My 5 year-old son and I
I started Dollar Store Crafts in 2008, never dreaming it would become as popular as it has. This blog has opened up a lot of opportunities for me, and I have loved every minute of working on it! Because we do things magazine-style around here, I don’t get a chance to talk to you personally as often as I should. So, I decided to open up a spot on the weekends for myself to write a personal-style blog entry (just like in the good old days! Did you know I’ve been blogging since 2000?). If you don’t like personal blogs, feel free to skip this post every weekend. I won’t mind!
If you DO want to get to know me a little bit more, this will be the place to do it. I will try to let my personality out just a little bit more in these posts!
I plan to use this column to share what’s going on with me, what’s going on behind the scenes at Dollar Store Crafts, and any other thing I feel like.
Item #1: A For-Profit Blog
I love Dollar Store Crafts. I love it more than you do. It’s my baby, and I have spent the better part of the past three years thinking about this website. I spend all of my free time, and a lot of my other time tending to this site, from overseeing writers, to collecting great ideas and sharing them, to writing articles, AND to working on the business end of the equation. For the first year of its existence, Dollar Store Crafts was ad-free. I just wrote the site for the love of the content and for the love of writing and sharing with others.
I didn’t even know how popular this site was. I had no idea what the traffic numbers meant compared to other sites. Then, a wise friend and mentor told me that I could “monetize” the site to make some money.
“Monetize” isn’t a dirty word
You might cringe when you read the word “monetize,” but it’s not a dirty word. What is dirty about getting compensated for 60 hours a week of hard work? What’s dirty about being able to pay for original high-quality content from our contributors? What’s dirty about supplementing your family income, and getting paid to do what you love? I wrote about this topic at length on my craft blogging resource site, Crafterminds: Why Readers Hate it When You Make Money.
You don’t feel dirty when you read MarthaStewart.com or Craftzine.com do you?
Money = More Content for You
Here’s the thing: I’m not interested in monetizing at the expense of good quality content. When I first put ads on this site, I was posting one feature post a day, and 2-4 original tutorials a month.
That was 30 posts a month, average.
In this month (October 2011), we have posted: 85 posts. A whopping 16 of those posts were original tutorials, or 4 tutorials per week. Four of the posts this month were “sponsored” or promotional, and the rest were features of the best crafts we’ve seen this month.
There’s no way we could have increased our content to that level (averaging 3 posts a day) without bringing money in on this site.
How We Make Money
There are a few ways we bring in money: ads (mostly 3rd party ads, served by “ad networks”), sponsored posts (I always try to tie them into things you would be interested in AND provide some unique content so the post has value beyond being an advertisement), and with giveaways.
Which brings me to
Item #2: Giveaways
You might notice that last Friday, we posted a Giveaway post. While giveaways are not unheard of at DSC, they are few and far between. I started DSC for the love of crafts, and for the love of sharing good ideas, and I have tried to keep that theme consistent in all of our content. BUT, I polled the DSC Facebook fan page, and 88% of the responses said they loved giveaways, and that DSC should have more of them.
Since giveaways are a possible way to supplement our site income, I have decided to be more open to holding giveaways. I will curate the giveaways to make sure that they are a good fit for our site, and I solemnly swear to keep DSC as non-tacky as a dollar store-themed website can be.
Now It’s Your Turn
That’s it for this weekend. Please feel free to sound off in the comments about what you’ve read here. If you have negative opinions, that’s fine too, as long as you make sure to be constructive in your criticism. After all, you can see now that there’s a real person behind this blog!
Do you like the weekend confessional? How do you feel about this blog being for-profit? How do you feel about giveaways?
39 Comments
Bits
In our world, money is an objective way of measuring value. You can monetize this DSC, because it is awesome. You should get paid for it. Keep up the good works.
:-)
Jennifer
I am all for ads as long as they pertain to the site, I work in marketing so I understand that this is needed for making money. I would say be careful with ad networks as some ” bad” sites can get snuck in from time to time
Jennifer S
Monetize away! I think it is perfectly reasonable to seek compensation for something that is so very valuable to so many people.
Karen T
Confession is good for the soul :-)
People who see monetizing as bad need to try their hand at public blogging. I struggle with the pressures of keeping up with posting enough for my followers. Trying to work full time and do a quality blog is very difficult and I admire you for bringing your blog to the point that you can generate some income. This is a great blog with resources needed for these tough economic times. You have also made it “cool” to shop at the dollar store and I am no longer ashamed to be a patron.
Upscale Downhome
I like your “confessional” and getting to know you better! Thanks for sharing more.
Carrie
What a great picture! I had no idea who put this blog together, but I already like it so much more being able to put a face and human being with it! Making money isn’t bad, so long as you aren’t being unethical in how you go about it. I’m fairly certain that most of the blogs I read these days are either making money or would like to be making money – that’s the standard go of things these days, no? So, as far as I can see it, no confession is even necessary! ;)
kat
I run a craft blog myself & know how much work it is. I figured out I average 4 – 5 hours a day, every day. It’s a job & there is no reason to not get paid for a job. Plus, think about all the free tutorials and patterns you giveaway, those are worth something too. When we went for profit we only had one person complain about having to see ads on the site. To tell you the truth I never notice you didn’t have ads before and that suddenly there were ads. You get so used to it these days.
