Comments on: Experimenting with Ads (and Legitimate Asbestos Writings!)

By: PanMan

PanMan — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

If the ad’s are an experiment, then what are you experimenting with? Or is the term experiment just used to see if you, too, can get rich-quick, as seen in many ads? :)

By: Eric

Eric — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Dude, at the top of the page is one of the worst spots for contextual ads. You’ll never make 1-2k with it just at the top.h

Try placing them in between each blog post (at the bottom of each one). Suddenly an ad about “asbestos”, which I see at the top of the page, is now much more relevant beneath your post about ceiling asbestos.

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I like how you mentioned all the important “ad words” like real estate, asbestos, and mesothelioma. This will probably improve your Page Rank and other [arbitrary, though money-producing] website-ranking numbers.

By: Courtney

Courtney — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I can vouch for the jasongraphix tutorial. I used it myself. However I recommend getting a cannister-based respirator (about $45) and eye protection as the stuff is like smoke when it dried and loose. They look cool when you wear em too. Scares people away

By: Alexander Micek

Alexander Micek — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

For what it's worth, this is a fantastic step-by-step guide to removing a popcorn ceiling. I found it linked from lifehacker: http://www.jasongraphix.com/archive/2005/08/popcorn_ceiling Bonus: the author works in graphic design!

By: Ramesh

Ramesh — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I feel the ad is a bit detached from the website and hence may not bring in a lots of clicks. What about joining the ad block with the top banner and also placing a plain text ad at the end of an article?

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Mike, Have you considered selling that ad space for a flat monthly fee? I know that over at Tech Crunch he's selling 8 prime spots (which are always sold) for 10,000 clams a month. That's a lot of seafood. Steve

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Whether you pay someone or do it yourself, it can make a mess. Much cheaper to do yourself and not a big deal (but a good workout!) They make a tool just for scraping that stuff off, and it comes off pretty easy. Once you have, a coat of primer and then spray on texture works great (that’s the messy part, and do it on a day you can have lots of windows open!). Then a final coat of paint. If you had nothing to do all weekend you could easily start on a Saturday morning and be done and cleaned up late Sunday afternoon.

By: Peter Goodman

Peter Goodman — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I don’t actually see the ad, just a big black rectangle where it’s supposed to be.

By: gb

gb — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

@Jim: I’ve noticed some issues like that with geo-specific ads in Utah. I started seeing stuff for Everett (WA) a lot of the time… I’m thinking it has something to do with being on comcast and something is very similar (perhaps the ips or whatever) up on comcast in Everett, etc.

By: Mike Papageorge

Mike Papageorge — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

But if it pulled in a few hundred, it’s out like trout.

So for a price, you will run the ads… What about running them on pages older then a certain date, or not serving them to people with mikeindustries.com cookies? Less intrusive for your mainstream audience, and you may feel better even if you are only making Vegas gambling money…

I don’t mind the ads, meself…

By: Mike D.

Mike D. — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

PanMan: It’s mainly an experiment to gauge the value of Google Ads, in this context. They are *fairly* unobtrusive, so I would say that there exists a certain price at which I would consider keeping them around. For instance, if that ad pulled in like 1000 or 2000 bucks a month, I might keep it. But if it pulled in a few hundred, it’s out like trout.

By: Kevin Burton

Kevin Burton — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I clicked on all the ads for you…. and even read the sites that they linked to!

Next time you see me you owe me a beer or two!! :)

Kevin

By: Arnor

Arnor — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Well, Google seems to have some recommendations for you… =P

By: Mike D.

Mike D. — Tue, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Brad: Interesting idea. I’ll ask!

Courtney, Josh, and Ben: Thanks for the tips.

Sam: I haven’t taken the popcorn down, but apparently you can pay a contractor several hundred bucks to just wet the stuff down and it comes right off. Messy, but not too hard. I’m more concerned with what do to afterwards and how long it takes.