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Catalyst
Joined:
14 Jul 2003
Posts:
136
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Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2004 11:30 pm
Post subject: Norton Blocking Affiliate Links, AdSense + Webmaster Revenue
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Norton Internet Security and Firewall are blocking most affiliate links & banners and even AdWords and Adsense ads. It also blocks most ad servers. It may even be blocking your own site logo if it is a certain image size.
FYI - When I say "blocked" I mean erased, wiped out and invisible. It leaves a blank white spot where the banner or text link should have been, making it look like your site is messed up or you are missing information. It totally strips out your osurce code too. With AdWords and Adsense ads the body copy is visible but the link is missing so you cannot click.
I have been researching this issue for awhile now, and have posted a warning here before, but just finally downloaded the software to start testing. I'm APPALLED and ENRAGED at how this software DEFACES websites and can effect webmaster/affiliate revenue!
THE DEFAULT IS SET TO BLOCK ADS, so for non savvy users that don't realize how much Norton blocks, they will just think your site is poorly designed or info is missing when the see all the white spaces. Norton is being shipped with many new computers so I think this problem will grow.
Please download the FREE trial of Norton Internet Security (which includes the Firewall software too.) Check your site!
Since a picture is worth a thousand words I have built a page full of examples to display the problem and spread the word. Thought I would share so you can the damage it does.
There are also links to a forum were people are testing and trying to come up with workarounds. We have some possible solutions.
http://www.5staraffiliateprograms.com/norton-blocks-revenue.html
If you are an affiliate that sells Norton, please stop promoting it. If any of your links are blocked let your merchants and advertisers know about this problem.
_________________
Linda Buquet :: Affiliate Management Consultant
High Paying, Honest 5 Star Affiliate Programs
Leading Affiliate Blog :: 5 Star Affiliate Forum |
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robertb
Joined:
09 Aug 2003
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1837
Location:
Columbus, OH
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Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2004 3:59 am
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I stumbled across this as well. I don't know how to go about fixing it, even if it is possible. Sounds like a job CJ should approach.
In my opinion, when offering various things, mix in CJ and non CJ links, just to be safe.
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Robert
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Debs
Joined:
16 Aug 2003
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4296
Location:
NY
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Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2004 11:19 am
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I found the list of what Norton blocks, and it covers pretty much all the major networks. It covers Linkshare, Shareasale, Cj, Befree, and a lot of independents as well:
http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com/bad_ads.html
This is depressing 
Debs
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Catalyst
Joined:
14 Jul 2003
Posts:
136
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Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2004 8:15 pm
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Yes even many Indies are blocked if the have "bad" ad words in the URL. Norton also looks for standard banner size codes in the HTML and blocks most banners that way too even if they are not on a network.
I worked with one popular Indie tracking solution and they now have a workaround in place. I have also alerted ShareaSale about what to do and they are working on a fix. I called CJ and just posted on the CJ forum that we need them to work on this. With the combined clout of CJ, BeFree and Valuclick they should be abel to get somewhere. Post to this thread to voice your concern and try to get CJ moving on this. They said they would work on it back in Sept and nothing has happened since.
http://abw.infopop.cc/6/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=548608979&f=106607689&m=6756090655
_________________
Linda Buquet :: Affiliate Management Consultant
High Paying, Honest 5 Star Affiliate Programs
Leading Affiliate Blog :: 5 Star Affiliate Forum |
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Phil CA
Joined:
19 Dec 2003
Posts:
1044
Location:
Canada
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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2004 2:23 am
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I have read this on a few forums but it seems that there's not much concern. Are we completely sure that this is accurate information?
I have Norton internet security and use all the features on a couple computers.
I contacted others who have the same. We went through lots of affiliate sites including ones with Google Adsense.
We did not click on any ads but just did a mouse over and all the links are clickable. All affiliate links worked and showed coding fine etc. (bottom left hand corner). No websites were messed up with blank areas etc. 
So, I find this very hard to believe.
Affiliate marketing is too big of an industry, along with all kinds of technology that would be used to solve these problems quickly. 
All the best
Phil |
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robertb
Joined:
09 Aug 2003
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1837
Location:
Columbus, OH
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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2004 3:09 am
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This is true. My father has it installed on his PC with the ad blocker enabled. It DOES block the display of CJ text links, graphic links, and even if you manually paste the link into the browser window it won't load the page.
Here's an interesting email I received about this topic:
Norton Internet Security ships about 250000 units of this software per year. Most Norton products, including Norton Internet Security, you have to renew on a yearly basis.
There are 605 million people online 182 million of them in Canada and the United States. 63000 new users come online every day.
There are two considerations here
1. Are people really willing to surf the net with big blank spaces on their pages? I don't think so - I block pop ups but I don't block the pages.
2. Are these 250K people going to have that significant an impact out of the 182 million North Americans currently surfing the web?
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Debs
Joined:
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4296
Location:
NY
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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2004 3:11 am
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Phil, it's true in the releases this year. Have you upgraded? The earlier post has a link to download the trial software if you want to try it. The versions released late last year (2003) and this year have the adblocking defaulted to on. I wouldn't be so concerned if it were defaulted to off, as it was in the first release.
