Ads on Blogs

How do you feel about ads on blogs?

I don't like them. I, in fact, don't usually return to a blog that has ads on it.

Of course many people, myself included, started their blogs to bring their work farther out into the world. I didn't think of mine as a big ad, though. I thought of it as a way to share my work, my process and my thoughts on the whole art and business thing. As I've gotten more and more involved in blog land I have to admit that blogs seem like such personal little spaces, full of personality and spirit and I guess I hate to see that cluttered and confused with blatant commerciality.

As I write this I'm thinking of all the hard core business, marketing and financial blogs there are out there and how they are jammed with ads. As you might imagine I don't visit too many of them more than once. I feel a bit overwhemed and oversold to, if you know what I mean.

One of the things I really like about blogging is that it feels more like sharing than selling. I'm tired of all the marketing, advertising and selling, selling, selling we are being bombarded with every day, aren't you?

How do you feel about ads on blogs?

Comments

[hoganfe handbags]

This is a great post Mary! I get weekly requests and I so far have resisted having ads on my blog.

To me it is a sort of journal and a list of my latest designs -maybe some day down the road I will feel different.

mary

[Barbra]

I,too, have mixed feelings about ads. Loved reading your blog and whooped when I saw you live on Cape Cod? My absolute favorite place ever. Spent over 30 summers in North Truro.

[Kim]

Hi Mary,

This is a good question. I suppose I don't visit those heavy add blogs a lot, but I also recognize in the art world there are some artists who make a bit of a living by having ads on their blogs...so they might get a bit to purchase supplies or in some cases can write a particular type of blog in order to keep doing what they love to do (empty easel comes to mind). I do not particularly care for the blogs on sites which are associated with any particular business, though.

I think you are right, in a way blogs are little mini ways of selling our own ideas and thoughts. I never thought of it that way before. I am a very private person, so there is very little I express about my non-art life on my own blog.

This is a good topic to discuss, though.

Thanks Mary!

[Nancy]

Mary, thanks for bringing this subject up. It's one of my pet-peves. I detest advertising on blogs ... and I would never, ever consider doing this myself. I do visit one artists blog (occasionally)that has ads on it, but I mumble under my breath every time I visit.

[Suki]

Hi Mary. Although the blogs I often read don't have ads, at one point i wanted ads on my blog so that I might earn a bit of money as Kim suggests above. I never got beyond having Amazon though and no one ever bought a book I had listed so I never earned any money.

I think Carol of Paris Breakfasts has or at least had adds from Amazon. If you buy one of the things in her sidebar I think she gets a small amt of money. Purely business focused blogs though I dont read. I have to like what the blog is saying/like the blogger for me to read the blog to begin with and I think esp for artists I'm ok with them suggesting supplies they love and if I buy them by clicking then they get a bit of money. Be well, Susan

[Renee]

I agree!
I put tons of etsyminis on my blog
but no real commercial ads
stop by mary.

[Andrea]

Mary, I feel the same about ads on blogs. They are bugging me:)
And I'm bombarded with ads on the way to my parttimejob, as I take the metro and they want you stare at the big posters and you get influenced even if you try not to look at them! And the TV. I practise the "I'm ignoring them" but it is difficult!
Have a wonderful day
Andrea

[Mim Stella]

Hi Mary - I agree with the comments above, I don't like ads on blogs; I do like to see peoples recommendations for books or supplies, but that's it!

[forever young]

oh yes i totally agree with you, blogging is and should be personal and welcoming, not a commercial venture.hugs.

[Renee]

I don't like them either
I added blogger link and I'll add this one