https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ads-are-limiting-my-time-here Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 22 Apr 2026 17:23:12 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ads-are-limiting-my-time-here/page/2#post-609218 Tue, 01 May 2012 15:19:07 +0000 Sarah A 609218@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is very interesting Greg! Thanks for the rundown and hearing how much work you do to make YLF a place where we all feel comfortable. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ads-are-limiting-my-time-here/page/2#post-609096 Tue, 01 May 2012 12:51:33 +0000 ButterflyLady 609096@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I feel almost bad saying this, but I have Firefox Adblock and don't see any ads at all! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ads-are-limiting-my-time-here/page/2#post-608297 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:25:11 +0000 Emily 608297@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>LOL...That is good to know...thanks! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ads-are-limiting-my-time-here/page/2#post-608182 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:51:17 +0000 cjh 608182@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Greg, thanks for the in depth reply and explanations. I am somewhat familiar with websites and ad strategies, so that is not all new. I DO appreciate your taking off the VS ads, and listening to my concerns.</p> <p>I agree with Cocolion - the brand and the product are just fine with me, but the ads were not classy enough for YLF, or modest enough for folks like me who look at your site at work.</p> <p>As to the KK stories and ads, the only thing that bothered me about that was that the line isn't really my taste, so I was kind of bored with the whole thing.</p> <p>The personal touch you guys have is what makes YLF such a great place to be - thanks again for your fast response and great explanations. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ads-are-limiting-my-time-here/page/2#post-608151 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:15:59 +0000 Lisa 608151@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>That was a really interesting read Greg, thanks for sharing. I am also really surprised to hear that the KK behind the scenes posts went so sour. I enjoyed the series. The only time I got irked from that series was when I received promotional email from KK at one point during the series. But actual coverage of KK and the process they use didn't bother me at all. I do think the ads situation is a difficult one and I appreciate that you and Angie are always striving for a way to incorporate revenue to keep YLF moving forward while also not flooding the site with ads. Many sites are covered with them and I usually stop to visit them after a few weeks. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ads-are-limiting-my-time-here/page/2#post-608096 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 10:55:31 +0000 Deborah 608096@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is so interesting. Any ads I see are to the right of the screen and I never get "pop up" type ads. I barely notice them and they are mostly fashion related as I recall. They definitely seem to relate to my recent search history. I have never seen anything inappropriate and they barely register with me. The advertising being so unobtrusive is one of the many many reasons this site is so easy to use. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ads-are-limiting-my-time-here/page/2#post-608059 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 07:58:08 +0000 Louise 608059@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I must but be so unobservant!! I'd barely noticed the ads till I just went looking for them. Mostly I view on my phone and pinch and pull the screen so I get the posts to fill it but even when I view on my pc I'd hardly noticed them x </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ads-are-limiting-my-time-here/page/2#post-608057 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 07:49:44 +0000 CocoLion 608057@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Greg, thank you for taking the time to educate us about this! I find it extremely interesting as my background, prior to food service, was marketing. Internet advertising has come a long way since my last experience with it in 2005.</p> <p>I do have problems loading YLF pages from time to time and always suspected it was the ads, but now I now for certain.</p> <p>Right now I'm seeing eBay ads and a Revlon banner at the top. I don't mind search-related advertising. The eBay ads are showing clothes which I could see myself being interested in, so I would say I even appreciate this form of targeted advertising.</p> <p>Every once in a while I get the funny lady wrinkle creams, the home mortgage refinance offers but I get them a lot less than on every other website out there.</p> <p>For the record I don't mind the VS ads as I don't read YLF while working. However I felt the ads were poorly targeted. Most of them were for VS Pink which I see high school girls wearing. They first advertised a new bra which might have been interesting to me but then the ad changed to a free Pink tee shirt offer which I was not interested in.