All About the Bling Bling…

Posted on October 30, 2003 by Christine | 33 Comments

I’ve never been a big fan of the “tip jar” that you see on some blogs. I understand why people put them there, but I don’t know if I would ever give someone money through one. Sure, if they were raising money for a specific campaign (walking for breast cancer, biking for MS like I will be doing in April) I am more likely to send a donation to the cause. Or I might send someone a gift from their Amazon Wishlist. But I don’t normally toss money right in to the tip jar. Then again, I don’t give money to the people begging on the street corner either.

Last week, I mentioned that I had been sent information on adding two basic, non-obtrusive text ads to my sites. In exchange for two little href links on four sites, I got a nice chunk of change. I will get that same amount of cash once a month, along with new links to switch out. Jennifer pointed out this post about blog spamming and said that she was going to change from my default skin to avoid the text links.

This confused me, and I really don’t agree with Orange Haired Boy’s post at all. I posted two text links, href tags only. I got to pick where they are at on my site, and if you scroll so far down on my sidebar that you even see them I would be amazed. I checked the links myself to make sure that they went to legitimate sites without pop-up ads that cart you off to some porn spam mecca – and they don’t. (I could have asked for different links if I wanted to even, but I took the ones they sent to me.) On one of my sites, the text is visible, but blends almost in to the page – and I made it display “below the fold” on a page that otherwise requires no scroll. My e-mail was from a different address and ISP altogether, and to be honest – I didn’t do that much checking in to it anyways. I wouldn’t have even looked at the headers of the e-mail if it wasn’t for OHB’s post. I think he’s wrong to suspect some scam – especially based on my own experience.

Maybe it’s just me, but if you wave some free money in front of my face, I will take it. I am all about the cash. Within 24 hours of posting my 2 links on 4 sites, I had cash sent on over to my PayPal account. Bing, bang, boom, and I was $90 richer. Oh yes, you read that right. $90 for 8 text links total. Plus if I refer friends and they sign up, I get a few dollars (one time only) more. Oh yeah, $90 a month and then some? I am *so* there! (If you want to sign up, leave a comment – I’ll have them e-mail you.)

Why pay money for text links? Easy! It boosts your rating in Google if you get a site that frequently updates (and is therefore frequently spidered) to post links to you constantly. In the past, I have seen traffic hit my site from Google just hours after my posts about things like Ben Affleck’s toupee. Google is my bitch. (I mean that in the best way, as I absolutely love to use Google for my searches all the time.) So there is no scam here at all – just a quick way to make some cash.

Considering the volume of spam I get, if I got more spam because of the text ads, so what? Spam is a lot easier to take if you are getting paid for it.

Speaking of Google, after seeing their AdSense ads on other sites and reading Matt’s feature about Blogging for Dollars, I decided to sign up. I never received notice about whether or not I was approved though – so today I tried to just log in to the site, and it worked. Guess they approved me. Now I’ve gone and added the AdSense banner to the bottom of every main page and to every individual archive page. It’s fun and amusing to see what ads you get for some of my posts, especially that last one about Howard Dean being metrosexual.

Which brings me full circle to the point of this post – edited at Google’s request. Just look at the PVR Blog results from talking about Tivo!

I’m all about the Benjamins… does that make me a bad person?

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Category: BlahBlahBabble Comments: 33 Comments

Comments

33 Responses to “All About the Bling Bling…”

JaxVenus (7 comments.)
October 30th, 2003 @ 5:56 pm

Nothing wrong with a little extra cash. Lord knows I could use some.. I’d like the info for the links if you’d be so kind, cuz I’m basically for sale to the highest bidder LOL
HottTxBoi (1 comments.)
October 30th, 2003 @ 6:01 pm

Ooo, send me the link to their site!

I completely agree! If the sites are non-intrusive (i.e. no pop ups or programs installed in the background) and are barely visible on your blog, then what’s the problem?

I’m all about the Benjamin’s, too…
Kevin (1 comments.)
October 30th, 2003 @ 6:26 pm

Christine – Hit me with an email, lovie.
Tina (16 comments.)
October 30th, 2003 @ 6:48 pm

I’d like to sign up too… Every little bit helps these days. =)
Tina (1 comments.)
October 30th, 2003 @ 6:51 pm

Actually, use the email address in this comment, please… =)
Lisa (1 comments.)
October 30th, 2003 @ 6:57 pm

I can definately use the money. Trying to plan a wedding is costing me too much money! Sign me up!
heather
October 30th, 2003 @ 7:04 pm

Can i get that link too, sounds good
Brian (80 comments.)
October 30th, 2003 @ 7:40 pm

I suppose it depends on whether you consider gambling sites “legitimate” or not. Where will you draw the line? MetaFilter even occasionally has text ads for porn sites — Matt says he reviews every ad submitted to him, and he’s okay with some.

Of course, your recommendation is the perfect viral marketing, and exactly what the people trying to place the spots want to see happen. A well-regarded blogger says “works for me” and legions of fans copycat right along. It’s how everything propagates on the web, so why not more marketing, right?

The real target, as you hint at, is not getting click-thru but getting better page rankings in Google — not for you, for the casino sites you’re advertising.

