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MetaBlogging

How readers feel about blog ads

Thank you, gentle readers—you have spoken. And since I know you’re waiting with bated breath, here’s the results from our five question survey on blog ads (winner below!). Figures here have been rounded and may not total 100%.

Do you notice ads on blogs?
Yes—35%
Sometimes—62%
No—4%

Do you mind ads on blogs?
Only if they’re annoying—65%
Always—15%
Nah—12%
If they’re irrelevant—8%

Do you feel ads on blogs detract from the blog, its content and/or its professionalism?
If they’re irrelevant—81%
Never—12%
Always—8%

Where do you notice ads on blogs you read?
Right sidebar—21%
Within posts—16%
Left sidebar—16%
Above post text—14%
In the footer of a post viewed in an RSS reader—12%
Above the header—11%
Below posts—10%
I don’t notice ads—1%

Where do you find blog ads annoying or disruptive to your experience?
Within posts—34%
Above the header—20%
Above post text—20%
Below posts—7%
I don’t find blog ads annoying or disruptive—7%
Right sidebar—5%
Left sidebar—5%
In the footer of a post viewed in an RSS reader—3%

Now we know. Thank you to everyone who participated!

And the winner of the $20 Amazon gift certificate: Romie of Romie’s Rants. Congrats; a gift certificate will be winging its way to your inbox soon!

Happy birthday, Jai!

Categories
MetaBlogging

Blog ads: the survey

The survey has closed. See how MamaBlogga readers feel about blog ads to see the results.

Scribbit had a great post last week on making money from a blog; Littlemummy did a whole series on ways to monetize your blog.

I’ve shied away from advertising on MamaBlogga, but I’ve been inundated with emails from people pitching products, services and sites to me lately. I’ve always thought that my readers don’t want to see advertising—but I never thought to ask.

Would you mind filling out a quick, one-page survey on blog advertising? If you don’t mind leaving your email address, you’ll be entered to win a $20 Amazon gift certificate. Survey closes July 2.

Please—spread the word! I’d love to get as many responses to this survey as possible, and I’ll share the results with you as soon as I get them!

Take the survey!

Categories
MetaBlogging

You have spoken . . . about speaking

I’ve had a couple polls on here lately, and I figured you might want to see some of the results!

The first poll was about Blog Comments and You.

With more than 100 total responses, the blog comments poll was designed to help me (and now you) understand how you prefer to interact with blog comments. The most popular responses:

  • I notice and appreciate it if the blogger gets involved in the comment conversation 27% (33 votes)
  • I read blog comments from time to time 21% (26 votes)
  • If I see there are comments on a post, I’ll almost always read them 18% (22 votes)
  • I often check back on a post that I’ve commented on 15% (19 votes)
  • I get involved in a conversation with other readers in the comments 13% (16 votes)

What does this mean for me (and you)?

  • People notice if you, the blog author, respond in the comments. I need to be better about this!
  • A lot of people read comments very consistently—but a lot read them intermittently.
  • A good amount of people will check back on a post they’ve commented on to see responses.
  • Some people get involved in a conversation with other readers in the comments.

So what should you do?

The second poll, How often should a blogger post?, requires a bit less analysis: 77% voted for two to five times a week. The four-five times category was a little over half of that group. (I was asking because I was worried that I might be posting too much—or pushing myself to post more often than I needed to!)

For more insights on the polls’ responses, read the comments on each post (Blog comments and you and How often should a blogger post).

Categories
MetaBlogging

How often should a blogger post?

Another poll for you! How many times a week should a blogger that you read publish a new post?

Categories
Contests

Help me help you

Yeah, we’re in the midst of another contest here on MamaBlogga. I’d love to see your input on what you’d like to see as prizes in a future contest.

Thanks!