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Pop ups not popular with Net advertisers
NEW YORK: Nielsen//NetRatings has reported that only 9.2 per cent of all companies advertising online use pop-up ads, despite its seemingly ubiquitous presence in 2002.
Advertisers purchased and launched more than 11.3 billion pop-up ad impressions (including pop-under ads) for the first seven months of 2002, comprising just two per cent of the online advertising market.
According to the Nielsen//NetRatings AdRelevance service, the global standard in Internet audience measurement and analysis, pop-up advertising is defined as any ad that spawns a new browser without user input, and includes pop-up ads that focus to the front or back (pop-under) of the active browser. Niche categories such as community, yellow pages and games sites posted levels of pop-up advertising well above the market average of two per cent, but broader categories such as portals, search engines and shopping sites shied away from utilizing the technology. Only a select few advertisers opted to use pop-up technology, with just 63 companies launching 80 per cent of all pop-up advertising while the other 20 per cent was split between 2,145 advertisers.
Pop-ups quickly gained notoriety since their introduction in early 2001, with the ads attracting negative feedback from Internet surfers, says a company release. During the first half of the year, advertisers used pop-up ads primarily as a direct marketing strategy as opposed to employing pop-up ads to build brands. More than 6.5 billion impressions or 58 per cent of all pop-up ads attempt to drive traffic to the advertiser’s site, while 26 per cent offer incentives aimed at increasing sales. This indicates that 84 per cent of all pop-up ads use a direct marketing tactic, much higher than the industry average of 64 per cent.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
