Notice anything different?
If you’re looking at this on a reader, you won’t be able to tell.
But if you’re reading this on my blog, it should be obvious something’s changed.
As of today, I’ve joined the BlogHer ad network. You can tell by the ad in the far right-hand column. In the future you may see a second small BlogHer ad here as well.
After two-plus years of blogging purely to keep up with the times and share a career’s worth of accumulated wisdom about writing, journalism and freelancing, I was ready to explore turning my little enterprise from a nonprofit to a money-making venture – to develop an alternative revenue stream as they say.
When it comes to ad networks, bloggers have a lot of options.
BlogHer wasn’t an obvious choice for me. Although I’m a mom and a blogger, I’m not a mommy blogger, a fact that kept me from investigating BlogHer and similar networks for some time.
But when I did, I found a lot of compelling reasons to join. The BlogHer network has 2,500 bloggers, not a huge number, which gives WordCount a chance to stand out. There aren’t a lot of other BlogHer blogs covering freelancing or the media business, another opportunity for me to shine. BlogHer has grown beyond its initial mommy blogger roots: the company recently announced an initiative with The White House Project to get more women to run for office in 2010. With more than 20 million unique visitors a month, it’s getting noticed: BusinessWeek included the Belmont, California company in its February 2010 list of America’s Most Promising Startups. Writing in Forbes, in November 2009, CBS anchor Katie Couric included BlogHer cofounders Lisa Stone, Jory Des Jardins and Elisa Camahort Page in a list of the most powerful people in new media.
I also picked BlogHer because it maintains a newspaper-type editorial code when it comes to bloggers accepting free gifts and junkets. At a time when many bloggers think it’s OK to take free stuff and write positive things about the companies that gave it to them – with or without acknowledging the relationship – I appreciate that BlogHer holds contributors to a higher standard. You can read the entire editorial policy here.
Have I sold out? You could say that. Am I OK with it? It took me a while, but yes, I am. Do I expect to make lots of money? Not at first. I see it as the latest step on my journey as an journalist entrepreneur.
Related posts:
Click here for the RSS feed
Congratulations Michelle. BlogHer is lucky to have you.
Anyone who accuses you of selling out is being more than a little sanctimonious, IMHO. There’s a world of difference between selling out and supporting editorial work with advertising. That’s something some bloggers could learn from some “old media” practitioners.
Carroll, thanks for the support.
Michelle
Please keep us informed on how it’ going for you with this and other initiatives. You seem (to me) to always be on the cutting edge in the blogosphere, so I’ll be watching! Thanks for sharing your perspective. Congrats on taking the step!
MO
Thanks! We Michelle’s need to support each other
Michelle R.
I don’t see this as a sell-out at all. You put a lot of work into your blog, and it’s great that you can find a way to make a little money for your effort. You did your research and picked an ad network that shares your values regarding free gifts and has set standards for such practices. Good for you! I hope your venture is successful.
-H.
Thanks Hilda. If I really had my act together I would have done this a lot sooner.
Michelle
Welcome to BlogHerPublishing Michelle! We’re proud to have you in our network.
I couldn’t agree more with Carroll that “There’s a world of difference between selling out and supporting editorial work with advertising. “
Lisa: Thanks so much for taking the time to check out my blog, I truly appreciate it. I’m looking forward to being part of the BlogHer network.
Michelle Rafter