The AdBlock.org Webmaster Pledge
If you’re reading this after seeing the above graphic on a website, the following information expresses the views of the owner of that site.
As an Internet user, as much as anybody, I get annoyed by aggressive advertising. Ads that jiggle, move, flash, and otherwise scream (sometimes literally) for attention, detract from my experience on the Internet. From that perspective, I fully understand why adblocking software has been developed and is used willingly by many Internet users.
As a webmaster and website owner, I rely on advertising to pay for the time and effort it takes to develop and maintain my website. For some, it’s a living. Adblocking software that prevents my ads from being viewed eliminates my opportunity to be compensated for my work.
While I understand that you may have installed adblocking software as relief from those horrible advertising methods, I ask that you choose to not block ads on my website. In return, I promise to not display distracting and annoying advertisements on my website. You can do this by using adblocking software that is configurable, preferably software that does not “over-block” with a set of over-aggressive default blocking rules. Norton Internet Security is an example of software that blocks too much without the users’ knowledge. Mozilla’s Adblock browser extension is one that is fully user controlled and doesn’t block ads without user action and knowledge.
The AdBlock.org Webmaster Pledge
The display of the “Don’t Block my Ads” graphic on my website, indicates my pledge to display only tasteful and passive advertisements on my website. You can visit my website with the assurance that you will not see flashing, jittering, and distracting, advertisements.
Related Information
You can read more about Adblocking software in the following related articles:
Display the Pledge
Place the Adblock.org Webmaster Pledge graphic on your website and express your promise to display only non-distracting ads.
88×31 Button
<img src="http://www.adblock.org/dontblock1.gif" border=0 alt="AdBlock.org Webmaster Pledge. Don't block my ads!">
100×100 White Background Button
<img src="http://www.adblock.org/dontblock3.gif" border=0 alt="AdBlock.org Webmaster Pledge. Don't block my ads!">
125×125 Button
<img src="http://www.adblock.org/dontblock2.gif" border=0 alt="AdBlock.org Webmaster Pledge. Don't block my ads!">
September 16th, 2004 at 1:02 am
I found this page through an image on a genealogy site. It did have a moving ad on the page, although I wouldn’t go so far as to say it was annoying. It’s an interesting concept. There are definitely too many flashing, popping, floating, wiggling adverts and something should be done, but you have to get a balance between that and letting sites pay for themselves so they can keep going.
As far as I can see anyone can put this button up. It might work better if there was some kind of seal of approval implied, that way it might mean something.
September 16th, 2004 at 8:41 am
Blanche, thanks for the comment.
We do plan to keep an eye on sites that post the graphic, but it’s a pledge, not a certification. If they don’t follow it, it’s simply like breaking a promise.
I’m sure that site believes that graphic isn’t annoying (I looked and personally don’t see it as something designed to get me to click on it).
March 16th, 2005 at 2:41 am
An idea, You could send at least to Mozilla’s adblock developer(s), this logo could be identified by adblock, dynamic switching of ads on/off. Of course, the user decides what he/she wants to see.
One reason for not willing to see ads is a slow internet connection, such as modem, gprs, or even gsm-data.
If there was a functionality in the browser that asks the webserver nicely not to send ads, and the page was certified “annoy-free” with “don’t block my ads”- logo, i would not block the ads when using an internet connection faster than a modem.
Novadays, the web advertising fights against itself. Any guesses, how long will it take before the web gets even worse than email with it’s spams and viruses?
neosis
May 29th, 2005 at 6:33 pm
Interesting pledge.
On the comment of the capability to enable/disable adblock dynamically using web/html/etc, code, it sounds nice, however it can be exploited if it becomes common knowledge, or exploited period.
June 23rd, 2005 at 11:07 am
Interesting, that the logo designed to convince users a website will not serve annoying content is a bit ugly.
I think some serious rebranding (starting, of course, with the advertisements themselves) will be necessary in order to convince casual surfers that advertisements are okay.
Consider the success of Google’s text-only ads. Simple is beautiful, and a logo that uses non-complementary colors, multiple font styles, and exclamation points, all squashed into a tiny oblong, does not exactly embody this ideal.
Ha! A green “No” circle! How counterintuitive. Ha! Imagine the logo of the adblockers, with their bold red “No” striking down a popup. Now consider the irony of your big green “No” enclosing this logo. “No No” You guys crack me up.
July 21st, 2005 at 5:17 pm
I have been using firefox with adblock, I haven’t seen an ad in years. I do however set adblock to hode the ads rather than not download them, so the advertisers think they have had the exposure, everybody wins.
M
August 5th, 2005 at 9:30 am
=========================================
= Say NO to web ads ! Reclaim your web! =
= You have the right to block ads ! =
=========================================
Post comments to :
blockads@gmail.com
Use firefox http://www.mozilla.org/support/firefox/adblock
October 20th, 2005 at 12:39 am
I dont know anything about computers!! but I want to know why you blocked my email inbox can you please answer me and tell me how to fix it!
love:
sherine
October 27th, 2005 at 4:31 pm
1st of all i love the fact there is a spam ad in this sites discussion. it illustrates the exact reason i block ads, no respect.
for a long time however i did not block ads by google, as they were text only. however seeing as google have now also started doing image ads with no easy way to only block the image ones i now block all ads by google as well.
the reason i do this is that advertisers can never seem to be content with simply putting the information there and allowing you the choice of using it or ignoring it. they insist on making it as IN YOUR FACE and unavoidable as possible, they show a complete disregard for the prefrence of the very people they are trying to attract.
the only thin an ad should do is inform that the site exists and give a tiny amount of info on what it is. it shouldnt alter the layout and formating of webpages, make sounds, blink, it shouldnt need to be an image at all.
as for the adblock.org initiative i can absolutely garuntee that your adblock detecting script will be stolen and re-used by many sites that have the most obnoxious advertising around.
which is why it is now blocked as well.
December 3rd, 2005 at 8:23 am
Intresting concept.
I plan on adding the pledge button to my site too.
The best thing to do is to use Google AdSense ads on your site - not distracting, and relevent to your content. And they can be blended in so they don’t take your focus.
January 1st, 2006 at 6:39 am
@Daniel
Google does not give pop-up ads or anything able to extremely harm your computer. I have never experienced an Ad or anything suspicious in the software i download from them. Are you sure you needed to block their pop-ups? It may have just been you clicking on a link to a website. You should read some Google FAQ’s which may be found here http://www.google.co.uk/support/?hl=en You’ll find that they do not give Ads. As for websites that do give Ad’s, most of them are usually forgotten about and have been taken over for advertising purposes. Which is what happened to my last one. It was only a subdomain anyway.
January 22nd, 2006 at 8:22 am
First of all I like thi svery much and will be adding it to my site! Also would you be able to make some more banners? so their a diffrent ones? Flash maybe?
January 23rd, 2006 at 2:32 pm
Well, i am sure there are many people with adblock detecting scripts out there, but they damage the freedom of web surfers. Soon sites will disable all their content unless you disable your adblocker. Its a nice idea, but it will be a long time before I feel comfortable enough to risk my computer being subject to intrusive advertising.
November 2nd, 2006 at 8:31 am
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April 18th, 2008 at 10:10 am
dont block