Advally,
The reason I activated ad-blocker software was related to problems I had on AK. As I already stated, I have run into major delays with ads having to load before I could see the content I wanted. This happened to me on AK, and was related to a string of Google-referenced ad calls. There were times when I would have two sets of banner ads across the top of AK pages, the first being the typical audio-related ads that I usually see, the second being something random or related to Google searches made outside of AK.
A perfect example is that I wanted to replace my old vehicle (a 2000 Lexus RX300 with 280,000+ miles). So in October and November of 2017, I did extensive searches for local, low mileage, RX300s and RX330s. I was also researching prices for some non-audio collectibles I wanted to sell, often with Google searches.
I installed Ad-blocker software because I would often get a second set of banner ads on AK related to older Lexus SUVs and to the collectibles (at best), or more nefarious offers at worst. At the time I thought perhaps AK was allowing more ads, or had inadvertantly allowed some Google-Ads-based media company a little too much access. I see similar ads on other pages (CNN, FOX, and NBC news homepages, for example) but I don't see the double ads.
My machine was protected, so my primary complaint was how long it took for pages to load. Even text pages were taking 10, 15, even 20 seconds to load. The delay was always an unanswered call to Google Ad databases or Google Analytics. I modified my machine to block ads, block pop-ups, and whatever else I could to speed up my Internet experience. I even tried other browsers, but because I work with WebGL applications some browsers, like Edge, are not even feasible.
So the first part of this, where you performed the car search is a great example of how modern advertising works. Note: I'm not making a philosophical statement of right or wrong, just an explanation.
When you make searches like that on Google, and visit sites that are selling the various products you are interested in consuming - you leave a trail of data behind you. This data is made anonymous from your personal details, and then ads are targeted to browser sessions which look like the visitor they remember. You would notice if you cleared cookies, changed browsers and went to an internet shop that your ads would be entirely different. Advertising is seeking to deliver "The Right Message to the Right Person at the Right Time." - and modern technology has brought the entire industry much closer to that goal. If you want a 2000 Lexus RX300 with 280,000+ Miles, then someone selling one is a perfect fit for an ad to display to you.
The two sets of banners across the top are a mixture of the companies that buy ads directly with AudioKarma, and the ones that buy through the programmatic markets, which is what I described above. The really great thing that these bring to a site is the fact that you can't close general purpose deals with large companies as a small player. AudioKarma as compared to say the NFL, is a tiny molecule in the advertising ecosystem. Previously they could sell to Endemic advertisers only, and were passed over by companies selling Cars, Cheeseburgers, Dish Soap or Toothpaste. These new markets actually allow sites like AudioKarma to extend their pool of advertisers, and make the money necessary to keep the site running.
The page load speed of the programmatic units should be mitigated through Asynchronous ad loads, meaning you get your content irrelevant of the ad load. I will run some testing to make sure that is optimized though, because we absolutely don't want ads messing up page loads. That is a terrible user experience, and isn't a good future for advertising!
Personally, I understand that some people use Ad Blockers. I get it. What we're here to try and come up with is a fair balance where people who really like the site are willing to whitelist the ads to help support keeping it alive. I got into the advertising business because a few friends of mine had started a really cool website, but they both were about to quit because they had to work jobs to pay the server bills. Advertising helped them build that thing into a really amazing place for their fans, and I was really happy to be a part of it.
We're here to develop that balance with you guys, so please share any and every thought you have about the ads, and we'll either address it, explain it or kill it.
Thanks for listening... /rant.
--Doug