I Think I Might Start Whoring Out My Blog Again
Earlier this month I ran a reader survey on my blog and made changes based off the feedback I received. A better way of phrasing this is that I made some fairly large sacrifices towards what I thought would enhance reader experience on my site. That sacrifice was primarily in cancelling all my advertisers on the blog and making it totally 100% advertisement free. Since that time, I can see that I am very quickly regretting that decision as it is totally apparent that having ads or not having ads on the blog makes no difference to you.
My blog was earning around $250 dollars/ month in private ad sales and amazingly around the same in Google AdSense earnings; however, I felt like all the ads and banners and links were a distraction to my readers and felt that if the ads were to be removed that I would increase the number of interactions I have with my readers. The goal in mind was to put more focus on the content to assure that people were able to absorb what I wrote and to provide some feedback.
Internet marketers make money online by achieving a desired call to action. In most cases the call to action is a lead generation such as successfully getting people to complete an online insurance quote. Other ways a desired call to action is met is when an Internet marketer successfully sells a product or service. Well, here on my blog, really the only call to action that I want is a comment. Seriously, after you read something that I have taken about two to three hours to write, I’d seriously like your input on it.
I would have thought that making a $500/month sacrifice would have shown my readers that I am very serious about what I write on the Internet and that people would have had more respect for what I did. Instead of that happening, it seems that the opposite has happened. While my traffic remains the same from day to day, people seem to read what I write but don’t invest the time to drop a comment.
Since this time, I have written some really good articles — at least what I thought to be — and have received virtually ZERO reactions to these posts. I even wrote a post about my daughter’s 16th birthday and out of 1200 subscribers on only 4 people wished her a happy birthday. So for me, I am truly offended by that. I understand nor do I expect that all 1200 people would have wished her happy birthday, but I would have expected around 20 people to do so, and as you read this, you know who you are.
So as it stands now, I am out $500 dollars a month and it doesn’t seem like anyone really gives a rats ass about what I write. The great news though, is the fact that my blog scores over 50,000 unique visits per month, generates over 100,000 page views per month, has over 50% search engine traffic and over 75% of the people that visit my site daily are first time readers. The other 25% are people that I am trying to bend over backwards for while getting nothing in return.
So, yeah… for sure, I made a huge mistake; however, with that being said, I’ll quickly rebound from that error in judgment. The unfortunate element in this situation is the fact that I kinda feel like I have been slapped by the current people who have been interacting with me and whom I have been helping over the last month or so. In many ways, I need to go back to practicing the things that I have preached myself on my blog months ago.
One thing is for sure, I don’t think I will ever make a sacrifice like that again. I think it was a dumb move. That is ok though, I am no longer going to regret my poor decision and I will build from it. My goal is to earn twice as much as I did before and do it in a way that requires much less work. Whether you choose to invest time with providing feedback after reading something I have written is your choice; however, from this point on, my focus on this blog is not only in helping people learn how to make money online but it is also coupled with the intention to make money for myself.
I hope that for the people who do read this take it to heart. I am not really all that upset, but more less feel that it is important to communitcate how I feel and what my future intention for the blog is. I was upset, but I’ll get over it, especially when I have the money starting to roll in again. For those who care, you can still count on receiving excellent tips and advice related to all the things that I normally write about, the only difference though is that I am going to monetize the hell out of my content and make the money I deserve for writing it.
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Date/Time: 7-19-2008 14:19:18 Comment #17075
Absolutely monetize your site - get something back for the blood/sweat you put into this.
If I can note a great giveback to your subscribers/commenters is this great plugin which I started using called CommentLuv - http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/commentluv/
Once a comment is approved it automatically posts a DOFOLLOW link to the commenters last blog post.
I was going to post about it on my site but I can do a posting on yours instead if you are still looking for guest bloggers.
,Michael Martin
EDIT:
Hey Michael,
the plugin actually adds a NOFOLLOW link in the comments. Thanks for the suggestion, I have installed it.
Garry
Date/Time: 7-20-2008 20:08:49 Comment #17148
http://www.fiddyp.co.uk/commentluv-wordpress-plugin/
So I think I am WRONG!!! CommentLUV is actually NOFollow… Unless Jim has modified his. I will for sure check this out and if the links remain Nofollow, I’ll install it right away. Thanks for the tip.
