Classic ebook ads? the future?

j5uh · 03-05-2010, 01:48 PM

I've been reading the forums for awhile and I received a nook as a birthday gift 2 weeks ago. I love my nook.

But as someone whos career is involved in the web, I'm curious to wonder if ebook publishers will eventually want to start building an ad network. So give away books for free, in exchange of ads placed on the bottom or top of your e-reader.

Would you be open to this as an ebook reader?
I feel like i would be open to having ads flashing in my face in turn for free content. Isn't that how blogs and news sites work? =) or maybe even get books at a discount with ads or pay extra with no ads.

Just a random thought.

bgalbrecht · 03-05-2010, 02:48 PM

Wowio.com used to do that. They would create PDF files with a couple of ads at the beginning and end of the file, and insert your name into it as well. They'd let you download for free something like 3 books a day, up to 20 a month. Unfortunately, they couldn't get enough income from that since they seemed to only have less than a dozen sponsors. They discontinued the business plan several months before I finished downloading the ones I wanted.

In the late 60s or early 70s, I used to get paperback books with an advertising insert in the middle. A lot of them had either cigarette advertising or book club mailers which I usually ripped out.

I wouldn't buy a book with animated ads or lots of ads interspersed within the text, but I didn't find the single page ads at the beginning and end of the PDFs to be egregiously annoying. But I think that it would need to be at a substantial discount (free is good) for me to put up with any ads.

pilotbob · 03-06-2010, 12:55 AM

Wow... everything old is new again. We had a poll about this with quite a long discussion maybe a year ago. Search for the thread and you can read a lot of opinions on this issue.

BOb

Joykins · 03-08-2010, 10:41 AM

I wouldn't mind ads as long as they were at the beginning or end AND able to be avoided with "skip to chapter 1". I mean, it's not like we don't get blurbs or promos for books by the same authors/similar books now.

FireRunner · 03-09-2010, 11:12 PM

I could understand ads on the homepage, but only something small. Once I tap into my Library and onward there would be zero ads.

Enraptured · 03-12-2010, 04:12 PM

I wouldn't mind ads in books, even interspersed in the text, as long as they were displayed at the same time as the text like a banner ad or could be scrolled past; what I wouldn't be able to stand would be ads that make you wait a certain number of seconds before you can get back to your book (like how some websites make you watch a commercial before entering the site, although I don't think many places do that anymore).

cob666 · 03-20-2010, 11:13 AM

Ads in ebooks can't really be compared to any other type of online or web advertisement. The reader would have to have a full featured web browser and the ability to hyperlink from within a book. I think this methodology would be able to work for people using their PC or iDevice to read books where the ads could be served up in real time and would never become outdated. I don't see this coming to your average reader device any time in the near future. I also don't see publishers giving away ebooks with embedded ads, at least not new releases or hot titles.

It's far more comparable to print media advertisement.

JSWolf · 03-20-2010, 11:21 AM

We've been through this already. Can this thread be closed?

gmanacsa · 05-17-2010, 07:50 PM

To update the earlier comment about WOWIO, its free-to-the-reader, ad-supported PDF downloads are definitely still around. Sponsorship availability varies, but several categories offer free downloads as of this writing (including comics and graphic novels, selected classics, etc.).

[disclosure: I work for WOWIO]

GA Russell · 10-26-2010, 07:12 PM

Here's an article about Wowio today.

They continue to offer ad-supported eBooks, and they have signed a deal with Ingram which will go into effect Nov. 1.

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/...ng/?test=faces

tubemonkey · 10-26-2010, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GA Russell

Here's an article about Wowio today.

They continue to offer ad-supported eBooks, and they have signed a deal with Ingram which will go into effect Nov. 1.

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/...ng/?test=faces

I saw that today also. Interesting idea, and depending on how it's implemented, I could go for it.

03-05-2010, 01:48 PM	#1
j5uh Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: nook	ebook ads? the future? I've been reading the forums for awhile and I received a nook as a birthday gift 2 weeks ago. I love my nook. But as someone whos career is involved in the web, I'm curious to wonder if ebook publishers will eventually want to start building an ad network. So give away books for free, in exchange of ads placed on the bottom or top of your e-reader. Would you be open to this as an ebook reader? I feel like i would be open to having ads flashing in my face in turn for free content. Isn't that how blogs and news sites work? =) or maybe even get books at a discount with ads or pay extra with no ads. Just a random thought.

