Dec 18
Fixing Up – Bush Mackel (Part 4) Direct Adveristing Solutions
In the last part of this series I revealed that I was FINALLY going to get away from this site’s main money maker, sponsored posts, and instead start down a new path of revenue freedom.
And if you hadn’t already guessed, that new path is…
Direct Advertisements!
(Shocker I know).
But how will I start down this road and how can you do the same?
Continue reading to find out!
Why Direct Advertising
In the last part of this series, I explained (and pretty well I thought) my feelings towards sponsored reviews. The recap : Too much work for too little pay… But besides the whole time thing, the fact remains that by having to go through companies to handle the “middle work”, I’m losing money. If you’re able to contact an advertiser directly, you get to keep all the money.
More money makes more sense right?
Direct Advertising Solutions
So I’ve taken a good while to think about it, but I think I’ve finally managed to figure out what advertising solutions I’m going to offer – Not that it’s brain surgery or anything, but I wanted to make sure that I personally was OK with what I was offering and wasn’t just whoring my site out for a few extra bucks that would end up turning away people in the end. So here’s what I’ve come up with:
- 300×250 Inline Post Ads – $100
- 125×125 Sidebar Icons – $20
- Reviews – $50
If you’re wondering where I came up with those prices, I first tried to think about what a “fair” price would be. To do that, I thought about what I’D be willing to pay for similar services on similar sites, what others were charging, threw it in a pot and came up with this! Now I BELIEVE the rule in all of this is to start with a really cheap rate and then see how it performs, but I’m hoping my special offer will be enough to woo potential advertisers over! What special offer you ask?..
The Special Offer
It’s December 18th. The a little more than half over and it’s the holiday season. So IN THE SPIRIT OF GIVING I’m offering the following deal for my advertising slots!
If you purchase a 125×125 sidebar icon spot for $20 by the 25th of December 2007 you get all of the following:
- Of course, a 125×125 icon for December
- BONUS : a 125×125 icon for the ENTIRE month of January
- BONUS : a FREE review of your site in January
I know. Wowee wow wow! Of course the next step with this is putting up an advertising page (which I assure you is coming) but if you would like to sign up, just shoot me an e-mail (bush@bushmackel.com) right now and we can put it all together!
December 19th, 2007 at 5:58 am
For the traffic, you receive is that a fair price? I’m speaking of the $100. I really don’t follow that type of advertising too much mainly because I don’t want too much on my website. I might take on another advertiser but that’s it.
I would include the review with any advertisement that is done on my website. I know not everyone does it, but it gets you noticed because many will do the bare least. I’m not like that. I don’t do what everyone else does. I like standing out. Also, it gives you a chance to introduce your readers to the advertisers, and I do think they appreciate that. One thing I don’t like is seeing advertisers being placed without receiving any type of background from the blogger. It makes me think the blogger has no clue what the company is about. That might not be true but, I think, it’s implied. Also, I would try to cut a deal with the advertiser either they give your readers a discount if they are offering some type of service or they offer you some type of % for referring readers to their site. I went for the discount for my readers. My advertiser gets at least 18 people that actually buy from my website. I wanted my readers to receive a discount on their order. They will be my only ticket brokers on my website since they agreed to those terms.
Also, I’m looking for your contact page and can’t find it? Maybe I’m overlooking it. If not, I would add a contact page and link to it from your about page. When you set up the contact form label give it a specific subject it that way if you receive an email from that page you’ll know immediately. I’m contacted weekly from my contact page. I know instantly if it came from my website simply because of the subject line. I think mine says “Vegan Momma Contact Form.” This will be an effective way to hear from potential advertiser and your readers who might not want to comment. I receive a lot of emails from my lurkers who don’t want to comment on my blog, but they contact me privately about various topics mainly health & fitness. Many of them have bought products via my affiliate links I know it’s because I took time to answer their questions. They respected that and bought using my links some of them are still buying.
I receive a lot of offers from advertisers, and I do think some of them watch the way I treat the one I have. In fact, I know they do some of them have mentioned my reviews of the company in their emails. The majority of my solicitors don’t match my readers interest; however, many of them are good companies. Whenever I receive an email from a solicitor, I follow up with them and ask them to tell me a little about their company. I also check out their website, if they’ve left the link. The few who don’t respond are possibly just looking for a link and I wouldn’t want them anyway. The ones that do respond seem to be looking for more than that based on what they say. They want someone who is “trusted” within their community. I believe I am.
I’m going to start referring some of the solicitors I receive out to some of my blog readers. I did pick up two freelance writing jobs last week by following up with a few of those who solicited me. Although I did not think, they would fit my community I keep those lines of conversation open with my solicitors. I might want to do something with them later. I did I picked up two more freelance gigs. I will now be making over 1k monthly just from freelance writing. Not bad for a freelance writing newbie but then again I brought my business model into freelance writing. I wasn’t “lucky” to receive those jobs. I had a plan, and I kept in touch with my solicitors. That took work. I’ve been fairly good at marketing mainly because I don’t follow the crowd & I go above and beyond what many are willing to do. That has made all the difference.
