Last week Salon.com announced a deal with Mercedes whereby the car co is offering a "f^ree Salon Premium Daypass" to everyone
who agrees to watch a four-screen online ad.

It's a great idea.

However, I'm under whelmed by Salon's execution of their barrier page in between the big offer banner on their home page and day-pass access to the sub site.

You'd think they'd try to get as many visitors to convert to day-pass offer accepters as possible so more people see Mercedes' ad.
However, the page's three-paragraphs of sales copy are too long-winded for a really high conversion rate. Guys, can you bullet point something please?

Also the final sentence before the entry button is off-putting enough in placement and wording to be costing some conversions as
well, "Important Note: Your browser must be set to accept cookies and you must also have the Flash Plug-in Verson 4 or higher."
This probably would have been better tiny type next to the cceptance button. (BTW: For once the typo is *not* mine!)

It's a good idea with so-so execution.

http://www.salon.com/partner/mb/