This is part II of a four part series. Click here for part one.
Let advertisers spend the same amount of money improving their product that they do on advertising and they wouldn’t have to advertise it.
~Will Rogers
We canceled cable two years back; in our house, it’s DVD’s or downloads. We rarely listen to radio; too much trash cluttering the silence between notes. In our car, it’s CD’s or conversation.
Our children are exposed to advertising, of course. They are not deaf or blind, and we do occasionally leave the house. But their exposure is remarkably thin, especially considering the times we live.
I can’t weave the worldwide web without constant commercial assault; my eyes spammed at every other click.
I’d like for Writer Dad to offer asylum.
Allow me to state clearly before I proceed:
I’ve no issue with advertisers or advertising on blogs. Bloggers have every right to mine as many dollars as they can from the countless hours they pour into their online enterprise. If I had no product of my own, I would sell ad space, and I’m positive that I’ll have sites in the future which will harbor ads.
For now, here, I would prefer to design something different.
Our world is littered with advertising. Online, it’s worse. It’s embarrassing, we all know it. I shudder to think what our more civilized progeny, several hundred years from tomorrow, might think as they comb through these, our present histories.
On Writer Dad, I’ll have my own words to shill. I needn’t subject a loyal audience to supplemental promotion.
However, I am moving toward writing full time, and must leverage Writer Dad in a way that will generate income.
A few methods:
- I’ll use Writer Dad to further spread my voice, and promote my services. This is paramount to my future as a writer, whether I freelance or publish. At Writer Dad I can meet new people and potential partners. Fellow writers, artists, editors, agents, publishers, etc.. I adore the knights already around the table, and there’s plenty room for more.
- I plan to peddle a lot of my language; WeeBooks and otherwise. We’ll discuss this one in more depth mañana, but I don’t see why writers must always maintain middle men between themselves and their patrons. Why sell a short story to a magazine, who will fill their magazines with ads, if I have the means to deliver directly to an audience, should they be inclined to download. Sometimes, dissemination should be as simple as a handshake.
- I’d love to keep our white space free from ads. If this objective grows unreasonable, and I do add paid color to the sidebar, it will fly in only two varieties: affiliate products from people I believe in, or ads for services which relate directly to the plurality of the Writer Dad audience. These will have long term placement, so our space doesn’t mutate with every refresh.
Without ads, audience participation is crucial. Even without purchase, readers are patrons. Links and comments are two ways to help without a wallet. Reader creativity, I’m sure will help breed others.
This is our blog, and it will be exactly as excellent as we make it.
Writer Dad
If you enjoyed my words, please subscribe (for free) by RSS or Email. If you’re a Stumbler, please consider Stumbling. Thanks.
The uber observant of you may have noticed my new header and RSS splash, along with my groovy Stumble and Twitter buttons in the Sidebar. These were the splendid work of Eric Hamm at “Motivate Thyself.” How awesome is Eric? He did it for me just to be a nice guy. He was probably still glowing from the guest post he got from Leo at Zen Habits. Congratulations, Eric.
About Sean Platt
I’ve never had a problem with simple text or banner ads on on the sides of blogs or websites, but I really do not like things dropping down, flashing at me, etc. I don’t listen to the radio hardly or watch TV much as ads are EVERYWHERE. My site is completely ad free for this very reason. I have a dream, and that dream is every website will be able to make people money without the use of tacky ads and flashing banners or emoticons assaulting me with their chipmunk voices reaching volumes far to great in the early hours of the morning. Alas, for everything else there’s ad block plus…
I’ve never had a problem with simple text or banner ads on on the sides of blogs or websites, but I really do not like things dropping down, flashing at me, etc. I don’t listen to the radio hardly or watch TV much as ads are EVERYWHERE. My site is completely ad free for this very reason. I have a dream, and that dream is every website will be able to make people money without the use of tacky ads and flashing banners or emoticons assaulting me with their chipmunk voices reaching volumes far to great in the early hours of the morning. Alas, for everything else there’s ad block plus…
“Bloggers have every right to mine as many dollars as they can from the countless hours they pour into their online enterprise. ”
Well said. Thank you. :)
Ads do suck. Blog monetization is a personal decision. I fully support your decision, and I’m glad you support mine.
