Paid users in Singapore see ads on the home page
I didn't expect to be posting again so soon, but fresh from commentary on the latest news post: paid accounts in Singapore are seeing advertising on the home page. The source is from this comment, which provides two screenshots of a "Hot Pick" section with the brand label of "Mocca". LJ signed up with an ad company called MediaCorp for Singapore in February and Mocca is one of their platforms.
It remains to be seen whether the display of the Mocca tie in to Singaporean paid accounts is an oversight or a purposeful strategy. LiveJournal needs to tread carefully here: scant and ambiguously worded advisory board meeting minutes suggests that they might be trying switch their focus from advertising (I assume this means banner ads) to sponsorship (I assume this means more things like the Nature Made contest), along with refocusing on premium services and products (I assume this means paid accounts and integrated partnerships with companies like Blurb). However, a poll about paid account features suggests that no ads is one of the top reasons paid users pay for LJ nowadays, neck and neck with more userpics as the most important reason. If this poll is indicative of the broader paid userbase, and if it's advertising in general instead of just eyesore banners those users are talking about, that could present a problem and make integrating sponsorships into the site more tricky if paid account rates are to simultaneously be preserved or increased.
Update: marta is on the ball and has let us know that showing this to paid users is unintended, and it will be fixed shortly!
It remains to be seen whether the display of the Mocca tie in to Singaporean paid accounts is an oversight or a purposeful strategy. LiveJournal needs to tread carefully here: scant and ambiguously worded advisory board meeting minutes suggests that they might be trying switch their focus from advertising (I assume this means banner ads) to sponsorship (I assume this means more things like the Nature Made contest), along with refocusing on premium services and products (I assume this means paid accounts and integrated partnerships with companies like Blurb). However, a poll about paid account features suggests that no ads is one of the top reasons paid users pay for LJ nowadays, neck and neck with more userpics as the most important reason. If this poll is indicative of the broader paid userbase, and if it's advertising in general instead of just eyesore banners those users are talking about, that could present a problem and make integrating sponsorships into the site more tricky if paid account rates are to simultaneously be preserved or increased.
Update: marta is on the ball and has let us know that showing this to paid users is unintended, and it will be fixed shortly!