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Ask HN: Friendly ways of adding ads to app?

by waspight on 1/28/23, 7:49 PM with 7 comments

I am searching for ways of adding ads to a mobile app in a more user friendly way. I wonder if anyone here has seen any good examples of how to integrate ads in a way that does not disturbe the user.

I am thinking more in ways like how a lot of podcasts are doing it, where the host is reading the ad. It feels more like a personal recommendation that way, which I think is better.

  • by pamoroso on 1/28/23, 7:56 PM

    Just a data point as an Android user: for me ads are a deal breaker. If an ad-supported app doesn't provide a separate paid version with no ads, or an in-app purchase to remove the ads, I just don't install the app regardless of how good or useful it may be.

  • by speedyapoc on 1/28/23, 7:57 PM

    Hard to really say without having more details about your app and its user base. Personally speaking, having my content interrupted by some sort of audio ad, even by the content creator, is 100x worse than ad banners or other visual ad content.

  • by jszymborski on 1/28/23, 8:15 PM

    It's kind of you to have consideration for your users, but the bottom-line is that ads are just not friendly. That's my two cents at least.

  • by mitchellpkt on 1/28/23, 9:34 PM

    I don’t mind ads that are in the margins or added to a list of results that I’m scrolling through anyways. These don’t feel intrusive because they don’t break the flow I would have without ads.

    On the other hand I become frustrated when ads are blocking features that I am trying to interact with, and require me to click to close. I have uninstalled apps over this.

    Appreciate your thoughtfulness on this matter, good luck!

    (Edit: autocorrect typo)

  • by satvikpendem on 1/29/23, 5:54 AM

    You can add ads that you curate yourself, like podcast or newsletter sponsorships. Personally I don't find them as distracting as, say, banner ads.