Tuesday, March 2, 2010

I'm Wondering About Advertising

I've been noticing more and more blogs that are selling ad space. I'm contemplating doing the same, but I don't really know that my blog is big enough to really generate hits.

Right now, based on the past 7 days, I have an average daily visit count of almost 700. It fluctuates up and down, though, depending on how crafty and linky I am on any given week. For the most part, I stay up around or over 500, and have since I started doing Talented Tuesday's 6 weeks ago.

What do you guys think? Does anyone else out there currently do blog to blog advertising? Do you like it? How much do you charge?

Then there is the layout- I would really need a new layout (probably a 3 column) to do this "right".

Help!

13 comments:

The House Creative said...

I don't know anything about ad space but I was able to change my layout to the three column. I wish I new the site I got the info from, but I cant remember. If you google 3 column blogger or something similar, there should be a bunch of tutorials. Good luck. :-)

KimMalk said...

The site ourblogtemplates.com that Remodelaholic and My Backyard Eden use would probably work well, too. I used threecolumnblogger.com to change mine. Good luck, I'll be watching as I'm been considering ads way back in the recesses of my mind.

Courtney said...

Go check out sneaky momma blog design: http://sneakymommablogdesign.blogspot.com/2009/01/sneaky-blog-trick-how-to-get-three.html

I recently used her tutorial on a 3 column design, with a little help from my hubby and it turned out! I also practiced on a "test blog" first in case I royally messed it up. Now I just need to come up with a new banner, which I see sneaky momma just posted about this week! Good luck!!

Courtney @ Red Head Craft More Fun

Amanda said...

Ues you generate enough to be accepted. I'm with BlogHer and have been very happy with their service. It's a 50/50 split, but they manage everything, so they definitely work for their money ;)

WrethaOffGrid said...

Two ways you can advertise, Google Adsense and the Amazon.com affiliate programs.

You might want to go with Amazon first, it's quickest and easiest to get in, you decide what you want to advertise, the ad widgets are very easy to create and add to your blog. You get paid for completed sales, the nice thing is even if you don't make a sale on what is clicked on, if your potential customer buys anything from Amazon after that, you get credit for those sales too, at least for a while after they have clicked on your ad.

Sign up for Google Adsense too, it's very easy to sign up, I don't know about now, but it used to take a few weeks to a month to get in, it may be faster now. You have less control over what is advertised through them, they choose ads based on the content of your blog, and you don't have to make a sale to get paid, you are paid for clicks.

Whatever you do, make it nice, don't blast your visitors with ads, it is just as easy to make it tasteful and unobtrusive.

Wretha

WrethaOffGrid said...

When I said you can advertise, I meant putting ads on your blog.

Wretha

Expressions by Heather said...

I use Google AdSense already, but I want to ditch the random ad's that don't really fit the theme of the blog, and put up advertising one on one through other blogs- where they can buy a space for a small amount of money, for a specified time limit, and have their blog's add on my front page.

What I worry about most with the 3 column, is losing all the widgets I have. I did that once when I switched layout, and about cried afterwards when I realized I had lost everything!

Now, though, at least I know how to back it all up! ;)

Thanks everyone!

Heather said...

I have just stumbled upon your blog and like it a lot. I blog about DIY stuff, saving money on groceries, freebies, etc. and am so excited I just participated in my first Talented Tuesday of yours! Our blog generates about the same amount of traffic as yours and though I already do Google AdSense and Amazon am interested in getting individual advertisers as well. I'd be happy to keep bouncing ideas off each other if you're interested! Keep me updated, thanks!
-Heather @ www.savingmoneylivinglife.com

stephie hicks said...

Blogher is great...

I'm hosting a giveaway on my blog - come and check it out!!
http://madebystephie.blogspot.com/2010/03/my-first-giveaway.html

Kate said...

To Heather of My Frugal Family and Heather of savingmoneylivinglife.com. I have been thinking the exact same thing! I too have about the same page hits that you mentioned and have also been considering monthly ads for etsy shops, etc. I just added google adsense and it hasn't been too intrusive (I hope!). Anyway, would love to be another person to bounce ideas off if you'd like. Please shoot me an email at KateLuvs2Decorate@gmail(dot)com
Thanks!! :)

Janna said...

You are most definitely big enough.

Lifetime Affiliates I've heard is good to work with. I'm with Blogher right now and they have some restrictions that I don't like but I had 3,000 page views last month with 2 banner ads and made $25 so I'm sure you could do much better than me!

I think you should pursue it to help pay for your habit:)

Sadie said...

I am new to your blog, but if you stop by mine you'll see the link to where I got my 3 column layout.

I just started with AdSense but I don't sell ad space because my blog is still small -- either way, though, I donate all revenue from my blog so hopefully some day it'll get big enough to donate LOTS.

I think $5 a month is a good price for ads, though. That is what I charge on my business website.


Sadie@
nelliebugs-swaps.blogspot.com

Sophie said...

A blogger I used to work with would post an add in the space he wanted to sell with something like "Advertise with me and Your Ad can be here!"

It was rarely empty between ad runs for more than a couple days, but he would charge $5-$10 a month per space and they would provide a button or ad that he would just plug in.

I totally think you can do it and plan on doing so as soon as my blog picks up some more. I went from ignoring it and getting about 50 views a week to now blogging regularly and getting 100 views a day-- and I have only been at it for about a week or two now.