This dilemma has come up several times over the last 12 years or so. Each time we think we have dealt with it, it comes back again!
(EDIT: Responses overwhelmingly favor that we keep the ads as are. So we will not be doing this "monthly contribution" idea. Still, if you wanted to buy us a drink or bottle of wine, we wouldn't say no!)
I think it was around 2013 when this blog became popular enough that it made sense to make some advertising income from it.
Then in 2019, we made a contract with an advertising company that has ended up paying us an average of $300 USD ($500 CAD) per month. That's $6,000 a year... enough for a nice trip! Six years later, that's about $30,000 in income. Nothing to sneeze at! This money contributes directly to our travels.
But let's face it... nobody likes the advertising, including us. And I know for a fact that we have lost readers, because I've even had people send a note and tell me that they won't be back because of the advertising.
Anyhow, the other day a reader complained on our facebook page that she could hardly read the blog due to the number of ads. So as a test, I reduced them to see how much it affects our income. (Maybe you noticed the difference? Maybe not... nobody mentioned it.) Although we have a three year contract with the ad supplier, I can reduce them to as little as one single ad and still live up to our end of the deal.
I asked this person to get back to me and tell me if the experience was any better. But there was no response. This is a bit frustrating, and I have only just reverted the system back to the way it was.
Anyhow, here are the statistics...
You can easily see which day I reduced the ads. And the income went from approximately $13 a day down to $6 a day.
It would be very easy to convince me to reduce the ads to the bare minimum... if there was a way to replace that income.
As one of our long time readers said during one of these advertising discussions...
"I totally support anyone earning money for their labors. You put a tremendous amount of time and effort and care into your online offerings; you should be compensated - and the more the better. Seeing ads will reassure me that you are successful in your endeavors. That will make me feel good for you, as I am grateful for the ideas and inspiration I receive from what you do. I can't imagine why anyone would begrudge you being paid for the service you are providing, and which we as readers are benefiting from without cost - especially if the only justification for that position is that it bothers them."
A few days ago, we met up with Eric, Brittany, and Caspian from Hourless Life. One of the ways they support themselves is through Patreon... the online service where you the readers contribute a certain set amount every month for special benefits with the blog writer. We thought about this, but it becomes more work for us at a time when we are actively trying to do less work. And, of course some of your money would go towards Patreon and not towards us... in fact it's between 5% to 12% depending on the service.
So an easier way is by individual sponsorship. We have seen several other blogs use this option. And in fact, one of our long time readers actually volunteered a donation a couple of months ago because they wanted to buy us a bottle of wine!
We have about 1,000 regular and some very long time readers. If only 100 of you contributed $5 a month to read an ad free Travel with Kevin and Ruth, we could get rid of those nasty ads for good. And it's possible that some of you might donate $20 a month... while some of you might be happy with $2 a month. Perhaps the amount is variable, and depends on how much you enjoyed reading our blog that month?
Of course many of you won't or can't pay anything. And that, we totally understand.
And maybe none of you care enough to contribute! But the only way to find out if this is a viable option to reduce or even get rid of the advertising is to try it out.
Once a month I'll remind you to send us your contribution. We will keep all contributions anonymous, however once a month we will tell you the total, and we will reduce the ads accordingly.
It's the end of the month right now, so it's a good time to start. Any amount is welcome and will be added to the total... even one dollar!
We have made it as easy as possible. Canadian contributors can simply send an e-transfer to Kevin Read at [email protected]
American readers can send a transfer directly to our American Wise account...
Here are the USD account details for Kevin Arthur Read on Wise.
If you're sending money from a bank in the US, you can use these details to make a domestic transfer. If you're sending from somewhere else, make an international Swift transfer.
Name: Kevin Arthur Read
Account number: 8310163801
Account type: Checking
Use when sending money from the US
Routing number (for wire and ACH): 026073150
Use when sending money from the US
Swift/BIC: CMFGUS33
Use when sending money from outside the US
Bank name and address: Community Federal Savings Bank, 89-16 Jamaica Ave, Woodhaven, NY, 11421, United States
Others can send to paypal address at [email protected] however while that is easy, we don't like the fees that Paypal charges. A better option is direct transfer through Wise, but not everyone has an account. You can get a Wise account here.
