Monday, February 03, 2014

My Experience With Advertising On My Blog

For the past 2 1/2 years, I’ve tried several different methods of advertising on my blog, and for the most part, I found them all to be more of a hassle than anything else.

The most semi-successful way for me was offering small ad space on my own because I could pick and choose who I wanted to sell space to, set my own guidelines, and charge what I wanted.

I’m glad I tried advertising though, because I learned a great deal about it.

I honestly see nothing wrong with a blogger offering ad space on their blog. I read many blogs that offer advertising, and these bloggers work very hard at putting out good, quality posts. So I feel they deserve the income they generate from advertising and/or sponsorship. (an example)

As long as a blog is not driven primarily by ads over content, I will read it. However, if ads are POPPING up in my face, no, I won’t read it.

One of the things I learned is that there is a difference between advertising and sponsorship. Advertising is placing an ad on a blog in the hopes that a company generates business from the ad. However, if you offer sponsorship, sponsors expect you to write at least one sponsored post (or even more), promoting their company. Because let's face it, that's what sponsorship means. And that is something I was not willing to do. Other bloggers do it, and are successful. But for me, I didn't have the time or desire. Yes, I do post reviews, but they are products I offer on my own if I think my readers will benefit from it.

And another thing – advertisers can’t read. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten emails from companies making me an offer to place an ad on my blog, if I would allow them to also write a post, when I specifically said on my advertising page I didn't offer that. I used to respond back and say no thank you, but I finally got to a point where I just deleted their emails.

I also did quite a bit of research on the companies who wanted to advertise on this blog before committing. And upon investigating further, discovered that many of them had a negative track record for reliability, quality, and customer service. So I declined their offers.

No, offering advertising on my blog didn’t work for me. But if it works for other bloggers, more power to them.

Also, I suddenly had a thought a few weeks ago, “Why am offering this blog to advertise for companies, when I could be offering my own things, like my photography in my Zazzle Shop?”

So that’s what I did last weekend, I spruced up my Zazzle Shop by adding more photo prints and creating a new shop header. I also added a blog panel on this blog (which is on my sidebar) that features some of my photo prints.

It doesn’t flash, it’s just static.

As I shared in a post a while back, I want to do more with my photography. And if I can make a little income by doing that, why not?

Many bloggers who write books, offer and promote them on their blogs, only I'm doing it with my photographs.

And just as I am at my offline job in retail, I’m not a pushy person when it comes to sales. I merely offer the product the best way I know how, and then leave it up to the customer.

And I'll be doing the same thing here – offering my photo prints for sale on my sidebar, and leaving it up to anyone who reads my blog or happens to stumble upon it, if they wish to make a purchase.

I will even be setting up a board on my Pinterest page, highlighting and promoting some of my photographs.

Because if I want to get my photography out there, then I have to start presenting it in a professional and confident manner.

And like with all the things I've tried in my life, this will be a learning process.

I'll learn as I go along, taking one step at a time.

And thank you all for your encouragement and support, as I spread my wings and try new things on this blog.

I appreciate that!

Have a faaaabulous Monday, y’all!