Classified Ads on Your Blog – Worth It? [#20]

13 | Posted In Videos by David

This video is in response to a question from Malaika from MillionaireMamas.info. She asks:

How do feel about adding a classifieds page on blogs?  Will it help by combining all of the ads so that your pages aren’t cluttered or will it turn off readers?

I’m always interested in seeing products and companies that other bloggers use but few have a classified page.  Wondering how you feel about this as a problogger.

When I recorded this video, I was under the assumption you meant a community marketplace. This is probably the most common form of marketplace, where your readers can post their own ads to your site. I haven’t had a whole lot of luck with this myself, but it depends on your community. As stated in the video, too, there are pitfalls to starting a new community feature like that from scratch. Namely, negative social proof.

After recording the video, I looked at the marketplace on Malaika’s site. It appears what she is doing is not a community marketplace, but a central place for posting ads. The problem with this is that you’re not giving any of the ads enough “air time”. My guess is very few will actually click on the “Marketplace” link and, if they do, they’re probably going to expect a community marketplace as I did. So, to maximize visibility (and hence your income) I would find a way to integrate the ads into your site.

Ads always work best when integrated with relevant content.

If you would like to offer any input on Malaika’s question, please post a comment. And as always, feel free to submit your own question to me for a future video.

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  • http://www.millionairemamas.info/ Malaika Morris

    Thanks a lot David. (Yes, you pronounced my name correctly).

    Originally, I had the page named “classifieds” and then switched it to “marketplace”. I never even thought of having a community marketplace and that the name might be a little confusing.

    I’ll definitely find a better use for that page.

    Thanks again for providing help to all of us.

  • http://www.millionairemamas.info Malaika Morris

    Thanks a lot David. (Yes, you pronounced my name correctly).

    Originally, I had the page named “classifieds” and then switched it to “marketplace”. I never even thought of having a community marketplace and that the name might be a little confusing.

    I’ll definitely find a better use for that page.

    Thanks again for providing help to all of us.

  • http://www.darrensingleton.com/ Darren Singleton

    You’ve mentioned that she posts her ads within the one central place (the marketplace) yet her sidebar is packed with ads also.

    I believe, as you said David, that this is greatly devaluing the worth of the ads and people clicking on marketplace are more likely to just leave the site after being fronted with nothing but a page of adverts.

  • http://www.darrensingleton.com Darren Singleton

    You’ve mentioned that she posts her ads within the one central place (the marketplace) yet her sidebar is packed with ads also.

    I believe, as you said David, that this is greatly devaluing the worth of the ads and people clicking on marketplace are more likely to just leave the site after being fronted with nothing but a page of adverts.

  • http://www.millionairemamas.info/ Malaika Morris

    Thanks Darren!

    I can see that the page may be a “turn-off”. Sounds like you also think I need to trim some ads from the sidebar as well.

    I think part of my problem is that I have too many choices.

  • http://www.millionairemamas.info Malaika Morris

    Thanks Darren!

    I can see that the page may be a “turn-off”. Sounds like you also think I need to trim some ads from the sidebar as well.

    I think part of my problem is that I have too many choices.

  • http://SourcesOfInsight.com/ J.D. Meier

    I agree — it’s the in context, relevant part that matters.

  • http://SourcesOfInsight.com J.D. Meier

    I agree — it’s the in context, relevant part that matters.

  • http://buzvia.com Jon

    I tried this a few times as well in the past with limited success… it always comes down to traffic, if you have it, it’s got a chance of succeeding but otherwise… might not be worth the time and effort.

    Jon
    http://Buzvia.com – Where’s Your Traffic Going?

  • http://buzvia.com/ Jon

    I tried this a few times as well in the past with limited success… it always comes down to traffic, if you have it, it’s got a chance of succeeding but otherwise… might not be worth the time and effort.

    Jon
    http://Buzvia.com – Where’s Your Traffic Going?

  • http://www.millionairemamas.info/ Malaika Morris

    Thanks J.D. and Jon.

    I’m going to replace it this weekend. I’m going to change things up this weekend. I didn’t want to change it until readers had a chance to view it and offer suggestions.

  • http://www.millionairemamas.info Malaika Morris

    Thanks J.D. and Jon.

    I’m going to replace it this weekend. I’m going to change things up this weekend. I didn’t want to change it until readers had a chance to view it and offer suggestions.

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