Back in November, I started a little review blog titled “Fairly Odd Reviews” which sits all by its lonely self on the internet, not bothering anyone. Which is sort of the problem.
That site feels like an afterthought now, and I’m finding it hard to come up with new content. In actuality, I don’t do that many reviews since I already have a place in which to pour my heart and soul writing about products I love.
But, because I’m carrying advertising on this blog, I needed to create a separate site for product reviews, so, that is why Fairly Odd Reviews was born.
After seeing how much cash my paid advertising is bringing in (ha!), I’m rethinking it all again. One option would be to drop the ads and use this blog to write about it all: all my normal chatter, plus any product reviews or recommendations I think worthy of my time and effort. I’d be clear to say, “so-and-so asked me to test this product and here’s what I think” and I won’t be doing “paid for” posts, sponsored posts or reprints of press releases.
But, would this piss you off?
Would you hate bumping into a product review every week or so? Or, would you find my love for Friendly’s Lemonade Roll or Dreambox Learning’s math program mildly interesting? Remember that if I am to consolidate the two sites, I’d have to lose the advertising here, so that may influence how you feel about it.
I care a lot about what you guys want to see, or not see, here. Speak now: I’m listening. Right after I make some delicious iced coffee from The Coffee Exchange.
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I don't know that it would "piss me off." I'm a huge fan of the way you write and I'm sure if you wrote about your coffee cooling I'd follow along. But I also don't know that I'm feeling any love for consumerism these days. But, I also know every little bit helps.
That was helpful, right? Sorry.
I don't know that it would "piss me off." I'm a huge fan of the way you write and I'm sure if you wrote about your coffee cooling I'd follow along. But I also don't know that I'm feeling any love for consumerism these days. But, I also know every little bit helps.
That was helpful, right? Sorry.
If it's every now and then, it doesn't bother me at all. Once a week even, eh whatever. It's only when it's every day or something that I remove people from my reader. 🙂
The thing is, I don't tend to click on any of it. I'll rarely even click out of my reader if it's just a review of something. Just being honest. The only place I will click on the links and then buy stuff, is from Cool Mom Picks. I've found some amazing stuff through you guys.
If it's every now and then, it doesn't bother me at all. Once a week even, eh whatever. It's only when it's every day or something that I remove people from my reader. 🙂
The thing is, I don't tend to click on any of it. I'll rarely even click out of my reader if it's just a review of something. Just being honest. The only place I will click on the links and then buy stuff, is from Cool Mom Picks. I've found some amazing stuff through you guys.
Ditto to everything toyfoto typed. It wouldn't piss me off, but I probably would just scan the post and not comment.
Disclaimer: my buy habits are seldom influenced by reviews on blog sites. I think that the advertising model for mommy bloggers is really ineffective and poorly conceived.
Ditto to everything toyfoto typed. It wouldn't piss me off, but I probably would just scan the post and not comment.
Disclaimer: my buy habits are seldom influenced by reviews on blog sites. I think that the advertising model for mommy bloggers is really ineffective and poorly conceived.
I have NO trouble with the sidebar ads. In fact I wish more bloggers would create the imperitive for their sales instead of links.
I was also going to say that I followed the link from Mom101 today about walmart's 11 moms thing (which i'd never heard of before she linked it) and have to say I didn't think the blogger proved her case, nor did her writing seem interesting enough to linger.
It was just contest this and Walmart has that. …
I get that she doesn't get compensated besides a few gifts, and that Walmart doesn't tell her what to say … but my guess is if she was negative toward the company with regard to current events or greenwashing or whatever, she'd (or anyone in her position) would find themselves in the # 12 slot … and off the link page.
I have NO trouble with the sidebar ads. In fact I wish more bloggers would create the imperitive for their sales instead of links.
I was also going to say that I followed the link from Mom101 today about walmart's 11 moms thing (which i'd never heard of before she linked it) and have to say I didn't think the blogger proved her case, nor did her writing seem interesting enough to linger.
