Ning won't let us run our own Ads on Mobile

Hi all

There has been much discussion in the thread here about the new mobile interface and 'Ning Ads'.

Until we know fully what 'Ning Ads' means, I thought I'd open a discussion to find out what NCs want from the ad function on their mobile networks.

I've been very vocal that I want the ability to run my own banner ads, preferrably in rotation across all pages. An interface that enables me to do this is what I want, but failing that a text box that I can insert above all pages and insert html and script would suffice.

More than anything, though, I want control over what ads I put on my mobile site. I don't want to have one option only, i.e. Ning/Glam ads.

What does everybody else hope to see?

Tags: Ads on Mobile, Adverts on Mobile, Ning Ads

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Replies to This Discussion

NC for HirePermalink Reply by SweetPotato on August 3, 2012 at 2:16pm

based in old st, London, I believe. might pop in and see what their mobile ad plans are :-)

Permalink Reply by Josh Hall on August 3, 2012 at 2:35pm

keep me updated :)

Permalink Reply by NingStar on August 3, 2012 at 4:04pm

Why won't Ning allow NC's to run their own mobile ads........ now looking the Ning Ad package I understand that it is tied to Paypal......... I hope Ning thought it through that not all NC's are supported by Paypal so there is great need to allow NCs to run their own mobile ads.

Permalink Reply by Chris on August 3, 2012 at 9:21pm

I have to say this again:

We will LOSE some of our sponsors if their ads aren't on the mobile version.

We have carefully selected adverts running on the desktop version. They are paying for their ads to appear THROUGHOUT the site, and that, to them, includes the mobile version.

"Our ads or no ads" is therefore not acceptable.

We cannot turn off the mobile version. That's a laughable non-solution, and it is insulting to us to suggest it. Our members have been crying out for better mobile access. Baller has shown PROOF that we can make money from mobile ads. Approx 20% of our site traffic is mobile, and that has increased with the new slick interface.

Please hear us - we HAVE to be able to run our own ads on the mobile version!

It is already costing many of us money. Ning/Glam ads are simply not appropriate for MANY of our networks. Good sponsors are hard to come by these days. I hope this doesn't cost us more... Some of us have stuck with Ning for a long time, please do not turn your back on us now.

Permalink Reply by Chris on August 11, 2012 at 12:20pm

I would love a response to the above from Ning, it's been over a week since I posted it. If Ning were a free service then it would have the right to impose ads on us. However, it isn't free, and this move will anger a great many NC's who feel they have the right to put their own ads on their networks, and also those who have a duty to their sponsors to include them on all pages.

Can anyone from Ning justify the decision not to allow NC's choice in mobile advertising, and to deprive many of us a portion of our potential income?

Permalink Reply by Eric Suesz on August 11, 2012 at 5:41pm

We're definitely not imposing ads on your network, and that's not in our plans. Right now, the way Ning Ads work is that they can run on both the desktop and mobile versions, but we haven't built out a way to put in custom ads in your mobile version. We have built that into your desktop version (currently in beta), which we think more NCs will want and use a lot more.

There's another detail here that probably won't satisfy, but it's important, too: With the development of the mobile version, there's been a strong desire to make the experience very (very) consistent across the platform, which is why you don't see options to change a lot of details like colors, backgrounds, fonts, etc. There's not a way to do extreme CSS customizations like you might see some people do on their desktop version. I know that a small number of NCs are already mobile-focused, so I understand if this isn't the way you'd prefer it to be. I can't promise we'll add custom mobile ads, but I definitely am letting the product managers and everyone else here know that you really want a mobile custom ad solution. We've come a long way this year with the mobile improvements, which is a huge upgrade across the board, and I'm hopeful we can keep moving forward and adding more to it. Just can't promise it at this point. But, I will definitely keep advocating for it.

