Ok..I have a FEW questions.
They are about advertising on my blog.
In July 2007 I began this little blog about decorating, baking, Scotties and collecting vintage items. And since then, I have oftentimes thought about advertising on it. And yes, as a means to make a little extra cash. Who doesn’t like having some extra dough rolling in?
Many blogs that I visit advertise. The ONLY thing that I don’t like about the ads are the annoying pop ups that you have to either CLOSE or “X” out of to get that annoying pop up out of your face. It is just an extra step to have to go through. And I would rather read the post than have to figure out how to stop that AP.
Another concern I have with ads on a blog is that sometimes it takes awhile for the blog to load up on my computer. This can take a good deal of time –even with a good computer - and I don’t want this to be the case for visitors and friends that do read my blog. (Hello KLW and CAH…)
Less is more and time is valuable.
So here are the questions:
1. Is it really worth advertising?
2. Can you choose the companies that you want to advertise with?
I haven’t even looked into placing ads on my blog. I thought that I would put it out there to get your thoughts about advertising before doing more homework on it.
3. Are there any negative experiences when visiting blogs that do advertise? And please, out of respect, don’t mention the name of the blog if you leave me a comment. You can also email me at sweetcottagedreams1@comcast.net if you would like to share in private.
Thank you for your time and your advice.
32 comments:
I have stopped going to blogs that have lots of advertisements. It is annoying to say the least. The popups are the worse. I don't think commercialism is in the spirit of how blogs were started. Just my opinion...
you seem like a nice person asking sincerely for responces so as my way of remaining respectful of you, I wont say how I feel about all the advertising on blogs these last few years.
Sorry, can't answer any of your questions. You might check with Brenda of Cozy Little House. She is a whiz at that.
Have a great day!
Judy
I have wondered about some of those same questions you shared. I do dislike the pop ups when I visit blogs that advertise, but I will bear them if its a blog I really enjoy visiting. There have been some blogs that do take a really long while to load with so many advertisements loading up at the same time, and I have had to close them out and go elsewhere. But I fully understand needing some extra cash, so I say as long as they allow you to pick what you advertise.......then go for it. I will certainly continue to visit you sweet Becky :) Blessings
I am so glad you asked these questions because I have been wondering the same thing. I don't like the ads at the top of the blog post and especially the ones that have started popping up. So annoying. Looking forward to hearing the comments. :)
In my opinion ads especially the pop up ones which bring in more money are annoying and ruin the look of a blog. The large blogs have taken over by joining together in cliques squeezing out the smaller blogs and making the big blog money. It surprises me that the small bloggers continue to support the group-think large blogs because they get nothing out of their support. Many of the blogs no longer have a blog roll so traffic is not sent to the small blog therefore limiting the small blogger from growing and possibly making money. The large amount of money made by some of the blogs that publish daily and have a huge party probably would surprise the daily reader who thinks she is just reading a post by another sweet blogger. They do this for money and most of what is seen is not what it seems. Most of them have helpers paid for by the big ad money they make. Many of the features are not their own work and cannot be because no human is capable of accomplishing all they show. Believe me many bloggers are not what they seem. Use your own judgement about putting ads on your blog but be aware that they change the look and purpose of a blog because then you must be led somewhat by the need to please the advertiser. Thanks for giving me the chance to spill the beans on ads and the big blog deceptions.
Sue
I recently decided to stop advertising for now. But, in the past, I used Google. It was a nice way to make extra pocket change. :)
Hi there!
I cannot give any advice since I've chosen not to have ads on my blog, but I agree with you that the pop-up ones are so annoying it makes me not want to visit those blogs.
I don't mind when there's just one ad at the bottom of a post, but some blogs are so full of ads, and aimed at my viewing history, which really creeps me out! But there's no being anonymous online!
I'm sure you'll make the choice that best suits you!
~ Violet
I had to start putting ads on my blog due to my divorce. When I could see it was imminent (the divorce) I started scrambling for ways to make money. Blogging was all I knew. Since my ankle injury, etc., it is really what has saved me, since this is looking to be a lifetime injury that will not improve. So I say if you need the money, go for it. Magazines and TV have ads. We don't give them a problem about it.
Brenda
I'm afraid I don't have any really helpful comment...except to say I do visit blogs with advertising, and I would certainly continue to visit your blog if you added advertising to it!
I love visiting your blog Becky, and I'm so glad that you are posting more regularly now!!
