Are Ads on Books a Good Idea? (China's Starting to Do It)

by SodaHead News Posted 2012/05/08 19:00:00

Related Topics: China, Publishing, Ads, my son, marina ma, Chinese, Book Cover, Infection, Video, Internet, Tablet, Borders

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	Yes	91 votes	16%
	No	485 votes	84%

Ads are everywhere. They're all over the Internet, dotted along the highway, in the middle of your favorite television shows, plastered on the walls of the mall. It's how businesses work together to generate interest and revenue. But it's also a double-edged sword, because no one particularly likes ads. We're naturally repelled. Unfortunately, it looks like the infection is spreading. The Chinese publishing industry, threatened by the success of tablets and e-books, is starting to put ads on book covers.

According to China Daily, "My Son" by Marina Lu, mother of cello virtuoso Yo-Yo Ma, is the first book to feature an ad on its cover. It's not as blatant as you might fear -- it's actually on the back cover, and it's apparently just the logo of a textile manufacturer. But Jinghua Aobo, a Chinese advertising agency, has already signed deals with more than 100 publishers. Right now it's just an experiment, but the potential could be worrisome. Do you think it will actually help the publishing industry, or will it backfire?

+20

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Carol 2012/05/08 20:53:54

No

+14
It's the best way to ensure a book jacket would get thrown away in my house. If I wanted ads, I'd read a magazine.
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More polls by SodaHead News

Chris Tate 2012/06/07 16:21:37

No

unless it makes them a whole hell of a lot cheaper

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jackolantyrn356 2012/06/06 02:28:11

Yes

America used this for almost 50myears or longer. Wow! Now China? My God where will the wonders end?
Give me a "F"en Break

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**weaselbee::StarkidJay* 2012/05/24 05:46:52

No

It would be incredibly annoying. I don't look at ads anyways; they would only get in the way.

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Ryoka∞Boy 2012/05/23 08:17:57

No

Seriously no,just no.It would make me stop reading books and that would be really sad.

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Brynn 2012/05/15 12:42:51

Yes

I have ads on my Kindle so I don't see the difference. It's not like you've got a gun against your head and you're being forced to read ads.

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GaolBlaze 2012/05/13 20:05:50

No

While I see the point from an advertiser's point of view, it ruins the point of a book. A book is a thing that transports you to somewhere by reading. A book cover does its best to reflect the essence of the book. You put an ad on the essence of a book, and you mess it all up :/

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Claire Bird 2012/05/12 22:08:57

No

Books are where I go to get away from that

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Dave 007 2012/05/12 15:29:22

No

Try and listen to a NFL game on the radio. There are more ads then game announcing. And I couldn't tell you one thing they are advertising.

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Jackie 2012/05/12 01:45:32

No

The place could be out of business by the time the book makes it way to us, especially if it is put in a library.

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D.C.Verdone 2012/05/11 18:28:53

No

I would boycott. I bought that book, I didn't use the internet to read it so no, stay away from my books or there will be hell to pay.

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firebird 2012/05/11 15:45:55

No

I HATE IT !

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Lordy :D 2012/05/11 03:52:33

Yes

+1
They've been doing it for years already. Ever pick up a book which had the address of the publisher in a page in the back, along with a fill-out sheet and a list of books you wanted to buy? I have. Nothing new.

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APLWONK 2012/05/10 22:17:43

No

I don't care what China does. I don't want ad's in my books!

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cybernestical 2012/05/10 15:11:24

No

it's seems to be distract.

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Nan 2012/05/10 14:09:13

No

No, not at all...ads are WAY TO INVASIVE and I'm sick of them all.

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Tasinahri 2012/05/10 12:22:02

No

For some reason I misinterpreted the book as saying: "My son is a Yo-Yo" (lol)
*shakes head and walks away*
I think I'll go back to bed...

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Bibliophilic 2012/05/10 04:42:09 (edited)

No

+1
I'll pay not to see ads in books. My last place of solace from advertisers and the media in general! NO.

