Monetizing or Not

I have ad tags. I’ve resisted implementing them for a few reasons:

  • May seem tacky
  • Don't know if they will be worth it
  • Will need to tweak the design, but not that big of a deal

However, I’ll likely be turning them on later today or tomorrow for a few reasons:

  • I need to start making money
  • If not now when?
  • Might spur me to generate other content aside from photos and the odd observation
  • Not doing this to capitalize on any situation except to generate revenue for myself

I don’t want to let an opportunity pass, but I also don’t want to be tacky. I think my money need is greater than my concerns about being tacky right now.

Question: what content do you come here for? If I devoted more time to this site, what is it that would add the most value for you? I know my interests, but I’m curious to know if they match your reasons for visiting. Thanks in advance for leaving a comment answering this question.

* * *

Please do not discuss Heather or her site in the comments, thanks. I’ll delete them regardless of how long you’ve been a reader or how concerned you might be. Don’t take it personally, it’s just something that Heather deserves and I want to give her. I’m making every effort to be civil and courteous. I would ask you to do the same when visiting here.

Newer Comments →
  • jepea

    i like what you are doing.  the photos are awesome and the commentary below, whether brief or long, is always worth reading.

    (btw, i usually run adblock but i turned it off for your site  a while back–i do that for blogs & sites i really like & want to support, and leave it running for big sites)  

    so go for it– get some ads.    and please, open an etsy shop to sell prints!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1194930070 Anne Robertson

    I love your photography and daily affirmations. Lately, the personal approach has made me a full-time reader, where I used to just come look at pretty pictures, occasionally. I’m inspired by your motivation and drive while dealing with a difficult time in your life, because I can relate to it, and I really like your voice.

    I don’t think any of your readers will think you tacky for having ads — most of us are cheering on your success and will simply see it as a sign of that.

    • http://kristanhoffman.com/ Kristan

      Ditto what Anne said 100%.

      I’ve been a reader for years, and the personal stuff has always been of the most interest to me. The thing is, there aren’t a ton of guy bloggers (compared to gal bloggers) who talk about their home lives, and I like getting the male perspective.

      Your photography is a bonus. :)

      I occasionally tune in for the tech stuff, and less occasionally for the politics. But those are things that you are passionate about, so even though they don’t necessarily float MY boat, I think you should keep blogging about them if/when you want to. Passion attracts passion.

    • Sarah Cohen

      I agree. I have always liked your photos and reading about your uses of technology, but have been more of a regular visitor with the increase of personal writing.…
      I love your sense of design and knowledge of all things tech and mac and would welcome any new apps, products, tech tips, etc. you could share.

  • http://fatandfancyfree.blogspot.com/ Glynnis

    I like coming here for your photography, and your app and program reviews.  I’ve been introduced to quite a few things I like. Oh and your music posts, I liked those when you did those.

  • Lindsay Briggs

    Definitely turn on ads. I think your readers know that you will do it in the least tacky and intrusive fashion as possible. There’s nothing wrong with monetizing a site you clearly love and are dedicated to already. You have the background to be thoughtful about it and the experience to execute it well.

    As for content, I would love to read more of your perspective as a “daddy blog” but I understand that might be difficult and/or too emotional for now. Maybe something long term to think about (regardless of what happens with your marital situation). As someone who grew up with a father as a primary caretaker — and there are not a lot of us! — I always like to hear perspectives from dad’s even if they aren’t single fathers/primary caretakers. It helps me to think about my own dad’s perspective and trials particularly since he is one of the least expressive and communicative dad’s in the universe.

    I think you have a real strength for technical writing as well. Even if I am always your target audience (not a big tech user), I like to read about new products you discover and your perspective on big picture tech issues. This might also provide a good segue to ad tie-ins, etc. Tech people have the money!

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Amy-Butler/1189937611 Amy Butler

      I second the “daddy blog” bit.  As somewhat of a tech moron, I’d love some tech posts, explained like I’m five.

      The daily affirmations are fun.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Amy-Butler/1189937611 Amy Butler

        Speaking of explanations like I’m five (maybe four) can you explain website advertising, and how it works, including the myriad of initials everywhere?

        • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=828242519 Kristine Kay Johnson

          Yes, ALL of this.

  • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/ZMWLZ7E4WWH5AHN3P7O2PBQORM LAW

    I come for your photos and I hope you will add a store sight where we could buy some of the pictures.  I also would love to see paid content where you teach beginners like me how to be better at photos with our phones and then understanding the media.

    I come to hear how your girls are doing from your point of view and I just like who you are just as I did/do the other sight and it is not a big deal to me to review both of you daily.

