Disappearing Banner Ads...?

[Dragonsi]

Here is something which I hadn't concidered until a recent strange problem I had with a clients website. Most new Firewalls and even ISP's are now implimenting 'Pop-up & Banner Ad' blockers to a website's code before it arrives at the viewers browser software.

The story:
I was recently asked by a client to have a banner ad on his site which could be changed every few months. The site in question has over 300 pages, so to make things easier in the future, I decided to call the graphic 'banner01.gif'. This way when I uploaded a new graphic, I just renamed it to match and only had to change the URL for the link. To get more on this, click here.

The whole thing worked fine off-line while previewing through Dreamweaver, but once uploaded and tested - the banners located on pages which were not in the root of the directory, were not appearing... This stumped me for days - I even tried using standard HTML rather than JavaScript - the same result was occuring. Then I asked a freind to try out the site - he reported that everything was ok and the banners were visable on all pages.... So knowing this - I knew it had to be my network that was creating the problem..

I have installed a proxy server and Norton PF 2004 (only been on a few weeks) - both of these programs have built in blockers.... After searching the default rules, I discovered that both the file name '?banner?.gif' and the folder name 'banners' were being blocked..... and guess what I called the folder and the file..... Yep - my own system was blocking the graphic from appearing.

My point to all this - is that a growing percentage of Internet users now have these blocking programs in use. So when designing or expanding a website, be very careful what you call your folders and files, cos a high percentage of surfers may never know they are there.......

Stay safe - use the green cross code.... (????)

[bhartzer]

Thanks for the tips, it appears that more people have these blockers every day. I approve of the popup blockers, but I have a serious problem with the banner blockers when the banners are integrated into the site.

[Linda Buquet]

Norton not only block banners, it blocks text links and strips it all right out of your source code.

In addition to being careful not to name any banners or images with the words ad or banner in the URL also be careful about standard baner sizes. Norton strips IMAGES even if they are NOT BANNERS that are the standard banner sizes.

It also blocks most affiliate banners at the host level.

See this page for examples and more resources including how to block Norton from blocking or altering your page content.

You will also find some in-depth articles I have written for About.com and other sources at the bottom of the page.

NORTON BLOCKS REVENUE
http://www.5staraffiliateprograms.co...s-revenue.html

[Dragonsi]

Thanks Catalyst for you valid points. Excellent article and I agree, no 'security' software should be blocking ads. It all sounds like Symantic are just using this feature as a marketing gimmick.

I have now turned mine off, I do use the pop-up blocker on the Google tool bar and my proxy is still blocking 'standard' (CJ.com) ads - I never pay any attention to them anyway.

[Chris@lemon]

I experienced a similar thing not too long ago. Actually entire folders got blocked on my hobby site mameworld.net.

I placed all of our sponsors banner images in a folder called "sponsors" and got several mails from people that none of the images showed. Seems like the word "sponsors" is being bocked by "ad aware" type programs, too.

Quite silly in our case since our ads are actually 100% targeted, hand picked and a help for our visitors who are looking for quality arcade products...ah well, now the folder is calles "pics" and all is fine :)

Chris

B.T.W, my first post here, hi all :)