A while ago, NicoleandMaggie had a post on whether to monetize their blog or not (sorry, I can't find it). If I remember correctly, they decided not to do it because it would be more effort than they are willing to put on it. The discussion was interesting, though, since it ranged from people who said s/he didn't like blogs with ads because they were distracting, to moral issues such as what would you be advertising, etc. I know that the ethical aspect of monetizing a blog is more of an issue in the so-called "mommy blogs" and in the personal finance blogs, which are more likely to be contacted directly by advertisers. In the personal finance blogs, would you accept direct advertising from a payday loan, with their predatory rates? In the so-called "mommy blogs", would you do sponsored posts extolling the virtue of a product you don't really like? Also, is there a difference between sponsored posts, links in the text, direct advertising, etc?
I had always read these discussions as an outsider, and was fascinated by them. As you can all see, I monetize my blog in two different ways. I have Google Adsense (from which I earned an incredible $5.37 in August and $27.83 since I started the blog), and I run an affiliate program with Amazon (where last month was actually amazing, thanks to a reader that ordered a lot of films through my links. The profits will be wisely invested in more books, I promise). I know people come to my blog for my posts, and I doubt anybody cares about the fact that I monetize the bolog, the Google Adsense or even the aesthetic of the blog (which I know could be better). I've never been bothered by Google Adsense in other blogs, or direct advertising (I just don't click on it), but I always thought that I wouldn't personally take direct advertising from a payday loan, since I've seen first hand the wreckage they do on poor communities. All these came back again because to my great surprise, a few weeks ago, I received an offer to place a link to a website in an old post I've written. It is to a website that is an online aggregator of online and for-profit education (no, it is not this website, I put the link for free because I was interested in the discussion of the list of books). It wasn't a lot of money (but it was more than what I've done with Google Adsense so far), but I thought over it for a few days. I finally said no, because it went against everything I believe regarding education. On the other hand, I have Google Adsense, and I know they place those kind of advertisements. Somehow, I don't have a problem with it. I feel like the reader can just ignore the ad, and I didn't choose it. However, somebody could ask me why shouldn't I receive more money from this kind of ads, since I would basically be cutting the middle man. I know personal finance blogs and "mommy-blogs" are different in another way, too, that many bloggers derive significant income from those blogs while for me, this is just a platform to write about things I'm interested in (but I don't mind if a little money comes along, obviously).
So what do you think? Does it make sense to you? Am I being contradictory or hypocritical? What is your approach to monetizing (or making a little money) out of your blog? Do you think that it somehow changes the value of a blog if you see that it's being monetized? What are your personal stories regarding the issue? What is your take on monetizing a blog?
I tend to agree with your ambivalence. I don't mind the current ads on your website. For the most part, I ignore them. But I would be offended by "payday loan" ads. Ethical decisions are seldom made based on a rigid ideology. When they are, I become very scared of the person. Why would my grandkids need a grandfather if I could be replaced with a computer ethics program? The ambivalence is what makes all of us human.
ReplyDeleteNow that I'm on WordPress, I'm not allowed to put advertisement on the blog (except the existing SkimLinks). But I keep getting emails offering me money (actually, pretty good money) to write fake posts extolling a product and pretending I just genuinely enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteOf course, I always refuse such offers adamantly. Once, an offer was for a product I own and actually happen to love. But, of course, I couldn't write a post praising it and concealing from my readers the fact that I was being paid to do so.
I'm just wondering if there are people who agree, take the money, and write the fake posts.
@Diego: sometimes, I actually click on ads (not on my blog, obviously) oh things I really dislike. That way, the company has to pay more money for the advertising.
ReplyDelete@Clarissa: I doubt that (writing a glowing review of something and not disclosing you are being paid to do it) happens to often in academic blogs. In other kind of blogs, i'm not so sure. I don't see anything wrong in writing a review of something you like because they pay you, as long as you disclose it's a sponsored post. For me to do it, it would have to fit with the overall kind of posts I usually write. I wouldn't write a great review of a body lotion, even if it's the only one I use, because it's not a good match and I would risk alienating readers.
Of course, if you disclose what you are doing, that is perfectly fine. The problem is that nobody with a WordPress.com blog can do it because this would make WordPress close your blog in an instant. This is why these offers are made to me to write a fake post.
ReplyDeleteNow I'm kind of wary of writing reviews for my favorite restaurants because I don't want WordPress to think I'm being paid for it and ban my blog.
You are right, I hadn't thought of that. In my case, I don't think I fit the target of anybody who would be willing to sponsor a post that I would have no ethical problem with. If only an online beauty store would be willing to do it, in exchange for me saying what my skincare routine that gets rid of all my problems is... that's something I would accept.
ReplyDeleteI didn't even notice that your blog had ads until I read this post and actually looked for them. This happens to me all the time, which is why I must be the worst internet as consumer ever. I think you should just assume you are ethical and do what your ethics tell you.
ReplyDelete@SK: haha... Now I've lost all my hope to ever become rich with this blog.
ReplyDeleteI just got an email from someone about advertising a site that promotes going to graduate school. All I'd have to do is "put a link in an older post." Huh???? advertise going to graduate school on MY blog? I just wonder what these people are thinking sometimes. I'll admit, it's pretty funny to see all the pro grad school ads over at 100 Reasons NOT to Go to Graduate School, but I don't want that garbage on my blog. I see the blog as a place to say whatever I want to say however I want to say it, and ads would be ... well, saying something else, a clutter of words and images and links that, given what would most likely be advertised on my blog, would completely contradict my own words and images and links.
ReplyDeleteOn other people's blogs, I just ignore them.
@recent Ph.D: I would go to 100 Reasons NOT to Go to Graduate School, and click on those ads, just to make the advertisers pay more. That's what I usually do when I visit Daily Kos and see advertising for a right wing politician. But I completely understand what you are saying, and besides, your blog looks much better than mine!!!!
ReplyDeleteI didn't notice the ads until this post either, and I'm a huge Internet consumer. However, I rarely pay attention to online ads - I just don't see them. Therefore, I don't mind them at all :) It's print and tv ads for me. I think you should go with your ethical gut on this one.
ReplyDeleteOh, I already said no. I don't watch TV, but a good ad in a glossy magazine can convince me of a lot of things.
ReplyDelete