When I first started blogging, I did it as an outlet, something fun to do away from the kids. As a stay at home mom, I found myself trapped in a world of baby talk, mommy talk, and no form of adult conversation during the day. I was burning up my cell phone talking to my mom and knew there had to be something else to do! Enter blogging!
As time went on, I entered not only the blogging world, but started hosting reviews and giveaways. I thought it would be a fun way to get some free products and also give me a chance to write my opinions. I knew little to nothing about advertising and hadn't even tried Google Ad Sense, though several had recommended it to me. I just wasn't sure about A.) How much money it would even bring, if any. B.) How it would look with the rest of my blog and my theme.
I've been blogging for almost 2 years now (really, has it been that long?) and things have definitely changed, not only on my blog, but on several others. I've noticed several blogs that once focused on writing go completely over to an ad-central and new blogs that begin immediately with $$ in mind. It starts out with writing a few paid posts, then others paying for ad space. Then, you start adding posts with your paid affiliate links. Seriously, when does it end? Or does it end?
There has to be some kind of in between. Do bloggers just get swept up in the glory of making money? Does the focus completely shift from being a hobby to being a career? It just seems that there really is only so much our readers can take before they hit those buttons to unfollow. I know I've hit those buttons recently for a few blogs that have just overdone it.
What do you think as a reader? As a blogger?
3 comments:
This is something that has been on my mind a lot. I've had a blog for 5 years, and I've often thought of finding ways to make money from it. What holds me back is seeing blogs that have morphed from a personal blog to ads/reviews/giveaways. I know I follow many blogs pretty much for giveaways, and I knowI don't want to have a readership full of people who don't actually read my blog. I definitely waffle on it, both for myself and for other blogs. If a blog has too little personal/informative posts, I tend to overlook the few that they have.
I think there can be balance, but I don't really know how that would be achieved. I certainly haven't figured it out enough to want to dive in with the rest of the mommyblogging for profit crowd. All the awesome gear that I see bloggers getting to review is really appealing when I could really use some of that gear, too, but I don't know if "selling out" my voice as a blogger is worth it.
I think it just depends on everyone's personal situation. I know of at least 5 blogs I have read for a long time that have always been ad/paid post free until their spouses lost their jobs. With large families and a commitment for mom to be home and homeschool, they started doing sponsored content and ad services, and were very upfront about why they were doing so. I don't think it's selling out, I think it's doing what you need to do to support your family.
I started accepting ads and sponsored posts on my new blog right away. I had stopped blogging for a while because I needed more time to care for my special needs son and home-school him. Once we got on track, I started blogging again when I have spare moments of time. For us, we need the extra money to cover medical expenses. I can't leave him to work outside the home, so my blog is my "part time job". I have been open about it, and I try to include any applicable real life stories or situations into as many paid posts or affiliate posts as I can.
The blog I started has 3 reviews a week (stuff I love, stuff I don't love, and books) - but they aren't paid reviews, it's just what my blog is about. But I also add personal posts, highlight other blogs and shops, point out good charitable causes, and host the occasional giveaway. I don't make money on anything (though I think I've added adsense to a couple blogs - hasn't made me anything yet), but I do post reivews because I want other parents to learn from my experience. I do know, though, that I have also joined my fair share of blogs just as an extra entry into a giveaway, and I sometimes feel cheated if I see a review has been 'paid' by a company - I wonder if it's a true assessment or not. Anyway, I'm rambling, but that's just my 2 cents.
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