMO, is when they 'get in your way'. (Ads placed in the middle of a pbook do, IMO, get in the way. Ads placed at the beginning or end, IMO, don't.)

calvin-c · 02-02-2010, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaggy

Cue the release of a script to recognize advertisement pages and automatically strip them out in 3...2...1....

I wasn't going to be quite that blatant, Shaggy.

mcl · 02-02-2010, 03:54 PM

I'd actively avoid any ebook containing advertiting, and quite probably all titles from the imprint selling them.

bwaldron · 02-02-2010, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulckennedy

But magazines and newspapers have always had an advertising model and it has kept subscriber prices low.

Sure. To my mind, though, books are generally a different animal; a more immersive type of reading, which doesn't fit with an advertising model. I suppose if the ads were placed solely at the front or back I could live with it (in free or extremely cheap content) -- but am afraid that it would be a slippery slope.

Shaggy · 02-02-2010, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calvin-c

Basically, I don't fear ads. The only reason for objecting to them, IMO, is when they 'get in your way'. (Ads placed in the middle of a pbook do, IMO, get in the way. Ads placed at the beginning or end, IMO, don't.)

This is where consumers and advertisers have opposing viewpoints. The consumer is OK with an ad as long as it doesn't "get in the way". Advertisers WANT the ads to "get in the way", otherwise they go unnoticed.

I've even seen some try to claim that changing the TV channel or walking about of the room when the commercials come on is "stealing" the content that the advertising is paying for.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 02-02-2010, 03:59 PM

I'd purchase e-books with advertising, especially if said advertising brought the price down to a level I was happier with. And of course, if they bring it down to free, well, I'll be very happy...

Everyone I know seems to just assume that e-book ads will automatically take the appearance of animated, screaming figures in neon colors jumping up and down for your attention... like what you see in the worst web page ads. But the evidence of plenty of static, basic ads on the web should be enough proof that it doesn't have to be so. So I consider those "horrible ad" assumptions to be overstated and unlikely, except in the most extreme situations (ie, you'll probably see that stuff in porn lit). I guess we'll see someday.

If I was to pursue ads for my e-books, I would hope to be able to fully subsidize the books, and therefore offer them for free. But I would also exercise some restraint with the advertisers, demanding the ads be of a certain type and level of sophistication, or simply refusing to accept their money. Any author should be able to do this as they desire (including, if they desire, accepting the horrible ads if it pays them enough)... it's their choice.

Shaggy · 02-02-2010, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

Everyone I know seems to just assume that e-book ads will automatically take the appearance of animated, screaming figures in neon colors jumping up and down for your attention... like what you see in the worst web page ads. But the evidence of plenty of static, basic ads on the web should be enough proof that it doesn't have to be so.

I'm sure it won't start out with annoying "in your face ads", but then, the web didn't start out with those either. Once you have advertisers paying for space though, they're going to get more and more insistent that they are getting what they perceive to be value for their money. Advertisers want the ads to be noticed, consumers want them to be unnoticeable. No system is going to satisfy both sides, and each is going to keep trying to shift it in their direction.

I do believe that if this goes forward, initial versions will be very understated and not a nuisance, in order to get consumers used to the idea. I seriously doubt it will stay that way though.

paulckennedy · 02-02-2010, 04:06 PM

Unfortunately, I see it coming especially with the iPad being released. I believe that the market will explode with consumers who are not as "reading" centered. These consumers would willingly accept the advertising as they are already used to it in most of their media today. I think that we might have the opportunity to influence the direction that the advertising takes. I agree that advertising is bad but if we have to deal with it, what would be acceptable?

02-02-2010, 03:30 PM	#1
paulckennedy Addict Posts: 205 Karma: 824 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Carthage, Texas Device: Apple iPad	eBook Advertising Does the ePub model have the ability to support an advertising based data model? If eBooks contained advertising, would you purchase anyway? What would be a "fair" price for eBooks with generated advertising at sale?