Any questions or comments? If you prefer, send them directly to my personal email at [email protected]
I use an ad blocker and don't see any ads on your blog. I've been following you for about 14 years and live in Manotick.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being a long time reader! We actually don't agree with ad blockers because they reduce the amount of revenue that the publisher receives, and we think that every publisher should be compensated for the time and effort they put into their work.
DeleteI totally agree with it. I'm glad there's an option for both reader and publisher. Instead of complaining about the ads the readers can just block the ads. I also don't like the ads but understand why they're there and I've definitely checked out a few ads from time to time.
DeleteThank you for following along and for your feedback on the ads. The only issue with people that use an ad blocker, is that it stops us or other bloggers from getting any type of compensation for our work. Those that use the ad blockers are the ones that should be sending a small stipend to us to sompensate for reading our blog without the ads.
DeletePeter has an older ipad and can no longer read the blog because of the ads.
ReplyDeleteSounds like someone is due for a new iPad...
DeleteKevin, I have followed your blog for many years and remember when the ads were started, BUT those ads NEVER created a problem with me reading the blog! I love your blog and travelog and look forward to reading it daily because you have taken me to places I will never visit because of my age, 87, but I get to ride with you in Igor and hike with you and Ruth on trails that are always an adventure! I say keep going with ads AND add reader contributions if you want! Your call, AND I will still read your blog!!
ReplyDeleteCarl Elliott
Thanks for your support Carl!
DeleteSure, we all hate the ads but they don't bother me THAT much. I just skip over them.
ReplyDeleteThanks. We do the same with every other site we visit.
DeleteDecisions, decisions have to suit your wants and needs. If someone leaves because they don't like what they see, someone else will take their place. We started following in 2009, before starting our Blog.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't matter where we go, Blogs, Stores or driving down the road, we see Ads. Some give us great ideas as to things we actually could use. The others we have just learned to ignore.
Stay Safe and Enjoy!
It's about time.
Thanks for your comment Rick. Yes, advertising makes the world go round.
DeleteI have been following you for less than a year. I find the ads annoying but I wouldn’t stop reading your blog because of them
ReplyDeleteThanks for your feedback.
Deletebeen reading a long time. the ads have become very annoying. now I only read when the title seems very interesting.
ReplyDeleteGiven your comment, I think you are exactly the reader this post was directed at. You want to read, but the ads are enough to stop you. However, you're also not interested enough to contribute a very small monthly amount to reduce them. Do I have that correct?
DeleteI’ve been reading your blog since an article in a Toronto paper mentioned it. I really enjoy your blog, ads and all , and think your photography skills have improved, love your pictures.
ReplyDeleteWow, I think that article was done quite a long time ago so you have been following along on our adventures for a good number of years now.,
DeleteI think the photography has improved because the cameras have improved over that period of time. Kevin is really happy with his phone camera that he has now, the pictures are nice and crisp, the only downfall it that it isn't good a taking pictures of birds that are far away compared to the old camera that he had but he is also happy not to have to lug that camera around anymore.
Ads are part of life. Period. That's like saying "I like watching TV but no more commercials" well, someone has to pay for all of this! Sometimes the ad triggers me to buy something and sometimes it reminds me to do something so no, I don't mind ads.
ReplyDeleteNice to hear from one of our earliest readers. Thanks for sticking with us all these years! Enjoy your cruise!
DeleteI' ve been reading your blog for years. The ads never bothered me until I started following you on Facebook. When I access your blog through FB, I get a lot of ads. When I go directly from my browser, I don't. I’m in favor of keeping the ads as they are.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I can't figure why it would make any difference, but you never know with facebook. Seems they are always messing with things!
DeleteI have put up with ads on online newspapers for free news content. I hope you do not go the route to charge for being a paying member in order to read your blog. If it were, you'd lose me as well as the link to your site on my blog that has been there for years. The Internet is full of advertisement overload. Just skip over what you don't want to see. Keep having fun and tell us about it :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Marlene. Point well taken!
DeleteYou can’t please everyone, even when it’s free! The ads don’t bother me.
DeleteYou are correct! Thank you for conitnuing to follow us and for not letting the ads stop you. :-)
DeleteHave you ever been to Iceland and Greenland?
ReplyDeleteWe have been to Iceland before but only for 5 days back in 2012 and it is a country that we would love to go back to and see in more depth. We would love to do it in a small campervan/motorhome. We have not been to Greenland though and it is definitely on our list of somewhere that we would love to explore.