Vered – MomGrinds last blog post..Beauty Standards Have Sure Changed
“Bloggers have every right to mine as many dollars as they can from the countless hours they pour into their online enterprise. ”
Well said. Thank you. :)
Ads do suck. Blog monetization is a personal decision. I fully support your decision, and I’m glad you support mine.
Vered – MomGrinds last blog post..Beauty Standards Have Sure Changed
Oh, wow! I really like it. You are sticking to your values, trying something different offering something of high quality to your readers. I think it further shows the strength and integrity of your character. I’m just starting out and haven’t decided just how I will approach all of this. The future of this and other sites of yours is of great interest to me.
Oh, wow! I really like it. You are sticking to your values, trying something different offering something of high quality to your readers. I think it further shows the strength and integrity of your character. I’m just starting out and haven’t decided just how I will approach all of this. The future of this and other sites of yours is of great interest to me.
This is almost like a mission statement for this particular element of your blog, and a very realistic one at that. We’ve all seen the blogs that go overboard on the ads and or the web equivalent to a roadside junk store. Plus they can be such a distraction and take away a degree of freedom. Your pragmatic approach will likely lead to greater potential for income than heavy advertising, not to mention that working with others will probably be a more reliable stream of revenue.
CK Lunchboxs last blog post..A Halloween Carol
This is almost like a mission statement for this particular element of your blog, and a very realistic one at that. We’ve all seen the blogs that go overboard on the ads and or the web equivalent to a roadside junk store. Plus they can be such a distraction and take away a degree of freedom. Your pragmatic approach will likely lead to greater potential for income than heavy advertising, not to mention that working with others will probably be a more reliable stream of revenue.
CK Lunchboxs last blog post..A Halloween Carol
This is not related to your post, WD, but a comment you made to Blogger Dad. I grew up in the north and northwest, where Dunkin Donuts and Winchell’s ruled the donut world. I’m in Tennessee now, with only Krispy Kreme around. I would give half a paycheck for a good, yummy DD cake donut. I’m not a KK girl, I guess. It is seriously hard to find good cake donuts here, and sometimes I really miss them (though my waistline does not)! One exception…the KK pumpkin donuts that come out this time of year….
(blogger dad… ;) Eat a DD donut for me, please! And cake donuts are slightly better for you than raised imo. hug)
In relation to your post, we took TV out of our house in 1996 and never looked back. My kids, now 18 and 21, still feel they have better things to do than veg out in front of the tube, for which I am grateful.
B J Keltzs last blog post..Falling Inward
This is not related to your post, WD, but a comment you made to Blogger Dad. I grew up in the north and northwest, where Dunkin Donuts and Winchell’s ruled the donut world. I’m in Tennessee now, with only Krispy Kreme around. I would give half a paycheck for a good, yummy DD cake donut. I’m not a KK girl, I guess. It is seriously hard to find good cake donuts here, and sometimes I really miss them (though my waistline does not)! One exception…the KK pumpkin donuts that come out this time of year….
(blogger dad… ;) Eat a DD donut for me, please! And cake donuts are slightly better for you than raised imo. hug)
In relation to your post, we took TV out of our house in 1996 and never looked back. My kids, now 18 and 21, still feel they have better things to do than veg out in front of the tube, for which I am grateful.
B J Keltzs last blog post..Falling Inward
I agree with Brett, sign me up, too!
I agree with Brett, sign me up, too!
Great suggestion for your site! It’s always a good idea to think what strategy best works for you or a particular site. The question to ask is: what click do you want your reader to make? To an ad? To hire you as a writer? What?
Evelyn Lims last blog post..What Enneagram Profile Type Am I?
Great suggestion for your site! It’s always a good idea to think what strategy best works for you or a particular site. The question to ask is: what click do you want your reader to make? To an ad? To hire you as a writer? What?
Evelyn Lims last blog post..What Enneagram Profile Type Am I?
Sean, I think you’ve got a great thing going here. You’re really creating a wonderful haven for your readers and I think you’re making a smart move by leaving out the clutter. I look forward to watching you grow into a full time blogger/writer. Very exciting! Eric.
Eric Hamms last blog post..M2A! October Week2: Quick and Dirty Little Tips for Exercise Motivation
Sean, I think you’ve got a great thing going here. You’re really creating a wonderful haven for your readers and I think you’re making a smart move by leaving out the clutter. I look forward to watching you grow into a full time blogger/writer. Very exciting! Eric.
