27 June 2008

BlogHer Ads?

Seventeen weeks and three days (otherwise known as just over three months, or around one-third of a pregnancy, or one quarter of a year, or one season, or . . . ), when they were accepting applications, I applied to BlogHer Ads

I have been waiting ever since.

I check my status weekly. My application is always "being reviewed."

I have sent e-mails asking about my status. No reply.

I have held off putting up AdSense ads because I'd rather run BlogHer ads. I'm starting to rethink that.

I just found out that a friend of mine got approved by BlogHer in TWO DAYS despite the fact that they aren't even accepting applications right now.

So here's my question: who out there has experience with BlogHer ads? Am I doing something wrong? Did I piss someone off? I'd just like to run some damn ads already.

Crabbily yours,
Snickollet

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love your blog... but what's the point of running ads? I work in marketing and am relieved that I'm not subjected to that when I come to your site. Please please please clue me in...

Kate said...

beth b, I imagine the point of the ads is the revenue they provide. Snick spends a fair bit of time crafting thoughtful, intelligent posts, and I for one would be relieved to know she was being compensated, in a small way, for her time.

Anonymous said...

I also was approved in just a couple of days. For what it's worth- you can run both. Blogher just wants the ads to be located in a certain section. So, I have mine on the sidebar.
Check your spam mail... the newsletter always ends up there for some reason. Maybe it's going there? Dunno.
Also, have you ever been flagged as having objectionable content?

Snickollet said...

Beth B.:

I have long resisted running ads. However, as Kate pointed out, I do devote a significant chunk of time to writing for and maintaining my site, and I'm looking for ways to make freelance writing a part of my income.

If I wrote these pieces for a magazine, I would be compensated by the magazine. Because I write them for the Web, I have to find my own ways to be compensated for them should I choose to do so, and that is all I'm trying to do.

Like you, I feel constantly assaulted by ads and information, and I've been resistant to the idea. I hope that I can run ads in a way that will not be terribly intrusive or disruptive to the content of my blog. If that turns out not to be the case, I will rethink my decision.

-snickollet

Snickollet said...

Andria:

I'm not sure I've ever been flagged or being objectionable--how would I know?

Thanks,
-snick

Katrina said...

It took me a couple weeks. I think it was 16 weeks before I actually got the ad code for my blog. =)
and they aren't great about answering emails...

Sally said...

Hope you hear from them soon, but as someone else said, I've also seen other types of ads along with blogher. I know it must be difficult raising two children on your own, and the extra income would be most welcome I'm sure.

Mouthy Girl said...

I got nothing.

Anonymous said...

This has nothing to do with ads. . . but looking at your little icon when you comment here, I was reminded of your tattoo. You may have decided that it is too personal and powerful a story to share, but if not, I for one am clamoring for the tattoo story!

Gillian

IdleMindOfBeth said...

My guess is that the delay is that BlogHer Conf is just around the corner, and staff is likely clamoring for all the last minute stuff.

I remember it took me a while to get approved & get the ad code as well.

If you want a direct email for someone there, leave me a comment on my blog & I'd be glad to send it to you. (Don't know if you can email me thru my blogger profile or not... if you can, go for it!)

Steph said...

I found your blog through Lit and Laundry. I just started running BlogHer ads on my own blog, and I run AdSense, too. So far, no issues - you just can't have "graphic" ads that "compete" with the BlogHer stuff. So go ahead and sign up for AdSense, if you want. :)

Also? I wrote a post about the whole "To monetize or not" dilemma a while back. Rather than rehash it here, I'll just post the link to my post. http://quirkyblogger.com/2008/04/11/ads-on-blogs/ (To sum up, I'm pro-monetizing.)

Googling Goddess said...

I was finally accepted, but I've never received any $$$ from it. You're not missing out on much. Unless your readers like to click more than mine do. If that's the case, can you send them my way?!?

Sharon Bartlett said...

