A personal-ish side note…Over the last couple of months, traffic to the BRAD BLOG has steadily increased tremendously. And with it, much more of my time has been devoted to keeping readers here up to date with the latest and hopefully most interesting, enlightening and entertaining information and links as I come across them.
While we’ve had enough traffic here for some time to warrant the addition of Advertisements on the site, I’ve been somewhat loathe to do so for several reasons. For a start, I kinda enjoy the independence of being beholden to no one concerning content. Could I still enjoy that — and the appearance of same — if, for example, the Kerry Campaign decided to place an ad here? I also think it’s nice to have a clean and simple format not cluttered up with a bunch of ads, though I’d like to believe I could add them in a way that wouldn’t be too distracting from the content.
The time and focus it now requires to stay on the ball — particularly between now and Nov 2nd — continues to grow however. Thus, I’ve added the
target=”paypal”>”SUPPORT THE BRAD BLOG” link where you can click to make a personal contribution via PayPal if you’re so inclined. Feel free, of course, to use it any time! It’s up on the top-right over there! 🙂 Here it is again…
Beyond that however, do you, BRAD BLOG readers, have any thoughts on the issue of Advertisements here one way or another?
The personal donations are great, when they come in, but they are currently a far cry from what is needed to keep this place up and rolling as I believe it’s important to do. Ads might fill some of that gap, but I would like to hear if any of you have any thoughts about it before I go any further along that direction. Feel free to comment here or email me your thoughts.
Brad, you have to do what you can to keep the information flowing. Advertisements are a necessary evil in this business.
ads: do it. You’re a busy guy, and blogging takes time. If the ads help, great. I suppose it’s possible that people might *perceive* your voice differently if you have ads, but I know you: I think it’s impossible that you’ll adjust your content based on who your sponsors are. Besides, if someone needs a Kerry ad to figure out that you’re pro-Kerry, they are literally retarded. Or foreign.
I recommend Google’s Adsense for the blog here Brad. I use it on my site and its decent. Its to the side, in clear view, but not in the way of anything. You can customize it to your likings, then choose which ads you may not want shown on this site. Its all based on the content of the specific page you are viewing.
I have a couple of questions.
1) Are you closing this blog down anytime soon? Or are you keeping it up post-election (regardless of what happens).
2) Are there any other ways to support the blog (other than through Paypal?) . Paypal is not very popular here in Canada.
Thanks. 🙂
To answer Mrs. J:
1) I have no plans on shutting the blog down. It wasn’t initial created as a Dump Bush blog, it has just ended up that way of late because that’s what’s on my mind. It may become a Dump Kerry blog as of the day after Inauguration. We’ll see.
2) No registration is necessary to use PayPal. One can use a credit card and make a donation there without registering. Why is PayPal not popular in Canada? It can be used there, correct?
1) Ok. Good to know.
2) At the time I wrote you that post, I knew nothing about Paypal. This was my the extent of my knowledge:
Johanna: Hey guys? What’s Paypal?
Guys: Some system Americans use to pay each other online, People use it for ebay and stuff.
Johanna: Oh. Ok. Have you guys ever used it? Is it safe?
Guys: Anything where you have to write your credit card number online isn’t really safe.
Yup. That was where the "it’s not too popular in Canada" thing came from. But I’m in the process of looking it up online….
PayPal is very secure and one of the leading online sites of it’s top in the world. Perhaps the leading site now that I think of it 🙂
Okidokie. 🙂
I’m for tailored ads. Personally, while I enjoy your site very much, I’m seriously underemployed, and I can’t afford much of a donation. I’d even click on ads to support your site, but I sure wouldn’t buy anything. 🙂