More Ads = More Money = Less Engaged Readers | Bloggers Lair | Yakezie Forums

I've been going through a lot of threads tonight (once the Montreal Canadiens scored their 4th goal of the game, I knew that we were going to beat the Bruins big time ;-) ).

I have noticed that several bloggers are eager to make money quickly. On the other side, they are eager to see their traffic increase. However, in most case, the 2 goals (making money and increasing traffic) doesn't fit together when you start your blog. While the ultimate goal is to get a huge blog generating a huge amount of money, you can start working on both goals right away.

If you do, this is what you are going to get: more ads, more money, less engaged readers!

This is even more true when you are talking about sponsored post. Before presenting anything on your blog; ask yourself the following question: if I was a reader of this site, would I find this ad useful or boring?

Then again, I don't know everything and I do publish ads on my sites. However, my sites are well establish and my level of traffic is consistenly increasing. This is why I think I can afford to put some ads here and there. 

what do you think?

I agree.  I didn't put up any ads on my blog for the first 6 months.  I think for any new blog, the initial focus should be good content, everything else should build upon that.

Bloggers must walk a fine line when it comes to monetizing a blog. I mean at the end of the day we all need to make money. I personally don't find selling private ad space because it's all on the side bar. I find Adsense to be distracting. I don't mind promoting quality affiliate products. I'm not a fan of trying to write for search engines because that's the exact point where your readers totally become less engaged.

This really hit home for me.  I have taken down all ads and affiliate banners to refocus on quality content and building up my traffic.  I agree, don't want to come off as "cheap".  No offense, Sandy.

Sandy @ yesiamcheap said:

If I am being honest it does get me a little annoyed when people with a good month of blogging are asking about how to make money.  Sigh.  At that point you don't have enough content to retain the traffic that you might get, and you certainly haven't created enough links or have been around long enough for Google to take you seriously.  Either that or you should have research money making opportunities before starting a blog.

If we are to concentrate on building quality sites with quality content consisting of engaging, thought provokng or educational posts, then in time the money will come.  But I know that some of us want to make as much money as possible and take all financial opportunities that wander our way.  I just think that it sometimes has the effect of devaluing our sites in the end.  We look…cheap (ironic coming from me).

But again, maybe I don''t know what I'm talking about. 

I actually think that my sites would be even bigger today if I had been able to keep ads off my sites for 3-4 years…

I agree with Budgetinginthefunstuff….I know Im one of those people who wants to make a few bucks blogging, but then again, I just want to make a few bucks, not a milliion!  If I can get my  blog to generate $100/mo. I would be happy, it can pay for my Verizon bill and Id be fine lol. 

My day job pays very well…and right now Im excited that my blog happened to have a new record of 51 views yesterday, its only been up a month, but it made me feel good.  The 100/mo. in income generation is simply a goal, it's about my competitive nature, and it's the same thing that drives my desire to reach the Alexa ranking below 200k.  There is intrinsic motivation within these goals, I assure you it isnt all about money.

http://www.moneyistheroot.com

MoneyIsTheRoot said:

I agree with Budgetinginthefunstuff….I know Im one of those people who wants to make a few bucks blogging, but then again, I just want to make a few bucks, not a milliion!  If I can get my  blog to generate $100/mo. I would be happy, it can pay for my Verizon bill and Id be fine lol. 

 

My day job pays very well…and right now Im excited that my blog happened to have a new record of 51 views yesterday, its only been up a month, but it made me feel good.  The 100/mo. in income generation is simply a goal, it's about my competitive nature, and it's the same thing that drives my desire to reach the Alexa ranking below 200k.  There is intrinsic motivation within these goals, I assure you it isnt all about money.

 

http://www.moneyistheroot.com

From my experience, this is what I see; the less add, the more engaged reader and… the more money eventually. if you start backward, you will rapidly make $100 to $200 per month but you might get stuck there for a very long time. But hey, it's a personal choice. I'm not there to tell you which way is better ;-)

Post edited 9:23 am – March 9, 2011 by JT_McGee

I'm in the no ads or very limited ads camp.  Even for very established sites, a light ad footprint is best, in my opinion.  MoneyMamba is just my screwaround site where I can talk about all the things I want to talk about.  It's my little mental playground, and I'm not really even expecting to turn it into a source of income.  Although, most "hobby sites" I own eventually do make the leap.  Balancing between my wants and advertiser needs then becomes some kind of concern.  Determined not to make this hobby a dayjob.

Oh hell, I was about to write an epic rant here, but now I have an "Economics of Web Advertising" post for the blog.  Aww yeah.

Post edited 9:37 am – March 9, 2011 by Sandy @ yesiamcheap

I didn't put ads in, even AdSense, for about the first two years then I migrated to WordPress, chose a professional looking theme that allows ads, added affiliate links etc, and did a grand unveiling and giveaway.  I wanted to have a good amount of archives first, get my blog out there, build a decent audience and not have chump change $15 advertisers coming my way.  I got enough of those low-ball offers in the first two years which I turned down and now those same advertisers have come back with a minimum of triple their original offers and I am able to negotiate the terms that I want.

I'm not opposed to ads.  In fact, I tell everyone up front in my disclosure that the entire point of my site is to make money and that they should assume that every single thing that I mention is making me money in some way.  I accept sponsored posts which a screen HEAVILY and only from advertisers that I would endorse or use in my personal life.  I have affiliate links as well of products again that I would endorse.  I reject far more than I accept. By all means everyone should try to make as much as possible from their sites.  They take us away from our family and take money to run as well as our valuable time.  For those of us running debt reduction blogs, we have even more reason to make money. 

I am just advocating that you get at least six months of solid blogging in, where you have a good amount of archives, have built a little traffic, have loyal readers and have a clear identity for yourself and your site before taking ads.  You learn soooooo much your first six months or so that it will put you in a better position to command more money.

This month I will clear $2,000 from my single blog and already have an advertiser that wants ads on my new niche site that's been around for only 2 months.  I've also been contacted by 2 MAJOR financial institutions that want to add my site to their corporate blogs and/or advertise and I know that they trolled through my archives before approaching me.

Sandy @ yesiamcheap said:

I didn't put ads in, even AdSense, for about the first two years then I migrated to WordPress, chose a professional looking theme that allows ads, added affiliate links etc, and did a grand unveiling and giveaway.  I wanted to have a good amount of archives first, get my blog out there, build a decent audience and not have chump change $15 advertisers coming my way.  I got enough of those low-ball offers in the first two years which I turned down and now those some advertisers have come back with a minimum of triple their original offers and I am able to negotiate the terms that I want.

I'm not opposed to ads.  In fact, I tell everyone up from in my disclosure that the entire point of my site is to make money and that they should assume that every single thing that I mention is making me money in some way.  I accept sponsored posts which a screen HEAVILY and only from advertisers that I would endorse or use in my personal life.  I have affiliate links as well of products again that I would endorse.  I reject far more than I accept. By all means everyone should try to make as much as possible from their sites.  They take us away from our family and take money to run as well as our valuable time.  For those of us running debt reduction blogs, we have even more reason to make money. 

I am just advocating that you get at least six months of solid blogging in, where you have a good amount of archives, have built a little traffic, have loyal readers and have a clear identity for yourself and your site before taking ads.  You learn soooooo much your first six months or so that it will put you in a better position to command more money.

This month I will clear $2,000 from my single blog and already have an advertiser that wants ads on my new niche site that's been around for only 2 months.  I've also been contacted by 2 MAJOR financial institutions that want to add my site to their corporate blogs and/or advertise and I know that they trolled through my archives before approaching me.