MSNBC BlogAds Buy.
MSNBC bought advertising on 800 blogs for some upcoming television programming. You can read the very basic information out there at Business Blog Consulting and Performancing.
For some more information on BlogAds and the number of blogs online, an article from last April at iMedia Connection may be of assistance. Or, you may find the numbers of blogs online by The Blog Herald more convincing.
Ultimately, MSNBC bought advertising on 800 out of MILLIONS of blogs, and while I thought nothing of accepting the ad when I saw it, unlike my previous post where I decided not to accept an advertisement, I didn’t really give much thought to the fact that I, little old me, was being included in this pool of just 800 blogs out of millions. Now it’s hitting me that, wow, they could’ve been VERY selective, and only chosen really high volume sites, but they chose to include a major buy on BlogAds, probably without really looking at more than a handful of the top traffic-getters. MSNBC surely doesn’t know anything about my blog, but I did get accepted into BlogAds which was a prerequisite for receiving this advertisement, so I must be doing something right.
Note: This isn’t the first time I’ve been included in MSNBC as one out of MILLIONS of blogs, as I was linked to (with my name, as I recall) from an MSNBC blog for my analysis of the Beltway Sniper in October 2002. That blog of mine, is no longer in existence.
Check your Greed at the Door.
In my last post, I mentioned that BlogAds doesn’t pay until you’ve earned $75. Well, today, I turned down an offer to advertise on my site. BlogAds takes a large chunk of the revenue, ($20 ad only nets me 13.59), so accepting as many ads as possible is what I’d like to do. It’s also very easy, guaranteed money. I don’t have to worry about people clicking on them to earn (unless you count that I want advertisers to advertise again and again).
The ad I turned down just didn’t match up with the content I provide. Maybe remotely, but I couldn’t justify it in my mind. It was definitely a difficult decision, though. I want the $13.59. I sent an email indicating that I would not be able to run their advertisement, and asked if they have another site, and therefore an advertisement, that was better suited to my site. I received a very quick response, but the second website is only marginally better.
So, instead of pushing the limits, getting greedy, and running an advertisement that just doesn’t match up in my mind, I’m not accepting either advertisement. I’m going to apologize, indicate that I wish we could’ve worked it out, and let them know that if either of us diversifies into a more related topic, that I would love to do business with them.
Feeling good about your decision is better than easy money.
Revisiting Goals.
I’m beginning to see the importance of revisiting goals frequently, even if they are just irrational desires, such as what I wrote in my first post, Hello Paycheck.
The goal is to have earned $500 by January 1, 2006. I’m preparing myself for a let down somewhere in the $400-range. Ha! A let down! That’s $400 for typing at my laptop. $400 that I earn in my spare time.
Fortunately, especially as the result of the last 7 days with YPN, I broke the $500 mark, based on my calculations.
(10 months, including September) AdSense Check - $140
Pending October + November AdSense Check - $198
October Chitika Check - $17
Pending November Chitika Check - ??
Pending November+December YPN Check - $115+
Pending October+November BlogAds Check - $42
I believe that’s $512. Unfortunately, BlogAds only pays out if I’ve earned $75, so I won’t actually see a check from them for a little while longer, actually taking my total to $470. I should definitely reach $500 by January 1, 2006 without BlogAds assistance.
In 2006, I should definitely be a 4-figure blogger on one site alone. (Someone who earns over $1000 in one year.) I can only hope the site has growth potential and doesn’t flatline where it is.
As you can see from my earnings above, reaching $1000 in one year should not be a stretch for me, even if it’s only on one site. If I add some new sites, reaching that $1000 could become a monthly goal. If I earn somewhere in the range of $500 in January, I will likely set a goal of $1000/month by May 2006.
I have plans for a handful of sites, but no time to implement. 2006 could be a huge year for me…or it might be a flop. The VERY AMBITIOUS, HIGHLY UNLIKELY goal for 2006? 5-figures (over $10,000 in one year).
As indicated above, if I earn in the range of $500 in January, I will likely set a goal of $1000/month by May 2006. (This will absolutely require that at least one site be launched in the month of February), but the May goal puts me somewhere very close to $10,000 in 2006. (January-April = 4 months at $500 = $2000) + (May-December = 8 months at $1000 = $8000) (January-December 2006 = $10000)
Note: I graduate in May 2006, but will not be able to launch sites or regularly update anything until August, at the earliest. This could throw a major wrench into the process.
Unfortunately, because my earnings are increasing so quickly, I may need the assistance of an accountant as the season for filing taxes approaches and will likely be upset at how much is taken away from me. Fortunately, I don’t spend this money as I earn it, or I might end up losing money.
