Help!!!

Midnight Thursday 17 Oct 2024: and not one new post for the entire day except for this one.

I'm starting to get the feeling that I'm flogging a dead horse here.

The protests from members when it was shut down, by that other mob were huge, almost calling for violence. I gave it a new home and have bent over backwards to do everything possible to keep it running, but it's a bit like flogging a dead horse.
:flog:

Any one got any bright ideas to maybe help make this thing
rise like the phoenixfrom it's barely smouldering ashes.
Attachment 537729
ANY and all suggestions will be looked at and where possible be acted on.

I hate to say this but it costs to keep something like this up and running and I can't keep shoving money into it without it working and at least making enough income to help itself keep up and running.

I've invested quite a few hundred hours and many $'s into it since throwing out the life line. Steven has also invested many hours in it along with DJ who's always keeping an eye out and also ivvested many many hours of his time.

So as per above, any and all suggestions which may be of help would be greatly appreciated and most welcomed.

Cheers - Neil :C

Most things go through cycles. Sit back and relax. With the warmer weather almost upon us, activity may increase as folks begin new projects.

its hard because you're now competing against youtube (and to lesser extents social media groups) for when people want renovation help. much easier to watch a youtube video the open up and post on a forum and possibly wait a day or two for answer.


I used to frequent a toyota soarer forum, but its now the same as here, totally dead as most people now ask questions and follow along in one of the soarer dedicated facebook groups. I would assume there are similar home improvement groups where its really quick to post and really quick to get an answer.


SO unsure if you can join as many of those facebook groups as you can and just spam the forum web address so people know about it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by havabeer69

... when people want renovation help. much easier to watch a youtube video the open up and post on a forum and possibly wait a day or two for answer...t.

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I blame them young folk :)
they want instant gratification ;)
and you can spend days sorting out the rubbish on utube.

don't get FB where the same questions are asked time and time and time again ...
searching is useless
and most groups don't use Files/Albums to store researched info.

Attachment 537730

I'm on a variety of forums and can say that they are all much quieter over the past few years. As above, other mediums have taken their toll.

The constant full screen ads won't helping, either

I can start stirring if you want. Or kick in a few dollars to offset costs but I to have noticed some of the other forums I belong to slowing down. Mark didn't move over and he was always good for a discussion. But our renovations are almost finished here so I don't need as much advice as I used to and very few new self-builds seem to be around

Thanks for the replies folks. Keep'em coming.

:2tsup:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by r3nov8or

The constant full screen ads won't helping, either

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There are no full page ads on these forums or on WWF or MWF. There are the side sponsor ads and they are carryovers from WWF and MWF mostly because they have helped out over the years with prizes, moderating, etc.

Other than those and the Sponsors Forums, the only other ads are for non registered viewers and non contributing members who have to earn their way out of seeing annoying ads by posting.

What browser or other program are you using that brings up full page ads?

If it is Tapatalk, I believe you can pay to get them removed.
The ads on tapatalk have absolutely nothing at all to do with these or the other 2 forums.:~Cheers - Neil

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Neil

There are no full page ads on these forums or on WWF or MWF. ...
...
What browser or other program are you using that brings up full page ads?

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I just dismissed one. I'll take a screen shot next time. I'm using Chrome browser on a Samsung Android mobile handset

Just popped up...

Attachment 537731

Thanks for that I've looked in the ads and there is noting I can find for Android or any other mobiles. Methinks they are something to do with Google and not the forums. If you are logged in there should be no ads shown to you. on any platform

I will see if I can get Steven to have a look at it and get back to you here.

Cheers - Neil

Have a look at this link to AVG it may help How to Stop Pop-Up Ads From Appearing on Your Android Phone

Pretty sure it's just Google doing what Google does and not us but the AGV info should fix the problem... maybe, possibly, or not. Let's know how you get on.

Cheers :U

Just happened on Windows PC.
Again it's Chrome browser. I'll try a variety of browsers...

Attachment 537732

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Neil

Have a look at this link to AVG it may help How to Stop Pop-Up Ads From Appearing on Your Android Phone
...

