Will companies ever find the right balance in online advertising? As YouTube has found out today there’s a thin line between advertising and annoyance. Just one too many ad or annoying flash generated window and you can leave thousands of users increasingly annoyed with your site.
Google seems to have done quite well in this respect using its unobtrusive, sponsored top and side links. They thankfully haven’t yet strayed in to the world of the evil roaming flash window. However, Google has the benefit of a virtual monopoly over the search market which effectively protects it from disaffected users.
YouTube, while also massive, needs to be careful of alienating users and developing too corporate a persona. Advertising means big bucks and big business which just isn’t attractive to the majority of YouTube and Web 2.0 users.
The trouble is, advertising means revenue and revenue means survival. So just what is the right balance for advertising online? See also Wadd’s blog – MySpace adds to PR team
That's going to be one of the key things about web 2.0 - whether the huge potential of the industry can result in cold hard cash. Personally - and i think this is the case with alot of people my age - i'm not too bothered about advertising as long as it means content is free and it is n't too intrusive. I'm not sure why YouTube didn't stick it at the side of the page?
Posted by: Tim Hoang | August 24, 2007 at 11:17 AM
see http://twopointouch.com/2007/08/24/that-didnt-take-long/
Posted by: Tim Hoang | August 24, 2007 at 12:08 PM
yes i agree, well said, great web site
Posted by: SmartFolio | November 19, 2007 at 05:00 PM
Thanks for the comment 'SmartFolio'
Posted by: Toby Brown | November 20, 2007 at 01:54 PM
yes i agree, well said, great web site
Posted by: SmartFolio | November 22, 2007 at 05:06 PM