Google Adsense 40K style
Well there's nothing to really like about Ads, they usually annoy more than inform, especially when you are concentrating on something else. This presented a bit of a problem as I wanted to add some ads to my sites to see if it would generate some income. I tried to make them subtle at first, but they still stood out like a soar thumb. In the end I decided the only way out was to theme it in some way, and let me tell you the Adsense palette and controls are a wee bit limited. I wanted to blend in with the general 40K theme of the site.
I wanted something that that I could attach to the side of the main content. I didn't want to put the ads in with the content as they generally pisses me off and I don't want to do that to others. By putting the ads at the side, in the black space, if you really hate ads this would allow you to resize the window and cut the ads of the side completely. Seemed like a good compromise if not ideal.
I first thought of a scruffy billboard or notice board, themed to look like it might belong in some hive, and make a feature out of the ads in a tongue in cheek way, but Google dose not let you mess with the ad placement (and you can't really twist them) and so it didn't look right. It would also be too large and distracting, even if you could cut them off, I needed something narrower.
The 'purity seals' popped into my mind - 40K is covered in them!
Thus was born the concept of a 'Adsense purity seal'. I always wondered what was written on them. I have a feeling it's not really an advert, but there again the Imperium is really religious and maybe ads have to be officially sanctioned? The Ad-Mec make stuff and that would be 'holy' to them so why not a purity seal?
Anyway, I hope that it makes a feature of the Ads and makes them more acceptable in some way (I may be going too far in justifying this! But one look at my 40K Concepts Page and you know I also go 'too far' 😀 ).
The purity seal at the moment is a basic mock up. I'm thinking of further theming it with some Imperial icons, but not official Games Workshop icons as this would be going too far and I'm sure it would breach their IP (or at least they would be very unhappy about it). I thinking 40K-esque, or Imperial-esque, perhaps Russian double headed eagles and such (or perhaps Roman icons) to replace the little knight fella.
The seal may also benefit from a metal icon or end to the parchment to give it a bit of weight and round it off nicely. Maybe a skull imprint in the seal and a double headed eagle at the end of the parchment would look good, but I am getting ahead of myself. First things first, should I even be doing this, is it too over the top, and would dark grey text on black be less of an eye soar?
Anyway, what are your thoughts on this type of Ad disguise, and can it be improved?
Please comment, even if brief, and thanks in advance for any input.
Philip
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Hearing feedback is very important to me in developing my ideas. Much of my designs are inspired, and crafted, by chatting to fans on forums before snowballing into a full concepts posted on this website. I would like to thank all those who have contributed critiques and participated in discussions over the years. If you would like join in, you are most welcome!
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