Comments on: Blog Interviewer

By: Mike Thomas

Mike Thomas — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:50:41 +0000

Chris,

Definitely performing better. I appreciate your input…I was trying to get some ads in there before to pay for the contest, but it was just too much.

Kudos.

Mike

By: Chris Lodge

Chris Lodge — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:23:36 +0000

Looks better Mike, loads way faster too. The top adsense block is a bit of a sore thumb, but I guess it performs best for you? It does jar a little, but if it’s working…..

Good luck with it.

By: Mike Thomas

Mike Thomas — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 21:35:17 +0000

So I changed the template around a bit to mimic some of the aspects of the Prosense themes.

What do you think?

By: Chris Lodge

Chris Lodge — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 10:48:43 +0000

Hey Mike, guess I must have mistaken some of the Google text ads, but there are a lot of them. Absolutely you’re entitled to an income, but the current layout does detract somewhat from the image of the blog.

Do check out that Prosense theme, even if you don’t use it, as it’s a good example of well-blended Google ads, and using a 3 column theme, with one column dedicated to affiliate and other advertising. It looks more together, and less sploggy. The main problem with your ads though is the lack of blending-I’m a long way from an expert on it, but when it’s done well it’s really effective. I can only suggest visiting some of the big blogs and seeing how they do it.

Cheers,
Chris.

By: Mike Thomas

Mike Thomas — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 23:09:59 +0000

Thanks for the tips. I’ve taken down some of the ads. But the blog does need to have an income prizes are going to be given out.

RT Cunningham, no one is blocked anymore.

Chris,

We only have three adsense blocks per page, plus the text ads and google search. It’s all okay under google’s TOS…thanks for looking out for me, though.

Any ideas on monetizing it effectively?

By: Robert

Robert — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 05:09:41 +0000

…Automated interviewing?

No offense meant to anyone, but as a journalist first, blogger second that sounds…horrifying…

By: RT Cunningham

RT Cunningham — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 17:30:29 +0000

I was over there yesterday and voted for your blog, Chris, after responding to an invitation for an interview. Now when I go back to the site it says:

You have been suspected of cheating the voting system. Please email
mike@XXXX.com to be allowed to vote again.

I tried to send him email, but Gmail wouldn’t deliver it.

By: Rhys

Rhys — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 13:11:31 +0000

I was going to repeat what Ashish said. Too many ads!

By: Chris Lodge

Chris Lodge — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 10:04:54 +0000

Hey Mike, no problem, and thanks for the chance.

I’ve just re-visited your site and turned off ad-block based on Ashish’s comment and he’s absolutely right. Not only are they a bit on the intrusive side, I also count at least 6 Google ad blocks which I think is against their TOS and may lead to you getting banned.

I also notice that the template is a little broken in places (viewed in Firefox) and some of the rounded corners are missing - you’ve got a good thing going there I think, which is likely to prove popular, so a little bit of tweaking wouldn’t hurt.

You could do worse than check out the Prosense theme co-released by the DoshDosh blog, even if only as a short term measure - the adblocks are already blended into it, and I think it would suit your blog well. Good luck.

By: Ashish Mohta

Ashish Mohta — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 04:02:20 +0000

@Mike: It was really great but there is something which is certainly nt required right now and will irritate readers. Too many ads, I am not against monetizing but I am not sure its monetized the right way. Just a view though