I have been posting a lot lately.
Like an insane amount actually….and I started thinking about how this happened. First of all you should know that I always have lots and lots of posts in my head. If I could sit here for 14 8 hours a day just writing funny AdTalk or AlbumTalk posts I could and would. But alas, I have this mothering/homemaking gig to attend to…so I do have to limit my writing time. Nonetheless, I want to help justify this obsession passion I have for writing. You all know I am working on finding a publisher for my series, but I also thought I would see if a little money could be made with on-site advertisers. But, as soon as I added advertising to the site…I seemed to have become a little obsessed with my NUMBERS. My BlogHer ads pay me very little for just ‘face-time’. So clicking on those ads does not equate to revenue for me. But it is based on page views. My other advertisers are part of an affiliate program I am trying out. I get paid very very very little for clicks on those ads and also a percentage of any sales made by a reader clicking through and purchasing. So all of this has added up to me being concerned with my page views, page visits, time on site etc. I have even resorted to the dreaded ‘summary’ post in readers just to encourage readers to click all the way over to The Association. I am adding tags, and social bookmarking links like crazy. I am a blogger woman out of control. So I thought I would ask you what you prefer. Less posts? More posts? Don’t mind the summary in reader? HATE the advertisers and want them to disappear? After all I am here to entertain you. That is my mission/thesis/manifesto. Just make ‘em laugh. Or cry….but over-all be entertained.
Comments are highly encouraged. I can use your help to better The Association. And helping is glamorous you know…
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
I prefer just reading about you. If you had ads about things more relevant to you, then I’d be clicking on them. The Nester is a good example of someone’s blog who I just love her writings and the ads on her blog will be for things I like.
I love more posts, don’t mind the summary reader, and pretty much ignore the ads. But then I haven’t been reading here very long, so my opinion may not matter much :0)
Been there done that. I went through the same obsessions. Finally jettisoned my affiliate links. Never had the numbers or audience on my niche blogs to get sales anyway. Figured I was earning $.35 an hour for all the hours I was investing in blogging anyway.
Decided to blog for social and creative outlet. Attended some blogging conferences and social media events to learn the ropes. It took months but suddenly I began to attract readers. With viewers, I’m making some money. I’ve received sample products which I use as contest prizes. Some vendors have sponsored contests. (Amazon and Impression Ads.) My Amazon earnings at Christmas were unbelievable. Last week someone purchased a $135.00 pink robe from my site in a $300 order. Recession? Huh? I may actually buy a professionally designed blog this year.
I use a summary in my reader too. No complaints. Ads? One of my pet peeves is blogs with a million flashing ads. Personally, its too distracting.
IMHO, one consistent rule about blogging: CONTENT. Whether you post hourly or weekly, you need content. The readers will come if you give them something worth reading.
That’s just my $.02.
In the end, it’s your blog and your domain
I do not click on ads. Do you? Bet you don’t. Most moms don’t. We barely have time to read our favorite blogs let alone online shopping (not to mention current lack of $ issues).
We do this ’cause we love it. I think it’s cool you are asking what your readers want. You should ALWAYS ask be asking yourself that. For the most part, they want what you want. To have a little fun in this Glamorous Life.
Too many posts means I can’t read them all. And I hate to miss out on funny stuff. I come here once or twice a week to connect and laugh. If I have to come and feel obliged to click (because I like you and I want you to do well) – it ends up feeling like work.
I’d rather spend time leaving witty comments then clicking on ads:)
soooo, I thought I’d help ya out and clicked on the m&m ad, and wouldn’t ya know, “failure to load”. Ah well, I tried! I do come here for the humor though. ; )
I love your blog!!! hope you will follow mine too.
http://afahrneylovestory.blogspot.com/
I don’t usually click on ads…although sometimes I’m intrigued. I use partial feeds because people only have click once to follow thru. And if they love me, it’s one click (plus I consider it money in the tip jar). I only post once a day, except for rare occasions. I have the rest of my life and I might wake up one day with nothing to day (doubt it, but it could happen). I write, write, write nearly everyday though.
Find what works for you. Don’t obsess about the numbers. Be you, people will stay.
