RSSAOL Launches AIM Video Ads
By David Worthington | Published October 12, 2004, 8:44 PM
Users of America Online's Instant Messenger (AIM) may have noticed that the software's advertising units have taken a creative leap to a more memorable message concept. Specifically, 30-second live action video shorts called AIM Buddy List Super Video. While it tests the concept, AOL has integrated controls which give users means to silence videos in an attempt to strike a balance between promotions and the quality of the AIM user experience.
Whether the ads pull well or not, the manner and expression of video advertisements consistently grabs the attention and interest of consumers better than other styles of advertising. But there is risk in this approach, namely, when the strategy overpowers the creative idea and crowds out the ad's message.
For example, a reader contacted BetaNews declaring that the ads amounted to "video spam." With this type of response, the intended message is forgotten. Others may see a positive brand message.
An AOL spokesperson told BetaNews that AIM offers users controls that, "let them (use) elect to hear the related audio, shrink the video back to 120 X 90, or stop the video entirely." Furthermore, videos will not play when users are working in another application. Users see the videos once a day.
America Online will not comment on the number of advertisers that have opted into the program, but concedes that there are few and claims to be carefully controlling the rotation of the ads for the benefit of its customers.
Amazing how bad they can ruin a program for its purpose... First ICQ little by little and now AIM, BAM!!
Hopefully Microsoft will take advantage of this and try to persuade AIM users to use their service since it is less annoying and smoother to use.
And no, I'm not on the MS payroll, but one has to agree it is the lesser of the evils.
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|Use a older version, unistall viewpoint and use deadaim or middle_man. No ads, no annoying crap.
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|AIM sucks! Get Trillian!!
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|Everyone here knows it I'm sure. I'm a GAIM user myself and before that I was on Trillian. Eventually I'll just switch over to FreeBSD completely.
It's not the ads that tick me off. It's the fact that people are making MONEY at MY EXPENCE when I'm forced to watch them.
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|So once again AOL is proving itself as an industry leader - in finding more ways to display ads than anyone while at the same time pissing off more users and simply not caring about their users at all...I mean look at this! Have they lost their minds? Talk about ZERO respect for the end users - this crap is simply getting completly out of hand.
One thing I've noticed is that the people I know who are computer savy (and as a programmer I know quite a few)...not one of them use the AOL internet service. A few use AIM and/or ICQ - but like the other reader here they opt for Trillian or find ways to block/hide the banner ads in the regular client...and forget them as yer ISP.
AOL prides themselves on being the ones to go with if yer a beginner & know nothing about computers. Well know wonder! If a user has a clue they'll toss those stupid AOL cd's right in the trash!
The most usefull thing AOL has ever done for me was to send me a CD in a little metal tray. Great - AOL actually DID do something usefull for me...they mailed me a free dope tray.
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|I have to disagree with your argument. AOL is a business. The AIM software/service has been free for everyone to use. They are just trying to find a way to turn a profit on an already free service. This isn't unlike Netzero who pop ads for discounted internet service. Throw them a bone man - you are just a hater.
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|This is exactly why I use Trillian. There will always be ad removal tools for IM programs. People will always hack the crap out of Instant Messenger ads. I never look at ads right now. I don't even use the AIM client. If AIM made it so I had to use their client....I would just stop using AIM and use one of the other million chat progs. ICQ, MSN, Yahoo!, Jabber, etc...
I can see IRC coming back already :)
I love how the corporate big whigs are coming in and ruining the internet. I would be tickled to have things back how they were in 1995. Nobody but geeks on the web using computers. Everything too complicated for regular idiots to use. That's how it should be.
As the people in marketing departments try to get people to click on ads, hackers are hacking dll files and exe's so that we don't have to see the ads. What fools :)
Have fun trying to make me look at ads :) LOL
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|Its like I always say:
Don't forget to delete "AWS" and "AOD"
from program files and unistall "Viewpoint"
then delete the "Viewpoint" directory also.
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