I'll rip off the cover of a book rather than look at an ad.

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AskZilla 2012/05/10 03:23:02

Yes

+1
Not on the cover, but I've always wondered why books don't have ads inside of them. You pay for magazines, and they are loaded with ads; why not books?

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stevmackey 2012/05/10 02:36:13

No

The first was probably the Farmer's Almanac. There were all kinds of ads in the volume.

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Cain2012~POTL~PWCM~JLA 2012/05/10 02:19:05

No

+1
I personally think it's ridiculous!

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overseanancy 2012/05/10 00:55:29

No

Beware of the bookworms...they will ATTACK!!!!!!!! :D

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ShamshirMkII 2012/05/10 00:10:06

No

Note to business owners: Please, please, PLEASE don't invade the last known ad-free medium.

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Michael 2012/05/10 00:06:22

Yes

Yes, a good idea.Why not.They kind of roll of our consciousness anyway.

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Doctor 2012/05/09 23:38:58

No

+1
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO... THATS THE ONLY NONADD THING I HAVE LEFT!!! imagine reading the bible and seeing a porn advertisement on the next page! It's wrong!

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Scott Calo 2012/05/09 22:53:22

No

Two words: Spark Notes. I can literally not stay focused on that site because of all the links and ads on this site. That would be terrible if books were the same way. If they put them on the removable cover of a hardcover book, that wouldn't be as bad, I'd just throw it away.

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kzb75 2012/05/09 21:37:47

No

No! this is why I download my movies tv shows & eBook pdf's to my iPhone now, so I don't have to deal with adds and SH!T like this.

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Wutnagkillabeeontheswarm 2012/05/09 21:12:19

No

If I would have ads in a book, I would just flip through the pages till the point where the story goes on...

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Howard L. Chapman 2012/05/09 20:58:58

No

+2
Books are supposed to be for education or enjoyment without unnecessary gobbly-goop, in other words no advertisements should be allowed, of course this just my opinion! Bud

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Elementer 2012/05/09 20:47:27

Yes

As long as the ad is related to the content of the book.

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brittany 2012/05/09 20:47:18

Yes

People watch t.v a lot so the whole point on advertising there book on t.v is for people actually to see it

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ellie 2012/05/09 20:36:56

No

+1
Ads on books would distract you from the book. It's like when you are on a website and there are way too many ads to concentrate on the site.

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~Kutie~ 2012/05/09 20:26:50

No

+1
NO MORE ADS!!! we cant get away from them anymore, there on giant bill boards there people shuving them in our face in the mall, there all over the internet. People cant even watch a youtube video with out being forced to watch an advertizment first! and now there even putting them in our books!!? there should be a protest against too much ads.

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Pinball Wizard 2012/05/09 20:15:49

Yes

+1
I've seen ads in paperbacks in the past, usually advertising other books they publish.

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Debra 2012/05/09 20:01:46

No

+1
I'm so sick of ads everywhere, including on peoples rear ends!! Enough is enough!

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Emily Barrington 2012/05/09 20:01:22

No

+2
Really bad idea!! What if the books get out dated and so do the adverts??!

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authorgirl 2012/05/09 19:32:41

No

But it depends on where these ads are present. In the middle o the book? Dude, it's not a TV! At the end? Sure, I've got some old books that advertise other books.

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Manster 2012/05/09 19:30:09

No

If they can only put the ads in books that are borrowed, not ones that are bought and paid for.

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RhettDempsey-Taylor 2012/05/09 19:27:29

Yes

From an economic point of view, they're great! Killing two birds with the one educationally gifted stone..The Chinese are so much smarter than Americans..

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dePSyChO 2012/05/09 19:22:05
unaff 2012/05/09 19:17:41

Yes

+1
How about 'indifferent'?

I have lots of old paperbacks with ads inside, usually on a tear-out cardboard page near the middle.

Publishers already self-promote other titles inside the book as well. If seeing a McDonald's logo on the back of a hardcover will help keep paper books alive, more power to them.

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