I’m curious to know how everyone feels about all of these new ad options that are popping up. Like many people, I’d like to earn some money from my blog. I work hard on my sites, and why shouldn’t I provide a way for advertisers to advertise their products, and earn a little bit of that income?
I’ve had an account with BlogAds for a few months now, and I am sad to say that I have not sold ONE SINGLE AD. The ad you see for SkinMD was given free to the advertiser because he sent me a bunch of samples, and I thought his ad would give other advertisers an idea of what their ads would look like here. And yet, nothing. My price is RIDICULOUSLY LOW, too, because I have to stay competitive. In fact, I had an advertiser email me and ask me why my prices for all the different ad options on my Advertise Here page are so different-it’s because different companies take different commission amounts, so I adjust my prices so that I get about the same dollar amount from each. It’s confusing, that’s for sure.
I’ve had an account with Auction Ads for a few months now, and I haven’t made a single sale, although I’ve had quite a few clicks. Now they have introduced Shopping Ads, which lets me select the products I want to sell and put them in one widget. For example, this is the widget for the keywords Halloween costumes:
Instead of having to bid on the item like with Auction Ads, you just buy it outright. And it’s easy to customize and keep the choices fresh. What do you think?
Then there is Affiliate ads, of which there are TONS of options. You can be an Amazon affiliate, which I have tried. On MomReviews I have an Amazon ad with three products that I really like, a CD, a DVD, and a book, so I picked those. Haven’t made a single sale. Again, do you look at Amazon ads? Do you ever buy anything from them? Or am I just giving up valuable sidebar space to something that no one will ever use and that won’t make me any money?
The third option I have looked into is affiliate ads through LinkShare. Surprisingly, I have made a tiny bit of money from that. I have an ad running on MomReviews for The FIRM’s new Total Body TransFIRMation System, and I just got a check for $19.95. Honestly, I was SHOCKED. But I plan to keep the ad up and have thought about putting it here as well. I link to that product because I LOVE The FIRM workouts and I want to be, well, affiliated with it.
And finally, that pioneer of blog advertising, Google Adsense. I go back and forth. I put it on, I take it off. I like that the ads are targeted specifically to the site, and that all I have to do to make money is have someone click the ad, no purchase required. What keeps me coming back to Adsense is stories like this, from 2createawebsite, a site that helps beginners learn how to create a site. I couldn’t find the name of the author:
“I have been receiving monthly checks from Google since 2003, and I’ve read numerous success stories of websites earning 5 digit incomes per month with AdSense.
Now, I will admit, a 5-digit commission in a single month is probably not the norm for most participants. I promote AdSense on three of my websites and my checks have been as high as $4,000, but usually average around $2,000.”
She has a link to a scan of a check for over $1,700! Now, assuming that the site, the story, and the scan are all legitimate, then not only am I missing out on getting my share of the Adsense money, but so is everyone else. You know when you do a search on Google, on the right hand side of the page are the Sponsored Ads? Those are the search results that have been paid for specifically, and that’s what Adsense is. Why should Google get all the money from advertising? If I write a lot about DVDs, why shouldn’t that keyword make me some money? I don’t know, sometimes I think people have been looking at Adsense ads for so long, that they don’t even see them anymore. Opinions? Thoughts?
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Quite honestly I haven’t been doing this very long, but I haven’t found much return on ad’s. I use Google (I Think? My husband handles the technical stuff for me!).
Twitter: Table4Five
says:
Fenicle-Thanks for the feedback. It makes sense, doesn’t it? You buy a magazine, it’s got pages of ads, and that’s what keeps the subscription price down. If I could just make enough money each month to cover the hosting bill and the domain name registration for each year, that would make me so happy!
Honestly, I never click on ads, and I rarely look at them — whether it’s an online news site, a blog, or whatever. I understand how advertising can help to make content available, but I don’t rely on it as part of my purchasing or information gathering activities.
So I’m not very helpful.
Hmm. I am glad you asked this. I currently have Amazon Affiliate Ads, Shopzilla Affiliate Ads and have also tried Auction Ads. I have made no money from any of them. I am still on the fence about trying Google AdSense. The one thing that I am in the process of earning money with is BlogHer Ads. I am currently up to a whopping $15, but they do not pay out until you reach $25.
Twitter: Table4Five
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Nancy-Thank you, I appreciate knowing that. Oh, and I forgot to mention in the post, I have BlogHer Ads running on MomCooks now. It’s my least-trafficked site, but I also don’t plan on writing paid posts there. So I hope to at least make something with that, plus help promote BlogHer!
