listopada 11 2008
Why I’ve Dropped Google Adsense (Clint Watson)
To view the html version of this newsletter on the web please visit:
http://fineartviews.com/809
Fine Art Views Daily Newsletter
ISSUE #268 - (Sponsored by FineArtStudioOnline)
Straight Talk about Art, Marketing, Inspiration and Fine Living
Why I’ve Dropped Google Adsense
by Clint Watson
TODAY:
I’ve concluded that I can’t recommend Adsense for the vast majority of artists and I’ve decided to drop it for several reasons.. . .
_____
IF YOU WISH TO UNSUBSCRIBE, CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINK:
http://fineartviews.com/d/72637
_____
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
San Antonio, Texas
IN THIS ISSUE:
* Why I’ve Dropped Google Adsense
* Generating Creative Business Ideas (Lori Woodward Simons), Revisited
* The Bookshelf
* From the FineArtViews Blogs
_____
Latest Ruminations from Clint’s Blog
Why I’ve dropped Google Adsense
New FineArtStudioOnline Artist Websites
Generating Creative Business Ideas by Lori Woodward Simons
Be a big fish in your own pond . . .
A Time to Play by Lori Woodward Simons
_____
–Advertisement–
Only for FineArtViews Readers:
Save 15% on Art Instruction Videos
Through Nov 24th
Kick Your Artistic Skills Up a Notch from the comfort of your studio!
With art instruction videos from Creative Catalyst Productions.
FineArtViews is please to introduce you to Creative Catalyst
Productions. They take pride in producing the highest quality art
instruction videos and art instruction video workshop DVDs available
anywhere in the world. These instructional workshops are available for
all skill levels. Try Free
previews and purchase DVDs directly on their website.
I have very much enjoyed the DVDs I have ordered so far. Nice
alternative to expensive workshops and they can be viewed over and over.
Judy L. - Quechee VT
Save 15% on Art Instruction Videos - Only Good Through Nov 24th, so
don’t delay:
http://clicks.studiotopia.com/R
_____
Today’s Sponsor:
Today’s newsletter is being sponsored by:
Karen Sutton Fine Art
http://clicks.canvasflyer.com/ad_click.asp?GUID=6653-225968-KarenSutton-2008111116160572637&fid=6653
_____
Why I’ve Dropped Google Adsense
by Clint Watson
Dear Oil,
I’ve completely removed Google Adsense
from my blog
and from this newsletter site,
FineArtViews.com .
I had tried Adsense beginning two years ago because I wanted to learn
more about it, and see if I could, in good concious, recommend it as a
way for artists to supplement their income. Much like my current
experiment with Twitter .
I’ve concluded that I can’t recommend Adsense for the vast majority of
artists and I’ve decided to drop it for several reasons.
The biggest fundamental problem I have with Adsense is that by design it
sends people away from your website or blog .. . . but my goal (and
yours) should be to draw people in and engage them. Text ads work great
next to search results. . . after all, the whole purpose of search is to
click through to the destination. But I want my blog to be a
destination.
So, after giving the issue some thought, here are my main reasons for
dropping Google Adsense:
1. The ads send traffic away from my site.
2. The ads look “tacky” and out-of-place on a site that is primarily
for fine art.
3. The amount of money they generated was negligible and in total
control of Google. (note - some people do make huge incomes from
Google Adsense, it’s just unlikely that an individual artist blog, or a
blog like mine will ever reach the millions of page-views required to
make serious Adsense money)
4. The ads were often not relevant . . . often not even art-related.
5. The ads were sometimes for competitors, or worse for products I
would never recommend.
“But wait,” you say!
You may have noticed I still have a few ads on my blog and on on
FineArtViews.com.
Yes, I do, but they are very different from Google Adsense. The
majority of the ads I’m still showing are via the CanvasFlyer
network. Those ads are generated by an ad
network we developed for our artist clients. We don’t make any direct
money on those ads (although they are only shown for artists who have
hosting services with us). The click-throughs do sent traffic away from
my blog, but I’m OK with that if I’m supporting an artist. . . .
especially one who supports us.