I like lot’s of short posts. I have the attention span of a flee.
I like things the way they are. If I can’t read everything (I hate it but) I just can’t. But there are some blogs I will miss for a while and then go back and catch up on, and yours is one of those.
I have clicked on most of your ads at least once, but because I really wanted to. Do I ever click on ads at other sites? Never. So you must have a good fit with your affiliate advertisers.
You seem to be doing everything right so KEEP GOING and don’t stress about numbers!
I hardly ever click on ads, but I don’t mind them being there on the sidebar. I don’t mind the summary in the reader, because I usually click on over to your site anyway because it’s pretty, and to comment. I read you all the time and will continue to, whatever you do. I’m with Foolery, don’t stress, your content is what keeps us coming.
Too many things is distracting. I’m trying to strike the right sidebar balance myself. I’m not making anything now and deciding if I want to take the Amazon down.
I rarely click on ads. It’s one more thing I have to remember to do while blog reading. I know what it means ($$) for those who have them but I can barely keep up with my reading let alone clicking on everyone’s ads. Partial feds drive me crazy.
You know you know WAY more than I do about this gig but your ads don’t bug me. But I still don’t click on them. I would though if I saw something that interested me. If the sidebars got too cluttered though I would be a little turned off. I’m more into the few strong affiliations kind of mentality so I know what to associate you with.
As far as too many posts, I like blogs that post once a day. That way I can feel like I am keeping up kind of. But I like how short and sweet your posts are so for you, bring on the multiple posts!!
This is my first visit here. I clicked your button on Lit & Laundry because I was intrigued with the word glamorous!
Since I’ve never been here before I can’t comment on how you do things, but I think the ads you have are good because they are not distracting. The page views is a difficult one. Would people read more posts if you showed fewer at a time? Or does what the advertisers consider page views mean comments? I don’t expect you to know the answers, just throwing out something to think about.
I had 5 posts showing at a time and when I switched to 3 I got fewer page views. Maybe because people don’t want to do the extra click to “older posts”.
The only ads that would repel me are those irritating animated ones for mortgage rates and insurance and mineral foundation. So as long as you keep those ads banished from your site I don’t care about ads. Like many others, I rarely click on ads but I did follow the one for the tee shirt making place. I’d be most likely to look at products that stimulate my creativity. Hope that helps!
I’m new here, but I LOVE your blog! I like lots of posts, and don’t mind the summary at all. Hate the ads though. Even on my high speed ‘work’ computer the page is slow to fuly load. It bugs me because I can’t scroll down until it does, so I find myself waiting and waiting until it’s fully loaded and I can continue reading. (of course it’s probably only 20 seconds, but I’ve gotten internet spoiled. clearly I don’t remember dial-up!)
HTH!
I think if you love what you are writing and what you are doing the readers will come. You are talented and funny and unique and warm…
I believe 100% in your ad talk book and think you are going to be super successful with that idea.
I don’t mind the ads, but I don’t click on them. Should I be doing that as a support for blogs I like?
Suz
I don’t mind the ads but I read almost exclusively through bloglines and only click through if i want to comment. Sometimes I don’t even click through for a full post from a partial feed–depends if I have time at that moment. Also, looks like I’m in the minority but I tend to prefer blogs that post 1 time per day at most (but I read a lot of blogs in my reader so ones with 4-5 posts seem intimidating). Good luck with the ads! I’d be FASCINATED to learn how much people actually make (maybe you could run an anonymous survey on your site)? Like what are the stats people have an how much money do they get from different ad systems? I don’t do ads but maybe it would be worth it?
PS THANK YOU for the turbotax. Got it today and now I can start my taxes!!
I already commented to you that I don’t like partial feeds. :) I usually unsubscribe to partial feeds but I am keeping yours around because your humor is irritatingly addictive.
Trying to make money from blogging is extremely hard work. Focusing on page views and how to make money from it will drive you crazy. It also might drive your readers crazy. Focusing instead, on what you love, will help develop your blog and bring you more readers. Some other people said it better above.
I don’t click on the ads and don’t really like them. If you believe in them though, you should have them on. I think you should try to continue to experiment with them though to see how they work. Asking is always nice, as you are doing now.