You might have noticed some new links already? Anyway, grab a cup of coffee, tea, whatever your preference and get comfortable. This is going to take some explaining. 
First let me say these changes have come about because of member comments, suggestions, and in some cases demands. No demands, but it sounded good. Some members do not like pop-ups, video, or perhaps audio and feel it is annoying. Of course others feel it is an effective means of advertising and frankly, it’s hard to disagree with marketers that have been online for years. Anyway, who am I to judge what works best for everyone?
Since our terms of service allow one pop-up, does allow video and audio, we cannot in mid stream change the rules, nor do I think we should. These marketing techniques do work for some, perhaps not for others. Maybe they are better served in other venues than traffic exchanges? Who knows, but we are an advertising site first and try to accomondate all choices.Â
Now I believe we found the solution. Hopefully, middle ground to make everyone happy and surfing more enjoyable depending on your preferences.  Because now you have a choice.
On your main member page, you will find a link near the top “My Preferences“ clicking that will take you to the page to set what you want to view or not view. Check the boxes and click save.
On the add sites page or when you edit your site, you must now click the boxes that apply to that particular site. Example: Does it have the one allowed pop-up? Does it have auto playing audio? Does it have auto playing video? Check all the boxes that apply to your site.
Now if your site has audio or video that does not automatically play, i.e. must be clicked to begin, then do not check the boxes. If it starts playing automatically, then you must click the appropiate boxes.
What are pop-ups? A pop-up is one that has to be closed manually before moving to the next site. If it requires a click to close then you must click the pop-up box. PeelaWay ads are not considered pop-ups as they take a separate action to open. Slide in or exit type forms that do not require closing to continue surfing, are not considered pop-ups. In other words, anything that requires an extra click to close before you click to the next site will be considered a pop-up.
Now, if you have a site with a pop-up, video, or audio that automatically play, you will be required to also view those type sites. Only fair, right? If you feel that type advertising works, then you have no problem viewing other sites with the same type media. Even if you don’t have sites with audio, video, or pop-ups, you can still view those sites by setting your preferences as mentioned above. There are some really great sites using those type advertising methods.
This also includes any sites you might be advertising within a rotator. If you’re advertising say 4 to 5 sites in a rotator and one of them has audio, video, or a pop-up as explained already, then the entire rotator must be checked accordingly.
This might take a few days to completely smooth out before we start reporting any sites not properly entered. Need everyone to check your sites already entered and mark them accordingly. Do this on your My Websites page, click the name of your site to be taken to the edit site page. Click the appropiate boxes, click the I agree to terms box and save.
If you know your sites do not have any of the above, you’re already set. Any new sites added can be properly checked as you enter it. We of course will allow a few days for everyone to make the changes to their already entered sites.
Would ask everyone not to report any sites that have not been setup properly just yet. We will only want you to start reporting those, let’s say one week from today, after the 21st of September. Of course we still want sites reported that break our terms of service as usual.
Sites reported with audio, video, and or pop-up after the 21st, will of course not be suspended. They will however be properly rated from the admin side and continue in rotation as usual.
This is a new feature for Soaring4Traffic only at this time. Thanks to Josh Abbott, for writing the script that makes this all possible. You wanted options, we listen. :) Please do not abuse preferences. We are on a trial run and if it seems to please everyone, it will be permanent.
Frankly even with these options, I still like to see the video’s, listen to some of the audios, and really don’t mind an occasional pop-up. Always run my browser with the pop-ups allowed anyway.
Who this really helps will be the members that get annoyed by pop-ups, maybe their browser won’t block properly? It will also allow those that don’t mute their audio because they like to listen to music while surfing without disturbances.
Now as usual and especially this time, would really like to have your comments and or suggestions. We really do listen.
If you haven’t been to this blog in the last couple of days, you will also want to read the posts below this one. Not only is it announcing another new feature, but also a contest. So check it out if you have time.
There is more to come…stayed tuned for another feature perhaps in the next couple of days.
Ray White
Soaring4Traffic.com
