Hey there. Grab a cold drink and have a seat. Actually, grab another one for me, too.
We need to talk about the ads on your blog.
Now, don’t get all defensive - I’m not here to berate or insult you. Your mother and I care about you, after all, and want to see you succeed.
See, I’ve been around the block a couple of times with regards to this blogging business and I’ve learned a thing or two. I’ll keep this brief but, please, hear me out.
First thing - lose the Adsense ads. They’re ugly, almost never relevant and they make you look like a gold-digging blog strumpet. I know you’re pulling down enough money for a latte every day, but ask yourself how much you’d enjoy a lifetime of lattes at the expense of your soul.
Next, let’s talk about affiliate links. I have no problem with these in concept, but when you have a cluster of eight 125 pixel squares clogging up your sidebar that are completely unrelated to each other, it’s unsightly. If I’m going to run an affiliate link on my site, the following conditions must be met:
- I need to have used the product/service in the past (and paid for it with my own money, ideally - though this isn’t always the case)
- I must think it’s really good - good enough to recommend to the people who read my crap.
- It should be something that the aforementioned crap-readers would ostensibly find useful or valuable.
I know that what’s-his-face is offering a sweet 60% affiliate commission on his $197 online taxidermy course, but would the readers of your homemade dog food blog really be interested in that? No, they probably wouldn’t. Maybe find some other homemade dog food products that will do an affiliate deal with you? Might not be as lucrative as Mr. Stuff-It’s Save Sparky Literally Forever Webinar, but you’ll be offering something to your readers that they might actually, you know, use.
(Incredibly astute analogy enters, stage left. Confident.)
Look, here’s the thing. Your blog is like a restaurant: people are willing to ignore the semi-offensive paintings on the wall if the Penne All’Arrabiata makes their knees weak. With every ad you shove onto your blog, you’re asking them to ignore another awful painting. While you’re still building your reputation for having stellar Penne All’Arrabiata, it might be best to keep the paintings in the back office. You don’t want to create reasons for people to think your place sucks. Once you’re selling the joint out every night and you’re booked months in advance, then feel free to lob those crap pictures on the wall because nobody is going to care. Smell what I’m cookin’, here?
Like I said before, I want the best for you - I just don’t want to see you making the mistakes that many others, myself included, made when they were starting out.
And don’t forget:
Starting a blog solely to make money is like learning ventriloquism to meet girls.
Now get out there are write something interesting. The money will come if it’s meant to.
Photo by r-z
[...] We Need to Talk about the Ads on Your Blog Look, here’s the thing. Your blog is like a restaurant: people are willing to ignore the semi-offensive paintings on the wall if the Penne All’Arrabiata makes their knees weak. With every ad you shove onto your blog, you’re asking them to ignore another awful painting. [...]