  • Naomi Shadix

    Sometimes I come here for tutorials. During an election year, I come here for commentary. Definitely for photography. Sometimes tacky pays the rent.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Amy-Butler/1189937611 Amy Butler

      Yes!  Election year commentary.

    • http://twitter.com/bevsbigday bevs big day

      yes to election year commentary & tutorials.

      • http://profile.yahoo.com/BOQF2E45O2R2SNGBUE2QS23ZZ4 Molly

         I ditto that! I miss the political commentary

      • Steph Schmidt

        I agree, the election year commentary is what pulled me in at the beginning.  I also like your photos and your perspectives on being a Dad.

        • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_L3SKBMM4AU5JEPGEIFPH72BBUM KS

          The political commentary drives me away. (Although if it could be less devisive and snarky I could deal with it.) I live the photography and love the daddy blogging.

    • http://profile.yahoo.com/LHOVIWZQZEYUH3HKBIAP5GDVB4 Virginia

      When you were doing political commentary I was truly impressed with the research you were doing to back up your conclusions.  Doesn’t hurt that you and I are kindred liberal spirits.  Love your photography and general attitude.  Just got my first iPhone (4S) a couple of days ago so will be scouring your site for app recommendations.

  • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/626DHYB2LYQCE54PO6VZOJFONI DavidD

    I started with the Christmas gift ideas.  Reading back some, I like that you have many different topics from healthcare to photography and have personalized it a bit more.  Go ahead and talk about your life and interests, there is an audience for it.

  • needsmoresalt

    Love, love, love the tech/photography writing, the poltiical writing, and the “what it means to be a parent” writing.

    Would love more photos, but your “after the break” tag conventions are really tough to interpret in my RSS reader — when is it just going to be a photo + caption and when will it be a full post?

    • http://blurbomat.com/ blurb

      I’ll work on adding category/tags to my feed. Sorry for the inconvenience.

      • http://twitter.com/bevsbigday bevs big day

        i don’t care for the “continue reading ->” link on feeds. it’s more convenient to see the whole post from the reader.

  • http://www.ryanwaddell.com Ryan Waddell

    I generally come here for the more long-form posts.  Not so much commentary, as politics generally don’t interest me… But the posts about your life, the stuff you were going through with your gall bladder, those are the kinds of posts that I find most interesting.  Brings me back to the good ol’ days of personal blogs.  In general your photos don’t interest me *as* much (nothing personal, your style just doesn’t really do it for me).  But don’t really concern yourself with my interests, as I surf with ABP turned on all the time any way.

  • http://profiles.google.com/jehcekah Jessica Schmitt

    I started reading for your political commentary and have been missing that lately.  I do love your photography and tech reviews as well and always enjoy your honesty about — well, about anything!

  • superdoo

    Write. I’ve said it before, but you are an excellent and compelling writer and while I don’t always agree with your political views I always read them.    I enjoy your tech reviews, less interested in your ‘process to do this…’ type posts (but that is likely just me because I typically already know because of my background, it certainly has its place).

    I also enjoy your music takes… your post a few months ago about James Brown sent me down rabbit hole that wasted a good part of a day for me.But write about it all, and don’t worry about the ads, everyone gets it, and I would assume that the ‘taboo’ of doing that is largely gone.I think there is a Morrissey lyric that could be inserted here somewhere about ‘sing your life’ but I’m far to old and not teenage sad enough to be writing about that sort of thing.

  • http://artlung.com/ Joe Crawford

    For me personally, on my personal site I disable ads (Google Adsense Ads in my case) for all posts until they are 3 months old. This cuts down on the “tacky” factor but lets me monetize old stuff.

    The dough is not significant for the blog, it’s really other content I have up that generates income, and unfortunately Google Adsense revenue is highly volatile.

    That said, you have significant experience in turning pageviews into ad dollars, so you may have a better go of it than most.

    You might also be a candidate for something like The Deck, which does more focused, “classy” ads.

    Not sure if that’s useful, but that’s what I thought of.

  • http://twitter.com/TanjaGommers Tanja Gommers

    I love your honest sharing of where you are, love your daily affirmations, I think they should be a running item, they make me titter or think ‘right on!’ :)

  • Alexandra Townsend

    I really enjoy reading your political commentary.  And I wouldn’t mind the ads.

  • Gladys Burnham

    I like the politics — I call myself a flaming heterosexual, bleeding heart tree hugger — I think that covers the bases.  Also like the parenting from your viewpoint as it’s the only blog I’m reading to keep with with the girls.  Hoping all works out in some favorable way for all concerned.

