I had a huge, labour-intensive post written this morning, and just lost it to the vagries of Blogger’s whims. Now you get the short version. Perhaps that’s better after all.
I’ve been spending a lot of time lately thinking about blogging, blogging for profit, and my own motivations for blogging. It started about a month ago, when I received an invitation to apply to join the BlogHer ad network. While an ever-growing part of me thinks that getting financial recompense for something I already do for love has a certain appeal, the true motivation for me would be the ego-boost of standing shoulder-to-jowl with some bloggers I think are way-wicked cool. And I’ve seen the ads on their blogs, and find them mostly inobtrusive and harmless.
So I’m thinking about applying, which entails them accepting my application. We’re a long ways off yet.
But we were talking about this the other night at the Blogger Meet-Up when a reporter from the Citizen was chatting with us. Her curiousity was piqued by the idea of the moral dilemma of accepting blog ads, and some of the other perks bloggers have started to receive, and she and I did an interview Friday night that should appear in an upcoming edition of the Citizen. Very cool! Because if you know me at all, you know that I value attention and affirmation far more than I value free stuff… and that says a lot!
But I’ve really been thinking about this a lot lately, and then this morning I read an absolutely fascinating post by one of my favourite bloggers on just this subject. Except she’s going in the exact opposite direction, even going so far as to take out her blogroll and (gasp!) sitemeter.
It wasn’t that long ago that I got my first offer of a free book. Since then, I’ve been offered a few more books, which I always accept, and of course, the free smartphone. I’ve also been offered a free personalized children’s book, which I will eventually get around to ordering just because I think it’s a neat concept and don’t mind giving a few inches of space to promote. There’s other stuff I’ve declined, and I’ve been asked to join two other ad networks and turned them down, too. (So you see, I do have some standards – but they’re capricious.)
The more I think about it, though, the more I am leaning towards running small ads here. Really, and I would like your opinions on this, what’s the difference between getting paid for your hard-won traffic and getting paid by a publisher? Why shouldn’t you get paid for something you do for love? I’m not looking for your permission or your absolution, but your honest viewpoint on whether not running ads is morally superior or just foolishly idealistic. Or somewhere in between? What’s the line between accepting free books, and accepting other merchandise, and accepting ad revenues?
What’s your price?
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{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
Why not get some financial assistance?Advertising is really no different than carrying arounda shopping bag with the name of the grocery store on it. Or using a coupon for free coffee/gas/whatever.
Of course, this assumes that you won’t change the format, content, or emphasis of your posts, and knowing you, I don’t think advertising will influence what you have to say.
Why not get some financial assistance?Advertising is really no different than carrying arounda shopping bag with the name of the grocery store on it. Or using a coupon for free coffee/gas/whatever.
Of course, this assumes that you won’t change the format, content, or emphasis of your posts, and knowing you, I don’t think advertising will influence what you have to say.
Go for it!! I would! I see absolutely nothing wrong with getting paid for doing something you love — that’s just an added benefit!! Congratulations!!!
Go for it!! I would! I see absolutely nothing wrong with getting paid for doing something you love — that’s just an added benefit!! Congratulations!!!
I don’t mind ads on websites I visit as long as they are along the sides or on the top/bottom. For the most part, I ignore them. The ones that pop up and require a click to get rid of are annoying.
I don’t mind ads on websites I visit as long as they are along the sides or on the top/bottom. For the most part, I ignore them. The ones that pop up and require a click to get rid of are annoying.
As long as it isn’t porn, go for it. No wait, make sure it’s porn. HA HA KIDDING!!!
Whatever you choose, you wont lose me as a fan.
MWAH!
As long as it isn’t porn, go for it. No wait, make sure it’s porn. HA HA KIDDING!!!
Whatever you choose, you wont lose me as a fan.
MWAH!
Oh, honey, you could buy me off with a couple of Bobbi Brown lipsticks (Cranberry Sheer and Brown if the powers that be at Estee are reading)!
Thanks for the kind words. My decision to move away from what I see as some of the more “commercial” aspects of blogging was a deeply personal one. I found that I was starting to view the blog like a business (you can take the girl out of the investment bank…) and was focusing on things like market share and growth strategies. It was distracting me from what I really loved about blogging initially.