Eric Hamms last blog post..M2A! October Week2: Quick and Dirty Little Tips for Exercise Motivation
Matt Hanson: Sorry I missed you earlier. Your comment was swimming in the spam, but I’m glad it was retrieved. Welcome.
Beth: Thanks, Beth. I’ve never heard the story about the short stories, but I LOVE the concept. Love, love, love it. I was batting around something similar for next year. It would run once a month, January to December. Maybe I should give it, and your next suggestion some serious thought. I think they’re both worth considering. 89Cents is just so not worth it. You can’t even get a WeeBook for that.
Brett: That is very kind. I hear that they’re brewing one in the lab right now.
Stacey: I’m totally with you. I don’t like having to determine who is really an expert, and who is just an expert ad AdSense.
Wendi: That’s very kind. I agree about the peaceful reading space. I want my readers to have as much white space as possible.
Daniel: Your site does maintain a fair amount of white space.
Jim: I think it totally depends on the site, and I’m with both of you. If I like a site, I try to click through their ads, and support their affiliates. We’ve all been to the sites that have been up for a week and are already plastered. We know all we need to know within two seconds.
Alfred: Your site (Website Design by Alfred Fox) is super clean. I love the look.
Vered: You are quite welcome. To each his own. We can all agree that it’s the words that are important.
B.Wilde: Thanks for being interested. I’ll work hard to keep it that way.
CK Lunchbox: I’d rather make money from personalities, rather than Adsense. I kind of felt this way before I started, but after almost three months, I’m certain. I don’t want ads, at least not here.
BJ: Ah, Winchells. Winchells used to own Southern California until they went bust. Now, every other donut shop in our city has the old Winchells sign, with someone else’s name on it. And they’re always painted a different color. The only thing I love from KK are the glazed, the rest are all kinda meh. Good for you on the TV.
Jamie: I’ll send one over with a smile.
Evelyn: To hire me as a writer, or for the super secret surprise I have in store.
Eric: Thanks, Eric. And again, for anyone reading this. The site looks as sharp as it does, only because Eric has spent the last couple days tweaking it.
Matt Hanson: Sorry I missed you earlier. Your comment was swimming in the spam, but I’m glad it was retrieved. Welcome.
Beth: Thanks, Beth. I’ve never heard the story about the short stories, but I LOVE the concept. Love, love, love it. I was batting around something similar for next year. It would run once a month, January to December. Maybe I should give it, and your next suggestion some serious thought. I think they’re both worth considering. 89Cents is just so not worth it. You can’t even get a WeeBook for that.
Brett: That is very kind. I hear that they’re brewing one in the lab right now.
Stacey: I’m totally with you. I don’t like having to determine who is really an expert, and who is just an expert ad AdSense.
Wendi: That’s very kind. I agree about the peaceful reading space. I want my readers to have as much white space as possible.
Daniel: Your site does maintain a fair amount of white space.
Jim: I think it totally depends on the site, and I’m with both of you. If I like a site, I try to click through their ads, and support their affiliates. We’ve all been to the sites that have been up for a week and are already plastered. We know all we need to know within two seconds.
Alfred: Your site (Website Design by Alfred Fox) is super clean. I love the look.
Vered: You are quite welcome. To each his own. We can all agree that it’s the words that are important.
B.Wilde: Thanks for being interested. I’ll work hard to keep it that way.
CK Lunchbox: I’d rather make money from personalities, rather than Adsense. I kind of felt this way before I started, but after almost three months, I’m certain. I don’t want ads, at least not here.
BJ: Ah, Winchells. Winchells used to own Southern California until they went bust. Now, every other donut shop in our city has the old Winchells sign, with someone else’s name on it. And they’re always painted a different color. The only thing I love from KK are the glazed, the rest are all kinda meh. Good for you on the TV.
Jamie: I’ll send one over with a smile.
Evelyn: To hire me as a writer, or for the super secret surprise I have in store.
Eric: Thanks, Eric. And again, for anyone reading this. The site looks as sharp as it does, only because Eric has spent the last couple days tweaking it.
I like the direction you’re taking with this site Sean. I tried ads on my blog for a while, but found that I didn’t like what was being displayed. So, they are gone. Will they return? Not in the form I had them previously. Right now, I’m happy without ads.
