Recently, I have gotten a few offers to place ads on my blog for some chunk of money. I honestly don't really know what's stopping me from accepting these offers. I mean a little over a year and a half ago, I started blogging... and this kinda evolved into something more than what I had envisioned. Writing posts have been at times, very therapeutic... it's like an outlet that I have to say what I want or write what I want. Other times, I can post hands that I played and get reviews, comments, etc which obviously helped me grow as a player. Next thing I knew, it appeared that there were actual demands for me to post more hand histories and my thought process... turns out, I wasn't the only one learning.
The good thing about that demand was that now, I am more cognizant of certain hands and so when I encounter or see something, I try to make it a point to save that HH and post it here. I've come to realize that by doing that and looking at the HH usually the next day, I can analyze what was good or what was bad about it in a way that I didn't before. So clearly, this blog evolved into a training ground for me personally.
However, after all that, never have I imagined that I would actually make money on this thing. I mean after all, we all have blogs and so I'm just another fish in the sea. Unless I start winning major tourneys or play ridiculously higher limits, my blog is no more interesting than the next guy. But now, I have gotten offers to put up links to certain sites and by doing so, they would pay me a chunk of change. So it seems like a nobrainer doesn't it? Free money basically...
Except somehow, I feel like I'm selling out.
It's probably silly. Everyone is doing it. It's free money. It's not like I don't advertise since I do have the fulltilt banner to my right and I don't even get rakeback from them... So why am I hesitating? Maybe I don't like money...
I really don't know. When I see other sites, I don't really have a problem with people having ads... but then I look at guys like Lucko and Hoy and I don't see ads on their site... so I really don't know what to do... but to call this a dilemma... I'm probably retarded... most people probably would have taken the money and put up the links... I will probably eventually succumb to the pressure and do it even though I might try to be moderately selective because I don't want my blog to turn into a billboard like a Nascar...
For those of you out there, has every blogger that's gotten an offer agreed to put up ads on their site? For those of you that don't have it up, is it only because you haven't had any offers? For those of you that have gotten offers, why did you turn it down? Hoy, I'm probably looking at you on this one...
Oh, and before I forget, this might be the death of the Heads Up Challenges... but, this should be interesting nonetheless. My new favorite blogger is hosting a weekly heads up tournament on Sundays. Check out details here.
Go check it out. Alright, have a good weekend all and Happy Mothers Day to all the moms out there!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
8 comments:
I, for the longest time, turned down offers for the same reasons you mention. I have finally come to the conclusion that why not? Be selecitive if you want, it's all good.
BTW, I've heard the FTP is giving rakeback out to folks that had already signed up without rakeback. As much as you play, you would love rakeback. Talk about free money... this is the pinnacle. OK, not really, as you are paying rake so it is not really free. Just a rake sale.
i say "take the money!!!!" , why wouldnt you , just dont let it interfere with your blog posts and dont block your content with banners, stick it up on the side and be done with it , if u earn extra money then go for it , and if u feel guilty then give the money to charity and it will make u feel good
I've got a win win for you... don't be selective and take all the ad offers you get, but before you feel guilty about it, just ship any money received over to me. You get the ads you were considering, without the guilt of selling out. (And I selflessly assist by accepting monthly transfers.)
I'll probably be able to cover any excess that Cayne can't handle.
This "D" lister probably doesn't get enough traffic to be on anyones radar. But lets say I did. I might be selective about the who. This is of course a reflection of me.
I have google ads on mine. In the last year, I've probably cleared $3. Personally, I find some of the ad post a bit cheesy and a little embarrassing. My writing isn't great and sometimes isn't even good, but its still always my voice.
I do this for me. I write what I want and say what I want. I am beholden to no one. In some ways I like it that way, but cash is good. I like cash.
I've turned down offers to shill for Absolute (Fraud) Poker, because I wouldn't support a cheating-supporting site.
I don't blog for money, so I'm not really interested in running sponsored posts where folks will drop $20 in a Paypal account.
However, because I'm a low ridin' grinder who never wants to deposit on a site again, I'll pretty much accept offers from any reasonable site who is willing to pay by transfer to my FTP, Bodog, or PS accounts.
That said, I only have two advertisers. I look at it this way -- it helps pay for me to enter tournies, so it covers the costs of a hobby, in a way.
I'm ad-free and it feels great. My blog is mine, and I'm not anyone's shill.
That said, I probably have a price for selling out. So far, the price has been far too low. I need to figure out what my pricing point is.
I turn down ad offers (Usually not poker-related). I just place an importance on maintaining the integrity of my site, and sticking crappy ads on it would ruin that.
I don't get a lot of offers, but I've never put up an ad. Usually because they ask for in-post advertising, which I think is lame. Especially when it's company-approved copy that isn't in the voice of the blogger.
Post a Comment