Thursday 21 June 2007

The Price of Freedom

Sharp-eyed readers will notice that my flirtation with advertising has come to an end.

When I gave my blog a make-over courtesy of those fine people at Old Wisdon, New Lessons, I took the advice of young Jasper Blunt, who promised me that people were making oodles of cash out of something called 'pay per click' advertising.
"Pa," he said, "it's time you got your nose in the trough."

Well, I checked the figures recently, and in two months I appear to have generated the princely sum of 25 cents. I'm not a man who sells his distinctive voice quite as cheap as that, so I decided this morning that the adverts had to go. And good riddance to them. 12p hardly paid for the red ink for the make-over.

Some may accuse me of pique. That's their business. But, for those who might doubt my credentials, here's a clipping from a 1990's vintage Beyond The Boundary - the Oldham Athletic fanzine I was proud to write for. I wasn't seduced then, and I won't be seduced now.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Bill

I've been busy lately and haven't kept up with your wise words. I humbly apologise.
I will have more time now as I have finally decided to terminate my contract with that site that used to give us fun. Recently, there has been illiteracy, tantrums and rudeness shown by those who should know better. You talk of free advertising. This was slave labour!

How about an e-mail?

Yours, as ever

Anniemouse

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your kind words, Miss Mouse. I am glad to hear you have broken free. An e-mail will be on its way in due course.

Best wishes

Anonymous said...

You are priceless, Bill. Never forget that.

- Julian.

Crofty said...

You may have noticed that I too have dabbled in the heady world of advertising; you should be proud of your 25 cents: I have yet to be clicked. I suspect that the nature of my key wording creates an almost unique target audience of one - me. Perhaps I should try lying in my key wording and putting Paris Hilton or Big Brother, but then that would only attract the wrong types!

Anonymous said...

It's some small comfort to know that I am not alone, crofty. At least you got a free recipe book for your troubles - proof indeed that your readership is wider than (in your darkest moments) you fear.

And thank you, Julian - as ever. I trust you are well rested from your recent holiday in Spaffton-Under-Grime, and have returned to the historical fray with new treasures to impart.

Anonymous said...

So you took the lead with Mrs Blunt - so nice to learn she is an old fashioned gal.

the Domestic Minx said...

I always end up doing everything I love for love alone...
I can't imagine it changing anytime soon.
And somehow I don't want it to.
It takes the love out of it somehow.
And I am driven by the damn thing.

I have no adverts and it will stay like that too.
Good on you, Bill!!

Anonymous said...

Always a fan, never a doubter!

For my miserable scribblings (more my wifes,) we make decent coin with our ad copy... she usually brings home about $150.00 per week... or seventy-five pounds...

Not too shabby for rank amateurs.

Anyway, I have done something awful... I have "tagged" you...

http://tinyurl.com/2gcjm3

I would be VERY interested in reading eight facts about Bill Blunt that I was previously unaware of before...

Your Devoted Fan

Anonymous said...

Matthew - you are so lucky to have the love of a good woman who is talented enough to be able to generate such an extra income

Domestic Minx - Mr Minx is so lucky to have the love of a such a driven woman

Me? Well, at least I've got Mrs Blunt...

Bill Blunt said...

You will see how Bill tried to sidestep the issue of the tagging, Matthew!

I have instructed him that he must come up with the goods soon, or I shall refuse to publish any more of his rants. That always does the trick...