I’ve recently looked at using a program called Qumana to do my blog editing with and what I found interesting was the option to put adverts on your site through one easy click. In my mind however something seems unsavory about advertising links on a blog.
Now let me get this straight, I don’t see a problem with banner ads or blogging about a product but something seems almost cheeky about Google adsense on a blog. You all know what Google adsense looks like? If not take a look at this:
Firstly, the question needs to be asked: “is it worth ruining the sleek look of your site for a couple of dollars every month?” I’ve been to a couple of sites that decided to implement those little Google ads on the side of the page and guess what… I don’t frequent those sites anymore. At the end of the day the problem is simple, you can put your adsense block out of the way and make in unobtrusive and thus relatively ineffective or you can shove it down everyones throat and ruin your site. It’s greed vs functionality at its best.
Now the odd thing about this all is that I spend hours everyday reading blogs on the Gawker network such as Gizmodo and Jalopnik or the Weblogs Inc network (Engadget, TUAW, Autoblog etc) and I find no problem with them at all even though they are all filled with adverts.
I suppose the biggest problem with this is the difference between amateur blogs and professional one’s. When I go look at someone’s personal blog I do not want to see advertising. I suppose working in the marketing world I understand the requirements for advertising in professional services. If I get a free magazine/informative blog I don’t mind stomaching an advert or ten. However when I go read about someone’s operation on their blog and get an advert about “cheap plastic surgery in a third world country” I get a little bit irritated.
It’s ironic, I spend my days trying to get people to advertise but am completely at odds with it when it’s in my face.
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