Some may say “I’ve gone to the Dark Side”: I say, “I’ve seen the light!”
A Canadian Foodie Monumetric remains to be seen, but clearly, you can see the change everywhere on my site – or can you? Did you notice there are 5 ads on this page today? This was a huge step. I have been too busy and too lazy to learn too much about how to advertise ethically, and very concerned about my reader experience to advertise at all. Until now.
Josh from Monumetrics reached out. He said he would hold my hand. He said I would have control of my advertising and ad placement to protect my reader experience. He said I would make money. I need money to pay for this site, particularly now that I am retired and particularly now that I am turning my local Thermomix business over to my daughter. So, I am in. And, for those of you that know me. When I am in, I am in.
I listened to Josh. What you see here is the starter package. The starter package! I have no intention to have more advertising than this. I feel good about A Canadian Foodie Monumetric though. I am actually excited about it, yet I have had some terrible experiences as a reader with advertising interfering with my reading pleasure. If that happens to you, I want to know. The images in this post may be more annoying than the advertisements on the page! Inquiring minds always want to know. Everything.
I am also concerned about the advertisements not aligning with my food philosophy. Of course. Yet, the only way I will be able to make it work is let it happen and then tweak as we go. I decided to do that. I do not want to be a hypocrite, of course. Yet, I have held out for so so long waiting for a company that can “fit my food and lifestyle philosophy” into their ad packages, and this is the best I have found. “See what we get and then iron out the wrinkles.” I can work with that. My readers know me, what I believe in and what I promote. I am writing this so you also understand where I am at with this process.
Let me know what you think in the comments section below. Had you even noticed that I had not ever supported advertising, or had you noticed?
Until then, this is very new to me. Very different and I didn’t want you to click on a link to ACF and find it is no longer the quiet refuge it has always been. I hope, even with this advertising, that ACF will still be that for you.
Let’s see how it goes. A Canadian Foodie Monumetric …. rear your head!
I haven’t visited your blog too much, but I can always tell the different right away with people who run ads vs people who don’t. BUT, I also work in advertising! Haha. So I think my brain is trained. That being said your blog fits ads very well and I don’t think it takes away from the user experience. Advertising is a great way to help make money so you can continue to run your blog and put out great content. Eventually people will get used to it. 🙂
-Emily http://www.coatandcoffee.com
I don’t like ads any where and reading something on sites now has become a game off scrolling past them to read the content. I click them off and say the ad blocks content when possible I don’t watch much TV because of commercials and the Internet is getting the same way. I don’t know the expense to running the site Valerie but if the ads are to one side great I totally don’t like the ones in between the content. Time will tell I guess, you are a great writer and your blog is interesting and informative.
Did you find ads between the content, Wendy? I specifically did not have any put there as I completely agree with you. I had 5 implemented, as apparently that is minimum. I was actually surprised at how nonintrusive it was to me…I expected the ads to be in my face, but found myself actually looking for them… except for the floating one at the bottom that you click to close… I had 5 implemented. One at the very top. One on the side bar. One floating at the bottom and 2 inside my post – both at the bottom after the post is complete. If you see them anywhere else, please let me know. It is THIS experience I am asking you about… as well. Did you notice a huge change today with the ads. Was it a turn off or did it still feel like you were able to enjoy your read without interruption? Cost to run a site like mine monthly hosting fees, site fees, back up fees only about 150 a month. I would like to make enough to cover those fees and pay for my “hobby” especially as I am now retired! Very interested to see what you say here and thanks so much for the feedback thus far.
🙂
Valerie
The ad floating at the bottom is really annoying and there is no option to remove it some sites have a little X in the top right hand corner to remove the ad. Other than that if this covers your cost I guess this is something I need to accept looking and reading anything on the net. I hope I am not the only one giving you feed back and I will check on the site and let you know from time to time if I notice something different. I hope the ads inside the blog don’t stagger the reading either which I saw when I first saw the page yesterday but not so today. This isn’t stop me from reading your blog Valerie ♥
Hi Wendy!!!
There should never ever ever be ads inside a post – thank you Wendy for letting me know – there is an X on the ad at the bottom and I have asked for the X to be enlarged as it is there – but even when I click it, I miss it… and don’t like that – if you are ever seeing anything inside of my post – please let me know immediately, as they do have control of my site for ads – that is why I wrote this post- but I have them guarantee me there will only be 5 ads – one above my name – one floater with an X to close it – one on the side bar – and TWO inside the post – but BOTH on the bottom after the post is read before you would write a comment….
This was a big decision – and no, others are giving me feedback too – but not so specifically, so I really appreciate this.
HUGS
V
I am confused you said there should never be ads inside the post but then you said there will be two, might be a typo.
Sorry Wendy – yes, inside the post – but after it is completed – at the bottom – to not interfere with the reading experience, but before the comments = there are two – my thought process was that it wouldn’t interfere… yours?
🙂
I totally agree w last comment about ads between the content being offensive. It turns my attention completely off .
I understand the financial need but think the between content placing is too much compromise.. go with the side bars.. much less distracting
I completely agree, too, Karina, and appreciate your feedback. I did not put ads between the content and if you found any there, let me know! It drives me nuts, too…. How are you finding your experience here, with these ads, now?
🙂
V
Thank you for sharing your thought process as you transition. I want you to have support to keep this site going as you are a great source of connection for your industry. So if some advertising dollars would support you – go for it. I do not find the ads obtrusive, but I too work in advertising and my brain skip around things I don’t find pertinent.
Thanks, Janet,
Appreciate your feedback. In three days, I have made 15.00 doing nothing differently than I usually do. Apparently, that is nothing in this business, and low as the glitches need to be worked out when starting out… but 5 dollars a day is nothing to laugh about for a retired gal. I’ll take it, and it will only get better… as long as my reader experience remains positive. Honestly, I had to look for the ads. I was surprised at how unobtrusive they were compared to so many places – with the exception of the floating one in the bottom. That is a problem for me, but we’re working on it.
🙂
Valerie