“This is our blog, and it will be exactly as excellent as we make it.” – a very connecting statement Sean – doing much to make us all feel like we are a part of what is happening here. And that is powerful…
Lances last blog post..Regrets
I like the direction you’re taking with this site Sean. I tried ads on my blog for a while, but found that I didn’t like what was being displayed. So, they are gone. Will they return? Not in the form I had them previously. Right now, I’m happy without ads.
“This is our blog, and it will be exactly as excellent as we make it.” – a very connecting statement Sean – doing much to make us all feel like we are a part of what is happening here. And that is powerful…
Lances last blog post..Regrets
Truth is, we are all “selling” something. Maybe it’s for money, maybe its for popularity, maybe it’s for karma. You don’t have to have ads on your blog to be selling anything. People will know your intentions, you wont have to apologize or explain yourself. If you create something truly valuable, you’ll get value back. How you get it is up to you.
Skoochs last blog post..10 Life Lessons from the Pork Chop Express
Truth is, we are all “selling” something. Maybe it’s for money, maybe its for popularity, maybe it’s for karma. You don’t have to have ads on your blog to be selling anything. People will know your intentions, you wont have to apologize or explain yourself. If you create something truly valuable, you’ll get value back. How you get it is up to you.
Skoochs last blog post..10 Life Lessons from the Pork Chop Express
Whatever puts food in your family’s mouths and a roof over their heads. You’ve gone your own way in the past, and it’s really paid off for you, so it makes sense to continue on that way. Best of luck with it!
Dots last blog post..Thank You!
Whatever puts food in your family’s mouths and a roof over their heads. You’ve gone your own way in the past, and it’s really paid off for you, so it makes sense to continue on that way. Best of luck with it!
Dots last blog post..Thank You!
Lance: I’m certainly not doing this in a vacuum. I didn’t make Writer Dad, WE did.
Dot: Thanks, Dot! You tell me when you disagree, so your compliments are extra special.
Lance: I’m certainly not doing this in a vacuum. I didn’t make Writer Dad, WE did.
Dot: Thanks, Dot! You tell me when you disagree, so your compliments are extra special.
I think Brian of copyblogger originally wrote that the key to online is to sell your own information products and don’t depend on ads. You’re on a good path.
J.D. Meiers last blog post..Help Your Colleagues Look Good
I think Brian of copyblogger originally wrote that the key to online is to sell your own information products and don’t depend on ads. You’re on a good path.
J.D. Meiers last blog post..Help Your Colleagues Look Good
I’m sure at some point or another, people think about advertising on their blog. We put a lot of effort into our posts, it would really be nice wouldn’t it if we could get compensated? I, for one, toy with this idea every now and then, but for now I haven’t.
I go on a variety of blogs, and here’s what I’ve noticed:
1. Mommy blogs have a nice way of doing ads. Not intrusive, just off to the side, in boxes. You click on what you’re interested, or not. I’ve actually clicked on a few, mostly for other blogs, and I’m usually glad I did.
2. I agree, I don’t like ads that interrupt text. I never read them; do they actually work?
3. Depending on the industry, ads are kind of useful. A lot of blogging sites have helpful links.
I think ads are a good thing to offer a readership, so long as the ads offer a good value for the type of readers you get. I would look at it as recommending a product or business to your readers that would help them out.
Pink Inks last blog post..Mail Call
I’m sure at some point or another, people think about advertising on their blog. We put a lot of effort into our posts, it would really be nice wouldn’t it if we could get compensated? I, for one, toy with this idea every now and then, but for now I haven’t.
I go on a variety of blogs, and here’s what I’ve noticed:
1. Mommy blogs have a nice way of doing ads. Not intrusive, just off to the side, in boxes. You click on what you’re interested, or not. I’ve actually clicked on a few, mostly for other blogs, and I’m usually glad I did.
2. I agree, I don’t like ads that interrupt text. I never read them; do they actually work?
3. Depending on the industry, ads are kind of useful. A lot of blogging sites have helpful links.
I think ads are a good thing to offer a readership, so long as the ads offer a good value for the type of readers you get. I would look at it as recommending a product or business to your readers that would help them out.
Pink Inks last blog post..Mail Call