Daddy, Buy Me Something!
In high school a girl I was friendly with actually said this to her father at an art sale the school was having to raise money. Art made by students. Ceramic shit. Paint-by-numbers. I turned to her, "Do you really want one of these?" Stephanie smiled at me. "No, I just want him to buy me something so I feel loved."
Well! If that doesn't outline what a year of therapy will be spent discussing I don't know what does.
It's not that I am against buying or consuming. I'm not. I buy shit. I consume. It's just that I don't want to have things I don't use or don't need. Growing up, I was raised to keep all my book reports. I never questioned it, and in middle school I had every book report I'd ever done since second grade. There are iPods out that apparently show tv programs. Fascinating! I'll stick with my green iPod nano though, thanks. It's little and cute and makes me happy and inspires warm thoughts towards Golden Boy and Crazy Girl. I still maintain it's the best present (and best delivery of a present) I've ever gotten.
I don't want the best. I want good enough combined with best for me. What's best for me is not always the best of what exists. I want things to be simple. Life already seems hard enough to me. I want less buttons to press, manuals to read, things to figure out, less to navigate around.
All this stuff? It just creates more waste in the long-term. In the short-term, it creates pressure. You have that? I need that! You're getting what? I need to get the one that's bigger than that. Just in 2008, three different people have asked if I want a bigger tv. No, I don't. I don't know how many inches mine is, but it's average sized, and fine. It works, so I don't need a new one. It's that simple to me.
Part of why I've never had advertising on this blog is because I don't know how to put it on here. The other, bigger part is that I read blogs that have advertising. I read lots of blogs (you guys are interesting, keep writing because I'm fascinated). I hate the blogs that have so much advertising that I feel like I have to search to find the actual blog content.
I know that I don't necessarily see things the way most people do, but I don't SEE advertisements online. In 15 or so years of using the internet, I have clicked on an advertised link less than half a dozen times. All I notice is that it's not what I'm trying to read, and that's all. It's something that's in my way.
A couple of days ago, I got an email from a marketing firm saying a company would like to advertise on my blog. But before they could pay me for that, they'd like to first advertise on my blog for free for a little while, to see what kind of traffic I get. Then, I was to tell them how much I wanted to be paid. It was not signed by a person.
After consulting with some blog-marketing savvy folks (okay, one folk) and thinking about it, I wrote back:
Dear [name of Ad Agency] Representative Who Is Nameless,
You may have noticed that there is currently no advertising on my blog. In order for me to lift the advertising ban, I would need to be compensated as opposed to letting you advertise for free (for any amount of time). Since you are coming to me, it's up to you to make an initial offer as to what compensation you'd offer for advertising on my blog. At that time I would be happy to engage in a discussion with you.
Sincerely,
Blogger who does not cavalierly advertise on her blog
I received a return email less than 24 hours later:
Greetings Anti-Cavalier,
Thanks for getting back to us. While we appreciate your dedication to your blog, we are unable to place unverified advertisements for this client's particular campaign. Best of luck with all your future endeavors.
All the best,
Masked Girl
You know what I've learned from this experience? I should TOTALLY sign all my emails with something more funky than "love" or "sincerely" because it completely makes my day when the person I'm corresponding with does it back!
For now, I'm staying advertising free. In the paid sense, at least. If a company that I actually use approaches me and would like to pay me for reviewing and blogging about their product and/or service, I'm open to it. But I won't be cluttering up my blog with ad banners for you to deal with. There's enough shit here already.
Signed,
She who has convictions but can also be bought
Well! If that doesn't outline what a year of therapy will be spent discussing I don't know what does.
It's not that I am against buying or consuming. I'm not. I buy shit. I consume. It's just that I don't want to have things I don't use or don't need. Growing up, I was raised to keep all my book reports. I never questioned it, and in middle school I had every book report I'd ever done since second grade. There are iPods out that apparently show tv programs. Fascinating! I'll stick with my green iPod nano though, thanks. It's little and cute and makes me happy and inspires warm thoughts towards Golden Boy and Crazy Girl. I still maintain it's the best present (and best delivery of a present) I've ever gotten.
I don't want the best. I want good enough combined with best for me. What's best for me is not always the best of what exists. I want things to be simple. Life already seems hard enough to me. I want less buttons to press, manuals to read, things to figure out, less to navigate around.
All this stuff? It just creates more waste in the long-term. In the short-term, it creates pressure. You have that? I need that! You're getting what? I need to get the one that's bigger than that. Just in 2008, three different people have asked if I want a bigger tv. No, I don't. I don't know how many inches mine is, but it's average sized, and fine. It works, so I don't need a new one. It's that simple to me.
Part of why I've never had advertising on this blog is because I don't know how to put it on here. The other, bigger part is that I read blogs that have advertising. I read lots of blogs (you guys are interesting, keep writing because I'm fascinated). I hate the blogs that have so much advertising that I feel like I have to search to find the actual blog content.
I know that I don't necessarily see things the way most people do, but I don't SEE advertisements online. In 15 or so years of using the internet, I have clicked on an advertised link less than half a dozen times. All I notice is that it's not what I'm trying to read, and that's all. It's something that's in my way.
A couple of days ago, I got an email from a marketing firm saying a company would like to advertise on my blog. But before they could pay me for that, they'd like to first advertise on my blog for free for a little while, to see what kind of traffic I get. Then, I was to tell them how much I wanted to be paid. It was not signed by a person.
After consulting with some blog-marketing savvy folks (okay, one folk) and thinking about it, I wrote back:
Dear [name of Ad Agency] Representative Who Is Nameless,
You may have noticed that there is currently no advertising on my blog. In order for me to lift the advertising ban, I would need to be compensated as opposed to letting you advertise for free (for any amount of time). Since you are coming to me, it's up to you to make an initial offer as to what compensation you'd offer for advertising on my blog. At that time I would be happy to engage in a discussion with you.
Sincerely,
Blogger who does not cavalierly advertise on her blog
I received a return email less than 24 hours later:
Greetings Anti-Cavalier,
Thanks for getting back to us. While we appreciate your dedication to your blog, we are unable to place unverified advertisements for this client's particular campaign. Best of luck with all your future endeavors.
All the best,
Masked Girl
You know what I've learned from this experience? I should TOTALLY sign all my emails with something more funky than "love" or "sincerely" because it completely makes my day when the person I'm corresponding with does it back!
For now, I'm staying advertising free. In the paid sense, at least. If a company that I actually use approaches me and would like to pay me for reviewing and blogging about their product and/or service, I'm open to it. But I won't be cluttering up my blog with ad banners for you to deal with. There's enough shit here already.
Signed,
She who has convictions but can also be bought
Labels: BlogFriends, Cash Flow, Interactive, Marketing, Overthinking, Whatcha Readin?
posted by Green at 3/23/2008 11:09:00 AM
4 Comments:
Personally, I'm holding out for Zicam to approach me and ask me to do ads for them, which I would do, complete with personal testimonial. I might also consider ads for more embarrassing products, such as Certain Dri.
Dear Green,
If you ever figure out how to put ads on your blog, send me a clue or a hint.
I thought I could raise some money for a friend in need with ads... but have failed to figure out how.
With Much Love and Respect,
Mama Nabi
Dear Convictor,
Whats your price?
Sincerely Curious
I think you should sign off with
Half a flayed midget,
Green Yogurt
See what response that gets ya. Much snappier than "Sincerely" or "All the best"
Post a Comment
<< Home