Updating the ads we run on Ning Networks
Updates
Today, we run Google Ads on the right-hand side of Ning Networks that don’t have the Go Ad-Free premium service.
Starting this Wednesday November 4, you may notice some changes to the ads that display in this right-hand column. We will start mixing in display ads, along with the contextual text ads that you currently see. We will also start targeting ads separately to Network Creators and members, so you may begin soon to see ads that only you as the Network Creator are seeing from Ning.
While these display ads may not be as targeted as the Google Ads you are used to seeing on your Ning Network, this is a first step in our experimentation with driving highly targeted ads of multiple types – image, text or more dynamic types – later. As we experiment with new ads in this real estate and closely monitor the data we collect, we’ll keep you updated with what to expect.
And as always, you can remove the ads and even run your own by purchasing the Go Ad-Free premium service, which you can do from your Manage page by choosing the Premium Service link. Thanks!
Update 4:15, Pacific, Nov. 4: We’ve heard from some of you that the ads you were seeing displayed on your Ning Network were either un-targeted or not appropriate. We’ve removed the display ads while we research how to better target ads to the topic and content of your Ning Network. We’ll update this blog post — and add a new one, too — when we have new information on changes to default ads.
Update 5:15, Pacific, Nov. 10: We’re going to begin testing out display ads on a batch of Ning Networks on Nov. 11.
Ok, I checked out the post you referenced:
Update 4:15, Pacific, Nov. 4: We’ve heard from some of you that the ads you were seeing displayed on your Ning Network were either un-targeted or not appropriate. We’ve removed the display ads while we research how to better target ads to the topic and content of your Ning Network. We’ll update this blog post and add a new one, too when we have new information on changes to default ads.
I also read the long list of complaints you’ve already received- like mine- going back 4 months! What the hey, folks? (And- you haven’t removed the display ads). The University is not interested in using 1 trick for a tiny belly, ruling the night as a vampire or meeting people on Free Webcam Chat -not to mention hearing anything about Obama & Bernanke’s War. UC doesn’t care about what the White house doesn’t want us to know- and they are most certainly NOT looking for a spouse.
Is this situation going to change anytime soon?
Thank you in advance,
KMN
I’m very unhappy about the following display ad appearing on the network I run. It is not well targeted, is an eysore that takes attention completely away from everything else on the page and is totally out of character with the design and vibe of the network. We are a network of electronic music artists, many of us are into deeply poetic ambient music. I do not understand at all how we ended up with this glaringly ugly ad about improving abs…
Oh, and just as an afterthought… 🙂
I actually send out periodic warnings to my faith-filled members to IGNORE the Google ads on our site! 😛 I basically leave it to the members to control themselves, their eyes and their minds when it comes to these ad campaigns.
It’s really no different than driving down the road reading billboards and semi-truck rigs! Any member of a Christian site that has any moral obligation to his or her Maker, should realize and understand that it is their responsibility to control their own actions with regards to behavior. 🙂
Sorry, but I felt that a few more “cents” should be considered before one is quick to complain about any secular content here on the NING networks…most of you came here knowing full well that the ad content would be delivered to your site if you didn’t pay the fee to remove it.
Respectfully submitted,
Lee Guigar
Laura, thank you so much for all your help. I am happy to report that at least the ADS I’m seeing, so far, are “spot on” They are ministry related, which is good because we are a ministry. The chances of members clicking on the links are more probable than those that are not site related.
Please give GREAT CONSIDERATION to people of faith and distinctive networks. We don’t want to be embarrassed to invite people to join our networks.
Thank you!
Narda Goodson
Hi Narda,
We’re working on making sure the targeting is spot on with all the ads we run. If you see something you object to, please let us know through the Ning Help Center — we can better assist you and address your concerns there.
Thanks,
Laura
This evening, I was disheartened by what I SAW. I logged onto the site and “vawlah” a dating service promo. I run a Christian Teen girls site and the LAST THING my teens need is to have access to a MATCH.COM site.
Ning, this is so INAPPROPRIATE for my site. My teens don’t need access to a personalized dating service. Your ADS ARE INAPPROPRIATE!!!!
I totally understand why you are doing this and I do not disapprove, yet – when you have a VERY distinctive group/network… I can only hope there is some relevance for Ning’s sake.
To add to my other comment, I think we (Network Creators) should be able to change how the mail, friends request, comments and other user content should show up.
Ex: When you have a new message I think it is in our and our social networks best interest to provide a more visible icon or word message under the sign in box.
Most members ask where to find out if they have new messages or not because Ning on has this (1 new) next to the mail link.
Don’t get me wrong I love the Ning platform, I just think they should pay more attention to their customers requests.
Thank you, Laura, for your timely response to such “great concerns”. We appreciate you!!!
I think that Ning should make a feature for Network Creators. so that we predefine a profile layout for members.
We can preset (friends, music, videos, comments, rss, groups, or whatever else) or even remove them from the profile completely but provide a link to them.
Wow, ning responding quickly to NC requests!!! Bravo!!
The many teachers represented on our nings thank you as well, Laura. Ning’s timely response is very much appreciated!
Thank you for your efforts and consideration.
Chrissy
Dear Laura,
Just a note to thank you so much for responding to our concerns in such a timely and considerate manner. I know I speak for myself and others when I say we appreciate it very much.