JamieM
I LOVE your ideas! It takes more effort than most people understand to “run” a blog. And with all the time it takes, you should get paid anyway you can! I like the ads when it pertains to the site I’m on. Going to them sometimes gives me ideas! And I really like confessions. Having just started a craft blog of my own, it really helps me to hear others don’t have the “perfect” blog like it looks. ;•D or that they have had failed projects… Computer problems… Life set backs… Whatever it maybe. It makes blog land that much more “human”. Keep up the great work! I <3 and appreciate you!
JamieM
Oh… And I love giveaways!!! Now if I could just figure out how to win some! (haha)
Kat
Excellent post, Heather! I enjoyed reading it. Although it sounded like you were justifying making money doing DSC, I fully understand your need and want to shout it from the rooftops (so to speak). Your wonderful heart shines through your face and the smile on your son’s face says so, too! I don’t know how you do what you do, but it has been and will remain my favorite page on fb (besides my own, of course). Thank you for sharing some of yourself with us, your devoted fans. Please don’t stop doing what you do so very well!
iamrushmore
I like the personal connection and am glad that you are paid for your hard work. I don’t mind “for-profit” blogs. As a subscriber I can choose to read or not read, click on the ad or not click on the ad. I’m getting a tremendous amount of content and value for FREE. I certainly couldn’t afford to pay a subscription fee to every blog I read and so the “price” I pay is scrolling past some advertising (and advertising that might actually show me something I’m interested in!). not a bad deal! I like knowing who my bloggers are, so feel free to share those “behind the scenes” posts! thanks for all you give us!
Melissa
If I go to an individual blog or page, I expect to see ads but as an avid blog reader, I hate when ads show up on my Google Reader page, especially when they’re for things like McDonalds or ITT Tech. They don’t pertain to the blog post at all and I’m often tempted to delete that blog from my reader and stop reading.
Melissa
P.S. I love your blog :)
Gina
Yay for your success! I’ve been with you for a long long time, and I didn’t even notice the monetization. I just love the content and your personality.
Marie Burnett
Love it! Keep up the hard work and let it pay off.
Scarlett Burroughs
Melissa said “I hate when ads show up on my Google Reader page.”
I agree wholeheartedly for the same reasons but want to add one. I especially hate it when an ad in my reader blocks the content so that you are only able to see the title and the ad, meaning you have to go to the site. If you follow 500+ blogs, like I do, this extra step takes too long. Grosgrain blog comes to mind; I rarely go there now. The marketers should understand HOW technology is used before they insert ads that undermine said technology.
Scarlett Burroughs
Quilting Editor, Craft Gossip
http://quilting.craftgossip.com
http://cutupcraft.wordpress.com
P.S. I’m a huge fan of DS Heather, and think you and your son are adorable. Craft Gossip is monetized so I obviously support the practice. My other more personal blog is new so is not, but I put the same amount of energy and passion in both.
Lisa
Thank you for letting us get to know you! 60 hours a week is definitely A LOT of time to spend on anything. Thanks for doing your best to keeping the content rich.
Laura Jaden
We love you! And I feel like most of us know how much time and effort you put into DSC. Keep up the awesome work & we’ll keep stopping by!
heather
Thanks for all the positive, supportive comments! I really appreciate it and I’m excited to have an place to connect with everyone on this site!
kat
Scarlett – You mention you don’t like when you can only see the title in your reader & don’t like to click through. I’ve personally had to change all my feeds to the short feed because there are a lot of people out there stealing content from full RSS feeds. It almost completely stopped for me when I went to the short feed. I understand with not wanting to see ads in the feed though…
steph
I also HATE short feeds, and ditto on Grosgrain. I love the postings, but am not willing to click over especially when she’s usually just posting a link to someone else’s blog.
For DSC – I am perfectly happy for blogs to monetize but I have to say the last round of EOS crafts rang a little hollow for me :( They just seemed like a big stretch to “make the connection” and not something I’d ever do, and sort of irritated at EOS (when I had a previously somewhat positive opinion of them after getting a free sample I liked). I’d rather see sponsored posts highlighting a product than something like this. It is really important to me that affiliate links are clearly indicated as well!
Per giveaways, I love giveaways! who doesn’t. i also think they often do exactly what they’re supposed to. i bought a silhouette after seeing featured posts on them and mrs. renfro’s is now my favorite salsa after i tried it through a giveaway i won.
Lynn H
Monetize? Go For it…. Shout SHOW ME THE MONEY!!! Your posts are GREAT and I know that you have to pay your Elfin models to pose in and with recently crafted items. And those Elves don’t come cheap! You’re giving up your time with your family so it should be expected that you get some $$$ to make your family time extra special. Maybe an extra pizza night or trip to a movie. Your family is giving up their prize possession (you!) so they deserve a perk here and there.
