Riyannes last blog post..June 2008 Blog Income Report
Are you blind when it comes to seeing ads on websites? Do you just read the content and not even see the ads? This was me before I started to run AdSense on this site.
I would just surf along ignoring ads left and right. I did not need to run any specialize ad blocker for fire fox. I would just naturally turn a blind eye to any advertising. In fact I do the same thing while watching television. I even have an entire strategy for not watching commercials while watching TV.
I find the program I want to watch, then I find another one that interests me and quickly turn the channel there. Then I can use the last button on my remote to switch between the two. When commercials start on the program I am watching I quickly turn to the other program. Most times this works well and I end up watching a bare minimum of commercials. Sometimes I get caught and there are commercials at the same time for both programs. It is then that I drive any one else watching TV with me nuts by channel surfing.
I think this is a pretty common thing out there with people. You see the advertisements just do not provide any value for you. So you do other things while they are on or don’t even watch them at all. This was generally my mode d operandi while surfing the web too. Then I decided it would be nice to make a few bucks from this blog and I installed Google’s AdSense. Like many people new to AdSense I would check my stats every couple hours only to be disappointed that I had not made any money.
Then came the day I had few clicks and made a whopping $0.45. I was excited and over joyed, even though I hadn’t made enough to buy a cup of coffee. That’s when I started to think about these ads in a whole new light. I thought to myself if this made me excited I bet it would make another blogger excited. Plus what really is Google selling from my site with these ads. It was then that I resolved I would from now on click on an ad if the site it was displayed on interested me.
Clicking on these ads actually gave me a really good feeling. To me, I feel as though I am rewarding the blogger for a good post by clicking on their ads. Kind of like giving them a tip. An Adsense publisher cannot come out and ask you to click on their ads, its a big Google no no. Almost as bad as clicking on your own ads. So you will never see an author asking you click on their ads. But let me tell you by doing so, you are showing your support for that author. Plus what does it cost you? Just a bit of your time and who knows you may even find some great deals.
I live in a small town and there is really no where to buy computer hardware. So I am used to having to order it online. Well I have noticed I am actually saving money by clicking through these ads on websites I frequent. Hopefully this is generating more revenue for the blog owners that I find the ad on. In order to spread the wealth I have changed how I buy computer hardware. First after I identify what I need/want I will research it to make sure it is indeed what I am after. Then I will check prices and write them down in my note pad (I always have a notepad on my desk). During my daily surfing if I find ads for these items, or ads for places that sell these items I will check the price. If I come up with a good price I will use that online merchant to make my purchase. There by giving some revenue to the blog or site I was reading when I found the ad.
I don’t know maybe I am crazy or just turning into a hippie as I age. But I really like the idea of supporting the blogging community this way. My father was a small business man and during summer break from school I would accompany him to work. My father and a bunch of his friends who were also small business men got together every morning for coffee. It was a community of small business men, and they supported each other. If one sold an item the other needed, they would always buy from with in their community. My father would tell me that you have to support the community if you want the community to support you. Basically what goes around, comes around. That is what I feel I am doing by clicking on ads and buying items from them with in the blogging community.
Hey maybe I am nuts. I am really interested in what you, other bloggers, think on this issue. Please leave a comment with your thoughts.
Just a note: I have been going over my notes on how to optimize Google Adsense and will be starting a series of posts on what I have learned. Not that I am an expert, but hopefully some of the tips I have picked up can help others too.
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10 responses so far ↓
1
Nicole (Who am I?)
// Jan 17, 2008 at 9:17 am
I don’t watch TV - I watch DVD
And yes, I’m pretty much blind to advertisements.
Blinky ones let me also put my sunglasses on for extra protection
BUT, from time to time one catches my eye and I DO click.
So,…., maybe I’m not that blind after all
2
Leon (Who am I?)
// Jan 17, 2008 at 2:03 pm
That’s rather nice of you. I’ll start “tipping” bloggers too, starting with you.
Leon’s last blog post..My blog’s reading level
3
Ben (Who am I?)
// Jan 17, 2008 at 5:21 pm
I kind of thought about this after I hit publish. It may sounds as though I am desperately pleading for ad clicks.
I am not really, it was just something that I caught myself doing the other day. Who knows maybe by spreading some good karma some will come my way.
4
Pam Hoffman (Who am I?)
// Jan 17, 2008 at 10:26 pm
Wow, that is a really good point!
I run around pretty scared of getting too click happy - in case I accidently start clicking on my own site!
I like your idea though and I think I will start working on that.
I’m not in the market for anything at the moment. I AM curious about a lot of things in the world though.
Thank you for the thoughts you express. I’m looking forward to your series on how to optimize for google ads too!
See you later,
Pam Hoffman
http://seminarlist.blogspot.com
5
ax associate (Who am I?)
// Jan 17, 2008 at 10:32 pm
I do pay attention to ads on the web. They helped me discover quite a bit of great stuff out there. I do not see ads as an annoying sales tool.
As for ads on TV, some do caught my attention. The thing is I usually watch the TV with my laptop on. I would have like 70% on the show and 30% on my laptop. When it comes to commercial breaks, naturally almost all my attention would be diverted to the laptop.
By the way, I like your example of a business community.
ax associate’s last blog post..X++ Relational Operators
6
David Bradley (Who am I?)
// Jan 18, 2008 at 3:31 am
Not only am I ad-blind, but I wear goggles that filter out ads - they’re called NoScript and AdBlockPlus and they work in Firefox, check out my post on Firefox addons to annoy advertisers
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David Bradley’s last blog post..Disadvantages of Running Multiple Blogs
7
Steve (Who am I?)
// Jan 19, 2008 at 1:16 pm
I like how you phrased it…”tipping” the blogger. I usually will scan over the ads, to see if there is anything “new and interesting”, though often it seems to be the same 4-5 ads over and over. I do look at the ads generated by my posts (though I never click on them), just to see what Google tends to pick out to match with relevant ads.
Steve’s last blog post..Free movie rental
8
turnip (Who am I?)
// Jan 19, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Remember, some ads are pay per click and some aren’t. Google referral ads give nothing unless you complete some action.
9
Ben (Who am I?)
// Jan 19, 2008 at 5:33 pm
That is very true, and I am not saying that this will work for every site. But it is something I still do.
10
BioTecK (Who am I?)
// Jan 20, 2008 at 9:26 am
I’m not blind. Actually I love good commercials, and some ads on the net! I try to help the author of a good site (with good content) with a couple of clicks!
BioTecK’s last blog post..Reopen Closed Tabs in Firefox
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