Recently I examined the top 25 marketing blogs on the web, as stated by The Viral Garden.
The results were interesting to say the least. Specifically, there’s one stat that I wanted to focus on, and that was that only 8 out of the 25 marketing blogs chose to include ads on their blog.
This got me thinking… Why don’t marketers like ads on their blogs?
It seems kind of silly at first doesn’t it? I mean, we’re the marketers, and we are the ones out there trying to get others to spew our marketing messages, yet, we don’t want to do it ourselves.
Perhaps we’re too snobby to think that we need ads? Or maybe we feel that ads cheapen our brand? But shouldn’t we practice what we preach?
From my feedback over the years, I’ve come to conclude the following about why marketers and bloggers don’t want ads on their blogs.
“I Don’t Put Ads On My Blog Because…”
1. My real estate is too valuable to give away.
2. I’m building my own brand and selling my own products/books, so why should I?
3. Ads are ugly, I hate them.
4. I can’t make any “real” money, so why bother?
5. I don’t want some ugly “dating-type” ads on my blog.
6. I don’t need too, I’m rich already (Seth/Guy).
And so on…
If you don’t have ads on your blog? Why not?
Tags: Advertising, Blogging, blogs, Jim_Kukral, marketers
Jim – as you did the analysis, why don’t you think marketers generally don’t put ads on their blogs?
My main reason? Of those you’ve identified, it’s #4. For all the visual dilution of the site an advertising section would create, I cannot imagine that it would really bring in any income. However, if a major car company wrote a check for $1 million so it could pop a few blurbs in the sidebar, I just might change my mind…!
I’ve tried ads on my blog but everyone in the advertising world knows how the system works. Result? Some well meaning people clicked on random links trying and low and behold, i now get totally random Google links on my site. What’s the point in putting up generic content with 1c clickthrough rates?
Another point to remember is that of independence. If i’m going to comment on great and poor advertising then maybe i should maintain my independence by not accepting advertising on my site?
When I visit a blog I look for solid content, thoughtful opinions, observations and great insights; which lead to trust and respect for the blogger. Put ads there, (especially google adsense) and that blogger becomes some barker on a corner selling ginzu knives.
Interesting question as I was just approached by an ad network about putting ads on The Viral Garden. Personally, I think it’s a trade-off. If the ads don’t dominate the blog, then I think most visitors are ok with them, and I tend to look at this from the visitor’s point of view. Also, as Steve said, I just don’t think most blogs would make enough money off the ads to make it worthwhile for them. If a couple of ads would only bring $50 a month, many bloggers won’t bother.
But when it hits $500 a month, I think it becomes an option. Again I think you have to balance out needing to make money from your blog, with ‘diluting’ the visitor experience. I don’t think a couple of small ads are a big deal, but when you concede your sidebar to advertisers, that can be a turnoff.
Jim,
I am consistent in my approach to advertising: I don’t run them on my blog, and I seldom recommend advertising to my clients. I believe other marketing tools deliver better ROI and profit margins for small- and mid-sized businesses.
Jim,
I am consistent in my approach to advertising: I don’t run them on my blog, and I seldom recommend advertising to my clients. I believe other marketing tools deliver better ROI and profit margins for small- and mid-sized businesses.
And one of those marketing strategies includes frequent and useful content on web sites and blogs, which is updated and changed regularly. The free content is the marketing tool and drives clients and customers to my clients (and to my business). However, it is my intent that the content helps others become more successful, whether or not they ever purchase any services from me. This space is far too short to explain why giving away free content is good business, but I bet most of our readers know the answer.
“It seems kind of silly at first doesn’t it? I mean, we’re the marketers, and we are the ones out there trying to get others to spew our marketing messages, yet, we don’t want to do it ourselves.”
.
I’m not working to have others spew messages, but use social media to listen to their markets so as to improve their products/services and better connect with customers/clients by offering content and programs that are of value to them. I think we look at it differently, Jim.
The ‘advertising’ on my blog is my ideas…being that my client projects are a reflection of my ideas (the strategies and programs I develop). Thusly I am, as you say, ‘practicing what I preach’. And I treat my readers to an ad-free site with content influenced only by my thoughts and what I learn from my work, feedback from my markets and of course the great lessons from all you smart marketers
And I don’t always advocate advertising (be it online or otherwise) for my clients…it’s case-specific.
@Pete, I gave you my list. For me though, I think it’s a combination of me not wanting to waste my valuable space for less value than I can achieve on my own.
In other words… I need better options.
CK, I’m just asking questions as I’m interested in hearing top marketer responses. I think we agree more than you know.
@Lewis, I get your point.
So Google Adsense ads are not the answer, we know that. The question is, for guys like Mack, who basically said it…
“That magic number $$$/month that makes me think that it might be worth it.”
I agree with that.
I run ads on my fly fishing blog because I’m deserve compensation for my efforts. My readers understand.
I don’t run ads on my copywriting and engagement marketing blogs because I’m already advertising my own brand. Why dilute it?
That doesn’t rule out running ads that my clients or readers might find useful, but there are so many useful media channels available beyond advertising…
my blog exists to generate ideas more than to generate income … that’s why I choose not to advertise anything besides “me.”
Oh, I guess I was confused by your saying “we spew messages, that it seemed silly not to have ads and that we should practice what we preach”…so I was answering your question–and just assuring you that I do practice my best practices. Make sense? Hope so
.
I don’t run ads because they’re not hyper-relevant to my readers and I can fill the space with content that is. If someone created a network where bloggers of related, trusted content could coop ads within a niche market, they I would consider it. Right now, I don’t want some hack get-rich-blogging offer to be inline with my content that I work hard to write. It detracts from my brand.
Perhaps marketing bloggers are sceptical about the effectiveness of such ads as a marketing tool and would feel hypocritical to be making money from them.
I may have missed this, but how is the worth of the blog calculated? Is it based on number of visitors?
Just curious.
To me its more the idea that the people who are more likely to read my blog would know if/when they are being targeted and probably wouldn’t appreciate it too much.
When I visit a site and see ads, I question the credibility of that business. If the business is as good as they claim, then the revenues from ads would be insignificant. I could not possibly trust my business relationship with someone who is struggling unless I am out to help that person. Or purchase a product or service from someone who may not be in business tomorrow.
The saying “Perception is not always a reality” may be true, for the business with other businesses ads (unless that is what they do), may by a viable and strong business but I do not have the time to do an in-depth research. My perception that instant is all the time I have and I move on.