It was just contest this and Walmart has that. …
I get that she doesn't get compensated besides a few gifts, and that Walmart doesn't tell her what to say … but my guess is if she was negative toward the company with regard to current events or greenwashing or whatever, she'd (or anyone in her position) would find themselves in the # 12 slot … and off the link page.
Wouldn't piss me off given that I write reviews and have ads on my site. lol
Ingrid
Wouldn't piss me off given that I write reviews and have ads on my site. lol
Ingrid
I freaking LOVE Friendly's Lemonade Roll. I say bring it on!
Was that helpful at all? Probably not. Sorry, I lost the use of my words after I read LEMONAAAADE ROLL.
I freaking LOVE Friendly's Lemonade Roll. I say bring it on!
Was that helpful at all? Probably not. Sorry, I lost the use of my words after I read LEMONAAAADE ROLL.
I would not be pissed off. I enjoy getting other people's thought's on products – I scour epinions and amazon reviews before I buy certain things. That said, there is a limit – I quit reading one blog because it was an endless pimpfest for every product under the sun, complete with photos of the nutition labels, videos of her actually eating/drinking whatever, and so on ad nauseum. I think MAYBE twice a month was there any personal, bloggy content – which is why I read blogs in the first place.
So. Helpful, I haz it.
Go for it.
I would not be pissed off. I enjoy getting other people's thought's on products – I scour epinions and amazon reviews before I buy certain things. That said, there is a limit – I quit reading one blog because it was an endless pimpfest for every product under the sun, complete with photos of the nutition labels, videos of her actually eating/drinking whatever, and so on ad nauseum. I think MAYBE twice a month was there any personal, bloggy content – which is why I read blogs in the first place.
So. Helpful, I haz it.
Go for it.
I don't read review blogs for themselves, but I certainly don't mind when a blogger decides that he/she *actually does* love something, or has *actually* found something that they're willing to endorse just because. Not for any reason other than saying, "Hey, I like to eat Friendly's Lemonade Rolls". In the past I've subscribed to blogs that I thought were personal blogs, and were instead thinly veiled paid-for-advertising posts. And as soon as I figured that out, I unsubscribed.
I don't read review blogs for themselves, but I certainly don't mind when a blogger decides that he/she *actually does* love something, or has *actually* found something that they're willing to endorse just because. Not for any reason other than saying, "Hey, I like to eat Friendly's Lemonade Rolls". In the past I've subscribed to blogs that I thought were personal blogs, and were instead thinly veiled paid-for-advertising posts. And as soon as I figured that out, I unsubscribed.
Of course it wouldn't piss me off. It's YOUR site. Then again, I'm not huge on reviews so I'd probably just skip out on those posts, but as long as there is other fab material here,I ain't goin away:)
Of course it wouldn't piss me off. It's YOUR site. Then again, I'm not huge on reviews so I'd probably just skip out on those posts, but as long as there is other fab material here,I ain't goin away:)
I would like it. I check out this blog regularly but forget about others. I like to see what people I know and trust have tested and whether they like it or not.
I would like it. I check out this blog regularly but forget about others. I like to see what people I know and trust have tested and whether they like it or not.
I am so glad that I never got the BlogHer ads because I was already doing reviews and didn't want to give them up. I like having a separate site to link my reviews to, but I also do a lead-in on my main site so that they still get the exposure.
Basically, if YOU want to do something different, then do it. It's your blog. The second someone tells me I can or cannot post something on MY BLOG? I would probably stop blogging.
I am so glad that I never got the BlogHer ads because I was already doing reviews and didn't want to give them up. I like having a separate site to link my reviews to, but I also do a lead-in on my main site so that they still get the exposure.
Basically, if YOU want to do something different, then do it. It's your blog. The second someone tells me I can or cannot post something on MY BLOG? I would probably stop blogging.
Nah. I think this whole pay-for-post hysteria has gotten a little out of hand anyway. If I got pissed by you writing about math software or frozen foods, I need to step out of the house. I think most people come to your blog to read about your experiences and don't pay much attention to the ads– unless they want to.
