Native ads on Mumsnet Talk topics

[JustineMumsnet]

Hi all,
I wanted to give you a heads up about some Native Ads we're introducing on Talk (images attached). They will appear on Talk topic home pages and will only appear once per page. We have tested them on users - we tested them in threads and on Talk topics and the feedback was that users weren't so keen on seeing them within a thread but didn't mind them on the topic pages, so that's where we're putting them. Hopefully you won't find them intrusive and they may even be interesting/useful sometimes. Obviously we already have a similar type of thing with our in-house inline ads on Talk theads, so hopefully it won't be too much of a shock/ imposition. Please do let us know your thoughts and as ever, if there are any advertisers/ partners you'd actively like us to seek out then please do let us know.

Hi All,

Apologies again for the issues that you've been experiencing - here's a quick update on where we're at.

The ads look like actual topics
Native advertising does reflect the look and feel of the site's content - the idea is to be fully integrated so they're less intrusive than standard display ads, making for a decent user experience while supporting the site through advertising. As Justine said up thread, many platforms including Facebook are now doing a similar thing, and we think the fundamental idea is a sound one. We're very sorry about the implementation issues though - more below on this.

The ads are showing up in sensitive topics
This was certainly an error and was rectified yesterday. We've added an extra safety net by asking our partner AdyouLike to also exclude sensitive topic URLS at their end too.

They squish the whole page over, cutting off the right side
This was an issue with one of our partners - apologies. We've been in touch with them and we think that they've addressed this now.

The ads are covering threads
Again - huge apologies. We're working to correct this as we speak.

Clicking opens multiple web pages and then the eBay app
This also shouldn't happen and we're speaking to the tech provider about this now.

As Justine said we'll certainly do some more user testing on whether it's too easy to click in error on mobile, and we'll continue to refine the new ads in terms of their look and feel, with the aim of making them feel a bit less spammy and intrusive as some users feel they currently are. Thanks again for your feedback and of course do continue to let us know your thoughts, and to alert us to any problems that continue.

With respect (I'm an ex tech though not of MN) you wont be able to control what the other sites automatically open/play when users are redirected there. It's unrealistic to suggest you can for example force eBay not to redirect to and open an app that a MN user doesn't want - it's their site and they do what they want annoying as it may be same goes for other sponsors as well.

Hope that makes sense, ignore if I'm talking drivel (lack of sleep)

Thanks for the update

Native advertising does reflect the look and feel of the site's content - the idea is to be fully integrated so they're less intrusive than standard display ads

Even with tweaks I can't see any way that they will be less intrusive than standard display ads. Is that genuinely the intention? 🤔

Integrated ads are bloody annoying because you don't WANT them to be too hidden - I want to see an annoying advert and avoid clicking on it. Not see what could be a thread title which I click on and it takes me to open 8 different browser windows and the eBay app

The adverts don't look like actual threads though. Normla threads don't have a picture next to them making them twice or more the size.

One of the things I've always liked about mumsnet is that you can look at it on your phone and not see any pictures. It's all clean and straightforward looking. Now that's gone and there's always going to be an advert right in your face every time you return back to the topic. Great.

I access Mumsnet via Safari on my powerful laptop. It is very quick to load etc. I am finding that Mumsnet at the moment is taking ages to load and then reload again and again as more content is downloaded.

I don't get this on any other site. And it is recent on Mumsnet. Anyone else?

Yes Foxy rerererereloading has been a problem for for months now - sometimes worse than others - for me on my ipad safari.

There have been many threads about this and others are experiencing the same problems (not just safari users).

There have been promises to look into it but nothing has changed.

thanks, BoreofWhabyon. Glad I am not alone. I keep doing virus scans in case it is my Mac malfunctioning due to this, and then realised it is just on Mumsnet.

I've noticed that the page suddenly seems to refresh for no reason.

same here Foxy on my big Mac too - it jumps too as it loads/reloads

These are awful and will put me off using MN. Very disappointed. The ads bear no relevance to the talk topic they are in.

I've pointed out the reloading, often with a 'there was an error on this page' mn have said they can't replicate it.

I get the rererereloading on my iPad, but not my iphone (both using safari)

They're frequently trivialising the topic, in my view, merlot.

I have no idea who is choosing these ads - or laying down the ground rules for their selection - but I doubt they should be paid at the end of the month. I guess we shall have no choice but to accept these things but in my view, they are not - as 'native ads' are supposed to do - 'enhancing the user experience' but are actually damaging it.

I suspect my own time on MN will be curtailed from now on.

There's a fucking brilliant one for anxiety war sufferers at the moment. How nuclear power developer after WW2. And there is no way to get around it. Shoved right in your face.

Install ad blocker. It's free. And none of these ads will appear on your threads. (Or at least I haven't yet come across one).

I'm sorry if this deprives MN of income - I do understand, and quite appreciate, that you need to take advertising to generate revenue, and thus pay for us all to use the site without having to pay. But the point was reached a while ago for me where the advertising was significantly detracting from my user experience.

Personally, I'd rather pay a subscription for an ad-free site, but that's not really an idea that's ever going to fly.

Thanks BIWI, have just installed adblock plus on my ipad. Loading seems to have speeded up without the massive banner ads at the top

Sorry Justine, but MN wsa becoming unusable for me although, like BIWI, I would have been prepared to pay a premium for an ad-free Mumsnet.

I've just downloaded Adblock plus... it's all looking good so far.

I'd be happy to pay a premium for an ad free site too.

Incredibly intrusive. This site is becoming more and more difficult to use.

I'm still getting the ad even though I downloaded Adblock 😟😡😢

I sometimes still get them as well. It doesn't remove all of them, I think that's delibrate to stop people blocking ads altogether, that's probably why MNHQ have done this embedding of ads.

If I see one I just restart safari and it's gone.

Foxyspook I'm getting this as well on my Mac and only with Mumsnet. I get the endless spinning rainbow bagel. Very annoying... is it coz of all the ads?

I've clicked on them accidentally when I'm trying to access a thread. I'm on a mobile phone so my screen isn't massive and the adverts are taking up a lot of the room.

Really annoying, intrusive and puts me off of using MN.