</p> <p>I loved the KK series! The business behind fashion is so interesting to me, I want more coverage like this. The series turned me into a loyal customer, I have ordered from KarenKane.com three times. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ads-are-limiting-my-time-here/page/2#post-608028 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 05:28:12 +0000 jayne 608028@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for the hard work Greg. I occasionally look around for other fashion inspirational sites, but the format, content, and usability of YLF outshines them all. They could take a lesson from you! Beautiful piece of work! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ads-are-limiting-my-time-here/page/2#post-608015 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 05:11:42 +0000 Scarlet 608015@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>That was actually a really interesting read. For me personally the ads I see are unobtrusive. Almost exclusively they are fashion related and have never "popped up". I don't surf at work, so that is not an issue for me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ads-are-limiting-my-time-here/page/2#post-607973 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 03:57:14 +0000 christieanne 607973@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I just want to add that I appreciate the attention you pay to the site and the solution based approach Greg (and Angie!). Thank you! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ads-are-limiting-my-time-here#post-607953 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 03:22:17 +0000 Diana 607953@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Greg, the revlon ad does go away if I move the cursor away. On a different website earlier today, though, I encountered an ad that popped up something that took up my whole screen, so that required that i click the "close" button in the corner. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ads-are-limiting-my-time-here#post-607948 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 03:15:57 +0000 lyn* 607948@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that Angie was getting such negative feedback for Karen Kane stuff! I hardly remember the posts - although I do remember the contest which was very fun!</p> <p>I can't partake in the mobile version of YLF (Blackberry user); so I was looking forward to making a contribution to YLF and get an ad free version, but I understand that it can be difficult to be sustainable in today's world. </p> <p>I'm making my first "big girl" budget and I'll plan on putting YLF in there </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ads-are-limiting-my-time-here#post-607927 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 02:33:58 +0000 Greg 607927@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Emily, yes, that wasn't our best background. But rest assured that we now have a no nipple policy for all future backgrounds. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ads-are-limiting-my-time-here#post-607924 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 02:30:05 +0000 Greg 607924@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Diana, I don't think there is a way for you to specifically eliminate the Revlon ad. If the ad is "flash-based", then you might be able to eliminate it by removing flash support, but then you will also eliminate other flash based things (like youtube, for example).</p> <p>On my side I can ask Revlon not to use ads with pop-overs. I didn't notice that one when we approved the campaign, but I will keep an eye out for them in future. I don't like them either.</p> <p>BTW, if you move away from the rollover, it should just go away. Is that not happening in your case? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ads-are-limiting-my-time-here#post-607921 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 02:28:22 +0000 velvetychocolate 607921@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hmm..I really enjoyed the Karen Kane series, and didn't mind the ads at all. The whole series was a treat for me, actually - to learn about a company that was moving their manufacturing back to the US and setting up an online store etc. That was a lot of fun for me to read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Brought my attention to a brand I hadn't really heard of before. </p> <p>Meanwhile, I will say that I felt a tiny bit embarrassed with the latest VS ads. The weird thing is that I actually buy stuff from VS and appreciate their product, and would be happy to click on their ads/links and see what's on sale and what's new etc. </p> <p>It's just that the ads themselves were a bit...hmm..I can't think of a good word or phrase to describe it. There were a few pictures that I felt funny about having up on my screen. This isn't YLF at all, it's that VS needs to come up with a classier advertising campaign, imo. I am not normally embarrassed by advertisements for lingerie at all - I swear! There was just something...embarrassing about VS's choice of photos/ads. Even my husband walked by and said, "What is that?" and I explained, "I'm on YLF"...</p> <p>GAH. </p> <p>I swear, I'm really not a prude. It's their choice of photos that was the problem. </p> <p>Having said all of that - just wanted to say that I actually enjoy most of the advertising featured here, and have clicked on stuff where I'd never done that before in the past. Loved the Smart Car ads, enjoying the Revlon ads, appreciate the diamond ads, heck - I've liked ALL of the ads...except the VS series. </p> <p>Thanks for removing them Greg! It's sad because like I said, I wouldn't mind clicking on their ads and finding something new or on sale or what have you, just that their pictures were not the best. