[brian]

Please discuss the following announcement in this thread:

Hi everyone,

I'm sure many of you have noticed that we've been tinkering with the design and layout of the site. We are working on a complete redesign, and testing out a few things out at a time.

We understand that most people do not like change, and that you might not like all these changes. Please be patient with us during this time, nothing is set in stone, your feedback is appreciated and welcome, please be respectful with your criticisms

(putting on my flame retardant suit, please be nice )

Thanks

[brian]

Due to complaints of some peoples browsers not displaying the page correctly, we have moved some of ads, and change the size and location of them.

Currently, we are testing out some ads in the right hand portion of the first post on the page. But in doing that, we removed a larger ad that went across the whole page above the thread.

As I mentioned, we are testing a few things out and see how things work.

As many of you know, allnurses.com is privately owned and operated by myself. We've managed to survive, pay the bills, and continue to grow through the dot com boom, and the recession. The vast majority of our funding comes from advertising, and a smaller portion from premium memberships. We've recently increased our infrastructure added 2 new servers to handle the demand of the site. These are all good things, I'm not looking for your sympathy, just explaining what's been going on.

While the advertising may seem irritating, it pays the bills. We are testing size, location etc... of the ads to optimize revenue.

Sorry for not announcing these changes ahead of time, but these were kind of a work in progress, not necessarily planned out.

Thanks for your understanding.

FYI, we are condsidering many ideas, one of which is offering a new level of membership where there will be no ads. We are thinking of calling it something like Platinum Membership? If we decide to move ahead with that, we will announce that at a later date.

[rn/writer]

I don't object to the ads, just the fact that they show up within posts. I wouldn't mind seeing them in a separate box. Bandwidth and equipment don't come cheap and if advertising can keep memberships affordable, so be it. But I don't want an ad INSIDE my post. Ever. Makes it seem like I'm endorsing whatever is being offered.

I also don't want to find an ad INSIDE my post for a company or service with which I've had a bad experience. Feels invasive and creepy that someone might associate my name (even subliminally) with an advertiser I would not recommend.

So . . . Ads--okay. Putting them inside my posts--not okay. Allnurses.com overall--priceless.

[gradRN2007]

i agree, not in the posts

[loricatus]

The ads in the posts are, to say the least, annoying. I just found myself not wanting to view posts because of it. Also, I don't like the idea being implied that the OP is the one promoting/advertising/endorsing something. Please put the ads outside of the posts again.

[bethin]

Annoying. While I understand you have to pay the bills, I agree with the others who don't want their name associated with ads.

[Spidey's mom]

Testing a few things out never bothered me. How else do you learn?

I agree with the idea that the ads inside a post may not be a good idea due to the implications already stated.

Keep trying new things though Brian . . .change is good.

steph

[prmenrs]

I, too, would not be happy to see an ad in my post. It DOES look like I'm endorsing something I know nothing about, and may, in fact, dislike said something.

[brian]

Thank you all for your honest opinions. Your feedback is a tremendous help! I appreciate your concerns and will redesign pull the ads from within the post Give us several hours to switch out the design.

wheh.... now I can take off this hot suit Just kidding

[RainDreamer]

Originally Posted by brian

your feedback is appreciated and welcome, please be respectful with your criticisms

(putting on my flame retardant suit, please be nice )

Brian - I agree about the ads in the posts being annoying. The ads on the sides/bottoms of the site I can put up with, no big deal. But I think (just my opinion) that the ones IN the posts just makes it look "trashy" (for a lack of a better word).

I actually think the Platinum Membership thing is a good idea, as I would be willing to pay more to not have to deal with the ads, and to help support this website.

You're awesome. Seriously. Not to sound all cheesy, but this website has seriously changed my life. And I can't thank you enough for that.