Spill it - Bloggy Question #2: Ads on blogs?
I liked asking you guys about how you thought blogging affected your social interactions a while back. I have another question for you now:
What do you think of ads on blogs? You may notice over there…a little down…there it is - my first ad is up. And it has come after weeks, no, months of philosophical debate for me (and poor Hubby, who had to listen to it). Now I’d like to know if all that worry was warranted or not. So I ask you - what do you think about ads on blogs? Parenting/mommy blogs specifically, if that changes your answer.
Do they bother you? Under what circumstances? Do you even notice them? Do you feel used, as a reader, when you go to a blog with ads on it? Do you make assumptions, good or bad, about a blog and its readership when you see that it includes ads in its design? As a blogger, what factors were at play when you decided to use, or not use, advertisements? Were you annoyed with me when you saw that I’d put one up (You can tell me, I can take it. I know there are pros and cons to this)? Did you even notice? No judgment here - this is for fun! I think the topic is really interesting, especially since the whole phenomenon has come about fairly recently and it is something I think most bloggers must consider at some point. I think I may make bloggy questions a regular thing around here . . .
I’ll write about the debate/concerns I had , as well as why I chose to put up that quiz over there soon (perhaps when I put up the next bloggy question), but first I want to hear what others have to say.
Call me weird, but I like them (I also like unperfumed ads in magazines and many commericals). So long as they’re in a sidebar and not interrupting the flow of content, I find them a nice accompaniment…or at the very least, not a problem. If you can get compensation for your writing, I say do it!
I usually ignore ads. Sorry.
But I tend to take a blogger more seriously when they have them. Like I didn’t just stumble upon Jane Doe’s family blog, but this is some who is blogging for the world to read, etc.
Does that make sense?
I do have to say when I see banner ads like BlogHer ads, etc., that I might deem the blogger more credible than if there are no ads, but I read plenty of blogs that I absolutely love and they have no ads at all. So, I don’t let it affect my opinion for too long. I personally appreciate the revenue I make from ads, so I understand why other bloggers would want them! I think the only time ads are a turn-off for me is if they advertise something on a blogger’s page that I know he or she is totally not about. I make sure that whatever ads are on my blog represent who I am and maintain my integrity.
Steph
I have to agree with girlymama. I usually don’t pay much attention to the ads but I do somehow take the bloggers with ads more seriously. This could be because I’m new to all this blogging and I guess I think anyone who is savvy enough to figure out how to go about getting ads onto their blog is someone who should be taken more seriously and who actually has enough regular readers to warrant having ads. Much to my husband’s chagrin I also bounce these blogging concepts off him. I bounced the ad concept off one day and his comment went something like this, “You might want to wait until you actually have more than one-four people a day reading your blog.” Probably a good point. Now if only I could find the time to improve my writing enough to interest a larger following. So, I guess my answer is ads make you appear to be more professional or that you are ‘famous’ enough that everyone is reading you and seeing the ads.
I rarely click on an ad and honestly I don’t even notice them much of the time. But it doesn’t bother me if people have them. If I thought having them on mine would make me a few bucks I’d probably do it too.
I eventually notice them, but I wouldn’t be able to tell you when they came up. I never click on them. And for me, I’d prefer not to read blogs with ads on them because I view blogs as someone’s personality, or like a conversation. When I read a blog, I want to read about that person, their life, their point of view. To me it’s like striking up a conversation with someone new (in real life) and then having them interrupt their own side of the conversation to tell you about the new vacuum cleaner you must have. When all you really wanted to know was how they were liking their new job.
All that said, a blog having ads will not keep me from reading that blog unless they get in the way. I once had a blog that I read on a nearly daily basis until that blogger started doing a pay-per-post type thing and started blogging advertisements all the time. I hate to say it, but I eventually quit reading. That’s not what I was reading for. But if they’re just in the side bar, I can ignore it. The bad part is though, that’s not what they’re for, so what’s the point.
Just my POV.
SUCH a magnificent post!
Like you, it was something I struggled with. I hate seeing blogs cluttered with blinkies, and widgets and ads…blah. It’s annoying and distracting. So, i decided to wait, to see, after time and a growing readership, if ad companies would come to me, instead of any Joe-Shmoe signing up for those silly penny ads. And when they finally did, and it was with a company I fully supported promising ads that related to me, then I said yes.
Even still, I try to stay minimal, only displaying important blinkies that I am associated with.
You blog looks great, and it does not bug me one bit, but obnoxious glitter saturated blogs, now THOSE I won’t even read.
i’m all for ads (obviously). and when i choose what blog to read it’s all about content. so, i sort of don’t care if there are ads. . . so long as there is good content, and i feel like, “i hope so&so makes a buck doing this, they are obviously enjoying it and good at it!”
i’m a stay at home mom and i have to do whatever i can to find ways to make extra money here and there, so i’ve tried some ads.
all that being said, i don’t go to blogs where it feels like the ads take over or if the whole thing is badly designed. no likee bad/cheesy/cheap design!
This is such an interesting post, and I have enjoyed reading the comments and others’ takes on this. Me, I really rarely notice ads, and wouldn’t come or go just because of them. I very rarely if ever actually click on them either. However, I don’t have any ads on my blog, really don’t know much about them, and I don’t know how much money they earn but I think I would use them if it was going to help put gas in my truck but it would have to be something that I believed in or supported.
Jen
I do realize that was a run-on : )
I don’t have ads on my personal blog at this point. I write for two other blogs that have ads and I don’t have any problem with the ads.
