Meta: Complaints about Xfinity ads

Submitted by carlos spicywiener on

The entitlement is staggering. People are going to sell to you on the internet in exchange for free content. You'll survive.

MGoBoard
Football

MinorRage

September 1st, 2016 at 6:07 PM ^

Don't forget about the "Beveled Guilt" at the top right. This is the time of year these guys work hardest - and if you have the cash, now is definitely a good time to help support our favorite blog. I always try to make a donation this time of year as they are rapidly feeding the addiction (and ruining my productivity at work.

Joined: 11/02/2008

MGoPoints: 1262

bsand2053

September 1st, 2016 at 8:32 PM ^

You should have adblock disabled on this site.  They are unobtrusive and it helps support the writers.  In fact, I believe you might actually be costing them money by running adblock.  

Now I don't worry too much about running it on something like facebook, but Mgoblog deserves our support, especially since, as I said, the banner ads are about as low key as you can get.  If every site kept their ads under control like this I might not have adblock.  

Joined: 04/14/2010

MGoPoints: 19317

Goggles Paisano

September 2nd, 2016 at 6:34 AM ^

Am I one of the few like Michigasling who spends way too much time on this blog each day and has not noticed an Xfinity ad?  

Either way, whatever amount of revenue this Blog generates, it probably isn't enough compared to the benefits we all derive from it every day.  

Joined: 07/30/2011

MGoPoints: 41232

SAMgO

September 1st, 2016 at 5:19 PM ^

Hold on...

I initially downvoted because I thought you made a thread bitching about Xfinity ads, which would be really stupid. Now you've edited your post and it seems like you're bitching about people bitching about Xfinity ads, which I support ideologically but still is probably not thread worthy. Please clarify.

Joined: 07/15/2013

MGoPoints: 18745

DrewForBlue

September 1st, 2016 at 6:24 PM ^

the full, years-long, weapons grade Comcast experience - I get this take.  What's the big deal?  They are just making money.  Sure, makes sense.  I mean, no one wants Brian and Co. to rake some serious bank more than I.  But for people who HAVE had this experience, and many reading this will know exactly what I'm talking about, this is a tame response.  Very tame.

At one point, Comcast was not just a bad company - it was the personification of evil upon the planet Earth.  There's a reason the name changed.  Many reasons.  And hey, maybe Xfinity is better!  Maybe it has changed.

But I will never know because I ( and my entire family ( and every neighbor within 5 miles )) refuses to touch anything related to those evil bastards.

 

 

Joined: 11/02/2009

MGoPoints: 2133

Space Coyote

September 1st, 2016 at 5:24 PM ^

Yeah, I don't like the ads being put within the text of the posts. If they were in their own separate ad, even at the header, it would feel more natural, look better, and not feel counter to what had been talked about before on this blog. But if the blog owners want to do it, that's their choice, no doubt. I'll probably still read the content, just feels a bit like selling out. Or as someone else put it, feels a bit like a noodle in front of the Big House. Either way this'll be my last post on the subject, I'm really not that passionate about talking about ads on blogs and don't care that much either way other than an out of character one-off snide comment about it earlier that I admittedly probably shouldn't have made.

Joined: 06/18/2009

MGoPoints: 38962

stephenrjking

September 1st, 2016 at 5:59 PM ^

Here's the thing: For me, and I suspect for others, "conditioned to" banner ads actually means "conditioned to ignore" banner ads. 

I don't notice them that much. I noticed the Homesure lending ads and I noticed the Xfinity ads (which I think are poorly formatted but otherwise whatever) because they are the opening text of something that I intend to read.

Would it be cleaner if it weren't there? Sure. But I'm glad they are, because it is in my interest as a Michigan fan for this site to continue to succeed. 

There are plenty of examples of good blogs, websites, communities, and media publications that produced real quality that simply don't exist anymore. In most cases the reason they do not exist is money. There are no true substitutes for the content produced on this blog. If it cannot continue to support itself financially, part or all of it goes away.

(It's not like they're filthy rich; two or three years ago, in the program's nadir, HTTV's kickstarter took over a week to reach its goal and Seth basically admitted that if HTTV was not published he was out of a job and looking for a new career. It can be a close run thing. Fortunately, the football team has changed directions rather significantly and there's more market interest). 

