Bad names to use for directories or "Check your site with ad-blocking software."

It's not enough to use different browsers (or even BrowserCam) to check your site's appearance. Back in May, I featured a company called Blackbaud, who makes software for non-profits. Their most important image — which talked about Blackbaud's new 0% financing and "how easily you can afford the building blocks of success" — wasn't visible because they put it in a directory that was blocked by Norton Internet Security's ad-blocking feature.

Because of this important snafu, I came up with New Iron-clad rule #1 — check your site with ad-blocking software. Better yet, don'tput your images in a directory called /ads or /HomeAds or anything like that. Even the most brain-dead ad blocker will exclude graphics and files in those directories.

The following is a list of directories, image file names, and domains that are blocked by Norton. It isn't exhaustive but Norton is one of the leaders (if not the leader) and lots of folks use their products.

I've also added the exclusion list from AdMuncher — another ad and popup blocker.

If you have other popup or ad blocking software that blocks directories E-mail Vincent with the list of what they block.