Kyle asked this question in a comment on the post “5 Tips for Selling Ads on Your Blog” and I thought it was worth a blog post to discuss my thoughts on it:
When can you start advertising?
The quick and simple answer is “anytime” but that wouldn’t be fair nor a complete answer even though it’s true.
And although you could start providing advertising on your properties and blogs from the very beginning, here are some considerations and thoughts about they when and the why.
And, of course, this post assumes that you’re already comfortable with the idea of advertising in the first place.
Ready? Read more after the jump….
1. Providing Value
The goal of advertising should always be this: Provide incredible value for your readers. Do this first and consider this always.
The moment you believe that you can provide high value to your readers with selected advertising is the moment that you can seriously begin thinking about advertising on your blog.
Practically this means that you could start on day 1.
2. Time and Attention
A new blog needs serious time and attention for it to be successful. I would suggest from experience that you spend 99% of your time in the first 6 months to just developing content, establishing a rhythm, creating a posting schedule and culture, and generating traffic.
And I really do mean 99% of your time on just content development and creation. This means that, in effect, the other 1% should be dedicated to installation, hosting, any software-related issues, design.
Yes, design should be the least of your concerns for a long time. Also, notice how I didn’t include advertising/sponsorship in that 1%.
Start strong in the area of content and the rest can be worked on later. And, it’ll simply be obvious to your readers where your time and attention are really focused. I’d rather them consider the content as my focus rather than my advertising slots.
3. Traffic and Metrics
Advertising on your blog is valuable to your readers if you have 10 readers or 10,000. Advertising for your sponsors has obviously more value if you have 10,000 readers and not 10.
See the difference? Get it?
You may not have the traffic and number of visits like other blogs but you can still provide value to your readers through advertising regardless. What you’ll have to consider, then, is price, because a financially-responsible business is looking for a healthy return on their investment.
Traffic can be a helpful indicator and could provide you some personal guidelines and goals for advertising (e.g. I’m only going to start advertising when I get at least 200 uniques a day.) but don’t let it stop you if you think you can create value for your readers.
4. Gut Feelings
For many people that I’ve talked with it simply came down to a “gut feeling” about advertising. Things that I’ve heard might be:
Well, I just think it’s about time that I tried it.
or
Been thinking about it for a while now and I think I’m ready to start advertising.
Although you need no convincing that advertising is something that you want to do, you need to be comfortable with starting and more often than not it just starts with that gut feeling that you’re “ready.”
There’s no harm in trying or experimenting!
5. Technology and Time
A good sign that you’re ready to start advertising on your blog is that you know you’ve got the time to commit to it as well as the technology to do it well.
Advertising can take more time than you think, especially if you don’t use a self-service type model of providing slots and ads. Emails, communication, creating ad papers, researching and gathering metrics and data that sponsors might need; all these things can begin to wear you out!
In addition, you’re going to want to make sure you’ve got the right technology in place (either through plugins, 3rd-party providers, etc) that can help make your life easier. Are you ready to commit to researching the best methods and how-tos?
If you’re not then consider holding off on it. You’ve got content to create anyway.
Well, those are my thoughts on advertising. Got any additional?
[Image from Urban_Outlaw]
friar_don says
I am getting some solid traffic (I was one of those lucky ones who had one post take off and I still get many visitors because of it) and have been thinking about going to advertising. I have been thinking of picking a theme to better accomodate advertising.
While trying to pick a theme, I have been thinking, what kind of ads to I want? Have you found it better to go with affiliate programs or adwords?
human3rror says
affiliates better than adwords, definitely!
more control. better looking.
Kyle Reed says
that answered the questions.
John you want to advertise on my blog?
Just kidding, unless you say yes.
human3rror says
kyle, thanks so much for the shoutout in your latest post!
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Kyle Reed says
No problem man. Its definitely true. This blog has been a great place for me to learn, conversate, and be apart of a great community. Here is to 2010
human3rror says
truly… here's to 2010.
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Marcus Williamson says
Good word sir. Just started back to blogging and was wondering about this very thing. Thanks!
Jim says
good pts…B)
bondChristian says
Yes, thanks for the reply here. I'll definitely keep this in consideration as I move into this. I definitely like how you put it about ads being beneficial to the readers. That's so important. Most people think of ads as only serving those advertising and the affiliates. Few even consider the possibility of serving ads that actually help the reader. That's something I need to remember when I start putting ads on my site.
-Marshall Jones Jr.
human3rror says
thanks dude!
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