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02-02-2010, 03:33 PM	#2
cvkemp Loving life Posts: 1,412 Karma: 7991496 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Hot Springs Village, Arkansas Device: PaperWhite 5,iPhone 13, IPad, MacBook Air	The only way I would except ebooks that had ads in it would be if it was free. I would never pay for an ebook and have to see ads.

02-02-2010, 03:35 PM	#3
bwaldron Wizard Posts: 1,229 Karma: 543210 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gatlinburg, Tennessee Device: Kindles: Paperwhite Signature Ed., Oasis 2, Voyage	I can't see any reason why it couldn't be done technically. However, the only fair price to my mind for an ebook w/ advertising would be $0 -- and even then I am not likely to be interested. Books (print or electronic) are one of the few remaining refuges from advertising these days, and I very much do not want to give that up.

02-02-2010, 03:41 PM	#4
paulckennedy Addict Posts: 205 Karma: 824 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Carthage, Texas Device: Apple iPad	But magazines and newspapers have always had an advertising model and it has kept subscriber prices low. Since eBooks are still a relatively new medium, wouldn't advertising be a way to reduce the end cost to consumers? I definately like free but I personally can deal with some advertising as long as it is not overly intrusive and the price reflects the advertising.

02-02-2010, 03:44 PM	#5
kjk . Posts: 3,408 Karma: 5647231 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: never enough	As long as its not animated.

02-02-2010, 03:47 PM	#7
Shaggy Wizard Posts: 4,293 Karma: 529619 Join Date: May 2007 Device: iRex iLiad, DR800SG	Cue the release of a script to recognize advertisement pages and automatically strip them out in 3...2...1....

02-02-2010, 03:51 PM	#8
calvin-c Guru Posts: 787 Karma: 1575310 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: Moon+ Pro	As well as the 'type' of ad, it would also depend on placement. Pbooks, especially paperbacks, have long had ads-usually at the very back of the book, and almost always for other books. I like the idea of consumer choice-I'd probably try the 'with-ads' version for the lower price, as long as I didn't find the ads objectionable. If I did, then I'd pay for the 'without-ads' version in the future. (Or maybe even for another copy of the same book if I found them that objectionable, and thought the book was good enough to justify re-purchasing it.) Basically, I don't fear ads. The only reason for objecting to them, IMO, is when they 'get in your way'. (Ads placed in the middle of a pbook do, IMO, get in the way. Ads placed at the beginning or end, IMO, don't.)

02-02-2010, 03:54 PM	#10
mcl Connoisseur Posts: 99 Karma: 608 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Kindle K2i	I'd actively avoid any ebook containing advertiting, and quite probably all titles from the imprint selling them.

02-02-2010, 03:59 PM	#13
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	I'd purchase e-books with advertising, especially if said advertising brought the price down to a level I was happier with. And of course, if they bring it down to free, well, I'll be very happy... Everyone I know seems to just assume that e-book ads will automatically take the appearance of animated, screaming figures in neon colors jumping up and down for your attention... like what you see in the worst web page ads. But the evidence of plenty of static, basic ads on the web should be enough proof that it doesn't have to be so. So I consider those "horrible ad" assumptions to be overstated and unlikely, except in the most extreme situations (ie, you'll probably see that stuff in porn lit). I guess we'll see someday. If I was to pursue ads for my e-books, I would hope to be able to fully subsidize the books, and therefore offer them for free. But I would also exercise some restraint with the advertisers, demanding the ads be of a certain type and level of sophistication, or simply refusing to accept their money. Any author should be able to do this as they desire (including, if they desire, accepting the horrible ads if it pays them enough)... it's their choice.

02-02-2010, 04:06 PM	#15
paulckennedy Addict Posts: 205 Karma: 824 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Carthage, Texas Device: Apple iPad	Unfortunately, I see it coming especially with the iPad being released. I believe that the market will explode with consumers who are not as "reading" centered. These consumers would willingly accept the advertising as they are already used to it in most of their media today. I think that we might have the opportunity to influence the direction that the advertising takes. I agree that advertising is bad but if we have to deal with it, what would be acceptable?

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