Are You Frustrated With Ads Within Posts?

What if the picture within this post was an ad instead of the picture you’re currently viewing? Would it make a difference?

Better yet, let me raise the stakes a little bit . . . what if the picture within this post was a big, bright colored, 300×250, animated ad?

Would it bother your pretty little eyes?

Would it stir up enough curiosity-punch to stop you from reading, scroll over to the right, and dare I say . . . click on it?

The question of whether or not you should place ads within your blog posts is one that’s been around since ad optimization was introduced as a way to increase the CTR (click through rate) of your ads.

Ad optimization, the act in which one changes the placement of their ads to specific “hot spots” on a website in order for them to be clicked on more, promised more money would be made if you simply rearranged your advertisements.

But these “rearrangements” certainly come with a price to pay.

Before we come to a solid conclusion of whether we should do this or not, let’s analyze the situation more thoroughly.

What’s the basis of your website? What are your ultimate goals, are they to make money? If they are, go right on ahead and say it; don’t be ashamed. But before you can determine if you should place ads within your posts you should determine why you have the website to begin with.

Here‘s where it gets tricky.

If your site was originally built to make money, then you want it to make money right?

Well, obviously.

Therefore, if better ad optimization promises more money by simply rearranging a few things around, you should go ahead and do it right?

Well, that depends.

Here’s the thing, it’s known that if I place an ad within this post it will get clicked on more than it would on the sidebar–I know this first hand; I’ve tried it on this blog. In fact the majority of people who have done it agree that ads within posts get clicked on more.

Well, then what’s the problem? If it works do it!

Whoa! Slow down!

You’re forgetting something extremely important. Something so important that no matter where you place your ads or how pretty they look, without this “something” you wouldn’t make a comment–forget a dollar.

What’s that something? Your readers; yes, your readers. I mention how important readers are so many times, because people seem to forget that their readers are who make it all possible.

Understand that they’re the ones that make or break you. Just because you publish content online doesn’t mean someone must read it. People take time out of their day to do so, so they should be considered when decisions like these will take place.

So, with that said, how would your readers feel if you placed a big, bright colored, 300×250, animated ad right next to every post you write?

Would they be happy?

Unfortunately, I can’t answer that question for you. That all depends on your niche and your blog’s readers–and you would know your readers better than I would anyways. It’s a decision you must make on your own.

What do you value more, your readers or the money?

Deciding what’s more important

So, how do you decide what’s ultimately more important to you?

Well, let’s say the money was more important to you. Then you have to decide at what point in time is it more important to you; now or later?

Let me further elaborate, if you decide the money is more important to you now in the short-term, than later in the long-term, then by all means go ahead and clutter your post with such advertisements.

But this will only last so long. Your blog will never gain the authority it could have if those ads weren’t within those posts. Sure, you’ll be raking in more money now, but what if your readers decide they don’t like all these flashing banners next to text they’re trying to read?

What if your traffic suddenly drops because of this? Now where are the clicks going to come from?

See, with ads within your post you won’t establish a good base of readers. Your visitors, a large portion of them, will always be clicking out of your site via an advertisement. This causes a decrease in subscribers and comments.

Can’t build loyal readers if they aren’t sticking around long enough to be intrigued into subscribing or leaving a comment.

It‘s certainly something to consider.

Now, let’s take a look at the long term.

If your interests are more long-term than short-term, then you shouldn’t be placing ads in your blog posts.

If you’re focused on establishing a well-known blog in its niche, then you will achieve a lot more: more authority, subscribers, comments, than if you had placed ads within content from the beginning.

Why?

Because without ads in the way of the post readers actually stick around to read it; this can lead to them becoming loyal visitors and subscribing.

The majority of people want to get to the content; to the info they’re looking for, if there are ads right next to the text they’re trying to read this will cause distraction.

Let me point out that ads, unless they’re generic ads, are relevant to the content on the given page they’re in.

So if the person reading the post finds that ad might take them to where they can find better information than what’s on your post, which they can barely stay focused on because of the flashing banner they can’t help but see in their peripheral, they will click on it and exit your site.

When you have reader loyalty and lots of subscribers, advertisers are thrilled to stamp their banners on your site. If you avoid annoying your visitors, then they may convert to readers, then subscribers, then active participants in the community and so on.

This will enable you to charge a lot more for advertising space than someone who clutters their posts with ads.

If you’re planning for the long-term, then you will make a lot more money than if you would have planned for what we described above as short-term.

Exceptions

Of course, in life there are always exceptions–like that guy who blogs about money, but constantly posts videos of his dinners and places he travels to. Just because it works for him doesn’t mean it will work for you.

And besides, that guy has a bad reputation anyways, so as well as being an exception he’s also a perfect example as to why you shouldn’t place ads within your posts.

I would love to hear what you all think! Are you frustrated and annoyed by ads within posts? Do you find it tolerable or do you not even bother to read?

Enlighten us in the comment section!

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