Ebooks: Scarcity, abundance and economy

[BillSmithBooks]

I have to admit that I wouldn't be that offended by ads if they were done properly.

I'd be fine with text ads between chapters, with just simple text ads. Set them off with ADVERTISEMENT tags beginning and ending (much like Google's text ads).

I'd be VERY open "Thank you from our sponsors, we hope you'll consider them when purchasing" sections with ads at the end (or even beginning) of a book.

Honestly, I don't mind being targeted for advertising if the companies don't intrude on my ability to enjoy the content and allow me to skip what I'm not interested...

What bugs me with ads is their intrusiveness...on TV, greatly increased volume...mandatory ad viewing on DVDs. On the internet, popups, autoplay videos, floating boxes you can never get rid of. These are all things that actively prevent me from using the content I have come for and almost certainly assure that there is no way I will patronize the business even if I am interested in their product, all because the ad presentation is so obnoxious.

Just give me a couple of lines to read -- I'll go check out your business if I'm interested.

[plib]

Originally Posted by BillSmithBooks

IWhat bugs me with ads is their intrusiveness...on TV, greatly increased volume...mandatory ad viewing on DVDs. On the internet, popups, autoplay videos, floating boxes you can never get rid of. These are all things that actively prevent me from using the content I have come for and almost certainly assure that there is no way I will patronize the business even if I am interested in their product, all because the ad presentation is so obnoxious.

I agree with the refusal to patronize any business with obnoxious ads. However you can deny them the opportunity to be obnoxious. I rarely watch live TV anymore, that's what God invented the PVR for, and I save time because an hour on TV is only 40 minutes when you f/fwd the ads.

If you are getting popups, floating boxes etc. on the internet then install some extensions such as NoScript, AdBlockPlus, Better Privacy, Ghostery etc. and you won't see them anymore, plus it will be faster as you're not downloading a bunch of ad rubbish.

[BillSmithBooks]

Originally Posted by plib

I agree with the refusal to patronize any business with obnoxious ads. However you can deny them the opportunity to be obnoxious. I rarely watch live TV anymore, that's what God invented the PVR for, and I save time because an hour on TV is only 40 minutes when you f/fwd the ads.

If you are getting popups, floating boxes etc. on the internet then install some extensions such as NoScript, AdBlockPlus, Better Privacy, Ghostery etc. and you won't see them anymore, plus it will be faster as you're not downloading a bunch of ad rubbish.

Oh yeah, I take advantage of those, I'm in complete agreement.

But the thing that I find amazing is that we HAVE to use those tools just to use the web.

The above tactics are the online equivalent of standing in front of me and screaming in my face, "PAY ATTENTION TO ME....OR ELSE!!!!!! AND QUIT BEING A THIEVING PIRATE*!!!"

(* "You wouldn't steal a car...so don't steal a movie.")

Those folks don't get my money.

Website designers and advertisers ought to be wise that this strong-arming turns off customers, but no, many choose to be rude and obnoxious, as bad as the "online pharmacy" spammers.

I'd much rather get a softer touch, "Here's what we have, I hope you like it, feel free to browse...if you have any questions, I'll be over here, sir. Have a great day."

Just being polite and civil and respectful goes a long way in my book and makes me much more inclined to consider buying from you.

I'm not opposed to advertising -- I'm a huge fan of auto racing, which depends on sponsorship at every level. I just want it to be civil and not rude and obnoxious.

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Originally Posted by BillSmithBooks

I'm not opposed to advertising -- I'm a huge fan of auto racing, which depends on sponsorship at every level. I just want it to be civil and not rude and obnoxious.

Either it's just my imagination that I thought about auto racing, or I included it in a post and then edited it back out... but I also pictured auto racers with stickers plastered all over their uniforms and cars, as well as golfers with their labeled shirts, hats and shoes. I can see authors with logos on their jacket pockets and lapels, and displayed on any hardware they bring with them to public events. (I'd put a laughing smiley here, but I can also see myself wearing one someday...)

Mostly, though, I can see those things on their websites, where they won't be a bother to anyone.

[5thWiggle]

Sorry, couldn't resist.....

[tompe]

The next step from ads are product placement in the actual text which would be really annoying because it is then possible for each reader to have read different books.

[plib]

Originally Posted by tompe

The next step from ads are product placement in the actual text which would be really annoying because it is then possible for each reader to have read different books.

Not quite into the book yet, but the new Dr. Seuss based movie is well on the way. I think Colbert's take on it is the best so far:

This cashtaculous sellout is not quite enough —
I’m demanding more branding of Loraxian stuff!
With what you can buy, boy, the sky is the limit —
A Filet-O-Fish meal with real hummingfish in it!
Filmmakers, get cracking! The market is lacking
a splendiferous Lorax-themed drill made for fracking!
Or the fine, certain something that all people need —
indeed, you’ll succeed if you sold us a Thneed!
They’re easy to make, if you only take
all the truffula tufts off the trees by the lake —
they’re comfy and thick as the thick ironies
of the Lorax and Seuss hawking big SUVs.

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Too much alarmist talk. Even the worst product placement hasn't been that bad. They shot down the "laser writing on the Moon" idea, remember?

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by Steven Lyle Jordan

"laser writing on the Moon" idea, remember?

Sounds like old Newt came up with that one. A way to finance the moon colony.

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Authorized promotional representatives are standing by!

[Greg Anos]

Originally Posted by Steven Lyle Jordan

Attachment 84836

Authorized promotional representatives are standing by!

How about the T-shirts in the mine shaft?

[teh603]

Originally Posted by tompe

The next step from ads are product placement in the actual text which would be really annoying because it is then possible for each reader to have read different books.

Y'know, I end up doing product placement several dozen times a day, and most other authors probably do, too. How many have characters who use some kind of tablet? Instead of going with a "generic uPad," get Apple to pay me to have him use an iPad? Or get paid to add a few lines of dialogue before a raunchy bondage sex scene where the domme mentions she prefers to buy from (insert leather goods store here)?

And before you laugh, think about how many characters drink Coke or Pepsi, drive specific cars, use a specific computer and softwares, eat at specific fast food joints, and all that. There's gold in them thar hills!

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

That can be more difficult with SF, especially the further in the future you go, or in historical fiction. That's why ads on websites where the books are sold are preferable... they aren't dependent on adding something to the ebooks themselves.

[tompe]

Originally Posted by teh603

Y'know, I end up doing product placement several dozen times a day, and most other authors probably do, too. How many have characters who use some kind of tablet? Instead of going with a "generic uPad," get Apple to pay me to have him use an iPad? Or get paid to add a few lines of dialogue before a raunchy bondage sex scene where the domme mentions she prefers to buy from (insert leather goods store here)?

And before you laugh, think about how many characters drink Coke or Pepsi, drive specific cars, use a specific computer and softwares, eat at specific fast food joints, and all that. There's gold in them thar hills!

That is OK if the text is the same in all editions. But if the text changes depending on for example were you are when you read the book then I think it is very bad.

[plib]

Originally Posted by tompe

That is OK if the text is the same in all editions. But if the text changes depending on for example were you are when you read the book then I think it is very bad.

E-readers with little RFID/GPS chips in them. "Buy your leather goods from Joe's Flogging Shop, 123 Main Street (only a block north west - press home for GPS directions)"?