Would you buy ebooks subsidized with ads? - Page 2

lilac_jive · 02-21-2009, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

"And the murderer is..."

We'll return you to your story right after this advert for Sauls's Mortuary. Ever get that feeling you'll be dead someday? Do you really want to have to put your loved ones through all the hassle of having to arrange your fuleral because you were too lazy and/or cheap to do so ahead of time? Well at Saul's Martuary, we have a free lawaway plan where you can organize your funeral and pay on-time. If you die before you finish paying, your life insurance will cover the outstanding dept. That way, your loved ones can spend their time grieving instead of having to organize your funeral.

"...Jeeves the Butler did it!"

pilotbob · 02-21-2009, 09:51 AM

Hmmm... Pretty much every book I have ever bought has adds in it.

BOb

desertgrandma · 02-21-2009, 09:58 AM

Jon, thats classic.

desertgrandma · 02-21-2009, 09:59 AM

I would pay to NOT have ads on TV. Actually, thats what my DVR is for.

a POX on them!

europas_ice · 02-21-2009, 10:11 AM

I totally agree that if the choice was between a $3 book with ads and a $5 book without I'd get the $5 book. However, if the choice was between a free book with an ad banner at the top of the screen and an overpriced $25 ebook without ads (like sony sells all the time) I'd probably go for the free book with the ad banner. 95% (?) of the websites I visit have ads, and they don't bother me.

Phogg · 02-21-2009, 10:49 AM

I have bought books with adds for four decades. Why would there be a problem now?

kacir · 02-21-2009, 11:36 AM

That would very much depend on the kind of ad used.
Big sponsor logo on the cover is OK.

An occasional rubber stamp in a paper book stating "this book was donated to the public library by ..." is OK as well. I have read quite a few such books ;-)

A dozen ads at the end of the book soliciting next part of the series or another book from the publisher ... Well, most of the paperbacks have those.

A sooper seekrit agent using, let's say, Kia instead of Aston Martin and purchasing his shirts from K-Mart instead of fancy boutique? Why not?

An ad that distracts me from reading?
An intrusive banner similar to the stupid "DO NOT STEAL THIS DVD" unskippable warning that ONLY the owners of the original, non-pirated DVD see? NO!
I am willing to spend lots of time and energy removing such things.

HarryT · 02-21-2009, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

I would pay to NOT have ads on TV.

We do pay here in the UK. It's called the "Television licence fee" and funds the BBC, which is ad-free.

ProfJulie · 02-21-2009, 12:26 PM

Wowio used to give away "sponsored" ebooks. These ebooks contained some advertisements in them. They've recently extended their services internationally and now they sell most of their books, but they state in their FAQs that they still offer sponsored books for free when they can line up a sponsor in a regional area.

The advertisements in the books are not obnoxious or flashing, just a page at the start of the book and a page at the end of the book. I got a few of their sponsored books, but unfortunately, all of Wowio's books are in PDF format only. The ebooks I got from Wowio were password protected which made it impossible to read on the Cybook, since the Cybook has no way to enter a password (however, there are tools to remove password protection from PDF books)

Their approach to DRM management is described as follows:

Quote:

Does WOWIO use any kind of digital rights management (DRM)?
Since anyone can defeat the most “sophisticated” DRM with the print screen button, we believe that technology-based DRM is essentially a fraud. Our approach takes the market incentive out of misbehaving, rewards people for doing the right thing, and tries to stay out of the way of honest users. To help keep everyone honest, however, each ebook is serialized with the reader’s authenticated name and a unique serial number, as well as other less visible markers. WOWIO will immediately terminate the account of anyone caught illegally distributing ebooks, and will prosecute serious offenders.

BurBunny · 02-21-2009, 12:35 PM

I'd actually really LIKE to see ads... in the newspapers. Ads in books, not particularly, unless they were only at the beginning or similar. I don't want to think of ads at the beginning or end of each chapter, however... can you imagine how many that would be in, say, a James Patterson novel? Ewww!

HarryT · 02-21-2009, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurBunny

I'd actually really LIKE to see ads... in the newspapers. Ads in books, not particularly, unless they were only at the beginning or similar. I don't want to think of ads at the beginning or end of each chapter, however... can you imagine how many that would be in, say, a James Patterson novel? Ewww!

In the past, advertising was a perfectly normal way to help sell novels, of course. All the popular 19th century British novelists used to sell their books in either monthly or weekly installments in magazines which were heavily supported by advertising. You'd read a page of Dickens' latest "epic" and then, before you got to the next page, be faced with a double-page spread advertising household cleaning products or toothpaste!

Justy · 02-21-2009, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

In the past, advertising was a perfectly normal way to help sell novels, of course. All the popular 19th century British novelists used to sell their books in either monthly or weekly installments in magazines which were heavily supported by advertising. You'd read a page of Dickens' latest "epic" and then, before you got to the next page, be faced with a double-page spread advertising household cleaning products or toothpaste!

I think in that case it makes sense, serialized stories supported by advertising. However in a book the ads would get out of date quite quickly. Though I guess it could be interesting to open up an eBook in 5-10 yrs to re-read it and find an ad at the begining for "Fancy Smanzy Computer for *only* $300" and realize that your current eBook Reader does everything the computer use to do, but with a better screen and only cost $200.

