Recently, I bought advertising from a blogger with four blogs. After I did it, I had a real “duh” moment. We bloggers keep complaining that companies don’t buy advertising, but it dawned on me this is only the second time I have purchased direct advertising from a blogger. So I started thinking that perhaps we should put our money where are mouths are and see what the end result is.
Now, granted, I have basically a zero budget for marketing. I am sure many of my fellow bloggers are the same way, lucky to afford to cover the mortgage and buy groceries much less buy advertising. But bear with me here.
What if each of us bought just one ad? There are blog advertising options at many budget levels, from just a few dollars even. We’re talking coffee money in some cases. What if we all made a point of doing this each month with whatever spare money we have?
First, we would be setting an example that blog advertising and investing in the blogosphere does have merit (and it does). Two, you would be promoting your site or blog or business in new places and to new audiences and potential customers. Many of us have blogs, sites, eBooks, products, online shops, consulting services and so on.
So here is what I am going to do, and I hope some of you follow suit. As I have extra money, and when I have extra money, I will spend some of it on blog advertising. That is a commitment I am going to make. I hope some of you other bloggers follow suit, and I hope some companies follow suit as well. I hope that I will sell more ads on my sites, and I hope that in months I don’t have any extra money, I will sell ads.
But really, it is about sending a simple message that blog advertising is worth investing in.
I would also love to connect you with advertisers and with blogs that need advertising. Please comment on this post if you have blog advertising space for sale (and feel free to link to your advertising information on your site), and comment here if you would like to buy blog advertising. Or comment if you would like to buy AND sell advertising.
I will keep an eye on the thread here, and I do plan to buy some ads.
And I will get the ball rolling. You can buy advertising on Type-A Parent here, and I just added very low-priced introductory options ($10 per ad) for mom and dad bloggers and business owners at Investigative Mommy Blogger.
How about you? What ads do you have available for purchase? Share!
Photo © Jason Stitt – Fotolia.com
Blog Advertising - Bloggers, Let's Put Money Where Our Mouths Are,
Kelby Carr is the founder and publisher of Type-A Parent. She also is the organizer of the Type-A Parent Conference. She is the author of Pinterest For Dummies and Pinterest Marketing For Dummies. You can follow her on Twitter at @typeamom and circle her on Google+.
Sudie
Advertising rates available upon request. Something for every price range.
We have sidebar widgets, monthly sponsors with giveaway, and the best one is our banner spot that are posted right into the blog content (limited to three companies).
melissa
AWESOME IDEA!! i’m going to have to do this too!! i’ll sell advertising to bloggers on my site too. cheap. because i love you
Chele Chestnut
Oh Kelby… this is why I love you! I do offer advertising and low… http://www.thebonafidelife.net/pr/advertise/. I am willing to buy as well!
Lisa
I have 4 blogs myself and have paid for advertising on other blogs
I’ve even discounted my rates for fellow bloggers too.
MommaDJane
I do currently sale ad space on my blog and I’d love to feature some bloggers with special rates. This is a great idea and one I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. I’ve started gathering media kits from bloggers to determine which ones would be a good fit.
Thanks for the encouragement!
Kadi @DigitalKadi
I do not sell advertising on my blog, but this presents a very valid point. Way to go, Kelby! xo
Tara
I have ad space for sale
I don’t have prices listed on my page but I can be emailed at tara at 3psmama dot com for more information!
Ashley Pichea
I have been thinking about this myself. I don’t have an advertising budget yet, but I have been trying to sell ad space. I’ve started “giving away” advertising space at (semi) random to get a feel for what works and doesn’t work in terms of my readers. I don’t want to ask somebody to pay for something and then not get them any results. I track all the clicks (through bit.ly) on my ad spots in order to be able to price my space appropriately. I’ve done a few ad swaps, too, which helped me get a feel for incoming traffic as well. {P.S. If you’re interested in buying space on my blog, you can email me for a media kit!
}
Mary Davis
Love this, Kelby. You’re so right. It makes sense for us to demonstrate the value in purchasing blog ads by buying some ourselves. Can’t wait to see the list of blog friends selling ads. I am interested in both selling and buying ads. Here is my ad rates page – http://www.everydaybabysteps.com/page/5084.
Cindy Watrous
I’ve got a food blog (with no advertising yet because I suck at posting regularly.) but I’d be interested in buying some advertising for my freelance web/blog design and writing business which can be seen at LucindaUncensored.com. I may even advertise the food blog once I can build up a stock of posts so I don’t go MIA if I get busy.