Hi Becky, I don't blame anyone for trying to make a little extra. I don't mind the ads as long as their not those dang pop ups and I do find them annoying. It's your blog and you can do whatever you want, I will still come for a visit.
I have been reading your blog since 2007, so your not getting rid of me that easy. LOL!
I also notice that blogs with ads take ages to load...and I thought it was just me! So you answered one of my questions accidentally!
As to whether you should go for it, I have no idea how much it pays off, My sporadic blog is only for fun....
I don't really notice many of the ads on blogs, but there are a few blogs that I've quit visiting because they literally freeze up my laptop with all the ads and pop-ups! And if the blogger also truncates their posts, forget it! It can take several minutes to get to the post and if I happen to click on the wrong spot....poof! I'm right back at the beginning again!
I can see why you'd like to start allowing ads on your blog, Becky, and I would think they'd allow you to pick and choose how many and what kind. I'm sure you'll find a tasteful way to integrate ads into your blog. Good luck in getting it all sorted out!
Vickie
I will be truthful here Becky. We all would like a little extra income..and I understand..but I usually stop visiting blogs that begin advertising. I feel I get enough of it in every other aspect of my life. The mail, on TV, in the newspaper, in my magazines..and on the computer to the extent that I don't know if I am reading a news article or a darned AD! I am so tired of it and some of the photo's that pop up in our faces are downright horrible. Facebook is lined with them..I am so sick of them.
I will not advertise on my blog and have had emails from company's asking me to...trying to tempt me..they want advertising for just pennies. It's not worth it to me to plague my readers with AD's
I have stopped frequenting some of the blogs that have them. Even up in their headers...their sidebars..at the bottom of their posts where the comments begin.
It's awful. At least to me.
I don't get around to visit much so I doubt they would miss me if I didn't come.. :) Just being honest here.
Big hugs...have a wonderful week.
Mona
The taking a long time to load is not good. Also, you may get ads from places that you do not like. Also, people's computer security systems may mark your blog as unsafe or even not display the unsafe ads. We have no control over if an ad is safe or not. Back when I tried ads, I only earned like $12.00 for 2 whole years. 'Just some things to think about.
Hi Becky, am reading your post and the comments it's brought so far as it's an interesting topic.
Personally, I too am not happy about several of my longtime blog friends now advertising, for the same reasons others have stated here: loading time, annoying clicking required to X out before being able to read content, often nasty pics of embarrassing stuff which must mean you can't pick and choose your ads, overall creative blog layouts compromised by pop-ups etc. Now and then I come across a blog with just a few ads on the sidebar which I can open IF I think I'm interested, if not they are not in the way of my reading the post and enjoying any pics posted.
Regarding income from these ads, no idea how much is generated.
Happy week -
Mary
I wish I had some answers for you, but I don't have advertising on my blog. Never say never, but it's just something I haven't had a chance to look into.
I think that some of the blogs that have ads have really over done it with the ads and the ads can be a bit overwhelming, especially those that you have to X to close. The fact is that it is your blog and you need to do whatever it is that you want to do with your blog. If you decide to put ads on it and you don't like it can't you remove them? Good luck!
Danielle
This is such a tough question. I agree with everyone else about the pop ups, hate them! And when it starts taking super long to load a page I move on. What I haven't seen addressed is the bloggers whose post amount to nothing more than a paid advertisement. Sometimes they are up front about it (and I move on right away) and sometimes you start to read and realize it's not an authentic post, it's an ad for their latest sponsor. I seldom visit those blogs any more. One of the best things about blogging is the authenticity of the posts and getting to know the real person behind the blog. It's an authentic relationship (as you and I know!) and I feel it is somehow tainted when it just becomes another commercial space. Having said that, I do know there are people who need that money and who are up front about it. Brenda from Cozy Little House comes to mind and I love her and her blog just as much now as I did before it had advertising. I picked up an interesting magazine about blogging, the "Molly Makes" latest issue, that makes the point that bloggers actually sell themselves very short on what they charge for these big companies to use their blogs and readers for their advertising. Most of us have no idea what that kind of thing should cost and they take full advantage of that, so it's something to think about before you give away the readership that you have worked so hard to build. I didn't mean to write a book, but this is something I have thought long and hard about and struggled with myself. Whatever you do, I'll be here.
wow, this is a good topic....I will always visit your blog, I love it !!!! Most blogs I visit don't have advertising and if they do, it is not annoying, to me anyway....you do what is best for you!!!! whatever you do, it will be fine.....I have more to worry about then ads, so they don't bother me
....going to visit blogs is my enjoyment in the evening....best of luck!