Date/Time: 7-19-2008 15:14:57 Comment #17082
EDIT SEE THE ABOVE COMMENT
Hi Michael,
I do appreciate your suggestion and see that many people use this plugin. In the last year or two I have learned a lot about PageRank and this true purpose designed for allowing an organic ranking search engine. People that comment on my blog shouldn’t be rewarded with a link that passes PageRank, that isn’t the true intention for PageRank and it’s a way to manipulate the system which I believe that Google will indeed make adjustments accordingly.
John Chow dot Com
John COW dot Com
ShoeMoney dot Com
Joel Comm dot Com
These blogs as well as a countless many more do not modify their WordPress blogs to make the comment links pass PageRank, nor am I one to do so either anytime soon.
I totally 110% support the ranking systems of Google and don’t believe that it would be fair for the users who use and depend on Google to have related results in the SERPS to be altered by me allowing links in the comments to pass PageRank. I can understand that perhaps people that comment on my blog should be rewarded, but allowing hundreds of links to pass thru my blog will not only cause a violation in Google TOS but it will also drain my domain dry from the PageRank power it has.
When I said that I wanted to start whoring my blog out again, I meant that I would be starting up a new advertisement campaign again. The links in my advertisement campaigns also never passed PageRank.
I do appreciate your comment though and the time you took to write it. We’ll just have to think of something else.
Date/Time: 7-19-2008 19:47:35 Comment #17089
Garry I have found some great resources and other blogs from your advertisments and knowing who you are and your moral base I trusted that you werent just accepting every tom dick and harry to ad on your blog.
So yeah do get the ads going again, not only is it good for you but it is good for us ( in my opinion anyways).
On the commenting and replying to your posts, Dude you produce like a freaking factory I’ll honestly say its even a bit tough to keep up with you on just reading your voracious content production. Good thing imn the list so I get re-caps to avoid missing much. recommend anyone who reads to do the same.
I usually tune in first thing in the morning to get the juices flowing for the day.(5:45 ish)
Whoring is a strong word to use, and I would really not consider it whoring it. The advertiser gets exposure and you get compensated for providing the exposure c’est la vie huh.
I wouldnt say you get nothing in return. I cant imagine how many back links and page rank has been funneled your way from your readers never mind the traffic which equates to moolah, your readers have ponied up. Or am I wrong on this front.
Do you really feel that way (you get nothing in return) What exacty is it you want in return for your personal mission and passion to help other people make money online . Maybe you ought to say what you want, its amazing what happens when you ask or tell others what you want. Or are you just mr cranky pants !!!
Cheers and Bers
shane
Date/Time: 7-19-2008 19:54:00 Comment #17090
I think I’ll feel better once I have some advertisers signed up again. LOL!!!!
Yes, I was very much cranky pants this morning. My daughter was bitching about her cell phone, my wife was bitching about the lawn, my son kept getting angry with his video game, my youngest daughter broke one of my laptops and our new dog shit on the floor… oh, and I hadn’t slept either.
I will feel super much better once I get advertisers back on the blog.
Date/Time: 7-19-2008 22:20:34 Comment #17093
Garry;
Sorry man — I have been in CA all week and pretty much off the grid. I’d bring the ads back, but I think that you should expect comments, and you are right to be disappointed.
I’ll do better.
Mark
Date/Time: 7-19-2008 23:39:51 Comment #17095
You have every right to get upset Garry.
But bringing back or taking off the ads neither is, nor would it ever be the solution to the actual problem (user participation). I feel that root of the problem lies in the appeal of the blog. Don’t take me wrong, the content has always been par excellence but I don’t personally like the overall appearance of the blog. Everything seems to be stuffed in. I think the blog needs an entirely new look and a better header. A top commentators widget would certainly help as well.
You have got impressive reader data; however only 25% revisits is something you shouldn’t be proud of. You can run as many advertisements you like but still I would prefer you not to make it something John Chow has made out of his blog.
Lastly, I would love to hear from you that how many comments do you leave on the blogs you visit?
Date/Time: 7-20-2008 00:16:29 Comment #17098
Garry you have helped me out quite a lot and I appreciate every bit of it. Definitely
bring back the ads and do whatever else you can to bring in the cash. After all comments don’t feed the kids.
The bigger question here is how can we (your regular readers) help you? Is it links? or blog posts or something else?