DeleteWhile the ads bother me every now and then, it's not enough to keep me from reading. Your content is far too interesting to miss out. I've been reading for many years. You deserve to be compensated for your efforts, and I'm happy that that can happen without me having to give up any actual $$. I do try to activate your link before making an Amazon purchase, so hopefully that helps a tiny bit.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jennifer for your feedback and for continuing to follow us even with the sometimes annoying ads. We feel the same way about the ads at times but we do feel that it is an easy way for us to recieve a small income for our dedicated work on the blog without having to charge people to read it. We would prefer to leave it free for everyone to read.
DeleteAlso thank you very much for going through our Amazon link anytime that you are wanting to purchase something from Amazon, every little bit helps.
The adds are bothersome to all of us I'm sure. It's minor. Do what you need to do. Personally I loathe the adds that have much movement. I always 'remove' a couple before I read youe material. And yes I have been a reader for a long time.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, we feel the same way and like you we always "x" out the video ad right away and then click on the down arrow on the one across the bottom before reading our blog or any others that also have that type of advertising.
DeleteThank you for your support over the years, it is appreciated.
With that kind of income who cares! I just scroll by. Not an issue. Buy us all a drink and were even ;)
ReplyDeleteLol, thanks Chris! We are glad that you guys are having a great time in Italy!
DeleteI'm not a fan of the ads but I can scroll past them on my laptop with no issues. I wonder if the people saying it's made your site unreadable are reading on their phone?
ReplyDeleteWe don't have an issue with reading the blog on our phone. When the blog first comes up people need to hit the little down arrow on the first ad and then on the second ad they just need to click the little "x" and it will disappear after that the blog is easy to read.
DeleteWe also find the ads annoying at times but we find that it is easy to ignore them once those two ads are removed.
Thank you for your feedback and for continuing to follow along with us, it is appreciated.
The ads don't bother me any on a good size tablet. On phone it is unreadable for me
ReplyDeleteWhen you bring up the blog on the phone all you have to do is click the little down arrow on the first ad and then on the second ad, you just need to click the little "x" on the ad and it will disappear after that the blog is easy to read. We hope this makes reading the blog on your phone much easier.
DeleteAds never bother me.
ReplyDeleteMelissa
Thank you for the feedback and for continuing to follow along with us, Melissa!
DeleteHi Kevin, As you know we have been following since the beginning. This was a timely post and a good reminder. I use a VPN so ads get blocked automatically. I never gave much thought to the ads { yes they are annoying} but it was a good reminder to me that i am reducing your revenue which was not my intention. Easy fix. I can manually pause my VPN for a set amount of minutes to allow ads which i promise to do. Your blog gives many readers much pleasure and you deserve compensation. So with my VPN paused and ads now showing i am happily reading. Barry
ReplyDeleteHi Barry and Jeannie, thank you so much for thinking about us and for taking the time to pause your VPN while reading our blog and having to put up with those pesky ads but every little bit does help and it is very much apprecitated.
DeleteWe are so glad that you enjoy following along with us and that you both have personally been apart of some of these adverntures. :-)
The ads don't bother me. I enjoy reading about their adventures! Why should that come free? I also tipped Kevin and Ruth some cash a few months back. Enough for a bottle of wine. I was pleased to do it, because I love going along on their adventure!!!
ReplyDeleteSome blogs call it a tip jar! On you tube there is Patreon.
Thank you for your feedback, we are glad that the ads don't bother you and that you enjoy reading about our adventures.
DeleteI don't know if you saw the post ages ago when we showed a picture of the bottle of wine that we bought with the money that you sent us and on top of that Kevin was also able to purchase his bottle of Old Smuggler whisky too. Thank you so much for that generous gift.
Yes, I did! Made me smile! Thank you!
DeleteFor what it's worth if I contribute 5 bucks to everyone I follow on blogs or YouTube it would be a few hundred dollars a month. I do subscribe to you tube premium and that is supposed to pay the producers something and I don't get YouTube ads.
ReplyDeleteThere is only one I pay via paterion and they provide software and upgrade it for one of my hobbies.
And being frugal ourselves we totally get that, this is why we have the ads, it gives us a small income without our readers having to pay to read our blog. We honestly believe that the blog should be there for everyone read.
DeleteThank you for continuing to follow along on our adventures.
I don't mind the ads. I just scroll past them. Hadn't really paid attention to them. Love the content.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feedback and that is exactly what we do with other blogs that we follow.
Delete