Mandy
What a great idea, Kelby!
I have often wondered why we don’t do more to help promote each other, as bloggers and as businesses! Ad rates are available upon request for http://penniesandblessings.com, and I am certainly open to helping promote others as well!! Feel free to contact me for either, and I will be watching the list for potential places to advertise myself!! Thanks for doing this!
Jenny Yarbrough
This is a great idea! I will do the same. I sell advertising on my blog… I have a pretty good following and would love to have some bloggers there! Email if interested!
angela england
My rates for UntrainedHousewife.com are $40 per month for the 125×125 size but I’m willing to negotiate with a fellow blogger.
Gena Morris
This is great Kelby! I offer blog ads too! I am always willing to negotiate with a blogger! For $25/month you’ll get a 125×125 button on my sidebar and a little shoutout post! BLOGGERS ONLY!
Rachel - A Southern Fairytale
That is fantastic!!!
Amanda @ High Impact Mom
Love this Kelby. I absolutely agree that we should be buying each other’s ads and I’m shocked we weren’t already doing it. I would LOVE to host some blogger ads that fit with my readers! Here is my ad page: http://www.highimpactmom.com/pr-and-reviews/advertise/
Let’s talk!
I’m off to find some blogs to advertise on myself!
Triplezmom
Love this idea! I have advertising space for sale. http://www.triplezmom.com/p/advertise-on-triplezmom.html And as soon I sell some, I will buy ads. I promise.
Jacqui Stewart
Kelby, you abso-flippin-lutely rock. Can I say that? lol. I offer advertising on my four blogs. You can go here: http://www.singleparentretreat.com/2010/09/advertising-with-single-parent-retreat.html for more information.
Janice - The Fitness Cheerleader
Great idea! I have ad space available too – in fact I use OIO Publisher and have used that to create an ad network of my 3 sites. Buy an ad spot and your ad will be displayed on all 3 of my sites! Interested? Heres the link: http://momontherun.net/wp-content/plugins/oiopub-direct/purchase.php I’ll use the money I make to buy an ad from someone else .
PS – I also think we should CLICK on the ads on other bloggers sites too
Katja Presnal of Skimbaco
Yes, I have bought advertising from other bloggers sites, and always been happy with the results. I also offer advertising in my blogs, even though I should advertise it better
I don’t sell advertising just to anyone, but only for companies that I can recommend to my readers.
Nikki Balderas
Love this post! I just added Ad Space and so far they have had a lot of hits in just one week. I offer ad space for a low rate. Would love to buy and sale ad space. http://www.couponcookin.com/advertise/
Chrissy Glen
I haven’t bought ad space specifically, but I have paid for services from at least 2 different bloggers in the past 6 months
Which I would like to add, have worked out wonderfully! I sell advertising, prices are available upon request as well, but I would offer a fellow blogger a discount for sure! I would be interested on advertising. Great idea Kelby!!!
CarolinaMama
Well said Kelby! I have sold like-minded advertising on CarolinaMamaBlog.com for a while now. Though for similar reasons stated above, have not purchased advertising for CarolinaMama. I usually hare other products with my readers. Thanks for the insight!
The Cottage Chick
Kelby,
I love this idea. I would love to be supporting one another more. Thanks for the suggestion. I loved this idea so much I just tweeted it out.
You are inspiring.
Thanks,
Denise
Kristi @ Creative Kristi
YES! Oh so true- we need to take our own advice!
http://www.creativekristi.com/contact-m
schmutzie
I sell ad space on my site, too, and have occasionally bought space. I’ve always found that it was surprisingly affordable and well worth it.
Visit my site to see where I have space available, and check out my ad page on isocket for more info: https://www.isocket.com/group/schmutzie-com/
Krista Herling
This is a great idea! I do have ad spots on my blog, but not from other bloggers. I’d definitely be willing to do a discount and/or a featured blog of the month kind of thing.
I agree with Katja too, I only host ads that are a good fit for my blog even if it costs me money.
I’ve never bought an ad because I don’t really have a “product” I’m selling. I wonder if we might also be interested in doing a blogger ad swap list?
Alaina
Great idea! I just went over and got one for your Investigative Mommy. I would love to start selling ad space on my blog, right now I just have some affiliate ads. What other companies do you bloggers use besides isocket to sell ad space? Thanks!
