Jun 25
Sellout With Me Oh Yeah
Like the title? Of course it’s inspired by Reel Big Fish’s huge hit, “Sell Out“. So last Friday I signed up at Pay Per Post and it has really given me a cause for a pause. I thought about it a lot before I signed up, and I’m still thinking about it now after I have. Here’s the problem: I take pride in my site and the content I serve up. Furthermore, I feel a certain responsibility to my readers and newfound friends on here, and I kind of feel that by using Pay Per Post for some quick bucks is a slap in their faces and will turn people off from coming here. Let me explain…
When I first started this blog it just to try out something new and because my old website was basically the same thing as this, but more work for me since it wasn’t supported by Wordpress (I had to archive things myself/manually which was a pain in the a$$). But then I got Wordpress up and running and I suddenly realized HOW MUCH EASIER Wordpress made things in terms of updating the site and I quickly found myself updating it everyday. … That’s when I found out I had become a blogger.
Not too long after that, people I didn’t know actually started finding my site and then this site bushmackel.com, became my favorite one to work on (amongst all the sites I have) because I was finally able to connect to new people from all around the world which being a people person, I absolutely love. And that was great, definitely the best part of having a blog in my opinion. So then I started noticing the traffic I was getting…More uniques then a big website I had been working on for quite some time. That other website was supposed to be my way out of the rat race, but I just don’t get the traffic I needed on it. And now all of a sudden, I’m finding myself with traffic and visitors on this site. *SIGH*
It’s such a “problem” because I want nothing more than to work at home. (Like so many of us I’m sure). And if I’ve ever downplayed that notion, let me say here and now that I do not want to work for someone else very very badly. So given that, it would be logical for me to use this blog to further that end right? Well, up till now I could kind of get away from all this because while my uniques are higher than the other site, page impressions definitely are not (which makes sense since this is a blog right?) And w/o lots of page impressions AdSense and other things like that probably wouldn’t be very lucrative for me. And then came along this post over at <a href=”http://newsnotion.com/2007/06/22/10000-of-extra-income/” target = “_blank”>News Notion</a> about a person making $10K on their blog. $10,000! And that’s not over 2 years either, it was in a relatively short amount of time.Ugh. What to do what to do? So on one hand, I could go for broke with Pay Per Post and try and make some real money and in the process possibly lose all the friends and readers I’ve made during my short time in the Blogosphere. Or I could just make a Pay Per Post here and there, see what’s what, and maybe continue/spread my PPP efforts on another blog I was planning to start on the first of the month anyway.So what do you guys think? Have you been or are you currently in a similar situation? I’m willing to take any and all advice on this front, so let me hear it!
June 25th, 2007 at 8:14 am
I use Pay Per Post, but I don’t use it often; however, In seven weeks I made over 1k using paid reviews and I didn’t write too many maybe forty out of 150 posts. I will only review websites or products that I’m genuinely interested in.
My readers haven’t turned away they have increased I think it’s do partly to me telling them in advance, just like you’re doing, and standing behind my statement that I will not write about anything.
I kept that promise and yes I could have taken some high paying opportunities.
Be honest with your readers and let them know what you’re thinking about doing. You can also ask there advice about it. I did that also.
June 25th, 2007 at 8:21 am
I also don’t write every day or every week. It’s been almost two weeks since I’ve written a sponsored review. Also check out http://www.sponsoredreview.com you bid on an opportunity and the pay is higher. You can make as much as a few $100 for writing one review.
I’ve also picked up two of my own advertisers. I received all the money and the cool thing is I already use the product. I started doing paid posts because I saw it as “pocket change” obviously I made a fair amount of pocket change. I also clearly mark all my sponsored posts. I put it right at the top of my blog post.
June 25th, 2007 at 8:25 am
Thanks a lot for the vote of confidence Opal! It seems you’re doing quite well for yourself using PPP, and I feel that you understand what I’m talking about.
Only taking opurtunities that relate to the site should be a way to lessen the blow and I will probably adopt that philosophy going fwd should I decide to continue with this.
BTW, check out more about Opal’s monetization efforts over at her her blog…
http://veganmomma.com/blog/2007/06/11/how-much-has-opal-made/
June 25th, 2007 at 8:29 am
Opal! You’re the gift that keeps on giving! Thanks for the link to sponsoredreview, I’m sure everyone appreciates it.
June 25th, 2007 at 8:48 am
You’re welcome!
I think you would do better at Sponsored Reviews than myself. The ones I’m interested in are the tech reviews, but frequently they are looking for tech websites I write about anything I’m interested in on Vegan Momma, but I do have a new new baby aka blog where I’m focusing on technology.
