It seems to me that a lot of newer blogs are trying to monetize their sites with advertisements WAY to early, and with WAY too much. For example, how many blogs have you seen that use adsense? How many have 125×125 advertise here signs? How many will pay to post pretty much anything?
Now I have an adblocker, so I already don’t see a lot of ads, but even from what I see with it on, I’m pretty shocked at the rampant levels of money grabbing. There’s nothing wrong with monetizing your blog, but how much is too much, and is any of it even worth it?
Adsense/Other Ad Networks
Adsense is probably one of the worst culprits of over monetizing your blog. They take up a lot of space, interrupt your content, and generally pay you pennies per click.
125×125 Ads
These can be ok, but some sites have way too many of these. This is probably one of the better methods of getting some extra cash, but if you’re filling the spaces up with “Advertise Here”, or even getting payed like $10 a month, is it even worth it?
Scratchback
Scratchback is a popular monetization widget I’ve seen around, where you tip to get linked back too. Again, most of the blogs I see with this have only 1 or 2 places sold. It’s a huge widget, is it worth the small change?
PPP Ads
Pay per play ads… is there any faster way to lose readers than to shove Taco Bell ads in their ears every visit?
[Update:] Project Wonderful
Ever since Entrecard started using these ads, seems like a lot of other blogs are jumping on the bandwagon. But come on, I’ve seen bid prices as low as 3 cents a day… In fact, a quick search shows that there are 2120 advertisement opportunities for under 10 cents a day. Seriously people, is that all it costs to defile your blog with unsightly advertisements?
These are just a few of the many money making tools for bloggers. I’m sure I would see even more if I turned my ad blocker off lol.
This is by no means a blanket statement, I’m sure some people do experience really good results with these methods. I also don’t want to sound like a hypocrite either, because I would like to one day offer 125×125 ads myself.
BUT, what I’m trying to get at here, is that if you are a new blogger, you are really not helping yourself by doing anything to make money. People can tell when you are just trying to make a quick buck. It does not give off a good first impression when you have ads plastered all over the place.
If you are blogging specifically to make fast money, then you will fail. There’s no if’s and’s or but’s about it. It’s a lot of work, and the only way you will succeed is if you are willing to look at the long term.
Develop a SOLID reader base, get your name out, become an authority in your niche, THEN and only then should you look into advertising seriously.
If you enjoyed this article, then subscribe to my RSS feed.
I've got plenty more great posts coming up you won't want to miss!
!
Interesting post. And yes, I do agree with you. A lot of people tend to work in reverse. They monetize their sites without the traffic… but a lot of people think it’s easy to make money online, so yea…
Jay
Can’t blame people for thinking that making money online is easy, 95% of people in the making money online niche tell them that lol
It can be easy to make a quick buck, but the goal is long term, substantial income… and that takes time, especially with blogging.
I completely agree with your points. As a new blogger, I am currently just trying to work out the ‘kinks’ while trying to find a good/healthy balance. My main focus is, of course, the readers, though I guess I might be trying to take too many opportunities at the moment when it comes to advertisement.
I am not in any ‘rush’ to become popular, however it is nice to know that I can make even a little bit of money for my daily posts.
Yeah, I’m sure that’s a nice feeling. I’m still pretty much blogging for free myself
I think you have achieve a nice balance for a new blogger, of course I think you should ditch the adsense though.
I had another suggestion I posted in my other reply on your other comment http://www.yimto.com/de-clutte.....omment-561“>here.
Keep it up though, I think your blog is on the right track
So true. I can’t even tell you how many times I left sites for this very reason.
A-list bloggers can get away with it because they already have already have a large group of readers with whom they have a credibility.
New bloggers who try to monetize hard core like the A-listers do don’t get the time of day.
I also agree. It is a huge turnoff to be blasted with ads, even with quality content. Personally, I rather see a couple of ads targeted to the audience of the blog.
if you post good content, your readers wont care about ads. this industry is about making money, so people won’t blame you for monetizing your blog. in fact, not doing so makes you less credible if you’re attempting to be an authority on internet marketing. start out with ads, imo.
Haha glad to have someone disagree
Think of it this way though. Yes, I totally agree that if you have great content and are an established blogger, than advertising is great, and I’m sure will bring in more than “chump change”. But, if you are a newer blogger, then nobody knows you have good content, and you instantly give off a negative impression with lots of ads.
Wouldn’t you say it in fact ruins your credibility if you’re publically selling ad blocks for like $10 a month? Shows your not really much of an authority if you’re that “cheap” haha
Also, in general too, blogs from Every niche are over-monetizing, and that’s an even worse off problem.
By the way, I don’t see any ads on your site, care to explain the change of heart?
(But to me, that makes your blog even better. I noticed the great content in no time, added you to my RSS :P)
The only advert I have is my Entrecard… But it did make me think about more 125×125 ads. I see your point and agree with you… You have changed my mind
It’s all about balance really. Like I said I don’t have anything against ads in general, but there is a time and a place.
The time isn’t early in your blog’s life, and the place isn’t everywhere
Ok2 I get it, I will remove one or two ad
It depends, I always put ads on my sites even when they’re new but I don’t overdue it and I try to make them as tasteful as possible. My new blog I just started I have two 125×125 ads, one for my own site and another an ebook ad. I then had two adsense ads on each post site at the end of the article and it kind of blends in. I think this is OK to do.
However I see sites all the time that are ALL ads…it’s almost hard to find the content. These sites are MFA(Made For Adsense) sites and they pop up, make a few bucks and die out because they don’t get repeat visitors. These sites are garbage and I think the users knows this.
I do see some new people start off and put ads for sale but I don’t think it really hurts their site but I can’t imagine any intelligent person would actually pay to be on a site with no traffic. It doesn’t hurt to try though.
Very good advice however I think the bulk of those who do that are really not trying to make money online but rather just want to feel like they belong to the bigger movement so they pepper their sites with stuff like that and if they catch a few pennies here and there, they are happy.
Cheers Tim,
Sam
You’ve got a really good point there. I guess it serves as motivation too seeing that they are at least getting something in exchange for their hard work. Only problem is that most people go too far, and end up sabotaging their long term potential.
I think you’re right by people wanting to go with the flow, but it seems like overdoing ads is also becoming part of the norm.
We’ll have to see if the trend continues
Great insight Sam
Very good article. You really “hit the nail right on the head”. Too many of these sites are putting up so many ads that I can’t even see their content and then I never go back to their blog. Of course ads are okay, but there is no reason to inundate the reader with ads, and like you said, it is important to establish some sort of reader base first, or you’ll never get return visits.
thank you for this post. It really gave me a new perspective on my blog. I just recently took down all the advertisements on my blog because I felt it made it look like all I wanted was money, and in fact I just want readers and I want a quality blog.
[...] just accept donations the old fashioned way and thank your donors with a real blog mention. Don’t sell your blog’s soul for the few measly bucks you can make with this eyesore of a [...]
This is very true, have you seen all the “how to make money online” websites out there? It’s getting kinda pathetic now, ads are a good way to promote your site though…