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New Blog and Blog Ads

The new blog is almost ready for its debut.  I think you’re going to be surprised and I think you’ll like it.  I’m sure you’ll let me know if you have any issues!  Give us a few days . . we’ll get everything worked out.  I love how I throw that “we” around when I don’t have a clue how to fix anything but I do have Sara’s email address!   🙂

From time to time I get some feedback about the ads on the blog.  The BlogHer network is great to work with.  They bring in quality ads, we can opt out of those that we don’t feel are a good fit for us.  One of the new and upcoming trends in the ad network is BlogHer TV which you’ll see over on the right sidebar.  I’ve watched all the videos on all the channels. I love the Shrimp Taco video.  I have to smile.  The tacos look great but look at that kitchen.  I wish I was brave enough to have orange countertops.  I also love the Braised Morroccan Chicken video and think we will have it for dinner on Thursday night.  That looks so good and so quick and so easy!

With the new BlogHer TV, there will be a short (about 15 second) ad in front of the video.  Once you’re done with the promo ad, you’ll get to the video/tv. There are three categories for — food, beauty and fashion, humor and inspiration.  I currently have the food category set to run on my blog but once the video opens up, you will be able to switch to the other categories.  Also, according to BlogHer, there will be a clear and easy way to exit the videos.  These are new and fresh and they look interesting to me.  You have to click on them for them to open.  They don’t pop up unless you want to see them.

From time to time, we are offered the opportunity to review items or do special promotions.  I always think about the promotions and think about whether it’s something I truly believe in and something I would enjoy and I think you would enjoy.  The Chip-It program by Sherwin Williams was one of the promotions I was able to do.  I’ve had so much fun with that one.  There’s a review post tomorrow for a product that I love.  I knew I would like it because I love their other products.  The Texas Tourism promotion was great for us.  We love Texas and we were able to visit San Angelo as a tourist and write about it.  There are often promotions that I think are better suited for audiences besides my blog readers and I pass on those. Very often on the ads, there’s a promotion or sweepstakes where you have a chance to win and the prizes are often quite worthwhile.

Last year I made the decision to give up traveling and teaching.  I’d rather stay home, design patterns, sew, cook, tend chickens, and do the things I love. My patterns could be offered for sale or used in magazines or books but for the most part, I offer them freely here so please remember that when the urge to complain about the ads strikes.  There’s really some good stuff in the BlogHer ads.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Judy
    I read and enjoy other blogs that are affiliated with BlogHer. I’m sure it will be great!

  2. I’ve not found the ads on your blog offensive, Judy, and I’ve appreciated the opportunity to win some items from time to time. Actually, way back when, I won a June Tailor Ruler from you that has been very useful to me and has made me a much better quilter. I’ve also enjoyed using the Chip-it feature. It’s way cool. I look forward to seeing what else you and BlogHer have in store for us.

  3. And I meant to say in my previous comment that I’m surprised you DON’T have orange countertops, given how colorful your quilts are!

  4. I’m on DSL, and it takes about 20 minutes for a 3 to 4 minute video to load, so videos/tv may be a problem to some.
    I don’t think your ads are ever offensive, but occasionally intrusive when they keep covering what I’m trying to read.

    And I had orange counter tops in my home in Cincinnati for 25 years, I learned to hate them. I have green now, easier on the eyes. 🙂

    • ok, it doesn’t look like it runs auto (blog tv) and that is a good thing for folks with slow DSL. 🙂

    • Anne, I’m not sure but if you’re on DSL, I think there are other issues if it’s taking that long for videos to load. We’ve been on DSL in the past and it never took that long for a 3 or 4 minute video to load. In fact, we were able to stream movies with DSL.

      • Yup, it is pretty bad, but being stuck in the middle of the desert, we only have one option and 2 speeds. And the faster speed is very expensive. And yeah, this is SLOW, but it sure beats dial up when it took an entire afternoon to load a 4 minute video!! 🙂 So I’m good and if I really want to watch a video I wait. 🙂
        But this one is not at all intrusive and it has to be clicked on to start, so it’s not really bad at all.

  5. Judy, the majority of people wouldn’t care about what ads are on the blog – they are there to read your really funny, heartfelt, family, sensible, sensitive, informative, did I say funny (Vince) blogs! I love it – I wish I had your energy!!!

    Love every post – i thrust them upon people that aren’t even quilters!!

    • Jo, you do a great job too. Sometimes when I’m wondering about the ads, I visit your blog and realize I hardly notice them unless something of interest catches my eye.

  7. Ads before the ads! If I didn’t love your posts so much, I guess I would have left long ago. If that’s what it takes to get to your writing, I can live with it.

    • The ads don’t get me to writing. The ads help pay the bills so I can blog without dipping into our family income. They also provide the extras for me to be able to offer free patterns, giveaways, etc. The good news is that the blog is free for the readers. There’s no subscription fees, no commitment. Folks can come and go as they please and no one has to read the blog unless they choose to do so.

  8. I can only imagine the time spent blogging for our reading enjoyment. I have had may blogs on my favorites list but many eventually bore me so they go away. Yours has always kept my attention and I am thankful for what you do for your readers. I made your Big Star quilt and found the pattern to be wonderfully written and that made the quilt come together so easily. I was so surprised when the final pieced border fit just like it should have. I had to make no adjustments. It was wonderful. If the ads work for you I am fine with them.

    Thanks for all you do.

    Patty

  9. I so much love the soothing colors you’re using right now. My eyes don’t do that crazy stuff. Lol. I’m sure your new layout will be fun and I’m excited for you to a new look you’ll enjoy.

  10. I read most of my blogs in google reader but yours I only get a ‘blurp’ of in google reader so must go to the actual blog site to read. Because of this I am hoping the new blog layout will once again have the ability to go from a new to an old entry or visa versa .

  11. I, too, had orange countertops–for 14 years and I hated them!! (They came with the house…) I have cream ones now and I love them–so peaceful and they blend with any food! LOL

    Your ads are fine and as long as I get to keep up with you and Vince (I think of you two as modern day Lucy and Ricky) I’ll keep on checking in.

  12. judy,

    i have also always loved your blog. i really like the new format. i am all for using the ads for supplementing income and give-aways. do what you gotta do chick-doodle! i loved the dove review and would go buy it now, never would have even known it existed without your review.

    question–several years ago you were doing a quilt along that used 2 sizes of flying geese–alot of them. i never got to get past making all of the large ones and a few of the smaller ones. life got in the way. i found them a few days ago and love the colors i used. would LOVE to start working on it again, but have no idea what pattern it was. i am thinking it was about 5 years ago maybe…..any ideas of what it was and where i can find the pattern?

  13. I watched some of those cooking videos that you were talking about and they were actually fun! The ad prior to the video was very short…not a problem.

  14. My only concern is that I can’t go from blog entry to previous blog entry or next blog entry like I used to be able to without going back to your list of daily blog entries that come on my email. I’m hoping we’ll be able to do that again when the blog is all finished. I can’t live without my daily fix of Judy!!

  15. Love your blog and your post.. always like hearing about the chickens and your puppy dog. I am very thankful that you are willing to share your life ups and downs with us.

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