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ads-are-limiting-my-time-here#post-607920 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 02:25:29 +0000 cheryle (Dianthus) 607920@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am probably a minority, but don't really mind the ads that are based on my prior internet activity. I have found a few to be interesting enough that I click and look. For example, I was looking at boots and an ad for boots that were very nice came up.</p> <p>I never questioned the integrity of the site, the owners or the users. My interpretation was that Angie had found that a line of clothing was well-made and interesting and was sharing that information with us as she would with any fashion find. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ads-are-limiting-my-time-here#post-607916 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 02:20:35 +0000 Diana 607916@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is fascinating, Greg. Thanks for the insight. I am a little surprised about the Karen Kane backlash too! In my opinion, having sponsors and ads is all just a natural part of making a blog into a business. </p> <p>I do have a technical question about the ads though - is there a way either on your end or mine to specifically eliminate the ads that contain pop-ups or rollovers, like the Revlon ad? I find them very distracting, especially when I am using a laptop with a smaller screen, where the popups take up like half the screen when I accidentally roll over the ad. The Revlon ad annoys me much, much more than the VS, which does not bug me at all. Although I haven't encountered any such ads on YLF, the ones that drive me the most crazy are the ones that have music/sounds when you roll over them (I seem to get a lot of those on food blog sites for some reason). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ads-are-limiting-my-time-here#post-607897 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 01:58:33 +0000 Greg 607897@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Kari, the negative response I mentioned wasn't from regulars in the forum. It came directly to us through the contact form, and we saw similar comments on *other* blogs.</p> <p>I think the people here in the forum trust Angie because they have gotten to know her. But others who only come to the site occasionally don't have that same level of trust, which is understandable.</p> <p>It is also true that the Internet is full of people trying to make a fast buck in shady ways, so it isn't surprising that people will be very skeptical and suspicious. I'm actually very grateful to the people that contacted us directly, because even though their message stung, they were honest and they expressed their concerns in private. The people that were making statements about YLF on other blogs are the ones that I have a problem with. But this only happened once or twice, so it isn't a big issue. Mainly, it raised our awareness about the way this sort of thing might be perceived. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ads-are-limiting-my-time-here#post-607896 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 01:58:05 +0000 Emily 607896@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have to admit that I was glad when February turned to March so I didn't have to worry about the nipple show from the model in the background photo (in the sheer white dress.) I definitely could have done without that one. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ads-are-limiting-my-time-here#post-607837 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 01:13:34 +0000 Kari 607837@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I, too, am very surprised to hear about the negative response to the Karen Kane series. Maybe I was oblivious or not on the site as much at that time, but any backlash flew right past me without my noticing. I *loved* hearing about the behind the scenes activities at the Karen Kane headquarters, and with the promo code I got a great black summer dress that I wore constantly (and plan to do so again this summer.) It really got Karen Kane more on my radar as a retailer to watch out for when I'm scouring sites for specific items. Later on in the year during a sale, I scooped up a white rayon pussycat bow Karen Kane blouse that I had kept watch on, and again, the quality totally measured up to my expectations. I feel more jazzed to wear my Karen Kane items now knowing the creative work that goes on to produce them.</p> <p>To me, it was (and is) totally clear that Angie is sharing her true opinion about retailers who are reviewed. When Angie is enthusiastic about a product, as she was in the Karen Kane series, it doesn't seem forced and I feel like I get a true sense of the quality of the item being reviewed - especially knowing that Angie is pickier about quality control than I am! I'm completely stunned and feel kind of sad that others saw this as "selling out." What a bummer. I don't blame you and Angie for being disappointed after such an enthusiastic output into the series, not to mention all of the work you both did to make it possible. