Can you spot the ad in this? Alex?

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=783757076&size=o 

Zooomr!  Great photosharing site

That took me a few looks up & down. How about you?

Spotted it instantly, but it is very sneaky

i like it. ive actually found myself a few times reading an ad as though it were a post. have actually clicked on a few too out of genuine interest. i havent quite leanred to zone them out yet, and so for at least a little while they have my attention...

Hang on, you like the ads that trick you into reading them? Do you personally like them? Or do you as a person wanting to make money out of the web like them?

Yeah, I don't like these ones. They don't exactly fit into the conversation. 

Do I like ads that trick me into reading them? Not really. But after working for a good chunk of my life in advertising, I can appreciate creativity in advertising.

Make it a little more subtle. add contextual relevance and explain to me that the advertising is paying for my free service, and I'll put up with it happily. Hell, I might even find something of interest every now and then.

Stick it in my face as something I am forced to deal with before continuing such as a popup or a modal, and I'll most likely go somewhere else.

I still feel banner advertising in any form (even here) is very 2 years ago, but  hey, if you can make it pay good for you.

In reality it's clever, targetted advertising tied in to a consistent brand message that really works, not the broadcasting of this lowest common deniminator stuff. Although the latter will get you visibility and sales, the cost per lead is ridiculous and anyone who promotes it to a client is self-serving at best, and behind the times and uncreative at worst.

That being said, if people will pay for it, and you can make a living from it while providing a free service that your users see value in, then you're still the good guy in my books. Do it in ways that are a little bit smarter and that don't piss people off quite as much, and I think you're doing well.

What really hassles me (now that you've got me going), is services that double dip, taking money for a supposedly premium service and then plastering it with advertising. If I'm paying for a quality service then give me one. If you're not making enough charge me more. But don't have me pay for a quality service and then lower the quality by filling it with crap.  -- rant finished

Pownce don't do this, or I'd be up in arms along with everyone else. Other sites I currently use on the other hand...