Offering sponsored ads on my blog (along with all the goodies I offer with those) has been such a great experience, and it's been one that is constantly growing and improving with time. It changes with each new sponsor, each new experience sponsoring someone else, and the direction the blog is taking.
So every so often (typically once or twice a year) the ad experience here has to change too. Now is one of those times, but it's only changing ever-so-slightly. The emphasis of this change is to simplify the experience and offer a more well-rounded and organized experience for those who choose to support this blog and advertise their blogs/shops/companies with me. I want to always be making it better, as there is always room for improvement.
So what changes have I made? Read on!
Fantastic Sponsors Section
Well I'm getting rid of the Cream & Sugar spots. Those that currently have one be allowed to continue it until the end of the term they've paid for/been assigned, but no more will be sold. Instead, under my main sidebar sponsors section there will only be two sizes. A featured size of 450x300 at the top (The Coffee Date) and regular spots below it (The Espresso Shots) sized at 450x200.
This will be limiting the number of ads I provide-but that's a good thing! This ensures that my paying sponsors get a big eye-catching placement and that I am able to focus on promoting these ads more thoroughly throughout the month.
New Cup O'Tea Spot
This is basically the Cream and Sugar spot (size wise anyway) at 450x100, however it will no longer be shown in the Sponsors section, and it wont come with extra promotion. It's just a sidebar ad much like my swap ads (it will still have the opportunity to join the Group Giveaway), but at a cheap affordable rate. It will be shown in the Affiliate Ads section, as I've decided to move away from most traditional affiliate advertising.
Swap Ads
I will still be accepting regular blog swap ads, but they've been moved down in the sidebar under my "Check Out These Blogs" section. This pulls them out of the paid sponsors section, but they'll still be treated the same as they have been previously.
Free Ads for First Timers & Small Blogs
A while back I accepted applications for free ad spots for small handmade businesses and bloggers under 300 followers. I still have a long list of people to get through for that (I've just emailed everyone who filled out the request back in February-so if you did, check your email!), but I will no longer be offering a sidebar ad, instead I'll be scheduling them for Saturday Spotlights. These small businesses and bloggers will have the opportunity to guest post or be interviewed, as well as combine it with a giveaway for maximum exposure.
If you are a small business or blogger with less than 300 followers that has never advertised with me before, and you would like a free Saturday Spotlight, please fill out
this form.
No More Holiday Ad Changes
I've decided in order to keep the ad experience simple and fun I wont be announcing a Holiday Hotlist Ad Setup (as I've done in previous years) with big ad changes any longer. Instead, the ad set up that is now running will continue on as is through the holidays. There may be an additional holiday hotlist ad in the future, but the entire set up will not change.
Free Giveaway Entries & Community Post
All sponsors in my Fantastic Sponsors section will get a free entry option (even if they're not participating) in the Group Giveaway. That entry will be a visit with a comment or item favorite. There will be options to purchase further entries.
I will also be bringing back my Sponsors Spotlight/Community post options with different themes accompanying the Group Giveaways each month. Whether or not a sponsor (in the Fantastic Sponsors section) is participating, they will be included in this.
The Cup O'Tea and Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans (swappers) spots will both have the option to buy into the Group Giveaway, and if they do, they will also be included in the Community Post.
Group Giveaway Organization
Each month will be much more organized now. I've planned out and scheduled the Group Giveaways for the rest of the year and created the forms for them so I'm ready to go right off the bat (I told you I'm getting more organized) and here are the planned giveaways so far:
- August: Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 Instant Film Camera ($70 value + Accessories Allowance TBD)
- September: eGift Card to The Container Store (Value TBD)
- October: eGift Card to Williams Sonoma (Value TBD)
- November: eGift Card to Etsy (Value TBD)
- December: eGift to Erin Condren (Value TBD)
Mega Social Media Love
All sponsors will receive 3-5 tweets a week sharing their content, and one Facebook share featuring them for the month. I will also be pinning, stumbling, favoriting, commenting, etc. I'm upping the Social Media game!
Let me know if you have any questions or concerns!
Take 10% off any ad purchased in August with code SIMPLIFY at checkout
To celebrate my new ad system, I'm giving two lucky winners a free month of my Espresso Shots (450x200) ad spaces! Yay! Open worldwide and ends on 08/18/15 at 12AM. Entering below agrees to all T&C in the widget.