Personally, I am not all about the benjamins, so I wouldn’t do this, and I am not criticizing you for doing it. I just think people need to go into things like this eyes-wide-open.
Girlie In The City
October 30th, 2003 @ 9:02 pm

Getting paid for a little harmless text ad aint bad. Could you please email me info.
Annastazia (14 comments.)
October 30th, 2003 @ 11:24 pm

I’ll take an email too, please. Thanks.
Anabella (1 comments.)
October 31st, 2003 @ 1:15 am

Even better if it’s American money. Please email me the information Two links aren’t going to hurt anyone, are they?
Anabella
October 31st, 2003 @ 1:30 am

Just a small question – is it safe to give credit card information to Paypall? Are they reliable like, per say, Amazon or Ebay?
Jennifer (30 comments.)
October 31st, 2003 @ 6:00 am

To answer Anabella’s question, paypal IS ebay. They work really hard to make and keep it safe.

Regarding the text links, I’ve added them to my site, too. I don’t see a problem with it. I won’t do anything more obtrusive than text, however. And if I start feeling squicky about them, I’ll take them off.
Gordon (26 comments.)
October 31st, 2003 @ 7:53 am

From what I’ve gathered (having looked into this a little) it’s more about some people having hassles getting information they want from the organisers of this…

Personally, your site, do what you like!

(Hey that’s kinda catchy!!)
daisy (25 comments.)
October 31st, 2003 @ 8:00 am

Happy Halloween!
Jody (1 comments.)
October 31st, 2003 @ 8:35 am

I’m bummed that I originally got turned down for AdSense. Any ideas on why your site got accepted even though it’s pretty much “personal” when that is the reason I got turned down? (I also either never heard back from the link people, or my spam filter ate their email. Oh well.)
Sherry (17 comments.)
October 31st, 2003 @ 9:17 am

Me — who couldn’t use extra greenbacks?!
Donna (138 comments.)
October 31st, 2003 @ 9:26 am

You know, I agree with Brian – no harm no foul if you want to do this, but even if they do pay me, it seems like subverting the Google ranking system – which is already out of whack. Plus, my site belongs to me, and while I’d appreciate the extra cash, it would make me feel squicky having someone else’s links squatting in my sidebar. Good luck, though.
Caro
October 31st, 2003 @ 9:31 am

Yeah, do people actually have to click through the links to get paid?

I’m interested in international conditions(Canada). Can you hook me up?

(addy in my name link)
Amber (2 comments.)
October 31st, 2003 @ 11:38 am

Please send me the info. I would really appreciate it.
craig (39 comments.)
October 31st, 2003 @ 1:46 pm

definately not a bad thing!
I could use the $$ too. please e-mail me! thank you!
orange haired boy (2 comments.)
October 31st, 2003 @ 9:22 pm

I have so problems with free money either! However, it seems like you didn’t read my response to John’s comment. I refuse to link to companies whose sole purpose and business plan is to con people out of their money. This includes Debt Consolidation, Pay-Day Advance Loans and Casino places – all which this Furlong guy is associated with. I refuse to help him promote his business so he can virtually steal money from unsuspecting fools no matter what the cost.
Amber (2 comments.)
November 1st, 2003 @ 5:09 pm

I forgot to leave my email address for you to send the info.

amber@theloveletters.net

Thank you!
Jennifer (16 comments.)
November 2nd, 2003 @ 4:58 am

Christine, there wasn’t anything behind my having mentioned it other than to put you on to what I considered relevant information that I had stumbled upon practically on the same day as your post. I thought you might be interested in knowing about it. Guess I’ll go take my time out in the virtual corner.
Joseph (1 comments.)
November 4th, 2003 @ 1:04 pm

Taking PayPal tip jars one step further . . .
Dana (1 comments.)
November 4th, 2003 @ 1:17 pm

Email the info, pretty please?
MojoMark (7 comments.)
November 7th, 2003 @ 11:28 am

I put ad-sense on a football site I run, and got almost a buck on the first day. The ads run about 1 of every 3-4 clicks (I have other parody ads that run on the others) but nobody seems to mind as they are pretty unobtrusive. Google’s done a good job with them.

Send me the referral please. Let me decide to participate or not.
lily of the valley
October 30th, 2003 @ 8:06 pm

$how me the money!
[christine or kymberlie, I can't decide, so whomever gets to it first!?]
Live in the Delirious Cool
November 5th, 2003 @ 10:32 am

A little plug for a big idea.
The beauty of BlogBarter is it’s about the anti-bling bling – trading skills for cool things. And everybody benefits.
A Sassy Lawyer in Philippine Suburbia
December 10th, 2003 @ 8:46 am

On text ads and alleged spam
I serve a couple of text ads on my blog. I even had Google ads on my cooking blog until…
A Blog's Life
January 14th, 2004 @ 2:12 am

Commercial break Pt II
Update on yesterday’s post about being paid to advertise. Gordon alerted me to his post on this back in October
Jessica
September 21st, 2004 @ 9:55 am

definately not a bad thing!
I could use the $$ too. please e-mail me! thank you!
free free free
September 21st, 2004 @ 9:56 am

it’s free yes free