Moving forward I’m trying to focus more on writing articles for places like Associated Content and Helium and I’m getting my feet wet with PPP and affiliate marketing. I’m looking at it as
“extra money” since I already have my own business.
I believe I listed all the companies I used in the link you added. The main ones I used were PP, SR, and Blogsvertise.
Blogsvertise usually pays $10 per review, and they don’t have many too chose from but I could write about technology, home appliances that I’ve used, and family.
June 25th, 2007 at 8:49 am
Whoops PPP should have been Pay per Click!
June 25th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
hiiiiiiii thanks for visiting me!!
about the PPP i signed for it too but i still didnt make any of the sponsored post cause im a little afraid it might drive readers away too!!!!!! guess im still waiting for that opportunity that fits the content of my blog!!
June 25th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
I’m still holding off. I’m still trying to see if Everton Blair’s philosophy works. Review sites directly without the middle man.
June 25th, 2007 at 5:21 pm
Listikal, do you have more information about this? Who is this Everton Blair and do you have more about this philosophy of his? How exactly do you accomplish going to sites directly w/o the middle man?
June 25th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
If used wisely, I think PPP can be a great compliment to one’s blog. I’ve been writing for it for a little over a month and half for my other blog. I can’t wait for MAMD to be eligible to write about other offerings it has (you have to write 10 reviews on one blog before you can add another).
So it’s tempting to write about something that will help me get there, but I can’t do that to my readers. Better to be patient.
June 25th, 2007 at 7:25 pm
Wise words Mark. So you are pretty happy with PPP so far?
June 25th, 2007 at 7:30 pm
Yes, I am for a few reasons. They seem to get more opportunities quicker than the other guys. They pay a little more. You don’t have to bid on things. I do wish, though, that they paid sooner.
June 26th, 2007 at 5:29 am
Amazing, so many people leave their comments here. Seems like I can’t miss this party as well.
Eh, I’ve sign up to PPP long time ago, but till now still cant write any review or offer people to review my blog, it says that my blog is younger than 3 months. What the heck.
By the way, i dun really understand how PPP works. It says that if we ask people to review our blog, then the one who reviewed will get $7.50, and once they got that money, PPP will pay us $7.50 as well? If it is so, then how do PPP make money?
June 26th, 2007 at 6:52 am
BushMackel,
I have had two advertisers approach me about reviewing their products. I accepted one and turned down the other.
I have heard that some advertisers will look at you the higher your Alexa ranking or Google PR. I also picked up one on my own they paid over $200.
I have noticed as my numbers have gone up down with Alexa I have more advertisers stopping by my websites, and leaving comments that contributes to the discussion since
I follow up with everyone who visits my blog if I see one I’m interested in I’ll make a pitch. I’ve only done it once, and I got the review.
Shawn Lim,
The main way they make their money is through advertisers. I don’t put the review me button on my website. I don’t like how it looks.
June 26th, 2007 at 7:18 am
I’ve sold out to PayPerPost, I totally admit it. I’ve made nearly $500 with it in just over 6 months. Just recently I actually started a second blog with the sole intention of letting it mature enough so I could put paid posts on it and get them off of my main blog.
That being said, I don’t just select any posts. I try to at least be a little bit selective. The cool thing though is that sometimes PayPerPost is simply just an idea generator for me. They tell me what to post about, and I make money doing it, a win-win for everyone.
June 26th, 2007 at 7:42 am
Hmm, seems like PPP is a great opportunity that i cannot miss. I knew a blogger who use this PPP as a tool to create massive links, earn thousands from it and his blog has got a very high ranking, having constant huge traffic each day.
Thats the reason i’m waiting for PPP to approve me. Its a win/win/win situation.
June 26th, 2007 at 9:06 am
@Shawn – I’m surprised as you that everyone has grabbed onto this post as they have. And what you said about the $7.50, I’m sure they wouldn’t mind giving out a $7.50 here and there if it attracts a new Pay Per Poster. … (And btw, nice to see you here!)
@Opal – Thanks for the comments regarding your experience dealing with advertisers. For me, and I’m sure for others too, it was good info.
@Apex – The honesty is GREAT! (Your first line made me laugh) And like you, I think I’m going to spread out the PPPs amongst other blogs too, (not just this one) and hopefully match them to that site’s content. At least, that’s the plan.
@E’rybody – I think once I get into PPP more, I’ll post an update on here about how it works and all that junk in case anyone else is wondering or curious about my experience with the program.