Comments on: That’s Right, I AM Dangerous

By: pluncflorine

pluncflorine — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:31:16 +0000

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By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 15:44:31 +0000

Start looking for a company or two to act as the site sponsors, giving them exclusive rights to advertising?

You have a big enough following now that one or two site sponsors should be reasonable. they will give you additional/improved connections for future fund-raising efforts too.

By: Josh

Josh — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 17:35:33 +0000

Zen-Habits used to have one ad per month on the website. The ad would be there for a month at a time and it was screened by Leo the author. His rules were that it had to be of genuine interest to the blog readers and had to be of a certain size and link to a certain spot which would not change for the entire calendar month. I think he changed a thousand bucks or something like that which basically covered the cost of running the website. That was it. He always had an ad there and because it changed once a month but I’d visit 4 or 5 times per month I’d notice when the ad changed and I’d usually visit the ad’s site. This generated a real potential customer for each business advertising on the site… and you make a high-value advertisement opportunity and you’re actually providing a service to us, your readers by doing so.

So long as you set up the rules for getting the ad on your site to be appropriate and set the price point appropriately I think you’ll have no problem finding people who think it’s worthwhile to fork over a significant chunk of change for a unique advertising opportunity. To be honest I never once clicked on an ad on the site the way it used to be… and I never visit the ads on sites like PEZ and XTRI.com where I go for cycling/triathlon news because there are so many and I think they’re normally irrelevant. If they are relevant and I can identify when something is new it’s a lot more likely for me to visit and maybe buy something.

Leo has since gone to zero-ads on the blog and self-funds the site. He also has written a book which might have something to do with it although I don’t get the impression he’s made himself rich from doing so.

Sorry Fatty, I probably wouldn’t buy your book.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 17:02:58 +0000

Why don’t you try affiliate sales through somewhere like shareasale or commission junction. You get to pick the stores, heck even the products from time to time. And, you can choose the types of ads, previewing everything before you put it on the site. The way I look at it, IF I wanted to buy a product I would look first to someone who used that product or at least had half an idea what it was. You might be able to promote and make a few coins on the products you like – like the shoes in today’s post for example. Either way – good luck! Love the blog!

By: dave

dave — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 12:00:16 +0000

If you are familiar with the NPR radio show, This American Life, they periodically ask for donations, whatever the listener feels the show is worth. You could do this through PayPal. I would be willing to shell out some coin to read your blog, say 50 dollars or about a dollar a week. Not everyone would or could afford to do it but hopefully a lot of people would recognize the entertainment value provided by your wit.

By: Johan

Johan — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 09:24:52 +0000

Elden I find the adverts are a distraction. I read your blog for what you have to say and not for the adverts that are on your site.

Having said that you certainly must continue to generate revenue from your work. So I would pass on writing your blog for free.

I would think that companies eg Specialised would be queueing up to sponsor your site. I can see the risk of feeling beholden to a sponsor though. I would imagine it will be a fine line to walk.

I would pay for any book you wrote.

Lastly if you decide to continue with adverts that will be okay too. I’ll just block out the spinning lady.

Thank you for providing so much entertainment and for working so hard to grow support for your chosen causes.

Johan

By: Stu

Stu — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 03:43:14 +0000

Ideally – free + no sponsors = full freedom but realistically you should cover your costs. If you get a sponsor, how honest do you think you could be about comments about their products? You could view the free “gear” as a form of payment. Seriously what’s the value of the free stuff have you written about in the past 12 months?
Thanks for your writing

Stu

By: L'Hippo

L'Hippo — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 02:20:34 +0000

You had ads? Shows how little attention I paid to them.

By: Kentucky Joe

Kentucky Joe — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 00:17:47 +0000

Site sponsor or two and a book sound like great ideas.

By: Jenni

Jenni — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 21:34:36 +0000

@Born4Lycra

I agree. However will you write another open letter honestly if one of those products, etc. happens to be one of your bosses, er, sponsors.

I would donate if you had a button…