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ads-are-limiting-my-time-here#post-607831 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 01:11:25 +0000 Greg 607831@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks Rae. Although Angie doesn't accept "gifts" anymore, KK did pay for sponsored posts and we showed their ads on the site during the campaign. So I understand where the perceived conflict of interest comes from.</p> <p>That said, although it was only a handful of negative responses, they were quite bitter and having that sort of thing out on the Internet is not good. </p> <p>The reality is that we have to consider the worst possible interpretation of everything that we do. </p> <p>Anna, you really, really shouldn't ever be concerned about whether you "provide income" to YLF. You are doing so just by having the ads appear on the pages that you view. Everyone here is who is participating is helping to make this a more interesting, vibrant place.</p> <p>Also, I should add that we really appreciate it when people speak up about things that are bothering them. It helps us to see things that we missed, and gives us a chance to do something about them. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ads-are-limiting-my-time-here#post-607826 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 01:08:46 +0000 Patty 607826@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>For the record--I haven't seen the VS ads either---but I'd like to know what the secret cheap no wrinkle thing is--out of curiosity LOL</p> <p>It's very cool that you takes this all as challenges Greg! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ads-are-limiting-my-time-here#post-607789 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:48:46 +0000 rae 607789@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you, Greg, for being so quick and responsive - it never occurred to me that you even *could* turn the VS ads off... most of the ads don't bother me in the slightest, and some actually do lead me to interesting products, so I don't think I'd personally want to turn off the ads altogether. </p> <p>The backlash from the KK series really surprises me! Um... wow. Tons of bloggers plug brands *for profit* - that does make me feel a little icky. But since Angie doesn't accept gifts, in my mind that gives her the freedom to praise and promote any brand she wants, as it is based on her actual opinion! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ads-are-limiting-my-time-here#post-607783 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:46:27 +0000 annagybe 607783@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've never seen the VS ads. I check at work and at home. I do get Saks FIfth Avenue a lot. Also I don't/didn't have a problem with the sponsored posts or the Karen Kane campaign.<br /> I like that YLF is above board in the revenue generation. Many fashion blogs blur the lines. I also realize that as a customer I don't provide much income to YLF, I have a tendency to forget about the sponsored links. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ads-are-limiting-my-time-here#post-607764 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:39:00 +0000 Greg 607764@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>ironkurtin, thanks for the support. </p> <p>The Google filters don't always work. If you block a specific site address that seems to be effective, but the category filters seem to fail sometimes. I wonder whether some advertisers are (mis)categorizing their ads in a way that gets them through. Also, as an AdSense publisher you have a limited number of filters, so at some point you have to trade something off. If I could, I would restrict AdSense to a very narrow range of topics, like fashion + beauty, but that isn't possible. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ads-are-limiting-my-time-here#post-607756 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:37:03 +0000 nicoleb 607756@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've only seen the VS ads once and twice and i only really noticed because Rae posted about it the other day. But i don't use my work's computer for personal stuff and there have never been any ads on here that i've felt where in bad taste. You gotta do whatcha gotta do! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ads-are-limiting-my-time-here#post-607734 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:26:00 +0000 ironkurtin 607734@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Greg, this is the line so many site creators dance! I really appreciated the coherent rundown. I am wondering about the Google filters - are they not responsive to your needs? That surprises me and makes me a bit peevish (at them, not you).</p> <p>For the record:</p> <p>- Angie did not "sell out" to KK. There is allowable synergy between mentioning a brand one supports and the brand, in return, supporting *you!* Sheez. Angie, your credibility and integrity and taste remain intact. </p> <p>- I barely notice the ads unless they enlarge when I scroll (like the Revlon ad). I am very good at ignoring things trying to sell me stuff online. IMO this is a survival skill for the internet.</p> <p>- I wasn't offended in the slightest by the VS ads. Surely there are worse things in life than attractive ladies (or men) in underpants? I guess some worksites are super conservative and consider it pornographic? Pity, really.