Do it. Make money.
For me at-least, I’ve been able to mentally block out ads from most sites I visit now-a-days. One thing I would add though, you said “we get to have some interesting conversations from time to time” – I really do feel that when I visit your blog, it is in fact you speaking to me, personally. With the addition of advertisements, I feel it may take away from that personal element. Though this won’t bother me so much, as I know you are just trying to make loot, like the rest of us.
Fill your boots.
Ads from The Deck have been the only ads I’ve ever clicked (on purpose). The lack of gratuitous flash, smallish size and overall tasteful design from advertisers make them noticeable while not competing with site design or content. They may not always be contextual but are, more often than not, relevant to the audience.
Agree 100% with Derek above me.
For me…the best part about your blog is your personality coming through in what you say, quote, write about, etc. For people who have discovered and kept in touch with your dandy little blog…I think the ads would make no difference. But, for a new user popping around on the web, the ads may express a more corporate nature and defer some people away.
hhhmmm…
While I don’t have much experience with blogs, I do have some experience with ad placement on larger sites, and from my previous experience 95% of the click through will come from ‘transient’ visitors (google searches, generally) and that your loyal readership would rarely, if ever, click on an add.
This leads me to the conclusion that it might be valuable to only show the ads to people who come in through transient or other means. A bit of php could help you show ads only to people referred via search engine, or something similar.
For note: Ads generally don’t bother me, unless they are overwhelmingly obtrusive (here I’m thinking of the various guitar chord / lyric websites). Cheers!
Dooce has advertising and it has not affected her writing or content at all. Its up to if you think the cost outweighs the benefit … will you loose readers? will you actually get an financial benefit? you don’t do this blog to please everyone, of course you value opinion, but its ultimately up to you (Whiskerino did it this past go-around and it don’t seem to bother anyone).
I do like “The Deck” though, hi-caliber, small foot-print, etc.
The adddition of ads wouldn’t bother me. If you’re at a readership point where you can get a bit of monetary reward out of something you’re obviously doing for fun anyway, why not.
The Deck and Fusion ad concepts are some of the only types of ads I respect too. Not just because their size/placement tends to be unobtrusive, but because they don’t pay by the click. Pay-per-click seems to encourage more nefarious behavior on the part of blog/site owners who are desperate for such clicks.
I’ve said it before and my opinion hasn’t changed. You definitely should put up an ad or two. Your insight and opinion are obviously deemed valuable (as many of us return), yet thankfully you offer it for free.
There is no reason that you shouldn’t let a little advertising at least cover your hosting costs (if not lining your pocket a bit).
much agreed with the majority of people here. you have good content consistently that draws people back. make some money off of it. and just do it tastefully, via the deck or something similiar!
Do it.
i say do it.
for the sheer principle that you’ll make a buck or two.
however, i don’t think whether you feature the ads or not i’ll find myself clicking them..
i just prefer the lack of clutter, but maybe for a buck it’s worth it.
About The Author
I'm a graphic designer and sometimes writer living in Anderson, South Carolina. I serve as the Design Director for NewSpring Church. I love Jesus, my wife, Levi's Jeans, good Tex-Mex, and 8oz glass bottle Coca-Cola Classic. On good days I love them roughly in that order. Email me.
To Ad, or Not to Ad?
Wed 11/12/08
So, I’ve been doing this blog thing for close to five years. Some of you have been with me that whole span of time, some of you popped in last week. I like all of you and I’m super thankful that we get to have some interesting conversations from time to time.
Blog advertising has always been one of those things I look at a bit skeptically, essentially thinking it brings another voice into that conversation, one that is rarely contextual. How do you feel about these new-ish targeted ad networks (like The Deck or the recently-launched Fusion Ads)? Less noise? Same thing?