It’s good to see you looking for other ways to make income online. ?
December 19th, 2007 at 6:09 am
That should have been they give you a % if your readers purchase from them. I would accept a lower price to place their ad especially if I knew I could get readers to buy from them.
December 19th, 2007 at 11:51 am
@Opal T – Good points/questions as always. In regards to the price, I looked at all kinds of blogs who were offering similar advertising, and more importantly, blogs that were filling that advertising.
For the 125×125, I’ve seen blogs fill their spots for $35, and have worse stats than mine AND not give any of the extras I’m offering.
As far as the price for the 300×250 @ $100, I came up with that price because size wise, it’s bigger than all of the 125×125s put together, PLUS it’s in a MUCH more prominent position when you’re talking about visibility and CTR. And also, giving up that spot would take away just about 75% of my AdSense revenue which I’m always trying to improve.
That’s a good catch about the pages, and I’m actually going to be addressing all of that in a future Fixing Up post… There’s still a lot design/content wise on here including an Advertising page, Contact Page, Awards Page, Finishing this Theme etc…
Back on the advertising tip, I have gotten a request for affiliate advertising where I’d be earning a percentage of revenue and so on, and will probably be something that I go along with. *nod* Thanks for the thoughts Opal!
December 19th, 2007 at 9:04 pm
Bush,
For this new direct ad program I assume you will be advertising any site? The reason I ask is because I think that I may be interested in one of the 125×125 ads as soon as I have some extra money. The site I would like to advertise is my newest site, dualmonitorbabes.com which I am trying to promote a lot. Would you be willing to advertise it? Some might call the content a bit objectionable.
I’m still doing my blog for the most part, but since my blog’s traffic was largely because of the wallpaper section on it, I too have to work on cleaning it up. Once I have some free time on a regular basis, and I am able to clean up my blog I think I will also adopt a similar system if it is sucesfull for you, so good luck and keep us updated.
December 20th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
@Apexad – Do you think you’re running a porno site over there? I mean, I’ve checked it out and it looks like it’s just a wallpaper site. Granted, most of the pics are stuff that you’d find in the US version of MAXIM but I doubt that most readers of this site would find the content on your site “objectionable”. (#):)
December 20th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
Well, click Keeley Hazell, you would not find those in a U.S. version of Maxim. A England version of Maxim, maybe. Anyway, it is just a wallpaper site, but some people find U.S. Maxim to be objectionable, so all things considered, that’s what I meant. I mean those people, but if you’re not worried about those people, than yeah, I’ll probably want to buy an ad from you at some point.
December 20th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
@Apexad – You know, I hadn’t clicked on hers. Ha ha. But yeah, I think all in all I’d be fine with it though I might have the ad first link to a disclaimer page on my site before linking out to yours in case the content would… Upset, anyone.
December 20th, 2007 at 10:03 pm
Hey Bush, I think the prices are extremely reasonable. Hopefully when my new domain is all fixed up and working I will be able to offer a similar thing.
December 21st, 2007 at 4:05 pm
Just like with TLA and Sponsored Reviews, I start with low advertising rates (maybe to low) then don’t raise the rates until all spots are filled. I’ve found that is a good way to figure out what people are willing to pay.
Also, sometimes it helps to pursue advertisers or offer trial runs, etc. You’ve got a great head start, though I recommend 125×125. Very few advertisers will have a 300×250 ad they can use.
December 22nd, 2007 at 8:35 pm
@Forest – I appreciate the support and mucho congrats on the new diggs!
@Kyle – Good advice. I didn’t push this as much as I wanted, so I may go ahead and start in earnest for the new year!
December 24th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
Happy Holidays, Bush!
December 25th, 2007 at 12:32 am
Merry Christmas, Bush!
December 25th, 2007 at 2:08 am
Merry Christmas Buddy!!
December 25th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
@CHESSNOID, Tish, Brown – Thanks guys! Same to you! I hope your holidays are everything you hope them to be. (#):)
December 25th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Hi Bush, Merry Christmas buddy! I hope you have a wonderful holiday and a fantastic New Year!
Shine on,
Aaron
December 26th, 2007 at 9:59 pm
@Aaron – Thanks Aaron – Here’s to good things in 2008!
December 31st, 2007 at 9:30 pm
You’re welcome man. Hope you have a fantastic New Year!
Shine on,
Aaron
January 1st, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Happy New Year Bush! Where you hiding buddy?
January 1st, 2008 at 11:10 pm
@Aaron – You too my friend. (#):) BTW, saw a video today that made me think of you. It was on break.com, and it was of some weatherlady on the CW channel dancing for some segment called “Dance Friday” on something. It was hilarious. (#):)
@Pete -
rock
Bush
(#);D In any event, I’m back baby! And guess what? I finally got to play with a HD DVD player! (Though now I want a new receiver (#):D)