I have purchased several items shown on your blog sometimes not from the website on the ad but I have a problem with delayed gratification. I’m still helping the economy by immediately driving to the craft/hardware/fabric store to get the paints/pvc pipes/fabric etc that I’ve seen on your site. So they win too!
Keep up the good work and monetize away. (Am I the only one that had an issue with the word monetize? I saw it as the name of the painter Claude Monet and ize as is..Monet is…took me a minute and a shake of the head to get the mon-it-ize version!)
Scarlett Burroughs
Kat – I just subscribed to Just Crafty Enough in my Google reader. If this is the site you are referring to, even though it’s set up as a short feed, I am able to read the first and second sentence of each post. That’s enough for me to know whether I will want to click through. This does not bother me at all, it’s when all I get is an ad instead of those few sentences.
Cordy
I think monetizing a blog is fine, I think ads are fine. Good for you if you can turn your blogging into a profit!
The only downside about ads, IMHO, is that there are a number of blogs in craftland that just go, way, way, way overboard. They have SO many ads, affiliate links, buttons, etc, that my fancy new laptop slows way down. I don’t understand that as a blogging choice. Isn’t it better to have fewer, more navigable ads, than cluttering up your page with everything and the kitchen sink?
When posts are sponsored, I tend not to take anything that appears in them seriously. I tend to find it especially awkward to read posts about how amazing a new book is, when it’s a sponsored post, or a review copy was provided – is the blogger really going to say what they honestly thought? And sometimes craft blogs get so… I don’t know, it seems a little unseemly to me, being so, so, so excited to receive “free” swag for review. As a PR veteran, I know exactly how not free that stuff actually is, which is probably why I think straight-up ads are more clear and honest than sponsored posts or giveways or reviews, none of which can really be relied on to be the blogger’s honest opinion.
I am not a fan of giveaways. I never enter them and I scroll past them. If the number is limited, that’s fine. When the number is pretty high, I start to skim that blog’s feed.
But overall, if you can make money blogging, good for you! I’m a fan of DSC and you should do whatever you need to do to make it worth your while! (Although, please please please, don’t become one of the people with the blogs full of so much code Firefox shuts down. WHY, PEOPLE? WHY????)
heather
@Cordy, Thanks for taking time to comment. I completely agree with everything you said. Don’t worry, no plans to become the next Las Vegas!! :)
Andrea
I love DSC!! Anything you do to do what you do is good for me. :) Keep up the absolutely fabulous awesome work!
Leslie
One of my most fovorite sites, great job!
Timmi
Heather – great job you’re doing here at DSC. Don’t apologize for making money while doing something you love. I used to do craft for my own amusement, then I started selling some to recover the material costs. Now it’s turning into a much needed extra income stream. And I LOVE it – it doesn’t pay big bucks, but it’s a lot more rewarding that some of the “real jobs” I’ve had in the past.
I wish you lots of success!
A.Men
Get paid. Love your site. You are awesome!
Heather's Mom
I like it that I can read a blog from you again. After all, I’ve been a fan since 2000 (well maybe since waaay before that).
Andrea
Hi Heather, just wanted to let you know you inspire me so I’m awarding you the Versatile Blogger award. I’m sure you’ve been awarded before but just wanted to say thanks.
http://www.oasisaccents.com/versatile-blogger-award/
Bromeliad
You definitely should be compensated for working hard on a highly successful blog.
Michelle L.
1. love the idea of a personal post once in a while! There’s not much room for that in your typical DSC post, I think people will really enjoy the interaction. 2. that picture is too too too cute! 3. work hard, make money – it is crazy that anyone reading a free blog would begrudge a blogger a small income in exchange for all the pleasure they provide. 4. thanks forever to you and DSC for turning me into a blogger! I am pretty sure your tireless outreach has inspired and encouraged many a shy, scared, nervous little crafter to get herself out there and have fun on the web. You sure did that for me!
Elisha
Advertising works when it best relates to the content on the site that it’s advertising on – or if the product is promoted in a way that ties in with the site.
If not, the reader is essentially being alienated.
~*~
That all being said your recent articles/advertisements have been pleasant and even had me interested in some of them!
I also like your videos on youtube.
Holly
I 100% support whatever keeps you doing what you do. :) Love the blog!
Kristi
You’ve done so much work, go for what makes sense! Make your work work for you :)
udandi
I love the weekend confessional! Being personal in my blog has always been hard, because it is just me and I interact with others who didn’t sign up for a public spotlight that comes with blogging so I don’t feel right sharing about them or posting their photo. I know I’ve never given that personal angel to my readers.
As for making money, my local newspaper has the most offensive online ads yet I keep returning for daily news, my favorite podcasts are always promoting products and I watch those makeup/shopping haul youtube videos (and from what I’ve read they’re earning a lot) so I guess I’m easily advertised to!
eileen hull
Heather, keep up the great work and put whatever you want up here. It’s your site! Love the weekend getting to know you posts. Blog on. Will you be at CHA this year? Hope you are next to me again! :-)