Who is the top domain blog ?

[equity78]

Who in your opinion is #1 Vote in the poll.

What is the most important thing you want in a blog ? sales data, info, how to, etc...

 

[EJS]

My example was Elliot's Blog.. how many effing ads does one blog need? Even competing companies? Come on.. that's just pathetic. What am I supposed to think?

To answer this question I quoted, I guess you can think that there are 10-15 companies that are interested in supporting my blog, which I think is pretty exciting, especially considering the size of the industry. I could take some of them off and earn less advertising revenue, but then I would probably realize I should spend my time working on my profitable websites. As much as it's strange to think about, my blog has actually turned into a business.

If you were writing articles and answering comments/questions for 30-40 hours a week, wouldn't you expect to earn some money from your time and commitment? If I was going to be doing work for free, it would be at a non-profit organization I support helping those who are in need. People who read my blog are doing it to learn about the domain business so they can make money from it. Why should I not earn money from advertisers for helping others make money?

I've blogged about it before and I will say it again here. I don't do paid posts or reviews and I don't think I have ever done them. I also use very infrequent affiliate links, and at the present time, NONE of the banners on my blog are affiliate banners. They are not pay for performance either, so I make no more or less if you buy a .CO domain name or use Name.com. Many of the banners are paid bi-annually or annually, and I have a waiting list for potential advertisers (currently 2 companies), so I am not pressured to post things just to keep advertisers happy.

I may write about some advertisers more than others, but that's likely because I had a business relationship with the company prior to advertising and their services are helpful to me and can be helpful to others. For instance, I've used DomainTools since I started in the business, and I am excited that they've made a long term commitment to my blog with their advertising. When I show a Whois lookup in an article, of course I will link to their site because that's where I found the information. The same goes for other companies.

I don't charge the people who read my blog or learn from it and if the advertising bothers you, I am sure you aren't being forced to visit my blog.

Anyway, I really appreciate the support in this thread and I thank you for taking time to visit my blog.

PS: I don't censor comments on my blog, so feel free to drop by and post what you like. I may disagree with your opinion, but at least it will lead to a good discussion.

 

[alien51]

Cynics will never click on any kind of ads or referral links. Ever. Doesn't matter if they are transparent or not. Their opposition to ads is for the sole reason that they cringe at the thought of someone earning a profit at their expense of browsing effort and precious surfing time. "Honesty" is just a superficial front of explaining it. Deep inside, you know it's just cynicism: "You won't profit from me, kiddo. I'm too smart and cynic to click on ads."

What cynics do is read the name of the advertisement shown on the images or the link, then go to Google and check it directly from the company who owns the ads, effectively bypassing the website owner of any kind of 10 cents ad payment.

 

[DomainOgre]

I have to go with Domain Name Journal. Duke has done an excellent job with it all these years.

 

[DU]

Mr Silver

You were unfortunately the example I picked. I could have picked others. You didn't really need to justify anything to me.. but it was nice of you to post. I've recently looked some site - Linton, Yours, Shane and most have a disclaimer (as does DN Journal now). It appears that I got a little more excited than I should have with this whole discussion but really I didn't. I just have a different set of principles/ideas than other people.

My biggest flaw is that I over-analyse everything and that I start from the dark side and it clouds the issue somewhat. I lose my argument that's simple because I blow it into something bigger (or others do that for me). There's nothing unclear about having 10-20-1000 flashing ads. I usually don't click on any - not because I am cynical but because I'm not interested in most of the services being offered.

I do HATE (with a calm passion) links with affiliate codes because they aren't transparent enough.

At the end of the day, though? Advertisers will look at their costs, look at their benefits and decide if you're worth it. If 15 people want to advertise on your space it says something about your blog and its traffic. I've not commented at all on your content because most of it is actually original and it's not an issue at all. I actually read it.

I think it's like when Borders build next to B&N and CVS next to Walgreens. Sooner or later you have to ask if that makes sense? Wouldn't it make sense to charge more for one ad over 2 competing ads? You're a business man and I'm sure you've done the math. As a "consumer" i can tell you which I would prefer and that's all I was saying

If you received $0 income and you went away?

I think your perspective would be a loss for many. Me? I subscribe to the hand in a bucket of water philosophy.

I also come across sometimes as much angrier than I really am. I'm not I'm actually very laid back and calm even if my words don't seem that way.

I do apologize for using the words effing and pathetic. They weren't fair in your case, at all.

 

[lzy]

Definitely DNW.