Can I Get Rid of the Ads on Your Blog?

I recently had a blog reader politely ask if there was a way she could turn off the ads and pop-ups on my site. I didn’t mind her question in the slightest; In fact, I appreciated her asking because I want her to continue reading my site (I so appreciate every single one of you!!!) and I want it to be a pleasant user experience, and if I could make it a more enjoyable experience for her, I’d like to!

Her question reminded me that I’ve had a few conversations with close family members who have inquired about my ads as well, so I figured I’d create a quick post today to share a bit about my ads because I have a hunch that others may possibly be a bit peeved or distracted by them as well.

When I brought up the idea to Jamie of possibly chatting about ads in a post, he highly encouraged me to do so because he said that seeing the “behind the scene of running a website” has made him much more tolerant of his time on various websites and the ads that they have. He fully understands why they are there.

So, let me share with you!

Last fall, I applied for to be a part of an outstanding online ad agency called Mediavine and was accepted due to consistent traffic that met their minimum viewer requirements. We installed Mediavine on my site in February, and now the ads you see on my blog are my primary source of income.

You may or may not have noticed that my sponsored posts have decreased significantly, which allow me to share more posts that are 100% organic and natural to me. Of course, non-sponsored posts are always a reader’s favorite!

The biggest reason that I am able to cut back on my time searching for and applying for sponsored campaigns is because Mediavine is matching the income I typically made from sponsored material.

So, what does this mean for you? As aforementioned, this means I am able to share more “Slice of Life” posts, more glimpses into the ins and outs of our life (like what I recently did with baby clothes or why we decided to get out of the Army) , etc. It’s a total win/win for both you, as the reader and for me, as the creator.

Just like other major forms of entertainment, such as television and the radio, most websites are able to continue creating content because of funding from ads. Television shows run commercials, the radio runs audio ads, and the internet displays pop-up, in-text, and sidebar ads. This is how they make money and continue to keep on keepin’ on.

Ads are now mainstream and have become a part of the internet user’s experience, and I do believe that most users understand and accept that. If a website and its creator(s) are giving you free information about recipes, DIY how-tos, parenting ideas and inspiration, travel tips, etc. the price one pays is simply clicking out of or scrolling past an ad. That’s it. The website creator gets paid monetarily because you viewed their ad and the readers get a load of free information.

I have a list of expenses that we pay each month to operate this website, so at minimum, my goal is to always break even on my website. Being able to cover a handful of monthly bills has also become a necessity for us, and to say that I’m grateful for this opportunity from Mediavine is the understatement of my life.

So in a nutshell, I know that some users do not enjoy the ads on my site, but I believe that most people who enjoy my content will continue to come back despite scrolling a few ads, and so for this reason, I drive on in support of my family.

I hope this clears up some confusion for you and alleviates the frustration you may feel when the next YouTube video you play or website you read has an ad you have to navigate through before viewing what you initially intended to. Consider it the only price you’re paying for the entertainment or information you’re about to soak in.

Want to read about some of my expenses for this website? I wrote about it several months ago here.

I also have a whole post about my main income sources here.

If you have additional questions, I would so love to answer them! Most of you know that I’m an open book and love to chat. 🙂 Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my big ole’ heart for reading my content every day! If it’s helping me pay our bills AND it’s briefly entertaining or inspiring to you, well, then I just consider myself the luckiest writer/creator in the world!