AUTHOR: Monica Lee TITLE: Ads and Blogs DATE: 7:03 AM ----- BODY:

So, I have been reading Keri Smith's struggle with the proliferation of ads on blogs. Her blog is widely read and she referred to another well read blog that now has ads on it. The writer says it supports her family with much needed income. As you may or may not know, my husband Tom is in Marketing and was a VP of Internet Marketing for an international ad agency in a former life. When I mentioned that someone was making a living off blog ads, he simply did not believe it. He found it hard to believe the ads could get enough hits to generate that, or any kind of real income. Never the less, it is a hot topic on her site with lots of comments on the subject. I went to the blog that is supposedly making money. After a quick glance, I see it is a hot topic on her site too. I did want to point out some interesting topics on Keri's site, she has written some great articles about being published and about getting started as an illustrator. My theory, and I pontificated on the comments of her blog, is that advertising has to evolve just like we do as a society. Some things will work, some things will not. I mentioned that we watch Extreme Home Makeover, the show that bulids houses for families in need. I actually let my son watch it, it is great to see philanthropy in action, and yes, it does bring business to Sears. I stepped into a Sears for the first time in years recently as a direct result of the show. My theory on blogs is just reach out and help each other, inspire, encourage. My art assignments have not come as a result of my blog, they have come as a result of ADVERTISING to art directors and I believe as a result of God blessing me, maybe for my desire to help and encourage, I can see God chuckling on that last comment, ok maybe it is just "grace".

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