The Atkins layer ads close themselves after a certain number of seconds, but I'm not sure how many. I've not had to click to close them at all. The campaign limits the number of Atkins ads per user, so once you've seen your limit, you won't see anymore until the next time you visit 3FC. This campaign is supposed to end on April 14, unless they order more impressions.
The PopUp ads that are used on 3FC are generally limited to one per user per 24 hours. It's not really necessary to use a popup blocker for just one pop, and we really wish you wouldn't, lol. A large portion of our operating costs have always been paid out of our own pockets, due to the serious decline in advertising income. We've come close to closing so many times. Thank goodness for credit cards! It is estimated that up to one half of all of our visitors are using some type of ad blocking software. The regular banners pay a tiny tiny amount, and the Popup ad is the only one that has a halfway decent revenue. And again, it's limited to one pop per day.
I hope this doesn't come out wrong, but we put a lot of money and labor into this website, and we really don't think that viewing ad banners or allowing an occasional popup is too much to ask in return. We don't charge admission or subscription fees. Websites usually should be free to use. Unfortunately, they are not free to operate. 3FC requires the use of a dedicated server, among other expenses. Those that block ads while surfing are basically surfing at our expense. 3FC is in debt, and probably always will be. We are not a "shopping" site, we are a content site. People come here for information, and they ignore the ads or the links to shops, or anything else that could provide revenue to the site. Content sites never do well financially, unless they are backed by large corporations. We are currently investigating a few options which we hope will turn things around for us, and they look promising!
We believe that we have a good thing going here, that is worth the effort to keep trying to make it work. The traffic to the main site has been increasing by leaps and bounds, and it thrills us that people find it useful! The forum stays moderately busy, and we have a wonderful community here that I can't imagine being without.
But please, if you find our website useful enough to visit more than once, help keep us operating by allowing the advertisements. Maybe even click the banners from time to time, that keeps the advertisers happy, lol.
Thanks for listening