Twitter: Table4Five
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Sheila-Thanks for the feedback. I have BlogHer Ads on MomCooks, and I’m hoping it will make me a little money, plus I like supporting BlogHer in general. But if enough readers say they aren’t even going to look, then I’m going to take all the non-sponsored ads off. I get paid by the Text Link Ads people, I’d rather have more space for those! LOL
Twitter: pz5wjj
says:
Brute honesty… too many ads make the page harder (longer) to load and if you’re not making any money, then I’d take them off.
Find something that’s going to make you money or just stick with PPP and paid posts.
That’s my 2 cents!
I’ve had Google Ads for two plus years.
Last week, I *finally* got my first check for $100. (When I signed up, there was a $100 minimum per check. I have no idea what the rules are now.)
It seems to me that $100 for two years is embarrassingly low, but was fun to receive. Other than that, I don’t really monetize my site.
Twitter: blondemomblog
says:
I had text ads through AdBrite for a while but took them down just to have a cleaner look on my blog. I think I had them for about a year and made a whopping less than $20. I now sell BlogAds and have been relatively pleased, but then my primary goal is not to make money, but to practice writing and have a creative outlet. I actually had a GREAT summer with the BlogAds (to me, any way.) I think I made about $200 one month!
I tend to breeze over ads on most blogs, though, I’ll admit.
Good luck! I would say stick with just a few and then really promote them.
Twitter: Table4Five
says:
Mimi-Yes, but then I get complaints from readers about too many paid posts! It’s so hard to make everyone happy! Seriously, I know what you mean. I make a little money every month from LinkWorth, a little from Text Link Ads, so I guess I can’t complain about that.
Twitter: Table4Five
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Jes-Well, $100 is $100, right? That’s a nice bunch of “fun money” in your pocket!
Twitter: Table4Five
says:
Jamie-Thanks for the feedback! I tried AdBrite too, but I wasn’t impressed. That is awesome about your BlogAds! One of the reasons why I changed to this theme was so I could move the Blogads up-I got an email from them saying it would be easier to sell ads if the space was at the top. So, fingers crossed. I joined Blogads because I have seen some really COOL ads on other people’s blogs. My price is really low, so I’m just hoping an advertiser notices me eventually
Thanks for all of this advice with regards to blog ads.
I have just been putting together a childcare blog. it certainly has taken a lot longer to put together than I realized. i am now at the stgae where I am going to finally put on some ads, so this is a great help.
Elizabeth, it seems like those ads aren’t worth the valuable space on your blog.
I am no help, I use blogher ads. Good luck.
Twitter: Table4Five
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Sharon-Good luck with your childcare blog, and thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment!
Twitter: Table4Five
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Graham-I think you are right, that seems to be the popular opinion.
Twitter: Table4Five
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Marsha-I have BlogHer Ads too, on my blog MomCooks. The only reason I don’t have them here on Table for Five is because you can’t write for Pay Per Post and have BlogHer Ads on the same blog, and this blog makes me more money with Pay Per Post than it does with the BlogHer Ads. It’s just my personal decision regarding that.
From what I have heard, no one actually makes any money from google ads because I think you are right. they have become so annoying that no one pays attention to them anymore, we have all learned to tunnel vision them off the page. I just started Amazon Affiliates and I haven’t made anything. I have ordered from someone else’s though on another blog. I have a GF blogger who had it up for like 4 months and only made 14 cents SNORT!
I started BlogHerAds in late July and I am still waiting for a check. I finally made it over 25.00 at the end of September so 25.00 for 2 months isn’t bad.
I have thought about doing pay per posts… but I couldn’t decide. i was worried that my readers would bail on me, I’m sure you probably thought about that too. AND the amount of work you have to put into it, I’m just not sure I can dedicate that much time. How many hours a week do you spend on PPP? I mean say- from getting the item to writing your post and finally getting the post approved for pay? Just curious.
I have another blog I started for weight loss (That I have inactive right now), I wonder sometimes what else I could be doing with that blog.
The 14 cents was about adsense, I should have clarified
Do you read problogger.net? He has lots of great advice on making money with advertising. One things he mentions is if you put somethinging up, watch it for a few months and if it isn’t working try something else. Don’t feel like you have to be stuck with something if you’re not making mony with it, it’s just taking up space.
