Advertising online is a necessary evil. It helps an online system to raise funds and keep the whole mechanism working, but the ads can create too many distractions for a reader interested in reading the news. What is the right balance between advertisements and reading content on a news website?
In making such a decision, some items must be discussed vis-à-vis the ads’ respective intrusiveness to the reading experience. Some ads, like banner ads, are highly disruptive; others, such as text-only ads and native advertising, are less intrusive.
The second thing to consider is the placement of the advertisements. If ads are placed above the fold, or in prime real estate on the website, they are more likely to be seen and clicked on by readers. However, if ads are placed below the fold or in less visible areas on the website, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as it will vary depending on the website and its readership. However, there are some general tips that can help to strike the right balance:
1. Make sure that the advertising is relevant to the audience.
If you are a news website, don’t fill your pages with ads for cars or clothes – stick to ads that are related to news or current events.
2. Don’t bombard readers with too many ads.
If there are too many ads on a page, it can be overwhelming and distract from the content. Try to space them out so that they don’t take up too much space.
3. Use banner ads sparingly.
Banner ads can be very distracting, especially if they are flashing or animated. Try to use them only when necessary, and make sure that they are not too intrusive.
4. Don’t include pop-up ads.
Pop-ups are too intrusive and annoying good reason why these should be avoided so that readers may access the needed content.
5. Never disrespect the experience of the reader.
Keep in mind that people come to your news site to read news, not to be bombarded with ads. Do not bombard them with ads, keep the ads relevant and useful.