I try to read and comment as often as possible. Your content is great.
Since you mentioned the comment luv and it passing page rank, does the same thing apply to the dofollow plugin for wordpress? Does that also drain a blog as well?
Thanks again,
Steve
Date/Time: 7-20-2008 09:58:04 Comment #17110
Your content is really good with or without ads, so…
Save me an advertising spot.
Date/Time: 7-20-2008 11:39:55 Comment #17117
Hi Gary,
I just found your site for the first time today. People do not post to my blog http://www.costaricamountain.blogspot.com , I have not tried to make money for me, but I do have an important story that I tell. I help the Cabecar Indigenous population who traverse through my farm. They are the poorest of the poor, fighting starvation. I tell their story as honestly as it comes to me. Yet few people respond and no comments. I don’t know why. Just a few weeks ago a child was hung because it was ill. Not one comment. I am blown away by the failure of a comment while I stilll walk around and silently scream, you can not kill the child just because it is sick. Let us seek help for the child if you can no longer feed it. I know they are hungry and starving, but you can’t kill the kids.
I do know how you feel when you have spend hours writing an article. I am there.
My blog is not just about one topic, it is about our life, the Cabecar, and the reality of living on a frontier. I really try to provide content, so what is the real problem?
Thank you,
Ginnee
Date/Time: 7-21-2008 07:56:11 Comment #17168
Hey Garry,
I say keep the ads, if they are making revenue. I think you should also advertise in your RSS feeds as this is how I now read your blog.
As for wishing your daughter a happy birthday, I regret not dropping a quick comment.
Date/Time: 7-21-2008 12:24:27 Comment #17178
Hi Owen!
Thanks for the birthday wishes and the suggestion to advertise in the RSS feed. Man, I have to say that obviously I know about this option, but it’s funny to hear you mention it because I have mixed emotions about it.
I have a subscription to John Chow dot Com. I do like reading his posts and also it really doesn’t matter if I like his blog or not. A guy like me needs to stay in the loop with things going on around me. So, regardless if I liked his blog or not, I would subscribe anyways just to be able to monitor what he says publicly.
With that being said, John Chow’s RSS feed totally sucks and is over saturated with advertisements. First is the whopping BIG 300×250 banner ad that floats to the right. It’s identical to the one you can view live on his site. In addition to the “Big Whopper” are a few footer style text links.
So all in all, the ads in RSS really bother me. I have felt like people subscribe to RSS partly to escape from the advertisements and sales pitches and things like that (unless it is written in the content of course).
To me, an RSS feed is a like a safe haven for getting nothing but the “Pure 100% Beef” of the content. The content in RSS isn’t styled using CSS unless the publisher did so within the post itself. The content is visible in its own “bare bones” format. All in all, RSS feeds allow the reader to view the content the way he wants it when he wants it. So to me, part of me feels that when a publisher advertises in his RSS feed, he is breaching an unwritten oath or something.
On the other side of things… I know that I am sure I could sell quite a bit of ads in my RSS feed. I would be a little nervous about doing it though, because if I feel how I feel about John Chow’s RSS feed, then I am sure others would feel the same about mine.
Date/Time: 7-21-2008 11:22:17 Comment #17171
Absolutely, advertise! People aren’t going to take you less seriously, just because your advertising. Bandwidth is not free, and your time is definitely worth something. Blogs (or other sites) that are nothing but ads–or feature intrusive ads the cover up content or are so complicated they start freaking out the browsers–get a little tired. But just having ads is a minor distraction, and allows folks like me–who could not afford, for example, to subscribe to a paid service–to read what you write about now again, too.
I was not aware of your blog when your daughters birthday came to pass. My own daughters 3rd birthday is coming up in a few days . . . so, happy Birthday to your daughter. And happy being-a-daddy-on-a-daughter’s-birthday to you!
Date/Time: 7-21-2008 12:28:23 Comment #17179
Oh wow… that is way cool. My youngest daughter turned 2 in April. Age two and three are priceless for parents. Happy birthday to your daughter. I am sure that you feel like, “wow… it just seems like yesterday when we had her? At what point in time did she change from being a baby?” My wife, Angie, and I have a new baby boy due on the last week of Sept. That will be our last too, so it’ll be a surreal moment for sure.