Mimi
Well, you’re defintely right about the “extra” $. As a single parent purchasing advertising is far from being in my budget. BUT $10 for a month is something I could actually afford to look into. I’d say I’ll use my latte budget, but I don’t even have one of those. I’m tellin’ ya, life is tight around here! LOL
Samantha
Great article! I’ve been toying with the idea of creating a Mom Blogger Ad Directory for a while. This article gives me the push to go ahead and create it. If you would like your blog listed complete the Google form here:
http://ow.ly/3VzNC
What better way to see who accepts advertising along with their rates. I’m sure most rates are affordable for fellow mom bloggers.
It will also attract businesses who are looking for a one-stop shop of mom bloggers who accept advertising.
Angela @ Homegrown Mom
Thanks for this, someone referred me because I was asking about paying for ads. I do offer ad space on my blog, too, but usually it is companies with a product, not blogs. I would love to advertise great blogs, too!
BrassyDel
I think more bloggers should be looking into ad programs like projectwonderful.com – it’s a program started with webcomics, which have similar marketing issues to bloggers. It’s a bid-based system, but you can also set a minimum bid amount for your ad space. The best part is that you can get insanely low ad rates on sites with less views or less ad competition, and the site owner gets something instead of nothing.
corrin
I think this is a fabulous idea and whenever I’ve been approached by other bloggers or Etsy owner I’ve always offered a 50% discount on my regular rates.
gigi
Wow, great idea, Kelby. I am offering ad space on my blog and would love someone to buy some at a deeply discounted rate to see how it works.
Email me if interested and I’ll shoot over the media kit!
anna
what a great idea! i often marvel at how inexpensive ad prices are on some blogs i love, but have never thought of buying…. i will think again now
mari
I would also like to offer ad space the 125×125 size. i hope to buy ad space soon as well. I am only selling the space to select bloggers. I sell the space for $25 per month.
Alicia
I offer advertising space on my blog, Making Time For Mommy. I’d be happy to offer a huge discount for other mom and dad bloggers
Melissa
Great idea! I normally charge $20 a month but I will charge bloggers only $10 a month! I might do a giveaway for a blogger also!
Cindi @ Moomettes Magnificents
Nice way to keep the economy rolling – I belong to several blog ad networks which seem to work well for me. I do offer advertising, but it’s usually taken up by companies. However, I have offered discounted rates (available upon request) for WAHMs and bloggers.
Janet (Fickle Beauty)
This is the greatest idea and best way to support our bloggers! I would definitely buy/sell space and even barter space for space. I’m just starting out, but am building a base and almost ready for ads. Stop by!
Kelby Carr
Wow! Thanks everyone who commented, and keep those comments (and sharing whether you buy or sell ads) coming. I will be going through and buying some ads in the next few days. I hope some of you will as well!
mControl
We are happy to help out Mombloggers and Mommy Mad products/services with very low rates – and some in-kind opportunites! Check us out and get in touch for the media/pr kit and rate card! x
Darcy @ Tales From the Nursery
I’ve seen some bloggers with other bloggers in their ad space, which is great. I’ve entered giveaways for ad space. I’ve also sponsored a prize for someone else’s giveaway event for “like” entries and things like that. I figure that’s similar to buying advertising.
I accept advertising, but don’t have any up yet. I don’t have the areas marked off either, so I’m open to some negotiation about placement and pricing at this point.
What I really love about your post is the wealth of resources in the comments!
Gena Kirby
Great idea will do. Still uploading old blogs to my new blog site. But that is genius, it’s like the same idea as buying local, being loyal but it’s a much larger community than just one town. I love it! Done.
-Gena
Mel @ Mel's Box of Chocolates
I love this idea and have shared the post on my Sunday Stars that will go live next Sunday. I am definitely going to start talking to some bloggers about advertising my blog and I do sell advertising on my blog too so email me for prices!! Thanks Kelby for sharing some good stuff!!
Jendi Pagano
I’m willing to offer 125 x125 buttons on http://jendisjournal.com or http://simplevloggingtips.com to other bloggers. I also have an audio spot in the Profitable Mommy Blogging Podcast for $10 – http://www.profitablemommyblogging.com/category/podcast/
Kris Cain
No clue why I am just seeing this great post. Awesome idea. I have no yet purchased an ad from any blogs, but I am not opposed to the idea.
I do offer advertising on my blog. My rates, etc. are at http://littletechgirl.com/pr-media-advertising/advertising/. I am more than willing to work out a deal with other bloggers.
Cate O'Malley
Hi Kelby! Very late to this post, but just now adding a sponsorship option for people to purchase 125×125 button ads on Sweetnicks. Feel free to drop me a line if you need more details.