I use a scroll mouse. If my pointer happens to be in the right place (or wrong), while I’m scrolling, I suddenly get a popup that distorts everything I’m reading. While trying to close that one, I can be hit with two or three others.

I also have no opt-out abilities whatsoever on it, apparently.

I also disagree with the concept of a ‘clean looking site’ with up to dozens of these fake link lines all over the main content, and often the sidebars as well.

Troy
Computer Consultant
Houston

I understand your claim and I’m glad for the opportunity to read it, though I disagree. With pop-up ads, users have no alternative than to have them display in front of them. In-text allows users the choice whether to see the ad or completely ignore it. Moreover, it allows the option to keep a clean looking site as it can serve to lessen banners and other forms of bluntly displayed advertising.
In-Text is becoming a popular channel for serving additional information to users. It does so by owing its appearance to a user’s active participation.

Thanks,

Mika
Publisher Services Manager
Kontera

This may be even more annoying than the old pop-over ads that would come up when you entered a site.

Do the developers of these things even use the itnernet themselves? Guys, you need to think of the user experience, lest you run the very real risk of losing the traffic you are so dependent on.

Thanks for writing. I’m glad that you use the double underline (usually) since it allows me to leave the page immediately, or if I really want to read the page, I hover over a link and opt-out. I wish you had a global opt-out. I am this close (put two fingers an inch part) to blocking your site (and the other similar systems) entirely from my home network. The rollover ads are very distracting because they are so easy to accidentally activate. Some users get confused by them. Mike

I’m from Kontera, I wanted to mention a few points which were overlooked here. Our ads are distinguished from regular links by a double underline. This is a format recognizable by users to be an ad. At Kontera, we do not recommend the option of a single underline. In fact it an option only made possible to publishers who turn to us and request for it specifically.
I regret to hear you find in-text ads intrusive. We do constantly aim to advance ContentLinks™ and make it satisfying to the taste of both users and publishers.

Thanks,

Mika Tal
Publisher Services Manager
Kontera

Thanks for writing in. You’re right, although I don’t know what the answer is, but deceptive advertising like ContentLink links that look like a regular link is going to hurt everyone. Yes, web publishers have a responsibility to their shareholders and investors, but they have a greater responsibility to the greater good. I’m not saying all advertising is evil, just that deceptive and annoying advertising is.

As I wrote in my next blog post, I just today removed all the advertising from my site, despite spending a couple thousand per year of my own cash for my sites. I am trying to support my family by being a stay at home full-time blogger/consultant/web guy. The advertising route wasn’t a good fit for that goal, even though it brought in a couple hundred dollars a month, enough that I the server was paying for itself. Any business plan that involves ContentLink-type advertising I think is a business that is getting desperate. I really think the advertising bug is going to hurt us as a society more than it is going to help us.