God bless,
Cheri
Hi Cheri,
We’ve heard from you and others that the ads you were seeing displayed on your Ning Network were either un-targeted or not appropriate. We’ve removed the display ads while we research how to better target ads to the topic and content of your Ning Network. Even a few reports of inappropriate ads, we are going to tweak this trial further and bring it back when we have better solutions for all types of Ning Networks across topics. Thanks for your reports and we will work closely with Google to address their limitations here.
Thanks,
Laura
Hi,
I would like to go on record and ask Ning to refrain from posting any ads on The Cypress Times social network that would be offensive to Christian people I might invite to join the network.
Thank you,
Cheri
Hi Chrissy, Jamie, Cypress and Raman,
Thanks for your quick feedback on the new ads we’ve launched. If you remember when you first created your Ning Network, the Google AdSense ads you saw on it weren’t very targeted. As you added more content — and Google was able to crawl your Ning Network — the AdSense ads become more topical to the content being posted by you and your members.
The same thing is happening now with the new display ads. It will take a bit of time (up to two weeks) for your Ning Network to be completely crawled by Google. Once that happens, the ads you see will be more topical than they may be right now.
That said, we definitely don’t want to display ads that are inappropriate, content-wise. If you are seeing ads that have inappropriate content— not un-targeted or off topic, but actually link to or display offensive content — please drop us a note in the Ning Help Center with the following info:
A screenshot of the ad appearing on your Ning Network.
The URL of the website the ad points to
Once we have this info, we can look in to it and take action, if needed.
Thank you!
-Laura
I, agree with Ning and Xenoholic’s comment. You did talk about the “4 Second Rule” and now this.
I know that a large percentage of the Christian community and individuals that are using Ning for specific themes will not like this. We try to filter out what we deem inappropriate only to now be intruded by unwanted ads. I know that I don’t want “inappropriate or unsuitable” context showing up on my teen’s site or any other for that matter.
I believe this is just a way to PUSH us or FORCE US TO purchase the “Go-Ad-Free”. I can understand why you feel you need to make this business move but also anticipate that you will consider those of us who have distinctive/specific networks.
May I suggest that you categorize your ads/sites so that when network creators develop a site, your ads can compliment and add to your users network as oppose as “take away”. This will eliminate a a lot of confusion, fustration, and chaos.
You can get more productivity if the ads match the networks – category – distinctive needs. That way, ads aren’t wastefully floating around cyberspace and on sites that will never get a click.
For example, why not place educational ads for sites that are geared to education, school, etc. This will be good for both the ads-owners and the network user.
If I am on a religious site, the chances of me clicking on an ad that has something to do with “religion” are greater. I hope I have contributed something of substance to both parties.
Thank you!
Narda Goodson
This is totally unexceptionable to Christian sites!
As a site administrator, I found nothing but concerned emails in my inbox this morning. We do not want inappropriate ads in our face.
We request consideration to our faith.
Chrissy Siggee – Site administrator TCT Social Network
I’m going with uncool. The first ones are to large old school blinking Myspace-esque that have no real connection the industry I have created the site for. Feel a bit coerced into buying the premium to OPT out on them. Or is there a way to provide keywords to you to make them a little more pertinent.
Hi Jay,
If you purchase the Go Ad-Free premium service, you can choose to run the ads of your choosing — AdSense, display, or even no ads at all!
If you want to run the more “eye-catching” ads, like we’ve started experimenting with, you can choose from a number of ad providers. We are using Google Ad Manager, but there’s a number of different services you can pick from, like Ad Butler and Ad Brite.
Thanks!
Laura
Hi Laura, can i ask from your previous post to ‘Ning’ can you tell me if i decide to purchase the ‘go ad free’ service and i run my own google ads then will i be able to get the Image ad’s up the same as you guys?
I’m interested in purchasing the go add free but don’t want the ‘only text’ ads as the image ad’s are more ‘eye catching’
also you said to one person on here that if the image ad’s cause slowness then they can remove them by purchasing the ‘go ad free’
so if i purchase and decide to run my own google image ad’s and it causes slowness then what do i do?
furthermore, if NC’s find that these ad’s cause slowness and don’t want to remove the ad’s…. then isn’t that going against the ‘4 second rule’?
Please enlighten me on this as maybe other NC’s will be seeking the same answer.
Thanks, Jay
Your ads are completely inappropriate for our site. How can we ensure that only appropriate ads appear on our site? Members are complaining!!
Thanks,
John Winder
I agree with Charles above. The ad for greatglam.com is simply inappropriate, not just a nuisance. It’s an embarrassment to the members of my nings. Please don’t sell space to advertisers like that.
Hi “Ning” – If you see these display ads on your Ning Network and you think they are causing slowness, you can always purchase the “Go Ad-Free” premium service which will allow you to remove the ads.
Thanks!
Laura
“While these image ads may not be as targeted as the Google Ads you are used to seeing on your Ning Network”
While I totally understand why you are doing this and I do not disapprove, yet – when you have a VERY distinctive group/network… I can only hope there is some relevance for Ning’s sake.
I know my members well enough that they won’t be buying saving cream. I hope its at the very least targeted to some degree especially for those of us with very specific sites.
Oh no, and there we go with disturbing images. And it’s only the first step!!! Gosh, i’m expecting the worst to come 🙁
Excellent. One question – Will there be a way of targeting ads to Ning Network Creators? It could be very useful, since there are Ning Apps that we would like to advertise for Ning Network Creators to install in their networks.
Good call Gina!