    I went through a major depression episode back in the ‘90s, parents were dying, marriage was dying, children were older, and I tried 3 different meds (plus 3 years of talking to a therapist) before I finally stopped the meds on my own, determined to deal with life in all its painfulness.  Still have the occasional moment but married again to a younger guy — guess I was a cougar before there was a name for it — and have been happier than not for the past 18 years. 

    Photographic hack myself and I enjoy your pix.

  • http://twitter.com/JSBinNC Jodi Bulmer

    Agree — a long time ago I landed here and learned a lot on political viewpoints, etc.  Pics and instructions are awesome.  I like the ideas mentioned above about parenting from your shoes, etc too — great ideas!!!!

  • http://twitter.com/Sadandbeautiful Sarah R. Bloom

    I say go for it, monetize. It won’t be tacky because you care about design.
    I come for the whole package, though I suppose I respond most to the photos and photo-related posts (duh) and the more personal in nature posts that give a glimpse into who you are as a father, as a man, as a person struggling through ___ (not just this recent struggle).
    I love reading your political posts because they make me feel better about my opinions, but I stay out of politics. :)

    • http://twitter.com/Sadandbeautiful Sarah R. Bloom

       P.S. Why did you stop using Fotomoto? Or did you? You’re the reason I started using it.

      • http://blurbomat.com/ blurb

        My traffic had really dropped and I wasn’t selling many prints. I had a couple of orders where people were sent the wrong print. But It’s mostly that I couldn’t control the final product. Plus, I think I was charging way too much. If I bring back Fotomoto (or smugmug or whatever) I’ll revise my rates.

        • http://www.facebook.com/people/Amy-Jacobs/590861439 Amy Jacobs

          What about doing photography on your own as in hiring yourself out…instead of selling prints. I made that move three years ago in a very limited way just to add to our income and do something for myself. It’s been very successful and fulfilling…of course I do portrait work primarily, but you’d do well in commercial work I’m sure!!! You love it, why not make money doing it!?

    • http://twitter.com/JackieSTaylor Jackie Taylor

      Yes this, this is why I come here as well :)  

  • monkeytots

    All of the above? I love the photos, love the app reviews, and really enjoy reading your writing. Like @artlung:disqus mentioned, the Deck ads are classy as far as ads go. But you have to do what’s best for you. Honestly, the only ads that really turn me away from a site are the intrusive ones that push down a page or overlay above the page, and I tend to see those on news sites more than anything else. 

  • Betty350

    Honestly, I only read you sporadically until now. I enjoy the daddblog side of things (love LOD as well). We share political leanings (and falling over-ings) but I’m not a huge tech head and I can only look at so many architectural photos before my head explodes. I read to see how you’re navigating your life now… with real world concerns like having to find work and make money and whatnot. I follow folks that are swimming upstream, er, uplife with me… letting me lean on them briefly to keep from going under while I somehow electronically, anonymously return the favor. So throw some ads my way, I can take it.

  • http://twitter.com/arleneivana Arlene Ivana

    Photo techy stuff! I love your iphone photo app recommendations. I still recall your wonderful video comparison of Lightroom vs. Aperture (god I hope that was you and not my shoddy memory making that up).  Yah dun good Jon!

  • Deborah Rogers

    Would love to hear about your personal thoughts on life and events in the world. Your photos are beautiful too. 

  • naedawn

    I am all in favor of you making money.  I come here for the incredible photos, and tips on how they were created.  

  • Not_a_Criminal

    Question: what content do you come here for? 
    I came for the personal life updates.  I’ve stayed because of your writing style as to those updates (I appreciate the respectful tone to both your family, yourself AND your readers), the daily affirmations and photos.  I’ve read many of your other blogs, and have enjoyed those as well.  I enjoy some of the tech discussion but I’m not nearly as techie as most of your readers.  

    Bring on the ads.  It seems fair that you earn a little money from me clicking the RSS feed link!

    • http://twitter.com/CarenJew Caren Jew

      Exactly.

    • Sharon Owen

      YES! Although– your political views and mine are WAY apart. And on that note– Can you tell me why Obama is better than______? I honestly don’t get it.…

    • Jodi_P

       I agree with this.

  • http://twitter.com/CupcakeKarate Lindsay

    I enjoy most all of your content. Having said that, you are a reflective and sincere writer, so I respond well to posts with more written content. You did a couple of tutorial videos awhile back, which I found to be especially nice. 

    Don’t feel tacky about taking ads. I’m sure you’re experiencing a higher readership volume because of recent events, but you’re legit– you should get paid to do what you do. xoxo

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NADOVJZ5QEQ3X2XEH4YOQV2PBQ Kiposevi

    Photography, politics, life in general, Leta and Marlo.  That is all.  No!  Not really, but those are my top ones.

Newer Comments →