Honestly, I rarely remember to check the review blog and that's got to be a pain to maintain two sites. If you want to consolidate to your main blog, you could consider making an icon to put alongside the title/intro and use a "read more" link to the article. It would tell readers this is one of your "Fairly Odd Favorites" so they could choose whether or not to continue reading. I'd hate to see you lose any ad revenue, but if it's laughable, you should feel free to untie your hands. Ya know, to wave your magic wand some more.
Nah. I think this whole pay-for-post hysteria has gotten a little out of hand anyway. If I got pissed by you writing about math software or frozen foods, I need to step out of the house. I think most people come to your blog to read about your experiences and don't pay much attention to the ads– unless they want to.
Honestly, I rarely remember to check the review blog and that's got to be a pain to maintain two sites. If you want to consolidate to your main blog, you could consider making an icon to put alongside the title/intro and use a "read more" link to the article. It would tell readers this is one of your "Fairly Odd Favorites" so they could choose whether or not to continue reading. I'd hate to see you lose any ad revenue, but if it's laughable, you should feel free to untie your hands. Ya know, to wave your magic wand some more.
My first instinct is to avoid blogs that offer product reviews/tons of advertising. By this I mean the blogs that are littered with it–two or three reviews a week, ads blinking & dancing along the sidebar, etc.
I enjoy reading blogs that are like diaries–and I like the mom-to-mom connections. I've recently dumped a bunch of people from my Reader because I just didn't feel that connection anymore. I dumped my Twitter account for the same reason–too much self-promotion from mommy bloggers.
If your reviews are fairly infrequent, I doubt they'd bother me…I also doubt I'd read 'em, though. I don't base my purchases on blogger reviews…I base them on the fact that I man cheap & rarely shop anywhere but the 2-3 places I shop locally. LOL!
I'll love you either way…a few reviews isn't going to "piss [me] off."
Perhaps you'd like to review our Whooppee Cushion. It is manufactured by Flarp!, a company known for flatulance-inspired products. 🙂
My first instinct is to avoid blogs that offer product reviews/tons of advertising. By this I mean the blogs that are littered with it–two or three reviews a week, ads blinking & dancing along the sidebar, etc.
I enjoy reading blogs that are like diaries–and I like the mom-to-mom connections. I've recently dumped a bunch of people from my Reader because I just didn't feel that connection anymore. I dumped my Twitter account for the same reason–too much self-promotion from mommy bloggers.
If your reviews are fairly infrequent, I doubt they'd bother me…I also doubt I'd read 'em, though. I don't base my purchases on blogger reviews…I base them on the fact that I man cheap & rarely shop anywhere but the 2-3 places I shop locally. LOL!
I'll love you either way…a few reviews isn't going to "piss [me] off."
Perhaps you'd like to review our Whooppee Cushion. It is manufactured by Flarp!, a company known for flatulance-inspired products. 🙂
If I like you, and you're in my blogroll, then I would read anything you write.
So you're all set!
My tip: Do whatever is easiest FOR YOU.
If I like you, and you're in my blogroll, then I would read anything you write.
So you're all set!
My tip: Do whatever is easiest FOR YOU.
I'm not a fan of product reviews on the blogs I read. Sorry. I don't think it would make me stop reading you, but I probably wouldn't read those posts.
I'm not a fan of product reviews on the blogs I read. Sorry. I don't think it would make me stop reading you, but I probably wouldn't read those posts.
Oh, you'd have to do a lot more than that to piss me off.
Oh, you'd have to do a lot more than that to piss me off.
Can you create a page on this present site just for reviews? I thought you could do that even within Blogher? Perhaps I'm incorrect but look into it 🙂
Thank you for stopping by Ovolina!
Cheers,
Anita
Can you create a page on this present site just for reviews? I thought you could do that even within Blogher? Perhaps I'm incorrect but look into it 🙂
Thank you for stopping by Ovolina!
Cheers,
Anita