It's important for you to be able to make money from the ads if that's what you chose to do. Having said that, I agree with many others that the popup ads have to be the most annoying. I have a favorite blog that I have to click on 5 or 6 times to eliminate it....or maybe I'm finished reading. All I know is that being forced to read an ad rather than a voluntary choice makes a great deal of difference. And as someone has already said, it's startling to say the least to see some of the ads popping up on what I Think are conservative blogs. I also think that these bloggers have given up control as to what goes on their blog. Not good.
Hi Becky. I read your post the other day and then came back today to see what people had to say. Here's my take on it....it doesn't appear that the blogger can control exactly what appears on her page. I've seen things pop up that I wouldn't want on my page at all. Have you seen that weight loss add that shows the obese person gaining and losing weight? It's not pretty. I guess if you can have some control it's ok. The ads that are on the sides don't bother me. The Blogher ads at this point in time are crazy! There are ads at the top, the bottom, and the sides. The pages takes awhile to load and the pages moves around. I leave the page when I see it happening. I feel certain that you didn't ask the question to have this turn into a gripe session. Right? :) Anyway, I think it's fine to have ads as long as it's not the main thing you see when you visit a site. I adore everything you do and will always come back.
I understand that some bloggers want/or need to make money from advertising but I dislike commercials on TV so bad that I haven't had a TV in over 3 years. I feel the same way about ads on blogs. Do not like them.
If a blog takes too long to load, with out without advertising, I tend to skip it. I wonder how much money is rally to be made?
I read your posts. I love your blog. I have considered and attempted it for a short time with out a lot of success. It appears that the folks that have large readerships or followers seem to have a lot of ads. Don't know if that is coincidence or not. I will just click off a post if there is a pop up. It's annoying and the blogs with lots of ads do sometimes load slow. But I think mine does too.
You might be very successful. I'll be coming around to cheer you on either way. I love visiting you and the doggies!
Have a Blessed Sunday.
I read your posts. I love your blog. I have considered and attempted it for a short time with out a lot of success. It appears that the folks that have large readerships or followers seem to have a lot of ads. Don't know if that is coincidence or not. I will just click off a post if there is a pop up. It's annoying and the blogs with lots of ads do sometimes load slow. But I think mine does too.
You might be very successful. I'll be coming around to cheer you on either way. I love visiting you and the doggies!
Have a Blessed Sunday.
Hi Becky! I haven't visited in so long, wanted to pop in and say hello. I don't have my blog anymore ...vintage French hen, I kind of lost interest. I think you would benefit from advertising because you have a lot of visitors. I don't care for the pop ups either! They drive me crazy. Even though I don't blog anymore I still enjoy blog hopping. After all, it wasn't that long ago that YOU turned me onto it! I hope all is well and we see each other soon. Your hometown friend, Marcia
I do not like blogs with ads or sponsored posts. I can overlook a few small ads, but once a blog is overrun with ads and sponsored posts...like one mentioned in these comments, I no longer visit it as it has become a money maker for the owner and has lost its purpose.
Becky, I like blogs that do not have a cluttered look when I visit. I blog to share & visit other blogs to learn. :)
~Judy
hi becky!
hmmm. i have the bare minimum ad links on my blog and i think i got $100 like three years ago so i'm probably the wrong person to ask!
blogging sure has changed since the early days, hasn't it? i've been running into lots of blogging pals on instagram, which has been very fun.
but i digress ... i believe claudia at mockingbird hill cottage has ads so she might be a good resource.
happy september wishes
xo
elyse
Oh Dear... Isn't advertising on your blog one of the rewards and signs of success? I would love to be able to make some extra cash with my blog. I don't have the traffic that you do though.
I also think that in order to make some decent cash you have to advertise a lot! I do find the blogs that have a lot of the ads are aggravating. And some of the ads I wouldn't want on my blog. Have you seen the pop ups that actually chase your curser.... sooo irritating!
I guess you just have to decide what is best for you and your blog. There is balance in everything. I will still love your blog and come by and say hi. :)
~Liz
My two cents. I mute all commercials on TV. Blogs that have ads load so slowly that I just skip them. And ads make a nice homey blog seem commercial and unfriendly. Kit
Post a Comment