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Checked. "Pop-ups and redirects" are blocked on both (Windows PC and Android)

This is only ever happening on RF, by the way

Ad just happened on Edge browser. Does "#google_vignette" on the URLs provide any clues?

Attachment 537733

Edit: https://support.google.com/adsense/t...e-advert?hl=en
https://support.google.com/adsense/a...77770279711-AP

Are you definitely logged in when these ads appear?

Google auto ads Ads are not enabled on these forums do you have the same problem with WWF or MWF. All 3 are set with the same advertising schedule so you would think the problem should be the same for you on all 3 forums

If I just open the forum without logging in, I also will get an add at the top of the screen as well as one in a thread and one below the bottom Navigation bar, as will anyone who isn't logged in will get and also new members who haven't posted.

I just used tapatalk without being logged in and got a full screen ad + 2 1/3 screen ads as I scrolled through a post. Tapatalk said I was logged in, so logged out and ads disappeared. I could not find how to log in to this forum so I reckon I was logged into tapatalk and not the forums. but no idea if this is right or not.

Let me know how you get on.

Steven has been notified, may take a while before he can get to this (he's a busy man, overworked and underpaid but very appreciated)

Will let you know what's up... hopefully.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Neil

Are you definitely logged in when these ads appear?

Google auto ads Ads are not enabled on these forums do you have the same problem with WWF or MWF. All 3 are set with the same advertising schedule so you would think the problem should be the same for you on all 3 forums

If I just open the forum without logging in, I also will get an add at the top of the screen as well as one in a thread and one below the bottom Navigation bar, as will anyone who isn't logged in will get and also new members who haven't posted.

I just used tapatalk without being logged in and got a full screen ad + 2 1/3 screen ads as I scrolled through a post. Tapatalk said I was logged in, so logged out and ads disappeared. I could not find how to log in to this forum so I reckon I was logged into tapatalk and not the forums. but no idea if this is right or not.

Let me know how you get on.

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Yes, I'm always logged in when these appear. I rarely manually logout, and I'm rarely required to login (latest login was when I tested on Edge this morning, can't recall the previous time, was ages ago)
As mentioned earlier, these ads are only on RF (not on WWF. (I don't use MWF))
I've never used Tapatalk. Just web browsers

I've also noticed that only on RF, I get ads scrolling up from the bottom. Then sometimes, just a few seconds later, I get a fullscreen ad

Attachment 537734
then a few seconds later...
Attachment 537735

Will wait for sreven but I can't fid a problem. Have you cleared your cache & had your security program do a scam for viruses, malware, etc?

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

Well that's different. I'm on mobile using tapatalk & hate it. Will shut my end down now and go have a Bex & a good lay down.

Cheers

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

One more :) . Thinking about cache, cookies, etc, I installed Firefox freshly on my mobile (never had it on this device before). Went to RF, waited a while, and got a full screen ad.

Those ads I mentioned which scroll up from the bottom on Windows 10 - they scroll down from the top on both Chrome and Firefox on mobile handset

Ok, one more then... :)

I've never been much of a html coder, but this code for adsbygoogle only appears within RF pages. Not WWF nor MWF pages

Attachment 537736

Here's a partial screen shot of our Google AdSense Advertising setup. Showing the box checked for: No Google AdSense Ads

Attachment 537737

Is anyone else having this problem when you are logged in?

If so please let me know in this thread.

Thank you for any feedback.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Neil

Here's a partial screen shot of our Google AdSense Advertising setup.

Attachment 537737

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That's just fine, but I got a full screen ad when I click on the image :) And here's a screen shot of an ad while I'm typing... (on Windows 10, Chrome)

Attachment 537738

That doesn't look like a Google Ad.

All Google ads should have a Google Ads label... as per the screen capture below:

Attachment 537739

Me thinks the problem could be at your end. No idea why or what but will wait to see what Steven says unless anyone else has any ideas.

This just reminded me that.