</p> <p>Hats off to you, Greg, keep it coming. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ads-are-limiting-my-time-here#post-607692 Sun, 29 Apr 2012 23:54:48 +0000 Greg 607692@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks. It is very interesting to hear about the ads you are seeing.</p> <p>Also, you should see the VS ads go away.</p> <p>There are some complicated issues at play here. The short version is that (1) advertising makes YLF possible, but (2) advertising is a horribly complicated model with some definite problems. We're evolving our approach and I'm sure we'll do better over time.</p> <p>For the brave, here is the long version...</p> <p>There are two ad networks on YLF. The first is Google AdSense, which is using all kinds of automagical cleverness to serve you an add that is relevant to you AND relevant to YLF. We have some high level control over the categories of ads that display, but these controls are not always effective. For example, there should be nothing about dermatology or credit card debt. I have blocked those categories, yet the ads appear. But since I didn't see them, I wasn't complaining to Google. Even the ads I do see from Google are often annoying because they are clearly targeted at me based on some other site I visited (this is what is happening in dianthus's case). In general the lack of control over the AdSense ads is a real problem for us and in the long term I hope that we can move away from them completely.</p> <p>The second network is Federated Media. Here we have complete control. I approve every campaign that comes through, and these campaigns generate more revenue. Sometimes they are closely linked to particular content (the "sponsored posts" that Angie does). These advertisers NEVER dictate our content or even see our posts before we publish them, but they do get to put their ads against exactly the types of articles they want to be associated with, and they pay a premium for this. Everybody wins: We earn more revenue, they get better placement, you see nicer ads.</p> <p>Unfortunately, we can only fill some of our ad slots with these more premium ads. The rest goes to AdSense. And given that we have some months with very few premium campaigns, we just can't afford to kick AdSense to the curb.</p> <p>Ironically, the Victoria Secret ads are part of a Federated Media campaign that I approved. More than that, I was excited that we got the campaign because it is a good brand and, although racy, the creative is not *ugly*. That said, I totally understand the reaction. Luckily I could talk to the folks at FM and get them to opt us out of the campaign after the fact.</p> <p>We are always thinking about ways that we can make the advertising more useful. One example of this was the Karen Kane campaign. We loved the idea of working with them to tell their story. We thought the "behind the scenes" posts would be very interesting to you, and the exposure good for them. Unfortunately, it really went sour. </p> <p>People seemed to enjoy the posts, but then we started getting some really negative feedback (through the contact form, but also as comments on other blogs) that we had sold out to KK and were now essentially a Karen Kane mouthpiece. Angie took this really hard because it challenged her ethics and her credibility. She had written literally thousands of posts, but 5 or 6 posts on Karen Kane were enough for people to get ugly.</p> <p>In addition to all of this, the ads have a big impact on the performance of the site (the time it takes a page to load). I have spent hundreds of hours optimizing the heck out of the code, and all of that goes down the drain because the systems serving the ads (totally outside of my control) sometimes have terrible performance. I can't tell you how much this frustrates me.</p> <p>So to answer Lyn's question, YES, we have thought about a paid version of YLF that allows you to turn off the ads. We've gone beyond that to actually build it. In fact, I have been using it for a while. Right now I am actually paying a monthly subscription and I can go to my profile page and turn off ads. </p> <p>The reason we haven't launched it is that we're not sure what to charge. We're on a bit of a tightrope and if we charge too little we could take the business into territory where it no longer supports us. Too much, and it might make people angry. We're also worried about the impact on the community of having "premium" users. We are doing some work on figuring this out, but it has taken a back seat to other things recently.</p> <p>If you got this far, thanks for reading my rant. Although it sounds negative, these are interesting problems to work on. And we will definitely learn more over time. I just thought that those of you who are interested in the ad supported aspect of the site might enjoy a little glimpse into my world.</p> <p>Finally, if you have an opinion about what we should charge for an ad free option, or what you would be prepared to pay for that option, then please let me know. If not below then in a private message or by email. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ads-are-limiting-my-time-here#post-607682 Sun, 29 Apr 2012 23:41:46 +0000 Echo 607682@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hmm, I'm getting a Revlon airbrushed foundation ad. Perhaps it is different for each person, or perhaps it is different based on keywords in the posts in each thread. </p>