Tuesday, March 11, 2008

The Job Market

Well, the job market is just terrible right now in publishing, and though I am still employed, I seek more employment. Until that happens, does anyone mind if I put up some banner ads? I'm not trying to become an internet millionaire here, but I'd like to pay the electricity bill.

Or if you want to employ The Rejector for your publishing-related purposes, you probably grasp from this blog that I have some sense of the industry and experience in it, can do some editing (I'm better at other people's work than my own words), and have an MFA in Fiction. Email me. I will not grant interviews that involve the words "abandoned" or "alley."

33 comments:

Unknown said...

Sure, why not? This is probably the future of paid writing work. You should be able to come up with a good Ad sales packages with the site stats.

carterbham said...

i think ads are just fine. some people just get too bent out about them.

Anonymous said...

Yeah you provide free useful information on a daily basis, if you could use the extra income, I say bring on the banner ads. Not like I even see them anymore, I've trained my eye to ignore them.

Anonymous said...

Although I understand your need to put up ads, I rarely go to blogs that have them. Sorry.

Anonymous said...

you should!

Anonymous said...

The advertisements would probably help more than an unsteady influx of requests. Still, nice to know the option to have you peek at something is there.

Quinn said...

It's awfully polite of you to ask us in advance. Are you going soft?

I'd say go right ahead. I think we're all used to banner ads by now.

EllyseD said...

ditto here.

ryan field said...

I don't see anything wrong with banner ads. Have some fun!!

Anonymous said...

I use Firefox's AdBlock Plus, so I won't even see them.

Richard said...

It is your blog, so you can do pretty much anything you like (so long as it is within Blogger's terms).

Ads do not really turn me off (mostly because I ignore them). Even paid for post advertisements don't bug me - most are really poorly written and it is painfully obvious that the average blogger has no skill as a writing copy.

Although, you may find that it doesn't actually generate that much revenue.

Nancy Matson said...

Just out of curiosity, how does one go about adding banner ads to their blog?

I just ignore them anyway.

Julian said...

I don't see the harm... why not and try and make a little cash off of your efforts?

Lord knows if you actually charged people for the advice you give for free you'd be rolling it in by now.

EB said...

Since you're providing us with free information, by all means, put up ads.

Anonymous said...

If you're a good writer, and have a knack for storytelling, why don't you write short stories for magazines and web sites? An ambitious talent can make a nice living these days as a full-time, professional writer of fiction.

Not. Magazine fiction is dead. Web fiction is a joke. The short story, as a form of popular culture, is dead.

But anyway, good luck on the search.

Anonymous said...

Sell another novel, Rejecter. Banner ads won't bring in enough money to make a difference.

Anonymous said...

The senior editor at a small publisher I work with is looking for people to join the affiliate program, which means you will receive 10 per cent of all books sold on your site. It's a good publisher, with good distribution and good sales. I'd like to e-mail you about it with details, to see if you're interested, but I can't find an e-mail address on the blog.

The Rejecter said...

I put the email address back up. Blogger has a very confusing, slow-loading script. Sorry.

Travis Erwin said...

Ad away as far as I'm concerned.

Anonymous said...

I read your blog for the great content and I doubt that ads will change that content. If a few ads will help you pay a few bills, I'd be more than glad to even click on some of the ads as a way to pay you back for all the value you've already given us.

Anonymous said...

You have my permission with this caveat: Would you share with us how much revenue your ads generate? Not because I want to be in your business but because it would be interesting to find out if a blog can actually make any money at it. We assume the big political blogs earn something though they never tell. What about a more specialized one, like this? Let us know.

The Anti-Wife said...

No problem.

The Rejecter said...

Well, I signed up for Adsense, and it'll take a day or two to process, and we'll see how it goes. If I'm making like, pennies, I'll probably take it down.

~V said...

Good luck, and go ahead. You're doing us all such a service by sharing your insight.

Speaking of which, a question for you. Amazon Semifinalists launched ABNABooks.com

Could you ever foresee editors and agents browsing such a site for clients? What would the site need to have/be to entice you?

Thanks!

The Rejecter said...

It's up, but it's supposed to be word-specific. Don't know why I'm only getting the public one instead, which looks sort of silly as it is.

Karen said...

Banner ads or the text-type Google ads aren't really an issue. Just be aware that since publishing is the theme of this site, you'll get a lot of "publish your book with us!" vanity press ads.

Affiliate programs are another possible revenue source. Amazon, for example, would be fitting for this site, and you can choose whatever books you want to display. Even Jones Soda has an affiliate program these days.

Anonymous said...

Hey rejecter, I can't help but wonder--are you a hot single babe or what?

The Rejecter said...

I'm no slouch, but there are totally hotter chicks than me in publishing.

Anonymous said...

Rejecter--I have Adsense ads on my personal site. When you first put them up they will be the public service ads, b/c it takes a few days for it to soak up the content (yes, that's a technical term) on your site to provide context for the targeted ads. I imagine, as someone else pointed out, that you'll see some vanity publishing ads and book doctor services...maybe even term paper writing site ads.

Anonymous said...

Wow... you're encouraging WLA with your ads.

Anonymous said...

Capitalism...ain't it grand?

Michael S. Hugh said...

Go for it and I hope you make enough to pay the lectricity and internet bills and more ...

I find your tips and insight worthwhile - so go for it

Michael

Anonymous said...

Dear Rejecter:
Is your publishing house aware that you are selling your services outside of work?
While I'm sure what you're offering is high-quality, my gentle suggestion is that you check with your senior editor first, before you find a conflict of interest shadowing your career.

Sincerely,
U.S. Writer