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Hello Bees! A quick update on Weddingbee. The site is growing nicely, but we’re not yet at the point where I’m making minimum wage. That’s fine with me, but I’d also like to hire an intern! That way I can focus more on building features for the site and writing posts…
I’ve checked out all the top weblogs (Gawker, The Superficial, Gigaom), and a lot of them are using a new ad unit: a small clearly marked image ad interspersed with the posts. I didn’t like that the ads weren’t always clearly marked, and that some of them used text ads (it seemed like it was too easy to confuse the ads with blog posts). Also, one of the sites had the ad right after the first post! That was just too much…
So we thought we’d try this new ad out for a bit, but with some tweaks. It’s located three posts down, and is clearly marked with a border and the word “Advertisement.” It’s also an image age, not a text ad - to make it even more clear that it’s an ad.
I’m trying to balance ads with the need to grow the site - hopefully this is a good compromise? Check out the ad a few posts down… and please me know what you think!
Mrs. Bee
ps While we were at it, we added tags back to the site. With our new webhost in place, we should be able to support them again without slowing down the whole site! A huge thanks to BIL Bee who actually does all the behind the scenes work. 
Yep, that is totally unobtrusive enough for me! No complaints here! And as much as I would love to be your intern, I’m guessing you wouldn’t pay as much as my actual job where I get paid. 
Also: YAY TAGS!!!! 
We missed you!!!!
Cool! You definitely deserve to be making good money, what with all the work you do The ad isn’t too disruptive, either.
I agree the ad is fine! Also, I’m in new york and would love to work as an intern-I wrote you earlier about that also. I assumed intern meant unpaid anyway! Feel free to contact me about it!
Another vote for the ad here. You gotta make a living and this is a great service.
Very lowkey. The only thing I wanted to mention is that clicking on the ad navigates me away from weddingbee website. Is that intended?
Yay for tags!
I think clicking on all things navigates from WB doesn’t it? I know it does on my computer.
I agree that the ads are necessary. and very well done! I have no problems with it.
yay for the return of tags! and the villagers rejoice!
the ad works. it’s the age-old adage: do something you like and find a way to get paid for it.
I agree you need to make money! Therefore, the ads are totally ok… They are actually quite unintrusive!
and i am thrilled that the tags are back
I prefer the ads just on the sides but in the spirit of the wonderful Mrs. Bee making more than minimum wage I think it’s fine. =)
Good for you Mrs. Bee! I had to look for the ad to find it, because it wasn’t very obvious. Does it help you out if we click on these links from time to time? Do you get any additional revenue if the ads are accessed from your web page?
Your service is invaluable, so let us know what we can do to help.
Ooh good thought, Katy! I second the question, Mrs. Bee–anything we can do to help out? (short of actually making a donation–you know I would if I had the $$!)
Mrs. Bee- I love the way you bend over backwards to make a clear distinction between commerce and content. It is a true service to brides and I wish half the magazine editors out there had your commitment.
Two thoughts about the ads themselves:
1) Great location. Happy to support Weddingbee and the spot makes it super easy.
2) It’d be nice if the link to the advertiser’s site was a pop-up, because I don’t want to go away from my weddingbee.
please don’t click arbitrarily - we could actually get banned from google for doing so. but if an ad captures your interest, by all means click!
Thanks so much for your valuable feedback everyone! Without your help we wouldn’t be able to make weddingbee better!
I think it is fine, but I think both the new ads and those at the top of each comments section should be outlined in a thicker, solid green line, instead of the dotted one. I think it looks nicer and delineates the content change better.
Ms. Mouse,
Unfortunately, Google does not let you make ad links spawn a new window. If they change their policies, we’ll add that feature.
Thanks,
BIL Bee
To start with, the ads don’t bother me.
BUT, I did think it was a post at first glance. Now that I know its there, I think its unlikely I would be confused again.
Hey Mrs. Bee!
Whenever you do decide to hire an intern, post it on Ed2010.com! I’m a journalism student and Ed2010 is where *tons* of aspiring writers/editors/photographers go to get info on the latest internship and job openings! I guarantee you’d get more applications than you could handle (including mine!).
Have you considered doing a subdomain for the different cities? That way, you can have advertisements that are locally based. This will both be helpful for you AND for weddingbee readers who are looking for vendors!
I don’t mind the new ads at all; they aren’t in your face like so many other sites. But I do agree with some of the others, is it possible to make them open in a new window with just one click?
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Mrs. Bee, New York Age and Occupation: 29, Weddingbee Publisher Fiance's Age and Occupation: 33, Internet Engagement Date: May 7, 2004 Wedding Date: March 5, 2005 Venue: Westside Loft, New York About Me: Yes, my name really is Bee! I love my blogging, wikis, and tabasco sauce!
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