The link I posted on the article earlier is done by a very well-respected internet personality. Also, do searches on reviews on Norton Firewall and you will also find reporters from major newslines glowing about the ad blocking on sites, not just the popup blocking.
Believe me, it's true.
The reason for lack of concern on some forums, is they either don't know ... or figure you can't do anything since you can't access the users computer to override it.
I've spoken with two independent affiliate managers on this, and they are aware of it, and concerned as well.
As far as spyware adware parasiteware, I've installed a detection javascript on most of the pages on my site. In the last 4 days 1/3 of my visitors are infected! I'm using live stats to track their paths, and the results are astounding. It's also made little change in my affiliate income.
Average page viewing time on my site hovers around 3 minutes ... once the redirected visitors hit my spyware education page, they are there for a minimum of 10 minutes, some as long as 25 minutes ... I found that fascinating.
Debs
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Phil CA
Joined:
19 Dec 2003
Posts:
1044
Location:
Canada
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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2004 4:00 am
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Hi Robert and Debs,
Sorry, if my post sounded like I didn't believe you.
I believe you and appreciate what your saying. I'm just very surprised. 
Yes, I have the latest version with Live Update running regulary. I do alot of research on the net and visit tons of sites. I'm always checking out links and ads and they always show as I described in my previous post.
Now, I'm in Canada but I don't think that would change anything with Norton's software so I'm really not sure.
With the affiliate industry being such a huge market and growing so rapidly and with technology changing daily don't you feel that the powerful people in the affiliate industry will get this resolved in some way quickly  I hope and pray
All the best
Phil |
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Debs
Joined:
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NY
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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2004 4:07 am
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I do think it is going in the right direction, but only awareness will keep it going that way.
I have to assume you don't have the adblocking feature activated. It is optional. Like I said, if it was defaulted to "off" as it was in its original release, then I would have no problem with it. People who opt to turn the feature on, made a choice to use it. Not much you can do about that
My only beef with Norton's is it is now going out with the default being "on" for adblocking.
Debs
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Phil CA
Joined:
19 Dec 2003
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1044
Location:
Canada
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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2004 4:35 am
Post subject:
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Debs, Actually I have All the Norton Security enabled (ON) including Ad blocking. that why I was so confused when I read the thread.
It's very weird but honest I can see all the ads etc. Boy, technology is confusing.
I copied the Norton window explaining the following...
About the Ad Blocking window
Many sites use flashy banner ads and open secondary windows to get visitors' attention. In the Ad Blocking window, you can control the display of banner ads on Web pages and ads that appear in secondary browser windows.
The Ad Trashcan helps you create a customized list of ads to block. You can drag, or cut and paste, the ad graphic from the Web site into the ad trashcan dialog box to add its URL to the list.
Hopefully, everything gets resolved and fixed so affiliate marketing stays profitable and successful for everyone.
Keep us all updated.
All the best
Phil |
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Niall Kennedy
Joined:
10 Sep 2003
Posts:
76
Location:
Glasgow, UK
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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2004 9:58 am
Post subject:
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| Debs wrote: | | It covers ... Befree |
Has it been confirmed that Norton is blocking BeFree? Has anyone checked BeFree links? I couldn't decifer the info on the page that Debs linked to.  Sorry.
I downloaded Norton back last year to check my pages, and those with BeFree links were OK, while any CJ links were affected. The demo has since expired.
For that reason I've been using BeFree at the expense of CJ. I'm disappointed to hear that BeFree may be effected.
Niall |
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Debs
Joined:
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Posts:
4296
Location:
NY
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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2004 11:32 am
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BeFree links are on that list. I am hoping maybe Norton will do a start up then with no ads listed and you can add your own ... that works for me to. See, I'm easy lol
Phil, look over my site and let me know what you see. I have predominately CJ links, with some Linkshare and Befree, and a few independents. Also, are you seeing the full Google Adsense ads? That was another concern I had.
Debs
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Phil CA
Joined:
19 Dec 2003
Posts:
1044
Location:
Canada
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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2004 2:23 pm
Post subject:
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Debs, everything shows and clicks fine. Adsense is showing perfectly and clickable. All the affilliate links work fine.
I went through your site for about 45 minutes with all the Norton blocking features activated so it makes it an interesting discussion.
The only thing that was a little bit of a problem was when I used used your search feature to see if you are targeting global keyword phrases like canadian, canada, uk etc. After completing my search, when I go back to your home page and/or use any of your left side nav bars it goes to Atomz 404 - Page cannot be found with the file name that I would click. For example: http://search.atomz.com/debt-consolidation-loans.html
BUT as long as I click on your logo or home page link everything works perfectly again. I repeated this a few times and it worked the same each time.
I mentioned global keyword phrases because adsense is showing quite a few .ca ads like ingdirect etc. because I'm in Canada. I know that there are many low supply/profitable global keyword phrases available so I was wondering if you are also considering building into those niche markets.
Debs, your site looks and works great and is a super resource. The Google on Debt 
All the best
Phil |
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Debs
Joined:
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4296
Location:
NY
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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2004 3:15 pm
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Phil, thanks for taking the time and for the heads up on the 404, I fixed that
Debs
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Gamezing
Joined:
30 Oct 2003
Posts:
66
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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2004 4:07 pm
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| Norton 2002 Antivirus doesn't do it...But all newer versions are a culprit.. |
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