I had a man many years ago complaining that he kept getting ads on WWF for channels/sites and was disgusted that this was what we were pushing and what would happen if his granddaughter happened to see them. Had to explained to him that it was his searched and visited places that were generating those ads. To his immense embarrassment he discovered a tracking app hidden away on his computer which his security hadn't pick up.

Not saying this is what your problem is just remembering a very old and somewhat sad incident in the early days of predictive ads or whatever they were back then.

:lolabove:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Neil

...
All Google ads should have a Google Ads label... ...

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You mean like this one? Appears when hovering over the "i" (information) icon. Also note the URL at the bottom (appeared while hovering)

Attachment 537740

Yep that'ns a Google Ad alright.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Neil

Yep that'ns a Google Ad alright.

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Yep, because there is adsbygoogle code in your HTML on RF :)

I just used a different PC without logging into Google, and also with a new Google userid, and the same happens, whether logged into RF or not

OK give it a go now and see what happens.

Think I've sorted it. There was a couple of rogue ads set for users with posts between 20 and 100 posts for a leaderboard ad below the top and bottom Navigation Bar. They have been turned off.

Other ads are now all for guests and non posters in the forums and for anyone in the archive or should be.

Let me know how you get on with it now. If you still get any ads please tell me where they are showing and I'll try to hunt them down. At least I'm not on the phone now and can get way better access to the back room on the laptop and desktop computers.
No guarantee it is fully resolved but...:fingerscrossed:

Ads in Tapatalk for registered and logged in members will be from tapatalk not the forums. There are no mobile ads set that I can find.

These forums have a following. People who have used them and found them to be good value and worthwhile. I’m one of them, and I thank everyone who has contributed to making that so.

First impressions can be lasting. We all know that. I’m wondering about the last few posts on this thread. If someone lands on these pages for the first time and is confronted by full-page ads, what will they think of the forum? These people probably assume that’s the way it will always be on the site. Why would they think anything else?

There’s no reason for us to assume that potential newbies will think those ads are only for them and will lessen as soon as they join up. Faced with a barrage of ads they might well be encouraged not to bother signing up, and go somewhere else. I've often skipped websites that take too long to load, or the screen explodes with something irrelevant (like an ad). I don't wait; I just click back to my Google search and select some other site.

Neil, you were asking for ideas to encourage membership/activity. Here’s one: drop the ads.

If you really need them to help pay for things, try and minimise them. Perhaps Steve can arrange the system so that there is a gentle introduction to ads for non-members. (Something to do with IP addresses, perhaps.) Consider something like, no ads for the first half a dozen site contacts, then after that, they begin to appear. Or, if that’s not possible then consider displaying ads to newcomers in the same way as you display ads for members. That would be fair, surely.

There should now be ads for guests only... One below top Nav bar and one above bottom Nav bar.

However at the moment when (logged out) I'm seeing ads in threads which shouldn't be there. I can't find a setting for them anywhere but will do a deep dive into these as the day progresses. Didn't have a chance to sort it last night and am bit under the hammer today. But hopefully I can find the problem and sort it out.

We do notify new members that posting on the forums will lessen or eradicate ads.

Will see if there is a way to add this information to guests. I seem to remember there was a notice for guests saying that the ads would all but disappear if they registered. But not on here so will see if I can sort that out later today also.

Cheer :U

Thanks Neil. Ads for me have disappeared on all devices and browsers. I also see that the adsbygoogle HTML code is gone from the RF pages

All I can say is... https://www.ubeaut.biz/woohoo.gif

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Neil

All I can say is... https://www.ubeaut.biz/woohoo.gif

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Woohoo indeed! Life is bliss without those ads. Sooo glad I mentioned them

Announcement for guests has now been set and is displayed at the top of all pages to non registered guests/visitors. To see this notice you will need to log out of Reno and view the site without logging back in.

Looks like the below but a bit more in-ya-face in a red bounded box with yellow background. So pretty hard to miss it.

Hello and welcome to Renovate Forums
IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST VISIT PLEASE NOTE:
You must REGISTER to view pictures, participate, etc.
Register and you will also stop seeing the annoying ads.

As can be seen below I have also changed my signature to echo something similar to the above.

Cheers :U