Personally, I like Google ads because I can click them and not ahve to buy anything. I think of it as a tip jar. If i like the blogger I’ll “tip” by clicking a Google ad or two. But it it requires I buy something, unless it’s really something I want, I won’t do it.
i’m trying to figure it all out. i have adsense i’ve made a whopping 54 cents. i’m clearly doing something wrong!
Twitter: Table4Five
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Mary-You mentioned PayPerPost in your comment, but then you also asked about getting items-PayPerPost is not a product review site. Advertisers create campaigns around a certain product or website, the blogger’s job is to write a post about it. The products I get to review, like DVDs, come from marketing companies who email me directly. Yes, my readership has changed since joining PayPerPost, most of the Mommybloggers who used to read and comment don’t anymore. BUT, I have new readers that come from PPP, and from social networking groups (like you!). What’s important to remember is that you have to blog for yourself. Be true to yourself, be your own biggest fan!
Oh, and I spend all day working on my blogs. I start at 8:00 AM and work on and off until bedtime. Writing, reading, commenting, posting on forums, it’s a full-time thing for me. And I love doing it!
Twitter: Table4Five
says:
Tanyetta-I really don’t think it’s you doing something wrong. I don’t know how the heck people making a thousand dollars a month with Adsense are doing it exactly, but it probably doesn’t involve funny stories about their kids
Have you signed up for Text Link Ads yet? It might take a while for advertisers to start placing their ads, but I bet they would, you have a great blog!
Twitter: Table4Five
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Summer-I do read problogger, he’s so smart when it comes to blogging. I like your comparison of Google ads to a tip jar. But of course, we are strictly forbidden from asking our readers to click our ads, it can get you booted entirely.
On the other hand, the Text Link Ads I have? Not only can YOU click them, but I can click them! The one called “Freebies”? I click that a few times a week and sign up to get free samples sent to me. I have a whole basket full of sample size hair care products, deodorant, perfume, etc. I love it! So feel free to click those any time!
Twitter: Table4Five
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Summer-P.S. I notice you have an ad from ebeanstalk on your blog, now there’s a company I would love to have as an advertiser! They sell the greatest toys!
As someone with a small child and no time to actually BLOG lately, I’ve been thinking about just getting a job. It’s silly, but it feels like an actual job might be less time consuming and pay without all the “whoring out” that it seems one has to do to be successful with ads. I might just go back to adles blogging randomly from my butt.
Twitter: Table4Five
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Mrs. F-I agree, blogging can become an all-consuming thing. My husband and I have had a few “discussions” about how if I want to think of blogging as my job, then I need to set specific hours for it and then not do it during ‘off’ hours. But, but, I just want to live in the internet full time! Why can’t he understand that? lol
And I like your blogging, even if it does come from your, um, butt
Sign up with cj.com and shareasale.com I don’t remember which one ebeanstalk goes through, but they are both great for banner ads. And you get to choose your own ads, no waiting for companies to choose you.
Twitter: soleflormom
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I’ve tried Auction Ads, CJ, Amazon, Google adsense, and no money. I don’t know how some people can earn a big check with those. I don’t understand.
Twitter: Table4Five
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Summer-CJ? Is that Commission Junction? That’s who I get my Boca Java badge from. I have that on my blog because that is the only coffee I drink, and I think everyone else should buy some and try it!
Twitter: Table4Five
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Laura-I think those people create websites full of nothing buy keywords, they copy and paste articles from other sites, they are just in it for the money. I’d rather be part of a community of readers who want to come here and read what I have to say, you know?
I would agree with the less is more, and get rid of the ad programs that aren’t delivering.
I’d also look at simplifying the costs. Don’t worry so much about you getting the same amount from each program, as making it easier for the advertiser to decide which of a few (not many) programs makes the most sense for it.
Twitter: Table4Five
says:
Susan, Thank you, I appreciate that feedback. I’ve tried to make my Advertise Here page as descriptive as possible, but I have found that one of the deterrents to really explaining to potential advertisers what their options are is that the companies themselves don’t always tell us (the publishers) exactly what the fees and terms are.
For example, I have an account with Linkworth, and have two ads running that I’m quite happy with. I know how much I get paid each month for those ads, but I don’t know how much it costs the advertiser in extra fees and such. I had an advertiser email me and ask me why my prices are so different for different ad options, and all I could say was that the amount that Text Link Ads charges for an ad here is different from what Linkworth charges, I’m just not sure why. But I have both because they each attract different types of advertisers.