The other ads are for art-related products that I personally know and
recommend (such as Alyson Stanfield’s book
). Those are products that I can
vouch for and that I know will be of great value to artists, so , again,
I don’t mind sending the traffic away to another site or product that
will be helpful to my readers . . . . artists.
So far I’m extremely happy with the change and am looking forward to
streamlining our information sites even more.
Sincerely,
Clint Watson
Software Craftsman and Art Fanatic
PS - I bring this up not to bash Google Adsense, but mainly to encourage
you, as artists, not to clutter your sites up with stuff like Google
Adsense. Make sure you put your art front and center and think long and
hard before adding anything to your website or blog that detracts from
your artwork.
–
Editor’s Note: Having a site that is clean and focused on your artwork
can be a powerful marketing tool. It’s easy to get caught up in trying
all the latest “cool” online stuff, but, in the end, what art collectors
want to see is a nice, clean, easy to navigate website that shows off
your artwork. If you like to write, an integrated blog is nice too. If
you want an easy way to offer such a site to your customers, why not
give ours a try?
–
————
This article is reproduced with permission.
Copyright 2008 - Clint Watson.
To get more of Clint Watson’s insights into art, marketing, inspiration
and fine living, check out his blog at:
FineArtViews Blog by Clint Watson:
http://www.clintwatson.net/blog
This Article First Appeared at the Following Location:
http://clintwatson.net/blog/6146
You can also follow Clint’s personal Twitter stream at:
http://twitter.com/clintavo
Do you have your own FineArtViews to Share?
Submit your own article for publication on FineArtViews
————
Editor’s Note: Each day we republish selected comments and artwork by
artists who comment about the previous day’s article. If you would like
to share your thoughts, artwork and views with thousands of artists and
collectors, (not to mention getting a valuable inbound link to your
website) be sure to post a comment on today’s article at the following
link. To be considered, be sure to provide your comment through the link
NOT by simply replying to this email. Make sure to comment before the
end of the day to be considered for inclusion in tomorrow’s newsletter:
Make YOUR Opinion Count:
A chance to get your opinions, artwork and web site featured in
tomorrow’s letter:
http://fineartviews.com/809
_____
YOUR artwork could be pictured here tomorrow
just comment on today’s article before midnight,
and your artwork could be in front of thousands of people
tomorrow.*
(*If you a right-click disabler on your images, we will select a
different artist to feature, as it is too much trouble to display the
image)
_____
Generating Creative Business Ideas (Lori Woodward Simons), Revisited
Make the First Comment:
More Comments >>
All Past Issues >>
_____
>From the FineArtViews Blogs:
VETERANS by
(terry teaters Fine Art)
Posted: 11/11/2008 2:53:19 PM
A Painted Pony Challenges by Trish Stevenson
(Trish Stevenson Fine Art)
Posted: 11/11/2008 1:40:11 PM
Slide Show by Tom Yezza SR
(GEOMETRIC ART)
Posted: 11/11/2008 1:36:08 PM
The Making of How much is that doggie…? by Charlotte Herczfeld
(Charlotte Herczfeld Pastel Art)
Posted: 11/11/2008 12:51:00 PM
A Mirage in Andalusia by Keiko Tanabe
(Keiko Tanabe Fine Art)
Posted: 11/11/2008 12:44:36 PM
Want your blog posts to appear here? Sign up for a website at
FineArtStudioOnline and start blogging!
http://fineartstudioonline.com/ref/FAV74A
_____
Find Out How Successful Artists Got Where They Are!
INSIGHTS - Artists Spill the Beans
Did you ever want to know how successful artists got to
where they are? Wait no more. Hear it straight from them in
the new INSIGHTS series that Alyson Stanfield is producing
at ArtBizCoach.com. In October, November, and December,
Alyson’s hosting five conversations with artists who have
been successful in museum exhibitions, commissions and
other sales, artist residencies, grants, book publishing,
teaching, and more.
You don’t even have to leave home! Just pick up the phone
and listen to these artists spill the beans about their
secrets of success. Get the details for yourself:
More Details About INSIGHTS - Artists Spill The Beans:
http://clicks.studiotopia.com/F
_____
Want more FineArtViews?