So if this monetizes the blog and continues to support Brian as he rears a family, as well as a stable of employees who are important parts of the community, I'm 100% for it.

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20143702

OwenGoBlue

September 1st, 2016 at 6:47 PM ^

That "conditioned to ignore" is exactly what the science on this says. That is why the sponsored content generally does go for a higher rate. 

I totally agree that it's good on MGoBlog to advertise in various ways with any partners they deem. I was a longtime lurker so I've been around for a while and this place is amazing.

With added monetization, namely more partners, there will inevitably be more complaints (founded or not) based on the reputation of those partners. That's totally fine, just part of the biz.

Joined: 04/03/2016

MGoPoints: 31529

stephenrjking

September 1st, 2016 at 6:39 PM ^

Have you thought about posting an actual apology in the thread in question?

I get that you and Brian don't get along. You're both opinionated about football. Some of your responses to him have been rather caustic; some of his responses to you have been caustic as well. You said in the other thread that you extended "olive branches" and that Brian hasn't taken you up on them. I have no idea if those were visible olive branches or emails, but I know that public contrition is effective.

I also know that it's hard. Nobody likes to admit that they were wrong and take responsibility for it; I try to do it in my personal life when appropriate, but in a format like this I've certainly pedaled an opinion way too far up the wrong driveway before and not wanted to admit it.

I have no idea what's up with the larger issue, and I don't think Brian's response to you was kind either, but in this particular situation I can totally understand his point. I've been in spots where I've put in extremely hard work, sacrificing sleep and personal/family time and financial resources to produce something, and gotten complaints in return before, and that is personally hurtful. It probably bugs him more because he's inclined to dislike you already, but it still rankles.

An apology for that particular comment and discussion would be hard to do. It would also be the ultimate man-up. Regardless of whether Brian responds to it or not.

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20143702

Optimism Attache

September 1st, 2016 at 6:10 PM ^

Well, yeah, in-text ads are different than banners. Comcast might not have even wanted to do an ad at all if it wasn't in the text kind. Or, another very likely possibility is that they pay a hell of a lot more for an in-text ad. Ever notice that Brian hasn't put a Russian bride ad in-text? Yeah, it's because the Russian bride company can't afford that shit.

Joined: 09/13/2011

MGoPoints: 23980

Mercury Hayes

September 1st, 2016 at 9:43 PM ^

I'm not going to debate you about the intrusiveness of sponsored content vs. banner ads. As an ad guy, I can tell you banner ads generally don't work. 

But here's what I will tell you:

Ad buys like this come together not through some ad network, or progammed buy with a computer. It comes about because someone read the blog and saw an opportunity to support said blog because the product aligns with the readership (sports fans who need variety of sports don't cut the cord).

So ad guy goes out on a limb. Bloggers agree to partner. Clients will want to see a wrap up of how the ads were perceived. Here's where it gets interesting. If the feedback is bad, clients get mad. Ad guy gets grilled. Ad guy will in turn not use site again for this brand or other clients. 

End result would be missed opportunities for bloggers, and a bad experience for client an ad guy.

How do I know all this? I'm the ad guy who has happened to read this blog daily for the past 10 years. The one who thought "hey, what a great opportunity, lets partner here."

So far, the response has been okay. Maybe better than expected. So lets please keep it that way so I don't get my ass handed to me in future meetings. And so we can do more things like this in the future.

Joined: 08/18/2010

MGoPoints: 9221

MGoBender

September 2nd, 2016 at 6:59 AM ^

As I posted in the first Comcast-sponsored post: I've had Comcast for about 16 months since moving to my condo.  I had Comcast in college and came to hate it with difficulty moving from college apartment to college house to college apartment.  There was a stretch of 5 years where I had DirectTV or UVerse.  When I moved into my condo 16 months ago I had to get Comcast...  And I haven't had a single problem at all. I LOVE the new XFinity interface.  I got a 24 month contract where I'm paying $125 for Internet/Cable/HBO.  It's expensive, but worth it. *ducks*

However, when that contract intro rate expires, I'm considering cutting the cord unless they let me keep the price at or lower than what it is.  I really only watch HBO (can get HBOGo), CNN (I'm an idiot), and Tigers baseball/michigan football and basketball.  I'd hate to lose ESPN during basketball season, though.  I'll definitely be looking at options.

Joined: 03/26/2010

MGoPoints: 15128