I’m not much of a joiner, and that extends to advertising. I’ve been at it for almost four years and I still think blogging is weird and monstrous in a way. I don’t even have a stat counter. I guess I look at blogging as a hobby? I also enjoy embroidery, but you won’t find me stitching a pillowcase with the Pampers logo any time soon. Same thing. To me.
Obviously, I am in the minority.
I want to be important enough that people want to advertise on my blog!!! I say go for it. It’s your blog and you can advertise if you want to. I enjoyed reading all the comments.
I myself was torn for a while about ads. It became quite the conundrum. I posted my own take about the whole thing if you want to peek at it here:
http://sometimesdisgruntled.blogspot.com/2008/04/we-interrupt-this-blog.html It was mildly anti-ad. I was a very new blogger at the time, and firm in my stand for a short while. After I’d been blogging a bit and began to look at it more as my profession, than just a hobby, I started to sing a different tune. That is when I blogged about it again in a much more ad-friendly way. You can check that one out too if you’d like. http://sometimesdisgruntled.blogspot.com/search/label/blog%20integrity Probably viewership-wise, though not comment-wise, my most popular post ever. I had about 200 Diggs on it and it was on CafeMom Hot List and Kirsty (then Sk*rt)for a good, long while. This proving that there are lots of bloggers out their going through the same kind of confusion. I saw whatever works for you. Good luck.
I don’t have any. YET. I am in the process of trying to get my rear in gear. Any money made on a hobby is fine by me!
But honestly? I rarely notice them… The only thing I hate is when they take too long to load up.
I say go ahead and rock the ads! I love that bloggers have the opportunity to make a little bit of money from their blogs!! It’s not hurting anyone, so I don’t think it should bother you:)
I don’t mind them, nor do I really pay any attention to them. I don’t know if anyone clicks on the ads, but I think you might as well try it! It can’t hurt, right?
Great topic! You can tell from my blog that I am pro-ad. I found it interesting to read that some people take blogs with ads more seriously. I never thought of it that way, but it makes sense.
I know that having ads on my blog has made ME take MY blog more seriously, so it stands to reason that others would take it more seriously as well.
I’m all for running ads that are in good taste and do not overwhelm the blog. I hate it when there are ads all over the place, and the flash ads drive me nuts. I try to keep mine contained to the sidebar, and all the same size so they don’t add more clutter than necessary.
Great post!
Well, you know I’m fine with ads on blogs. I honestly believe that this is your space, and you have the right to make a little money off of all the work you put into it.
Of course, there is always the issue of balance - too many ads makes the site look cluttered - so you have to weigh that when deciding what to put up. But I think most people do a good job at balancing them out.
I don’t have a problem with ads. I just finally got an ad through my ad-roll. Now, realistically it’s not going to make me money anytime soon, but I like having it there. I always look at the ads on other blogs. I don’t necessarily click on them, but I like to look at them.
[...] thank you for all of your thoughtful comments on my Blog Ads inquiry - it’s fascinating how everyone has such different takes. I look forward to following up on [...]
Always a great topic. The only blog ads I don’t like are the pay per post ones that people try to disguise as not being an ad. Honest ads are fine.
However, there is one thing on my BlogHer ads that I hate on my own blog. It is sortof like a popup and I really NEED to figure out what it’s called so I can opt out of it. And I feel like I need to apologize to my readers about it too.
I’m not a fan of ads. I feel like for me, my blog is my place to go talk about the things I want to talk about. I don’t feel that someone with ads is more professional, nor do I take them more seriously because they have them. I’m not here to make money off of my blog, because I’ve got some plans for something else, my blog is just kind of my “place”.
They kind of bug me if they’re huge or before the posts. I don’t ever remember ever clicking on an ad on someone’s blog.
That being said, I read a lot of blogs with ads and I just don’t pay attention to the ads! I don’t feel in any way shape or form any differently towards someone if they have ads or don’t have ads, I am just speaking for me. I kind of feel like Gretchen mentioned above, I’m not really a “joiner”.
So ad away! I will still keep reading because I love your blog. And I hope I didn’t offend anyone, I’m just speaking for myself.
This is a great post! I don’t mind the ads…and tend to ignore them unless they catch my eye or for something I’ve been looking for. I’m a marketing mama, so I tend to get sucked into that kind of stuff and critique all the ads and corresponding websites. I’ve (or elebelly) has been blogging for over a year now and really it’s just our way of documenting the fun, trying, happy times of being a mommy & toddler. We have ads there, but I don’t think anyone currently clicks on them. Eventually I would like to get to the point where I am selling ad space on my blogs to companies, mommmypreneurs that share the same values as me. I say, if you can make money to pay the bills by having an ad or two on your blog, go for it! Or if you’re just trying to help a friend promote their business, go for it!
Generally, I’m indifferent about ads. I will admit I have noticed that BlogHer sometimes runs a more conspicuous ad, which can be mildly annoying since BlogHer ads appear on so many blogs, and you get to see the same ad waving to you, shouting “Click me! Click me!” half a dozen times. But it’s certainly nothing that would make me click away in a huff, and most ads mind their own business. (Or maybe I’ve just learned to ignore the ads that are irrelevant to me.)
When I see that my favorite bloggers can be rewarded for all of their hard work with a little ad revenue, I’m happy for them. Blogging takes time and energy. If you can get something back, go for it. (And can I just mention here how glad I am that you redesigned? A black background is much harder on my eyes than ads could ever be.) Don’t sweat it.
Ads don’t bother me I usaly pay no attention to them.
[...] makes you a wee bit too chatty with strangers here, and the great discussion in the comments about ads on blogs here, where tons of people said the exact opposite of what I’d [...]