Visit Clint’s Blog for his latest unconventional thoughts about art,
marketing, inspiration and fine living!
http://clintwatson.net/blog
_____
– Highly Recommended –
Make Sure Your Website Doesn’t
Drive Art Collectors Away!
11 Essential Elements of Every Artist Website
The Artist’s Guide to Creating a Website that Really Works
by Clint Watson
This e-book will tell you (or your web designer) exactly what to do to
make sure when art collectors visit your art website that they enjoy the
experience…instead of leaving annoyed.
Your website is you “home base”.your “hub.” - where you and your
collectors “meet” online.
You need to make sure that your website includes certain information and
features that art collectors have come to expect.
I’ve been marketing art since 1989 and have managed various online art
marketing sites since 1996 . . . I’ve learned what works, what doesn’t
and what art buyers expect. This e-book represents a compilation of the
most important elements and best practices that should be included on
every artist’s website.
In this 39 page e-book that every artist must read, you’ll learn:
1. What art collectors expect from an artist website
2. Why you need to avoid Flash
3. How to set up your website for maximum success
4. How to avoid annoying your and driving awaysite visitors
5. The best way to write your artist biography page
6. How to design your site properly for search engines
7. Much, much more!
If you’re working with a web developer, no problem! The e-book also
includes a checklist for web developers that you can simply hand your
web guru and say, “make sure my site has everything on this list.”
Listen to what one artist recently told me about our marketing advice:
“We have always tried to incorporate your ideas about adding substantive
content on our web site and blog. Recently we sold a $3,000 painting
because we had followed your advice. . . Thanks for your helpful
marketing advice.”
- Artist, Tommy Thompson
Get Your copy of 11 Essential Elements of Every Artist’s Website:
http://fineartviews.com/resources/elements
_____
About FineArtViews
DO WE SELL ART?
FineArtViews is a Free email newsletter. We do not sell art or have a
commission structure with any of the artists discussed in this
publication. If you wish to purchase art by any of the artists featured,
we will assist you in contacting the artist or the artist’s gallery
representatives.
DO YOU OWN A GALLERY? WANT YOUR EXHIBIT FEATURED HERE?
If you’re a gallery and would like us to mention an upcoming exhibit or
to consider a particular artist, please email us. We don’t guarantee
inclusion but we are all about sharing with the art industry so would
like to know about it.
_____
Republish FineArtViews Insightful Content on
your own website, blog or enewsletter free of charge!
You may republish your favorite articles from FineArtViews without
charge. Use of this material without adhering to ALL of the following
instructions is a violation of copyright laws:
Republishing our articles is simple. You must include attribution of the
author(s) and the following short paragraphs (everything between the
dashed lines), in the same font size and visibility as the article:
———————————————-
This article appears courtesy of FineArtViews.com by Clint
Watson, a free email newsletter about art, marketing, inspiration and
fine living for artists, collectors and galleries (and anyone else who
loves art) .
For a complimentary subscription, visit:
http://www.fineartviews.com
———————————————–
_____
Suggest FineArtViews to a Friend:
If you would like to suggest FineArtViews to a friend, please point them
to:
http://www.fineartviews.com
Tell them to click the “Join” link.
_____
Have a Question for Clint?
FineArtViews welcomes your questions, thoughts and comments. Send them
to:
clint@fineartviews.com
_____
The Fine Print:
This copyrighted material is published here by permission of its sole
author, Clinton B. Watson, except as noted otherwise.
As law-abiding citizens who wish to comply with our republic’s anti-spam
laws (unlike actual spammers), we offer our postal address below:
FineArtViews.com
PO Box 700534
San Antonio, TX 78270
Thanks for your friendship.
If you liked today’s newsletter, please forward it to a friend, if you
didn’t like it, feel free to forward it to your enemies ;-)
Essays by guest authors reflect the opinions of the authors only and do
not necessarily reflect the opinions of Clinton B. Watson or
FineArtViews.
The inclusion of an ad in FineArtViews does not constitute an explicit
endorsement. It means that, as far as we know, the product is not a
rip-off. When we really endorse something, we’ll tell you explicitly in
an editorial piece. Otherwise, view these ads the way you would
commercials on TV or display ads in the back of your favorite magazine.
Check them out. Make a decision. If you don’t like it, ask for a refund.