NC for HirePermalink Reply by SweetPotato on August 11, 2012 at 5:54pm

Eric, thanks for the thoughtful reply.
Totally understand the need to maintain some consistency across mobile (hell, what some people do with their desktop versions terrifies me so I get that). However, with some best practice guidance and, crucially, some definitive rules as to what you allow for custom mobile ads dimenson-wise etc, surely you can make this work? I sure hope so.
Thanks again for replying. Until now, it was the silence that bugged the most.
Cheers
SP

Permalink Reply by Chris on August 12, 2012 at 11:27am

Thank you for the reply Eric. I'm glad you continue to listen to us!

Consistency here should mean that what we are able to do with the desktop, we should be able to do with the mobile. I'm talking about custom tracking solutions, custom ads, custom code.

I understand the desire to keep the flagship mobile version fast and pretty, but our networks are our own (I still believe...?). Maybe we could talk about having to apply for a text box on the mobile version. It might only be given to those who have a certain level of understanding of coding, and could be withdrawn if it is abused in a way that makes the mobile version slow or unwieldy. Like other features can be turned on or off.

However, since Ning has (almost) always offered white label networks, there is a strong argument that if people want to ruin their networks they should be allowed to, so long as it doesn't impact anyone else. They're paying for them! Ning allows a good amount of freedom in the customisation of the desktop version. To the point where people can encumber it with so many ads, images and bad script that it becomes unusable. Therefore Consistency could be to allow them to do that to the mobile version if they wished.

I interpret the current plan for mobile to be imposing ads on us, in the sense that it's either Ning ads or nothing. I appreciate you don't see it that way, but that is how it feels. Ning ads are completely inappropriate for many networks. Some networks do well from google ads, but there are many who rely on bespoke advertising. Please don't count us out, or Ning will lose a great many niche networks who can't afford to run. Probably efficient networks from Ning's point of view - ones that don't strain the servers but still pay the full price. Especially poignant right now as those of us who came from Ning of old have all just paid!

Why is there a strong desire to homogenise the mobile versions of networks, to keep them all the same? Does Ning no longer rejoice in diversity?

Permalink Reply by Ed on August 4, 2012 at 1:37pm

Interesting thread. My sites are small and don't bring in revenue but principals are principals and silent protests don't get heard so I'm adding my voice to the "Choice" camp.

NC for HirePermalink Reply by SweetPotato on August 5, 2012 at 3:54am

Ed, thanks for replying. I think that what is so aggravating about Ning's stance here is that they must have known that they would be met with this kind of response. When they sat down to plan Ning/Glam ads, someone must have piped up with "we are going to get a lot of unhappy NCs if we don't give the option to run there own ads on mobile" (my bet is that that person was Eric) yet are ploughing ahead regardless.

It just makes zero sense.

Permalink Reply by mark on August 6, 2012 at 12:12pm

The decision to not allow NCs to run their own mobile ads is consistent with the recent brand awareness campaign. They desperately want to get the Ning name out there. They didn't build a new mobile version to make NCs happy. They built it to keep the platform relevant and increase revenue by attracting new business.

The fact Ning wants to control the ad space should come as no surprise. If you're a high traffic Ning site, then you most likely received "the email" asking for Ning to post ads on your site. This is no different, instead of asking, Ning is just taking. And why shouldn't they? They built this new shiny mobile interface, and what better way to show it off then to interject ads.

As a side note for anyone wanting to run some sort of ad on your mobile version. You can still create a HTML page and insert a Groupon widget or other ad code on that page. The key is to name the page "something clever" so your visitors will click it.

Not even close to what we want, but it's better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.

NC for HirePermalink Reply by SweetPotato on August 6, 2012 at 12:28pm

Thanks for your input Mark.
I concur with what you're saying and understand their logic in terms of making us run Ning ads, devious as it is.
But, and it is a huge BUT, it defies logic in the sense that we pay Ning a lot of money a month and should be able to run our own ads on mobile. It's one of the things they market in the plans to sign up. It really is as simple as that.
And as for not designing Ning mobile to keep NCs happy, well, they should be doing just that. Keep us happy and we stay on Ning, more people come to Ning, Etc.
Your HTML page is one workaround. And there are actually a few possibilities within the language editor that I'm currently working on. Will keep you posted.