03-05-2010, 02:48 PM	#2
bgalbrecht Wizard Posts: 1,806 Karma: 13399999 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: US Device: Nook Simple Touch, Kobo Glo HD, Kobo Clara HD, Kindle 4	Wowio.com used to do that. They would create PDF files with a couple of ads at the beginning and end of the file, and insert your name into it as well. They'd let you download for free something like 3 books a day, up to 20 a month. Unfortunately, they couldn't get enough income from that since they seemed to only have less than a dozen sponsors. They discontinued the business plan several months before I finished downloading the ones I wanted. In the late 60s or early 70s, I used to get paperback books with an advertising insert in the middle. A lot of them had either cigarette advertising or book club mailers which I usually ripped out. I wouldn't buy a book with animated ads or lots of ads interspersed within the text, but I didn't find the single page ads at the beginning and end of the PDFs to be egregiously annoying. But I think that it would need to be at a substantial discount (free is good) for me to put up with any ads. Last edited by bgalbrecht; 03-06-2010 at 02:49 AM. Reason: Forgot to say "for free"

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Future tablet/ebook readers?	Lost	Which one should I buy?	5	07-19-2010 02:26 PM
Discussion on the future of eBook readers	Direct Ebooks	News	7	11-19-2009 09:47 PM
Daydreaming about future ebook readers.	ardeegee	Lounge	20	10-12-2009 03:36 AM
Future: eBook readers for students	Kris777	News	12	10-31-2008 12:41 PM
Will ads pay for cell phone bills in future?	Alexander Turcic	Lounge	0	04-21-2006 03:46 PM

03-06-2010, 12:55 AM	#3
pilotbob Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,832 Karma: 11844413 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tampa, FL USA Device: Kindle Touch	Wow... everything old is new again. We had a poll about this with quite a long discussion maybe a year ago. Search for the thread and you can read a lot of opinions on this issue. BOb

03-08-2010, 10:41 AM	#4
Joykins Wizard Posts: 1,601 Karma: 9211856 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: kindle Oasis 2018, kindle 4 NT, kindle PW2, iPhone, iPad mini	I wouldn't mind ads as long as they were at the beginning or end AND able to be avoided with "skip to chapter 1". I mean, it's not like we don't get blurbs or promos for books by the same authors/similar books now.

03-09-2010, 11:12 PM	#5
FireRunner eAddict Posts: 57 Karma: 54 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Washington DC Device: Nook	I could understand ads on the homepage, but only something small. Once I tap into my Library and onward there would be zero ads.

03-12-2010, 04:12 PM	#6
Enraptured Connoisseur Posts: 55 Karma: 262 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Nook Touch	I wouldn't mind ads in books, even interspersed in the text, as long as they were displayed at the same time as the text like a banner ad or could be scrolled past; what I wouldn't be able to stand would be ads that make you wait a certain number of seconds before you can get back to your book (like how some websites make you watch a commercial before entering the site, although I don't think many places do that anymore).

03-20-2010, 11:13 AM	#7
cob666 Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: Nook	Ads in ebooks can't really be compared to any other type of online or web advertisement. The reader would have to have a full featured web browser and the ability to hyperlink from within a book. I think this methodology would be able to work for people using their PC or iDevice to read books where the ads could be served up in real time and would never become outdated. I don't see this coming to your average reader device any time in the near future. I also don't see publishers giving away ebooks with embedded ads, at least not new releases or hot titles. It's far more comparable to print media advertisement.

03-20-2010, 11:21 AM	#8
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,957 Karma: 128903250 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	We've been through this already. Can this thread be closed?

05-17-2010, 07:50 PM	#9
gmanacsa Enthusiast Posts: 36 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2007 Device: Sony Reader PRS-500, X61T Tablet, iPhone, OLPC XO-1	To update the earlier comment about WOWIO, its free-to-the-reader, ad-supported PDF downloads are definitely still around. Sponsorship availability varies, but several categories offer free downloads as of this writing (including comics and graphic novels, selected classics, etc.). [disclosure: I work for WOWIO]

10-26-2010, 07:12 PM	#10
GA Russell Montreal wins Grey Cup! Posts: 7,583 Karma: 31484197 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC Device: Paperwhite, Kindles 10 & 4 and jetBook Lite	Here's an article about Wowio today. They continue to offer ad-supported eBooks, and they have signed a deal with Ingram which will go into effect Nov. 1. http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/...ng/?test=faces

Advert

Advert