Poll on the GooglAds on the Hathor Blog!
UPDATE: the lovely mama Melissa A. showed me how to block the formula ads, i went in and blocked a ton of them today, but if you see anymore (they should be removed by the end of the day) please tell me. I want them gone! And thanks for the votes so far, I see you are all very open-minded ;o)
Peace, Heather
Hey Mamas,
here’s a bit of unknown info about me: the Hathor comics are really a labor of love. true. I make next to nothing on them, and I’m not kidding. Until I added advertising to my site, it was still considered just a hobby. Now with the advertising I make enough to keep my kids in icecream. That’s with 5 years of comics, cheese louise, my darling husband must be a saint!
I’m a huge fan of the blogads (that’s the blocks of ads on the left hand side) I get to pick who advertises there, and it’s usually a fan of the site. So good. We like that. Then I added the smaller ads for stores that I like to shop at too, I only make money if you actually buy something there. And it’s not much, but I’m not complaining. But then I added googleads. they’re at the bottom left-hand side. I make money depending on the clicks. I check regularly to make sure I’m okay with the companies, but I can’t tell if there’s a way to block certain companies, there must be. I just don’t know how. And now many of you have pointed out that there is an baby formula ad that keeps appearing on my pages. YUCK!
My friend Mara says
“re: 6 free cans of enfamil. If it wasn’t so terrible for the environment I would have ordered my free 6 cans today, but I settled for clicking on their ad about 10 times, which I plan on doing again tomorrow. Let’s cost them some $!”
Love,
Mara
and she’s cool like that, but what about the new mamas, who find my site and are confused by the ads…what should I do, continue to take the money, or make a stand? You Decide!
Love,
Heather
gonzopants said,
August 21, 2007 @ 3:36 pm
The problem is, the more clicks they get, the more effective they think those ads are. And those ads are already effective enough (too effective, IMO). They need to be removed because they violate the WHO Code, whether the US enforces that Code or not. Your standards are higher than that.
mamaluxe said,
August 21, 2007 @ 5:46 pm
It is a tough call now that you are aware of them.
I say leave ‘em because I want you to be compensated for your work. No one thinks you are endorsing what appears under GoogleAds. I don’t think anyone will be confused and think you are pro-formula feeding.
If you really think formula is poison, then you shouldn’t make money off of it. If you just think it is as a lesser alternative, than I don’t think you should worry about it.
The Mommy Blawger said,
August 21, 2007 @ 9:54 pm
You can block adds from specific urls on GoogleAds. I would be glad to walk you through it.
morganmcf said,
August 22, 2007 @ 6:07 am
I’m appalled at some of the things that are being advertised! Enfamil’s “breastfeeding support kit,” complete with a sample of Enfamil to “get you started if you choose to supplement;” web sites on how to wean (that also have *lovely* [/sarcasm] articles on how formula is just like breastmilk); the very same Hooter Hiders that your comics poke fun at; and formula, formula, formula. I don’t think you can, in good conscience, continue with these ads.
janaki said,
August 22, 2007 @ 6:18 am
I voted to contact Google and see how to block the Enfamil ads!
Julinda said,
August 22, 2007 @ 6:33 am
I voted “yes,” then reconsidered and voted “no” twice to have a net “no.” Hopefully they all counted.
If there’s a way, get rid of them. You don’t want to inadvertently lead someone to “the other side.” It won’t sway committed BF moms, but some may come here who are not committed and the message should be clear.
I don’t think formula is evil - I actually used it quite a bit w/my first son, and a wee bit with my second. I think it can have a place in breastfeeding if used judiciously, especially for those of us who work outside the home or otherwise are away from our babies a lot. But it’s marketed enough without your help. And Enfamil is the biggest formula pusher there is! Yes, I got the “breastfeeding mom” version of the diaper bag both times I gave birth. Yes, it contained formula. I also received the “breastfeeding support kit” when I told my doctor I might need to give Alex some formula and asked if she recommended any brand. This kit was a can of powdered Enfamil in a round zipper case. Talk about irony.
Julinda
Barbara said,
August 22, 2007 @ 7:15 am
I don’t think it’s black & white… I usually ignore ads by google anyway since they are just random ones based on keywords from the site content. Maybe you could post a disclaimer above the “ads by google” bar?
amyphilo said,
August 22, 2007 @ 8:10 am
I think you should get rid of the Enfamil ads as soon as possible. Yes, it’s ironic that they pay you, but think of the babies. Do not be their bee-otch.
amyphilo said,
August 22, 2007 @ 8:11 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmKZ4XmCoDc check this out and send it along!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! puhleeze save the babes.
