I’m pretty sure I am not the first person to point this out, but I think blogging is in danger of causing its own demise. The problem? Too many damn ads!
Everyone is advertising these days. Everyone is told to advertise. There’s even blogs that explain – if not compel – other bloggers to turn, what is supposed to be a medium for self expression, into a hardcore business with rules, standards and yes, lots of advertising.
Now don’t get me wrong, having advertisers on your blog is not a bad thing. Indeed, back at SEL, I sold more than $100,000 a year in advertising and at MP, I shamelessly plug my own company. So what is my particular beef? Why am I so crabby?
I am getting tired of bloggers “double dipping”. They’ve tasted the sweet nectar that comes from having a few advertisers on their blog and now they’re pushing their luck by also including ads on their RSS feed. The thing that I really find scandalous, is that most of them don’t even publish a full RSS feed. I get a teaser of about 50 words and then a bloody advert. I click on the link, get to the actual site and, guess what, more bloody ads!
I respect anyone’s need to make money and, if you believe you have good content, I understand the desire to monetize it. However, pick one and stick with it. Either, a) publish a teaser RSS and show ads on your site or b) publish a full RSS feed and include adds in the feed – JUST DON’T DO BOTH!
Maybe I’m just lacking caffeine this morning, but I’m personally getting ready to unsubscribe from those sites that insist on having their cake and eating it too, and I suspect I may represent a growing trend. Fellow bloggers, this is a growing medium, there’s a lot of competition out there for eyeballs, let’s not milk the blogging cash cow until she runs dry.
Rant over…normal service will resume shortly.
Andy Beal is an internet marketing consultant and considered one of the world’s most respected and interactive search engine marketing experts. Andy has worked with many Fortune 1000 companies such as Motorola, CitiFinancial, Lowes, Alaska Air, DeWALT, NBC and Experian.
You can read his internet marketing blog at Marketing Pilgrim and reach him at andy.beal@gmail.com.
