Blogs of commerce and integrity…
Do you notice the Paypal button on some blogs, as well as all the Amazon stuff and other sales links various bloggers utilize? Some bloggers want additional income off their site. One reason may be because some bloggers pay for their site, while others are simply supplementing their income. I have no idea how much it pays. I can’t imagine it is that much.
There are authors who have blogs of distinction and have their “poor boxes” as well as other ads. Blogging takes time, and time is money - although if you’re good, and you’re a commercial writer - it’s free publicity. Many blogs simply link to news articles, without much commentary. Some use pieces from their writing. (It’s a daily thing, and I’m here to tell you it takes a lot to keep a daily going.)
One blogger recently asked, ‘what widgets do you hate?’ I couldn’t comment, but I’d have to say, pretty much all the advertising ones. I’m bombarded with advertising every place I look -it strikes me as rather avaricious when I encounter it on Catholic weblogs. (I sometimes think there are religious people who feel others owe them a living. “Donate here” - that kind of stuff.)
(Maybe I should put up an ad in my sidebar with a Paypal button: “I hate my job and want to quit work to paint and blog full time. Donate for my Health Insurance Fund.”) 
March 12th, 2007 at 7:51 am
If you do that, Terry, I’d throw in a fiver.
I chatted with a Catholic blogger once about the economics of putting ads on a blog. There is a service that does that.
This person gets two to three times as many visitors as I do according to “Site-Meter” traffic measurement.
After nine months of advertising, a first check for about $100 was finally received.
Now the person who was concerned about “widgets” on the sidebar gets about about 100 times as many visitors as I do in an average day. That blog is the most read “Catholic” blog by the “Truth Laid Bear” measurement system.
That must amount to some “real money.”
It would be interesting to hear some anecdotes about the PayPal contributions. I sense that some of them are significant.
March 12th, 2007 at 10:07 am
Ray - Thanks for your input. I know nothing about the business side of blogging - just writing my thoughts here.
March 12th, 2007 at 10:18 am
Oh, Terry, you have so many wonderful posts today. Yes, I do not think there is anything wrong with a discreet “alms box” on the blog of someone who has genuine health and financial needs.
I an appalled, however, by the crassness and unabashed greed of some Catholic bloggers who at the top of their site are hawking their books and tee-shirts and begging for money all over the blog. I never saw such vulgarity in all my life. Especially when some of these are grown, healthy married men - are they trying to support their families from their blogs?
I did not even want to have Amazon links about my books on my blog because I thought it was vulgar and I did not want the blog to become a marketplace. But I acquiesced to my husband’s wishes and I guess it does help people who are interested to find the books.
March 12th, 2007 at 10:22 am
I just noticed Ray’s comment, very interesting and enlightening. I am glad there is a tasteful, creative way of soliciting donations.
March 12th, 2007 at 10:23 am
Elena Maria, I agree with you. I think it is fine to have one’s books available - I think the t-shirts and other things are vulgar as well.
An alms box is discreet - I would be embarrassed however.
Thanks for your comments.
March 12th, 2007 at 10:39 am
Thanks, Terry. I would be embarrassed to have an alms box, too, although certain people have advised it. I just can’t help thinking of all the people who have dire needs and if I had an alms box it would be for a charitable cause, such as “Save the Slaves in the Sudan” or something. In fact, that is not a bad idea, to have an alms box for others.
March 12th, 2007 at 10:54 am
My 2 cents (guffaw. ok, ok): I think people should only have their hand out via their blog if they are doing a lot of original writing and research of their own. The folks who troll public news feeds and post them should not, IMHO, be asking for money. It seems to me that most of the blogs I know that do ask for money are doing just that-news trolling.
I can see you asking for money because you want to start your own men’s fashion line!
March 12th, 2007 at 10:57 am
One blogger I am thinking of was extremely blatant about requesting money. My first reaction was “you can’t be serious?” I mean, he is a grown man and I would hope be employed. Yes, blogging takes time but you do it because it’s fun, not to make money.
Vulgar - very good description.
March 12th, 2007 at 11:41 am
Thanks everyone - we are all pretty much like-minded on this point - we must visit the same blogs.
(I thought I may be blasted out of the waater for this post.)
Anyway Cathy - I have a great idea for my men’s fashion line - pants with waistlines pulled up to the chest, shirts buttoned securely at the neck - ala Martin Short’s character on SNL years ago. Pretty cool huh?
March 12th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
You forgot the hairstyle to make that look work: over gelled and straight up in the air. Also, you need to walk around with your back in a permanent c-curve and your elbows poking everyone in the ribcage. May not go over so well at work. You’d be knocking everything off the shelves.
Back to the drawing board, eh? You did not arouse controversy with this particular post. I have no doubt you will rectify that situation soon.
March 12th, 2007 at 4:58 pm
At least none of the Catholic bloggers have tried Pay Per Post. I know someone who did. His readers had a fit over every third or fourth post being a paid advertisement.
I put up a PayPal donation box. ( My health rules out most jobs. )but I passed it off with a joke.
March 12th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
Jeffery, Thanks for your comment - I was pretty much referring to crass commercialism. You have a wonderful blog that enriches us when we visit.
March 13th, 2007 at 7:30 am
Yes, Jeffrey, you share so many art treasures (that I borrow for my own blog and it saves me a lot of work.) Your donation box is humorous and discreet. Totally different from some other blogs that as Cathy said are just posting news links all day long and yet begging for money all over. Yes, Angela, I thought it was a joke, too, when I saw the blatant greed on one or two blogs.