[Arkham_c]

I was reading this article:

http://www.macnet2.com/more.php?id=373_0_1_0_M

which describes the Mac web shakedown. I realized that web sites get ad revenue based on click-throughs. I thought to myself "everyone wants their favorite Mac sites to survive". So my thought is this.

A piece of software that goes to your favorite Mac sites periodically, parses the HTML, and visits the URLs for the ads embedded in the page.

The advertiser thinks that they are getting a click-through, and pays the Mac web site. And we don't have to read the ad or care what it was for.

I could write this in a couple of days. If everyone had it, it would work very well and not generate much load per user. Does anyone think it's worthwhile?

[BasketofPuppies]

That would work in the short run, but in the long run it would be more harmful.

Advertisers stop advertising when they see their rates go up but no increase in sales.

[fromthecloud]

While it's a good idea, I'm pretty sure it's expressly forbidden in the TOS for the advertisers and publishers. If it were discovered that a 'bot' were doing all the click-throughs, their agreement would be terminated and there could be legal action.

[macvillage.net]

NO!!!!

that could get ads revoked. It's easy to monitor as BasketofPuppies suggests.

Instead, tell people to turn off ad blockers.. leave popup blocking, since that's annoying, and a bad business practice.

Just viewing the ad is good.

If your plannign to buy from a company...and you know they advertise on site X.... go to site X, and buy through an ad!


It helps keep sites from going subscription.