Quote:
Originally Posted by Elfwreck
Oddly, I find I don't think I'd mind if books had ads in them. I remember older books having ads at the beginning or end, and sometimes in the middle. (A postcard for ordering more stuff by that publisher, usually.)
It'd be especially okay if the ads were more targeted than pbook ads can be--I wouldn't mind having a half-ebook-page telling me where I can order incense and candleholders in a religious book, nor an ad for DRM-free ebook stores in a book devoted to copyright concerns, nor an ad for the related video game if I buy a popular novel.
I am not interested in lingerie ads in romance novels; lingerie in my size & shape looks ridiculous. The topic of the book isn't going to be a nice, obvious source of "put ad for physical versions of what you're reading about." (The ads I'd like attached to romance novels would offend many readers, and besides, then the books couldn't be sold in Texas.) However, ads for *more books* of a similar type would be very appropriate--the free Harlequin romances all have a section at the end, with an excerpt from another book by the same author. That advertising, I have no problem with.
"If you liked this, here's a suggestion for another one," especially at the end of the book, is fine with me.
That's assuming the ads don't blink or move. I've had more than enough animated ads. Also assuming I can just skip past the page like any other, not that I have to spend 10 or 30 seconds "looking at the ad" before going on to the other content.
Places for ads:
Before the prologue, after the summary blurb (if there is one).
End of book.
Possibly middle of book, at major chapter breaks. (I.e. between "Section 1" and "Section 2"--not between every chapter.
I can't imagine such ads would be worth much to the advertisers, though. Can't imagine them subsidizing book prices for such subtle ads. Ads in books to be read on my Sony Reader aren't going to link to webstores; they're maybe going to remind me that a store where I can buy stuff exists.
There might be enough benefit to nonprofit orgs and such, that they'd consider subsidizing books for a few lines at the beginning and a couple of (Reader-sized) pages at the end, describing their org and how to contact them. But I suspect that if every page had a footer saying "This book brought to you by the Concerned Citizens Against Cancer - Please donate to keep our children safe!"... I wouldn't buy many of those books, not even greatly discounted. Possibly not even free, unless I felt up to the effort of stripping out the nuisance message.
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What makes you think you would have one iota of say as to where the ads will be placed or what they will say?
Personally, I would prefer to not see ads for the "magic pill for men" (And the slimeworm hemorrhoid who put the Elvis song "Viva Las Vegas" to "Viva Viagra should be hung, and I'll pull the rope) or feminine hygiene products at any time. But still.....there they are.
Advertisers. BAH!