I read a blog called Uppercase Woman.
She's here: http://www.uppercasewoman.com/

She also has a "tip jar" (all her readers responded with a hearty "YES" when someone suggested it to her -- and she's gotten enough help to go to the BlogHer Conf. I remember when you considered a tip jar, but then you never followed through. Anyway, check it out - I don't know how long it took her to get BlogHer ads, and I don't know if she's making any money from them. But you could ask...

Anonymous said...

Put ANY kind of ad up there that generates revenue Snick. Blogher or whatever. I myself would be happy to click happy if it meant more $ for you and the family..

Anonymous said...

I am clicker happy, so by all means "ad" away.... I am a mom of twins as well, about a month younger than yours. I am alone most of the time as DH is a long haul trucker and gone for about a month a time, and home for 4 days and gone again.... so I am completely relating to your twin struggles.

I would be happy to "tip" as well... which ever way you go, know I will be clicking and tipping!


I am also originally from the Boston area, and when you post about the city, it takes me home. Even if only for a minute.

Anonymous said...

I would email someone or try again. Sometimes things get lost and fall through the cracks there. I had to wait one time when I used to run them. And it was because they had realized they hadn't sent out an email.

The Fam said...

Hey, bub. Saw these guys at the Book Expo and thought of you. Dunno anything about your clicks + stuff, so don't know if it's actually useful or not. But the ladies seemed to be very nice.

http://www.blogads.com/publisher_html

(Apologies in advance if this info's bogus.)

Anonymous said...

I really think you must have just fallen through the cracks. The women I've e-mailed with have all been very friendly and responsive to my questions.

Let me know if you want to be put in contact with one of them. Just leave a comment on my blog.

Also, BlogHerAds are not by clicks, but by page views. And if your revenue doesn't reach a certain amount (I think $25?), they don't send a check till it does.

Threeundertwo said...

Mine went through in a few days, so I agree with the suggestion that you just try again.

The money isn't huge, but the exposure can be. If you look at the bottom of the BlogHer ad on a site, it lists 4 posts from 4 different BlogHerAd blogs. They rotate every day. You can potentially expose your blog to a very large audience.

Of course, the day mine ran, the post they picked was "How to make chex mix" which not many people clicked on - I should have called it "How NOT to make chex mix." Live and learn.

Threeundertwo said...

One other thought -- they run regional ads. It may be that they needed people in my region and don't currently need one in yours. Just a guess.

Becky said...

The good thing about BlogHer ads is that they pay based on the number of page impressions. Adsense only pays you if people click on your ads, which they pretty much never do. I have both now (as you know ... sorry! I have no idea why they are ignoring you! Your blog would be perfect for BlogHer.), and I usually make ZERO cents a day from AdSense. You could try putting them up until you hear back from BlogHer, but I find Adsense pretty pointless.

Anonymous said...

I don't know how much traffic you get, but you'd probably be better off with affiliate links versus AdSense OR BlogHer ads. If you find a product you like, put up a review and use an affiliate link for the product. Companies like Commission Junction or Amazon make it pretty easy to get your links, Amazon especially, although they don't pay as much as some of the CJ stores. I think you're more likely to find readers that are interested in the same products as you are, than people who are willing to click on your AdSense ads.

carolinagirl79 said...

Yes, I've been very happy with Blogher ads. But I also have Adsense ones. Took me 3 years to get my first check, b/c they don't send a check till you get to $100.00. I got a Blogher check in like 2 months for $30.00 I think.

Put up anything you like and I'll click away. Would you visit me sometimes too? (winsome smile)

Anonymous said...

Oh! I'm so sorry about the delay! I just this minute put up your ad code. We've been a bit slow this month for a few reasons - one is the upcoming conference. It seems like it should all be an easy process, but because we have to look at everyone's blog individually and then process paperwork to pay y'all, it can take a while. If you have any problems with the code and your template, please let me know.

And, I'm glad I know from this that you didn't get a response - I will take a look at why!

- Liz
liz@blogher.com