Date/Time: 7-21-2008 16:16:53 Comment #17198
Freakin monetize man! I told you that….no point to take it down. I supported your decision, as I always do, but man….get that money!!! You do a lot for MANY people, and I for one am grateful!
Not just your post, look at the freakin content in your comments!!! Ahahaha…
Man, people want a piece of the Conn man…I say don’t give it up for free…WHORE IT OUT!!! LOL
Nice use of words….though, it’s nothing less than what others do, and I think you do it with more tact.
Check out JK Swopes’s last blog post..IMwithJoe weekly report and goals for the week 7-21-08
Date/Time: 7-21-2008 22:32:35 Comment #17220
I’ve never seen a marketer chew is viewers out … ?? I get great feedback, and most others do to. Only 25% of people come back to your site, meaning you’re failing on building the emotional connection. Don’t blame your viewers when you fail at generating buzz or comments. You are the one making the “first move” with your website. If you fall on your face, then work on your style, or add more value.
I don’t plan on intentionally ever coming back here.
Date/Time: 7-26-2008 07:50:22 Comment #17388
Hey Garry,
Looks like you got them comments now
OK first things first….. I read the birthday post, like I read most posts and I can’t remember if I commented or not. But does it really matter…. I don’t think so, not because I didn’t enjoy it or feel that it was great that your daughter turned 16 but because I don’t feel there is any need to expect people to comment.
This is a blog, it’s your choice to write about whatever you feel but your 1200+ subscribers have mostly signed up to the main focus of this blog “how to make money” and you provide that content. If you want huge amounts of comments on personal posts then I really do think you need a personal blog (thejunkdrawer.com is an amazing example, she engages the readers and pulls in a huge amount of comments).
Garry I love your blog but if you are going to let things like no comments upset you then, really you need to get your private life off the page and go back to strict business.
Sorry if that sounded harsh or rude but after reading all the comments and reading the comment from Ginnee, it made me realize that, so what if? What does it matter? You cannot take things that happen online personal. You just need a thicker skin as it is going to happen again and again.
And I REALLY appreciate your help Garry…. but also feel that I do plenty in return to anyone that helps me…. I have trouble paying my bills but still shed out hours every week helping people, some who have helped me, some who have not!…. but do people come and comment on my blog, hardly…. I don’t feel that I need to be upset about that though, obviously I have to take the blame for not producing the content that pulls in the comments….
So the ads, they are cool by me. Sometimes I have even clicked on an ad if it looks interesting as I know you pretty much vet anyone who wants to advertise.
Good luck with monetizing, i’ll be around reading here and there. I am busy as hell so may not always comments but I will know what is going on….. and I will come by and comment on the next personal post.
Date/Time: 7-26-2008 15:52:55 Comment #17405
Garry, many of us love your stuff. I’ve purchased one or two products from your blog and some from other people who comment here and advertise. Someone asked a very good question, how many comments do you leave elsewhere?
I haven’t set-up commentLuv on my blog and my first is site is directed at CDs, but I do have the nofollow remover plugin. I think if someone is going to take the time to come over and comment, I’ll pass some link juice along (although at the moment it is quite small)
We all have bad days, but don’t go beat up the people who have been coming back. I for one liked the ads and I see that you have put them back. We are also busy and can’t comment on every post. Sometimes I’m not able to read my email for two or three days.
I have a big family, too. I use my computer time to set the “stuff” aside not bring it with me.
Anyway, keep up the good work. I’ll be back.
Date/Time: 8-5-2008 16:50:47 Comment #17767
I’ve just been catching up with your posts (I’m a few weeks behind on my feeds) and fully back you in running ads and other marketing opportunities on the site - you should make from it, given the effort you put into it. Are you going to put some adsense ads back on the site and get that revenue stream?
I try and comment whenever I can, especially if the post has helped me out, that or I give a link back in one of my posts if relevant.
I can understand where you’re coming from tho, I’d love to get more comments and interaction going on Zath, have considered removing the nofollows on the comments, but like you mention, I really think Google may turn on this practice.
I appreciate everything you’ve helped us with over the past year man. Cheers!
Check out Zath’s last blog post..BBC iPlayer (UK)
Date/Time: 8-11-2008 14:42:52 Comment #17999
just a quick question. comment luv- dofollow or nofollow?
Check out Syed Taha’s last blog post..The Importance Of One Way Back Links