Potential Advertisers Need to be Specific
One thing that really intrigues me are the poor quality emails that I receive irregularly from potential advertisers on my websites. Why? Because my logical interpretation when I read an email asking for advertising terms is that it should have been written by the marketer. A marketer would be aware that I would need to know a bunch of relevant information before I would ever bother to reply.
First, advertising on the level they would be discussing would amount to a miniscule investment on their end but a headache on mine. One advertiser would never be worth my while. What would I get? Five bucks a month? That would buy me an ice-cream.
So the marketer should realise I’m time poor, and there is very little in it for my end of the deal. Therefore the email is going to have to concisely tell me about their offer:
- what they wish to advertise
- what terms they are seeking
- how their product directly meets my users needs
- any referees as to their product or company
It’s pretty simple. Send me an email that means I have to move heaven and earth to discover who you are, what you have to offer, whether you’re credible – and I’ll bin the email. I only stand to make five bucks, right?
Now here’s why I don’t advertise, so it’s a waste of time (mostly) sending me those emails.
Everyone advertises and I’m not everyone. Google Ads, for example, look crap and degrade from your message. I see Google Ads nowdays and I think desperate for cash. Lots of advertising and low returns, except for a few (who in that case should do real advertisements).
Further, I’m only ever going to consider things that I like or use or want myself – or that would be interesting to the site users. And, finally, I write content for myself first and this site isn’t about pro-blogging. In fact, pro-blogging kind of shits me to the point that I perceive most pro-bloggers as people looking for the easy way to make a dollar and pumping out articles about pro-blogging to other pro-bloggers. Seriously, that’s not what I’m about. This site is about writing for myself, and sharing information about the things that I love doing. I don’t need your money… that’s what work is there to solve.
I do however have free hosting courtesy of Brett Drinkwater at Tashosting. He’s provided our websites with free hosting services, technical support and the odd tutorial ever since we started about four or five years ago. His name is on this site as a supporter. Further, Brett didn’t offer this support and we never asked for it. It’s just something he did for altruistic reasons, and we greatly appreciate his effort in helping us achieve our goals.
So, in short, if anyone is going to send me emails about advertising opportunities make sure I can understand what you’re touting. I don’t advertise porn, lingerie, diet pills or crappy applications. I won’t advertise competitive web development businesses. But it should never be the website owner who has to investigate what you’re selling in that email. Be clear, concise – and fair. Otherwise your spam goes in the bin with the rest of them. My apologies if you were actually something interesting. Five bucks doesn’t get you a lot of attention.