KatetheWonderful said,
August 22, 2007 @ 8:31 am
To add another kink in the thread, I don’t have any google ads when I view Hathor. So, I don’t have much of an opinion because I don’t know what you are talking about. I often start my online shopping adventures off the adds listed on the left side of the page, but I have never seen a google ad. I am assuming the ads are similar to the ones that pop up when you use yahoo groups. So, maybe there are thousands of people like me who don’t get the ads and this is only a small issue.
abigailvr said,
August 22, 2007 @ 12:19 pm
I think because the title of your post has the word “Enfamil” in it all of the adds are now for formula. Just thought you should know.
kriekle said,
August 22, 2007 @ 2:04 pm
Hey, there’s a really cool one on my screen now that talks about the risk of brain injury from powdered formula! But then again, I had to use a small amount of powdered formula with my first one. I too have mixed feelings about it. I tend to ignore most of the ads and never even noticed any formula ones until all this came up. I also believe in the power of boycotts. However, it’s getting to the point that if I boycott everything that I don’t believe in, I’ll have very little left to support! I like the idea of just blocking ads from certain urls.
mamaluxe said,
August 22, 2007 @ 4:52 pm
They are still there. I think as long as you are writing about feeding your baby, some will sneak in. But I admire your strong moral compass and your attempt to be ethical, however Quixotic it may end up being!
Morlith said,
August 23, 2007 @ 4:46 am
Here’s two more:
Free Formula Coupons
Enter your email and baby’s birth date to get free Enfamil formula.
PlanningFamily.com
Free Baby Formula Coupons
Free Baby Diaper Coupons, Formula Coupons & Much More!
www.Baby-Diaper-Coupons.com
Give Google a little time to update your Ad settings. The ads that are removed are usually gone within 12-24 hours.
Morlith said,
August 23, 2007 @ 4:47 am
And another one:
Baby infant formula
All Your Baby And Child Needs! Get Products, Information And More.
Jokeroo.com
JulesD said,
August 23, 2007 @ 6:32 am
This one is showing up (from Canada);
http://www.nestle-baby.ca/en/register/index
JulesD said,
August 23, 2007 @ 6:35 am
These too:
http://baby-formula-inc.com/
http://www.enfamil.ca/en/certificates/nutramigen.html
http://www.enfamil.ca/fr/certificates/nutramigen.html
http://litmoth.com/index2.php?search=baby%20formula%20coupon
JulesD said,
August 23, 2007 @ 12:17 pm
and this one…
http://www.thebabydepartment.com/feeding/baby-formula.aspx
Anne said,
August 23, 2007 @ 3:58 pm
As naive as this sounds I didn’t realize you get paid based on the clicks each add gets - point this out again maybe ….I for one will be happy to click on the adds I’m okay with - If we all click the “good” adds maybe it will be a small “vote” directed to the advertisers…?
Anne said,
August 23, 2007 @ 4:15 pm
After having just left a comment I looked into some more of the adds - It turns out I’m even more niave than I thought. I think you should consider pulling them unless Google can give you a way to pre-screen them. The “artice” I clicked into seemed to be pro-breastfeeding but as I skimmed it I found it horrible - the worst list of pros and cons I’ve ever seen.
HOWEVER - You are wonderful no matter what … and deserve to be compensated - I think you should publisize your support page more often. Can you still accept direct donations???????
http://www.thecowgoddess.com/?page_id=424
Robyn L. Coburn said,
August 24, 2007 @ 6:12 am
I voted “other” with the suggestion of posting a disclaimer that the ads were placed by Google, and you do not necessarily endorse them - however that was before I learnt from these comments that you have at least some measure of control over the urls. Yet I expect that these ad companies have ways of having multiple url’s that would foil that good intention.
I suggested, and still suggest, that you continue seek other advertising and as soon as you can manage it financially you ditch the Google ads.
Robyn C.
mamaluxe said,
August 24, 2007 @ 12:19 pm
Okay…apply for BlogHer Ads. They pay by view, not click. So we can get you more money by telling people about your site.
AND you can screen out ads by company and even by industry!
So go get yourself onto BlogHer Ads and we’ll make sure you get lots of page views!!!
Platte Daddy said,
August 27, 2007 @ 5:01 am
Some more URLs to block:
FreebieBabyStuff.com/EnfamilBaby
www.BabyFormula.ws
www.NexTag.com/Baby-Formula
www.DiscountBabyFormulaCoupons.com
Online Marketing Business said,
September 20, 2007 @ 3:30 pm
Online Marketing Business…
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting…