So, I realise that the ads are not working well for some of you – we are still learning how Ezoic (the ad server) works and what we can and can’t do without turning the site into a nightmare. Currently, we are turning the ad level further down but this takes a few days to happen. The ads that are being served are dynamic ads so will relate to something else you have been looking at before you came to BBB.
We also need to watch the metrics on the Google search console and other performance metrics which had gone temporarily haywire although are settling down to show no particular drop in traffic. It does seem that people are having very different ad experiences and yet the settings are exactly the same to serve everyone the same and we hope that’s something that will settle in time. I’m keeping them in place for the next couple of weeks to give it a fair crack – I was slightly panicked and thought I would just take them off entirely but realised that its only been just over a week.
In the meantime, there are other options to look at such as a paywall option or subscription option and one more thing that we are working on to give us complete control over what is served to you but it’s not an overnight option because we need to gather metrics from this experience to show as examples. But the upshot is that I need to give it a little more time and if it’s just not working for you I totally understand if you want to get your beauty news and reviews elsewhere. For those of you bearing with it, I am so grateful to you – thank you.
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12 comments
The ads are a bit of a bombardment at the moment, but I can put up with quite a lot to still read your blog Jane! I’ve been a regular reader for many years and find your content informative, inspiring, and entertaining – it’ll take more than being dive-bombed by capricious “ad-blerts” to put me off!
All the best, Jo 🙂
Thanks for being so supportive – this is an absolutely excruciating time for me but it has to be done to get out the other side – I really appreciate yyo sticking with it x
I didn’t realise that you were back and missed all the early fun with the adverts ;-(
The site with adverts doesn’t look any worse than others that I read such as http://www.order-order.com
I have fond memories of roaming the early web before pay walls and the dead hand of Facebook, Instagram and Twitter suppressed individuality.
Now got a blonde broad with a whiskey in the right hand corner smoking and giving me the eye. No idea what she is selling. Perhaps your readers could nominate an advert of the week?
Smoking? I didn’t even think that was allowed in advertising :-)). Thank you for having a sense of humour about this – I really appreciate it x
Truly, the ads are ‘orrible, but I completely understand why you need to have them. A site has to pay for itself, including paying your wages. Otherwise, you have to go out and get another job.
So I can tolerate the blooming things because I love your blog.
You are really kind Lisa – I know they’re awful but hopefully it’s a means to an end.
Hi Jane, I have been subscribed/followed you for years & have to be honest and say it is so difficult to get past the adverts & pop ups to read your articles that I have given up on at least a couple of days.
I hope you get there & find something that works.
I’m sorry they’re proving too much for you – they are dialled down to the minimum and I hope that shows for you in the next day or so. I quite understand and will be sorry to see you go if you can’t bear them – I hate them too.
Just wanted to say, that I would be happy to subscribe via Substack or similar as I enjoy your content so much, if that helps with your decisioning . I understand how difficult it is to make money from content these days and also how difficult adservers can be.
Thank you – I might well do that and it’s definitely in my sight-line. Ad servers are awful – I’m looking at ways to generate my own ads which would mean I have complete control over how things look, but to do that I need some stats from Ezoic. I now know I can’t keep them but I just need to hold my nerve for a little while more.
Hi Jane
In truth I’ve found the ads a bit annoying to start with, but have visited the site less frequently and then stayed for a longer visit once I’m here. That said, I love your site, I’ve read it for years and years, and I’d happily subscribe/ use a paywall option. Also I’m happy to persevere with the ads as you definitely deserve to make the site work for you- you’ve put blood, sweat and tears in, and you definitely deserve recognition for all your hard work. Xxx
Thank you Alanna – that’s really appreciated. I just need to keep my nerve and keep the ads for a while longer (not sure how long) so I can gather stats and look at options. But very much appreciate your support 🙂