I am now running ads on Strocel.com. I decided to join the BlogHer advertising network on a whim some time back. I got on their waiting list and then I sort of forgot about it. Until they contacted me a few weeks ago to let me know that I had a place if I wanted it.
I waffled back and forth. Here are the downsides to advertising I considered:
1. Ads can be distracting and/or unattractive.
2. I might not agree with or endorse every advertiser on my blog.
3. I don’t want to alienate anyone.
4. It feels weird to run advertising alongside my kids’ photos, as if I’m using them to sell something.
5. The income generated through blog ads is quite small.
Here are the upsides to advertising:
1. It’s completely passive income, and it requires almost nothing from me that I’m not already doing.
2. My lay-off will be finalized in mid-August and every little bit helps.
3. The BlogHer network supports bloggers, and includes links to my posts and other bloggers’ posts with each ad.
4. Blog advertising is very commonplace now, it doesn’t bother me, and I assume most people would agree.
5. I have the option of declining to participate in certain campaigns, and can choose not to run ads for certain products or companies.
6. The only way I’m really going to know how ads work is to try them. I can pull them off if it goes badly.
In the end, clearly, I decided to run the ads. No one (well, almost no one) gets rich from blog ads. I know this. But I also know that making any amount of money, however small, feels important to me right now. It feels like I am at least contributing a token amount to my household. And maybe I can save the money and make some site upgrades down the line.
The other big deciding factor for me was the community nature of the network. BlogHer as an organization works to support women bloggers, and foster a blogging community. It’s an idea I can certainly get behind. And their advertising network is no different. I like that bloggers’ posts are included in the ad. I like reading what other people have to say, I like the communal nature.
What I write about won’t change. There are no limits placed on me, other than some rules about participating in other ad campaigns or promotions. I remain free to share my dislike of the Disney princesses or to talk politics. I am not being paid for what I write, one way or the other. Although I did tick the little ‘doesn’t use profanity’ box, so now I suppose my use of expletives will drop right off.
Of course, you are free to disagree with my decision. And I am open to hearing what you have to say for or against advertising. I want to be transparent, to let you know what I’m doing and why. It means more to me to know that people are out there reading along than anything, and I hope that you continue to do that. Even if I totally sell out. 
I love that you are exploring new and creative ways to increase your profile as a "new writer" and linking to a new community of bloggers. Way to go.
I was about to post that I didn't notice the ads anyway, until the one about cosmetic dentistry came on…maybe you could eliminate that one!I appreciate that you thought about it and then made a conscious decision. It's definitely a values conflict for you and I can understand why. In the end, it's up to you and what the rest of us think is not as important. Going by your own compass always takes courage, doesn't it?I'm fine with it, Amber. (Could read Joan's comment but not the other 3 mentioned. Do you have to be registered or something?)
The other comments are on the original post on my blog. To get there from Facebook click 'View Original Post'.
PS – The ads you see in Facebook aren't mine, they're Facebook's. I think that might be where the cosmetic dentistry one came from.
Having ads is not a big deal. I don’t think people even notice them anymore. At least I know I don’t.
But since you specifically wrote about having them on your page, I did notice an ad for baby bottles, which I thought was funny since I know you’re a strong supporter of breast feeding.
Whatever is right for you. I personally don’t run ads because I blog for fun. That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t consider it in the future, but for now it’s just not for me.
I don’t think it is selling out. I put ads on right when I started (google ads because they are easy) and figured why not. If people don’t want to look at them they can ignore them.
Like you i’m not heading back to work after mat leave (must blog about that) so I figure every little bit helps. It will buy me an iced latte on those days I really need it.
Makes sense – I don’t view it as selling out! I ran google ads on my blog for awhile and after a month I had only had 2 people click on them and made a whopping .26 cents. Of course I don’t think Google is going to cut me a check for that – so I just took the ads down. I hope you have more success!
I’m just surprised that you’ve been blogging for so long without ads!
You ain’t no sell out!
I always wondered how to set that up, but only a little, since there are probably only 4 people that read my blog.
So you know… It does not effect my enjoyment of your writing….
Well, I tend to ignore everything on the sides of the blog anyway – I am only curious to see what other blogs my favorite bloggers have. I totally understand your desire to get at least some income in, and it will be the first step on the way to your new potential writing career.
click click click!
They don’t bother me at all. I wish all of us could make a little bit extra $ while having fun blogging
Your content is what stands out (and it’s great!) not the ads on the side.
I am all for selling out — no one ever wants to buy anything I have, though. Plus, the no profanity thing would pretty much rule me out
. You go girl. I’m pretty sure ads will work as well on me in blogs as they do on tv, which is to say not a lot, since even when I like a commercial I can never remember what it’s for. If you can make a few bucks, more power to you. Oh wait, do you get more money if we click on them? Let me know, I’ll click away.
I don’t think its selling out – I think its just the way things are right now. And hey at the moment people want to talk to us moms but also as you said every little helps and I think thats the most important thing!
Oddly, I don’t seem to see the ads. Maybe I need to refresh a cache?
Lots of ladies I read have BlogHer Ads. The only ads that I mind are posts that start out like personal stories but turn out to be paid-for product placement. When something is clearly an ad, no problem!
I’m all for selling out- unfortunately, what I can buy with the ad money I get is usually a whopping coffee every few days, but I suppose it’s better than nothing. Kind of.
When I first started blogging, I thought about how I might earn some money from something that I love to do . . . isn’t that what many working people strive for? Some ads earn your site more than others; eventually I pulled everything and nowadays I have placed one or two along with my etsy shop.
So long as the companies advertised line up with your values, I do not consider advertising alongside your posts to be anything of a “sell out.”
Being on maternity leave and receiving less than half my income has put a strain on our disposable income. I run ads to pay for my blog which I love doing. Every bit helps like you say. Any upgrade or additions I make to my blog comes from the income (the very little amount) that the blog makes. This way, it doesn’t have to come from the household income.
Hi there Amber! It’s me catching up tonight with my favorite blogs
I think that the fact that you are so upfront about it it wonderful and in no way are the ads going to detract from the blog.
And now I will click one… (but then I will come back to finish catching up