Falbe Publishing · 02-21-2009, 01:12 PM

I don't think I'd like ads in novels or book-length nonfiction. They are OK in magazines and newspapers because the content segments are smaller. You read an article and then browse for something to read next, and if that includes looking at some ads that is usually fine, sometimes interesting.

Also consider that the ads appropriate for novels would be limited. A person might read a novel months after purchase or share it with someone years later, or re-read it years later. It would be difficult for ads to maintain relevance. Heck, a company that bought an ad might even be nonexistent years later.

And remember that advertisers get fussy about content. Why do you think newspapers and magazines tend to avoid/ignore important subjects, like pollution? If ads were in novels, then there would be more editing and changing of content to suit advertisers. Novels and nonfiction books are bastions of information, opinion, and art that are not typically present in other mediums.

desertgrandma · 02-21-2009, 01:27 PM

I am sick to death of being bombarded with advertisements at every turn. Enough already!

Books are the last bastion, it seems. Magazines are no longer a pleasure to read. Between the endless cards that you have to pull out in order to be able to turn the pages, and the content that is more ads than articles, no way would I do it.

But thats just me.

Elfwreck · 02-21-2009, 01:44 PM

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.

View Poll Results: Would you mind ads in ebooks if they reduced the cost of the device and/or content?
Yes	102	45.54%
No	122	54.46%
Voters: 224. You may not vote on this poll

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02-21-2009, 09:51 AM	#17
pilotbob Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,832 Karma: 11844413 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tampa, FL USA Device: Kindle Touch	Hmmm... Pretty much every book I have ever bought has adds in it. BOb

02-21-2009, 09:58 AM	#18
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462843 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	Jon, thats classic.

02-21-2009, 09:59 AM	#19
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462843 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	I would pay to NOT have ads on TV. Actually, thats what my DVR is for. a POX on them!

02-21-2009, 10:11 AM	#20
europas_ice Groupie Posts: 190 Karma: 220 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Moscow, ID Device: iPhone 11 (Kindle app & iBooks)	I totally agree that if the choice was between a $3 book with ads and a $5 book without I'd get the $5 book. However, if the choice was between a free book with an ad banner at the top of the screen and an overpriced $25 ebook without ads (like sony sells all the time) I'd probably go for the free book with the ad banner. 95% (?) of the websites I visit have ads, and they don't bother me.

02-21-2009, 10:49 AM	#21
Phogg PHD in Horribleness Posts: 2,320 Karma: 23599604 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: In the ironbound section, near avenue L Device: Just a whole bunch. I guess I am a collector now.	I have bought books with adds for four decades. Why would there be a problem now?

02-21-2009, 11:36 AM	#22
kacir Wizard Posts: 3,463 Karma: 10684861 Join Date: May 2006 Device: PocketBook 360, before it was Sony Reader, cassiopeia A-20	That would very much depend on the kind of ad used. Big sponsor logo on the cover is OK. An occasional rubber stamp in a paper book stating "this book was donated to the public library by ..." is OK as well. I have read quite a few such books ;-) A dozen ads at the end of the book soliciting next part of the series or another book from the publisher ... Well, most of the paperbacks have those. A sooper seekrit agent using, let's say, Kia instead of Aston Martin and purchasing his shirts from K-Mart instead of fancy boutique? Why not? An ad that distracts me from reading? An intrusive banner similar to the stupid "DO NOT STEAL THIS DVD" unskippable warning that ONLY the owners of the original, non-pirated DVD see? NO! I am willing to spend lots of time and energy removing such things.

02-21-2009, 12:35 PM	#25
BurBunny Zealot Posts: 110 Karma: 392 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle 2.0 In Hand	I'd actually really LIKE to see ads... in the newspapers. Ads in books, not particularly, unless they were only at the beginning or similar. I don't want to think of ads at the beginning or end of each chapter, however... can you imagine how many that would be in, say, a James Patterson novel? Ewww!

02-21-2009, 01:12 PM	#28
Falbe Publishing Gadget Slave Posts: 264 Karma: 600001 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Battle Creek, Michigan Device: Sony PRS505SC	I don't think I'd like ads in novels or book-length nonfiction. They are OK in magazines and newspapers because the content segments are smaller. You read an article and then browse for something to read next, and if that includes looking at some ads that is usually fine, sometimes interesting. Also consider that the ads appropriate for novels would be limited. A person might read a novel months after purchase or share it with someone years later, or re-read it years later. It would be difficult for ads to maintain relevance. Heck, a company that bought an ad might even be nonexistent years later. And remember that advertisers get fussy about content. Why do you think newspapers and magazines tend to avoid/ignore important subjects, like pollution? If ads were in novels, then there would be more editing and changing of content to suit advertisers. Novels and nonfiction books are bastions of information, opinion, and art that are not typically present in other mediums.

02-21-2009, 01:27 PM	#29
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462843 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	I am sick to death of being bombarded with advertisements at every turn. Enough already! Books are the last bastion, it seems. Magazines are no longer a pleasure to read. Between the endless cards that you have to pull out in order to be able to turn the pages, and the content that is more ads than articles, no way would I do it. But thats just me.

02-21-2009, 01:44 PM	#30
Elfwreck Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,187 Karma: 25133758 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SF Bay Area, California, USA Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3 (Past: Kobo Mini, PEZ, PRS-505, Clié)	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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