I just clicked over to a blog I used to read frequently and the author had no less than 10 sponsors. I just find this odd, not to mention excessive. I don't really get the concept of having a sponsor for your blog.
Now I've done my share of sponsored giveaways, but I do find that different than having my blog sponsored by an actual company and having advertising space on my blog.
Anyone find this odd? Or am I just the grouchy old woman of the blog world?
23 comments:
my dad asked me the other day if I had ever thought of putting advertising space on my blog but that isn't what my blog is about. I hate the idea and think its tacky. I want to blog my life, make friends and hopefully give helpful advice to others, not have sponsors!
I'm with you on this. I can see if you have a few that's cool, but when your page is being over taken it's just crazy. I thought I'd try it out a while ago, but I just ended up getting rid of them because it didn't seem right to me.
I think it's dangerous. . . . Did you read about the High Fructose Corn Syrup blogging controversy of late? I wish I had some links. Google it. . .
They didn't receive sponsored money, but they did receive gift certificates. Were they bought? Probably. Were they taken advantage of? Likely. Did they know it? Probably not. They blindly repeated info from the industry . . . for a gift certificate.
It's dangerous.
Ads can be the same, IMHO.
Just my 2 cents.
D
LOL, no it seems kinda strange to me too.
I personally think it's silly. If you want money, make your writing good enough to write for a specific blog or website—unless you're someone like the pioneer woman, of course!
I think the only time that it makes sense/is acceptable is if you have a specific writing niche and are blogging as a profession (i.e. Pioneer Woman) (although, that opens an entire different can of worms re: their objectivity when discussing certain products). Otherwise, it makes you look ridiculous. If all you blog about is you dog, kids, work, what you did over the weekend, then you really don't need sponsors. In fact, I think it is just really silly.
I used to follow several blogs that now feel the need to have sponsors. That wasn't the sole reason I have stopped reading, though I would imagine that it is a symptom of the larger problem!
Z has asked me why I don't have sponsors, do product reviews or conduct giveaways on my blog. And while this is certainly my own opinion, I just feel like my blog is about me. And what I am interested in, doing, thinking about, etc. It's like why I think that designer bags/clothes/shoes etc with huge obvious logos are silly: I don't want to be someone else's billboard. If you want to advertise, spend some money on it. I'm not going to do it for you.
Frankly, I'm getting sick of the whole thing. It seems most bloggers anymore are just out to make money and get free things. So many of my favorite bloggers have turned their blogs into review after review after ad after ad... The "blog" has shifted from a personal journal type experience to a it's a part-time job type experience. It just seems weird to me...
I think part of the issue is that companies want to get on board with the whole social media trend, but many of them don't fully understand how to go about doing this. Instead of building their own communities,platforms, and forums, they're piggybacking off of pre-existing things like Facebook, blogs, Twitter, etc. I know that some organizations have been successful with this method, but based on what I've read, a majority of them have not seen their bottom lines explode. I'm with several other commenters--I'm always flattered to attract new followers, but my blog is about what *I* am interested in, not what someone else is paying me to be interested in!
On a slightly different note, I love that people do giveaways of crafts/art/objects they've made themselves!
Uh oh. My blog has ads. Why? because technology hates me so I just kinda push the buttons in the order the computer tells me to and That included the monetize tab. Well. I shall figure out how to remove them then. Thanks for the info, I had no idea that it was tacky... *blushes*
I'm with you, I've turned down some free merchendise and giveaway stuff because i couldn't honestly say I liked it. I'm not about to suck up to something let alone something that sucks.
I added MY Swagbucks banner to my blog, they aren't sponsoring me but I'm trying to get lots of Swagbucks so I can earn a few southwest gift cards. Swagbucks does not sponsor my blog and they only thing I would get is extra Swagbucks when people sign up through me to earn their own, maybe I should write a post about it to clear up any confusion...
I don't have a problem with ads on the blogs with thousands of page views that are a brand (like PW). I think it can get ridiculous when it's lots and lots of little ads. ESPECIALLY when they're not well designed to be harmonious with the page as a whole. A page with ads needs to be really well design to not be tacky.
On another note- I gave you a blog award today :)
Granted I just started blogging really my blog is more like a diary of my life. If I find a product we like will I share? Heck yeah but I've never even thought about getting paid for it.
I don't know. I figure, as much time as I put into this "hobby" which I work like a part-time job, if people are able to get paid for it, then good for them. I sure would like to. I also know people who are "sponsored" by other bloggers' etsy shops, which I think is a great way for small businesses to get their names out there.
I vote for Grouchy Old Woman. But I'm way older than you, so I can say that. : )
I agree with you. Ads take away the personal feel of a blog.
I wish I were significant enough to have sponsors! lol... but the ads can get a little busy & tacky. I would love to make a buck off of my blog, but sadly mine is just a journal that a few people check out from time to time!
I think it is one thing to have sponsors from an actual company-companies... And I totally wouldn't do that!
However, it is an entirely different thing to have sponsors from Other blogs, or etsy stores. I feel that if you do that it is helping you AND them. A win-win!
I personally do not like it. I find it strange.
I totally agree with you. I'm just not a fan of it. Especially when they do exclusive posts about their sponsors.
Hi! I'm a fellow military (Navy) wife and just stumbled upon your blog! I was actually googling about ad space on blogs and this post came up!
I think there's a big difference between a blog with unattractive AdSense ads that have nothing to do with either blogger or reader, and one with sponsors that are Etsy shops, or other small businesses. As an Etsy seller myself, I think it is a great way to support small businesses and also to share a lovely product or shop with your readers. Plus, for the amount of time I spend blogging, I know bigger blogs spend more time and why not make a few bucks for your time? I think sponsorship is a great thing!
Love your blog! Thanks for the thought-provoking post. :)
I Blog under my Small Business. I write about my business, the two Military Spouses Clubs I am a member of and vend for, stores I come across with great finds, all because I want to share. I always put hyperlinks in so people can go check out the place or item for themselves. I also started adding other Military Spouses Business information in my catalog, all for free. I don't take advertising money from them nor do I receive products. I started doing it to help other Military Spouses who own small business like me and have great products that are reasonably priced, to maybe get some new clients, since it is so hard to compete today with the Big Business stores. When I did the Adsense, I limited the number of adds and they always pertained to what I was talking about in my blog.I say if people want to make money, to each their own. I am just happy to share for free, great products from military spouses and women.
I'm with you, but then again I usually am. I don't so much get excessive ads on blogs, especially ones that, well, aren't very good. {See I'm getting really bitchy}
I'll do reviews, but it has to be for something that has a practical application to my life, something for the kids, the house, etc, oh and I do have a link for a flag company but well, I stand behind that one.
oh and can I add people who tweet ads to this list of bothers? Cause it seriously bothers me.
I wasn't trying to be snarky with my comment, I hope it didn't come across like that. You just reminded me that I really should do a post about swagbucks since I randomly added it a little bit ago.
*this comment is brought to you by Ford, drive excitement, drive a ford
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