I think that we all blog for a variety of reasons, all of which are equally valid. I certainly do not see my decision not to advertise as a morally superior one (and I would have no problem being paid by a publication that derives revenue from ads). It’s simply what works for me at this point in time.
Whatever you decide, I’ll be reading you!
Oh, honey, you could buy me off with a couple of Bobbi Brown lipsticks (Cranberry Sheer and Brown if the powers that be at Estee are reading)!
Thanks for the kind words. My decision to move away from what I see as some of the more “commercial” aspects of blogging was a deeply personal one. I found that I was starting to view the blog like a business (you can take the girl out of the investment bank…) and was focusing on things like market share and growth strategies. It was distracting me from what I really loved about blogging initially.
I think that we all blog for a variety of reasons, all of which are equally valid. I certainly do not see my decision not to advertise as a morally superior one (and I would have no problem being paid by a publication that derives revenue from ads). It’s simply what works for me at this point in time.
Whatever you decide, I’ll be reading you!
We all have a price — as hard as it is to admit. I run websites with web ads, though I don’t have any traditional web ads on my blog. (I say traditional, because the entire concept of currency on the Interweb is a little slippery. I began to describe it here. But there’s definitely more to it though, as bloggers are often asked to delete comments which shine unfavourable light on companies. More on that another time.)
Hey, if you can and want to make an extra chunk of change… you go girl!
We all have a price — as hard as it is to admit. I run websites with web ads, though I don’t have any traditional web ads on my blog. (I say traditional, because the entire concept of currency on the Interweb is a little slippery. I began to describe it here. But there’s definitely more to it though, as bloggers are often asked to delete comments which shine unfavourable light on companies. More on that another time.)
Hey, if you can and want to make an extra chunk of change… you go girl!
After being sincerely impressed by you getting invited to apply, I got an email from them last week. I haven’t decided yet. I don’t mind ads on other blogs, I think I’m just too lazy to apply.
After being sincerely impressed by you getting invited to apply, I got an email from them last week. I haven’t decided yet. I don’t mind ads on other blogs, I think I’m just too lazy to apply.
Hey, I’m just wondering why you’re getting all these offers for free stuff when all I’ve gotten is an invitation to fill out a survey from a university sociology department somewhere! So perhaps you can guess what side I’m on.
Actually, I don’t feel strongly about it one way or the other. If I’m ever annoyed because someone has ads on their blog, it’s only because they’ve put them someplace dumb and it looks ugly or is in the way or obtrusive in some fashion. But if a mama can make some money with her blog, I say more power to her. I really don’t see any difference at all between that and making royalties off a published book or article, myself.
Hey, I’m just wondering why you’re getting all these offers for free stuff when all I’ve gotten is an invitation to fill out a survey from a university sociology department somewhere! So perhaps you can guess what side I’m on.
Actually, I don’t feel strongly about it one way or the other. If I’m ever annoyed because someone has ads on their blog, it’s only because they’ve put them someplace dumb and it looks ugly or is in the way or obtrusive in some fashion. But if a mama can make some money with her blog, I say more power to her. I really don’t see any difference at all between that and making royalties off a published book or article, myself.
I’m not sure what my price is.
BUT, there is some food for thought here:
http://www.kerismith.com/blog/archives/000298.html
and here:
http://www.kerismith.com/blog/archives/000299.html
I’m not sure what my price is.
BUT, there is some food for thought here:
http://www.kerismith.com/blog/archives/000298.html
and here:
http://www.kerismith.com/blog/archives/000299.html
I’d say go for it Dani.
For meself. NEVER. I’m not that great a writer and just enjoy chonicling my everyday (Yawn) life here. Can’t spell either.
I’d say go for it Dani.
For meself. NEVER. I’m not that great a writer and just enjoy chonicling my everyday (Yawn) life here. Can’t spell either.
I actually FOUND many of my favorite bloggers through the BlogHer ad network because I found that blogs which had their ads had amazing content. And yours would make a fantastic addition to their list.
Congrats! You deserve it.
I actually FOUND many of my favorite bloggers through the BlogHer ad network because I found that blogs which had their ads had amazing content. And yours would make a fantastic addition to their list.
Congrats! You deserve it.