I just clicked on a Hacker News link to a Forbes article on VC secrets and instead of being taken to an article, I got sent to a full screen flash ad for god knows what. It took me a few seconds to see the ‘Click here to skip the welcome’ link. After clicking that, the article loaded, but with an obnoxious video ad (with sound, of course) that immediately began playing to the right. A few seconds later, another moving ad came into the page from the left until it blocked part of the article. Worst. Experience. Ever.
What the hell is the wrong with these guys!? Seriously, Forbes? Do a friggin usability study and I guarantee you will get all negative feedback. Did the product manager of this page really think that people would say, “Gee, it’s really nice that when I click on links to articles, I actually can choose a financial planner instead.” Or, “Well, after I read a sentence or two, I’d really like something to come sliding in and sit on top of the stuff I was reading.” No wonder I have ADD.
UPDATE: So, uhm, this was such an annoying experience that I left the site to write this post. (ADD again.) After reading the article, it isn’t very good at all.
Tags: rants
