We conducted a 2-day test with ads to see how users would respond and how well the ads blended in, and the overwhelming majority of users didn't even realize we had ads. I believe people are okay with ads as long as they are not intrusive or distracting.
![]()
Cynthia Williams @BLACKSTEMUSABluesky says it wants to avoid ads for revenue generation. Its approach to revenue will be selling fediverse features. "Social by the people, for the people." However, there's no plan for "ownership by the people." to ensure success. This last aspect of social is where Spoutible excels.07:17 AM - Feb 10, 2024
07:22 AM - Feb 10, 2024
In response to Christopher Bouzy.
I’m good with some ads. Gotta keep the lights on. 😁
04:38 PM - Feb 10, 2024
In response to Christopher Bouzy.
They were fun for me sharing with the people I follow.
02:16 PM - Feb 10, 2024
In response to Christopher Bouzy.
Noticed pretty quickly. Just shrugged and moved on. Didn’t bother me.
01:26 PM - Feb 10, 2024
In response to Christopher Bouzy.
Noticed, not intrusive, and easy to scroll on by as needed. On the other hand have bought recently two or three items advertised on fb or insta that were actually worth getting. So Full Steam Ahead IMHO
01:21 PM - Feb 10, 2024
In response to Christopher Bouzy.
I don't notice them at all like that and I would if there were too many. 💜♾️
12:54 PM - Feb 10, 2024
In response to Christopher Bouzy.
Don't love them but happy to live with it. It is what it is. A minor thing.
12:20 PM - Feb 10, 2024
In response to Christopher Bouzy.
I’m okay with ads especially if it generates revenue for this site. 👍
12:01 PM - Feb 10, 2024
In response to Christopher Bouzy.
I liked the way the ads were integrated, but the flow would be better every 20 spouts instead of 10. The quality of the ads was really off putting though, literal rat poison and cartoon porn. Hopefully those were just cheap placeholders for testing and we will eventually have "real" ads.
10:31 AM - Feb 10, 2024
In response to Christopher Bouzy.
The ads were unobtrusive and easy to look at or skip. I did notice that many of them had very little information though. I will absolutely not be clicking on anything that doesn’t have enough info to know what it is about and if I’m interested or not.
10:23 AM - Feb 10, 2024
In response to Christopher Bouzy.
One of the ads was a little off putting visually, but it wasn’t the end of the world. I appreciated how unobtrusive (and clearly labeled) the ads were. It didn’t alter my Spoutible experience a bit.
09:15 AM - Feb 10, 2024
In response to Christopher Bouzy.
I saw a few. I checked one out. The light wall thing was very cool.
08:52 AM - Feb 10, 2024
In response to Christopher Bouzy.
It's the pop up and blinking ones that are distracting. I've stopped going to most news sites because of them. Thank you for recognizing that.
08:48 AM - Feb 10, 2024
In response to Christopher Bouzy.
I saw the first one. I thought, “Oh, shit! Here we go…” and scrolled on. I saw another a day or so later but it wasn’t obtrusive so I’m slightly annoyed but it’s tolerable. At least it isn’t FB style where most of my page content is ad after ad.
08:29 AM - Feb 10, 2024
In response to Christopher Bouzy.
Go for it ads are not an issue, if I’m interested I’ll read it if not I’ll pass over it just as with any other spout that I see that’s not interesting. Make the money you and your team need to keep yourselves and this place going.
08:27 AM - Feb 10, 2024
In response to Christopher Bouzy.
I didn’t even notice them at first, but when I realized they were ads, I was impressed with how unobtrusive they were. All good as far as I’m concerned.
08:23 AM - Feb 10, 2024
In response to Christopher Bouzy.
I hated them, but was really grateful they weren’t gifs or movies. I just wish it would stop trying to sell be a $60,000 car. That’s about $38,000 over my budget.
I really hope first wave will still get the trial of premium when it launches.
I really hope first wave will still get the trial of premium when it launches.
08:21 AM - Feb 10, 2024
In response to Christopher Bouzy.
X also does not accept my block of those ads. I’ve blocked several ads only to see them return again a week or two later. 🤬
08:16 AM - Feb 10, 2024
In response to Christopher Bouzy.
Honestly, I never noticed any ads, so well done!
08:09 AM - Feb 10, 2024
In response to Christopher Bouzy.
I think it comes down to frequency and intrusiveness. To afford moderators, developers and security, etc., cashflow is needed. If ads can provide portion of that the future of the more secure.
08:07 AM - Feb 10, 2024
In response to Christopher Bouzy.
I noticed the ads and wondered. As long as we remain content/discussion forward, with only occasional ads, that would be okay—but only if we have the option to hide/block those we have zero interest in seeing.
08:06 AM - Feb 10, 2024
In response to Christopher Bouzy.
My problem with ads on X, for example, is that there are too many of them. I see more ads than tweets from my subscriptions.
08:00 AM - Feb 10, 2024
In response to Patou.
My own big issue with X ads is how they plaster your feed with crap that doesn't even pertain to your interests. Like if I had a dollar for every barstool sports ad I have seen I would be rich.
06:31 PM - Feb 10, 2024
In response to Christopher Bouzy.
Guess I was in the minority that hates them. My timeline talked about them a lot, so they were noticed by at least some of us.
07:59 AM - Feb 10, 2024
In response to Christopher Bouzy.
I was disappointed to see them. I guess when I donate to a cause, I don’t expect to see ads.
07:59 AM - Feb 10, 2024
In response to Dragon Waker.
I don't look at it as a donation, but as a contribution in support of something great, that I believe in. I genuinely want this to succeed, and I can afford the small amount I contribute to that success. Ads need to be a part of that too.
01:50 PM - Feb 10, 2024
In response to Christopher Bouzy.
I did see them and they were not intrusive. They were labeled as such so I just scrolled on by. Didn’t bother me at all.
07:56 AM - Feb 10, 2024
In response to Christopher Bouzy.
I clicked every link I saw.
Are you using an ad server, or will you have control over which advertisers do and do not appear?
Are you using an ad server, or will you have control over which advertisers do and do not appear?
07:53 AM - Feb 10, 2024
In response to Christopher Bouzy.
I mean I don't like them but if they're the price for everyone having equal access to the platform for free,
07:33 AM - Feb 10, 2024
