Hello dear readers! I just wanted to post a quick note to inform you of some changes around here. After several months of research, I've decided to run ads on Nouveau Cheap. This decision was not made easily, but after two years of ad-free content, it's something that I need to do in order to maintain the level of product reviews that many of you are used to. As of today, I still purchase approximately 85% of the products reviewed on this blog. Financially, I simply cannot continue at this pace without a little bit of assistance.
Making money was never my goal when I started Nouveau Cheap, so believe me when I say that the decision to monetize my blog did not come without a great deal of thought and consideration. This is simply something I need to do in order to stay afloat and continue at the pace I've been maintaining for the past two years.
Starting in the next few days, you'll begin to see Google ads on this blog. I've also been researching ad networks and expect to join one in the next few weeks as well.
It's my goal to not have to severely change the general layout of this blog. It's taken me two years to get to a layout I love, and I don't want to rearrange it unless I absolutely have to. As always, I will let you know in advance if that needs to happen, and I'll also let you know if there are any other changes on the horizon.
Until then, I hope that you understand where I'm coming from, and that you'll have a bit of patience as I figure things out around here. I want to thank you all in advance for your patience and understanding. I realize that many of us don't like change, and that's exactly why this decision weighed so heavily on me. If you have any questions, I'd be happy to try and answer them as best I can.
Thanks so much,
G. xo
aww i have no problem with ads on ur site! i think u definitely deserve it for your hard work =]
ReplyDeletei know the motivation has always been there for u before and after the ads! <3
It's completely understandable. Don't worry....we'll still be here reading :)
ReplyDeleteI think you are going above and beyond even giving us a heads up. Your a fair and honest person, i wouldn't stop reading your blog bc of a few ads... :-D
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't consider it a bad thing at all. You're reinvesting your ad dollars to bring your readers valuable content. Makes sense to me!
ReplyDeleteGirl, no worries! I don't blame you one bit! You deserve some money for all your hard work! :D
ReplyDeleteNot a bad decision!! :) On that note, are you going to offer ad space at a specific rate? I'd love to advertise my Ebay beauty store on here if I could.
ReplyDeleteG do your thing you have provided us with so much useful information and it is free to us. I could care less if there are ads as long as you keep your website alive.
ReplyDeleteAds...meh...I'll be too busy reading all your great posts to even notice!!
ReplyDeleteI rarely comment anywhere, but I'm a big fan of your site, and all the work you put into it. It should not have to be all at your own expense.
Many thanks!
I totally understand! I buy products for my blog that I would never buy if I didn't think I could help someone by reviewing it! I just bought a mascara today that I would not have bought if I had no blog. Let me know what ad network you join; I need to join one I trust!
ReplyDeleteThat is totally fine =) ads aren't even an inconvenience at all, compared to all help (savings LOL) you've shared with us.
ReplyDeleteTrust me when I say that we completely understand, and have no problem with you having ads! You go above and beyond with what you do, and besides, we're going to be paying attention to your posts, anyways!
ReplyDeleteAnd hey, if it's the type of ad that you receive payment every time someone clicks on one, then I will definitely be clicking!
Sounds reasonable to me!
ReplyDeleteI have often wondered how you find not just the money for all the products you review, but also the time and energy to update everyday and respond to comments and emails. It seems obvious to me that you are driven by a real passion for beauty products and not money or fame. I completely understand your reasoning for running ads. If it will keep you doing your fabulous reviews, it's okay by me.
ReplyDeleteWe all completely understand your hard decision, and I appreciate that you took the time to weigh the benefits and costs. However, if anyone doesn't want ads on your page, they should be paying for your beauty products with all the money they save from your advice! You shouldn't have to pay for all of the products out of pocket and it wouldn't be fair of us to ask that of you!
ReplyDeleteLike asianpopattack said, if it's an ad that you get paid every time we click, I'll be clicking all the time!
I love all the advice, reviews, and money saving ideas that I get from this blog, and I would never stop reading just because you have to have a few ads! We all love you and this blog, please do what you need to do to keep your cost at a minimum. I will still be reading!!
cutiegingerbread: Honey, that means the world to me. Thank you SO much. xo
ReplyDeleteJPScraps: Thank you SO much for that, honey! :)
sarah: I am so relieved to hear you say that. Thanks SO much for your support! xo
virginiaisforluvrs: Thank you so much for understanding that. That's EXACTLY what it is: a reinvestment. I really appreciate your support. xo
Mandy: Awww, thank you, girlie! :)
Ruby: I thought about that, however I just don't have the time or resources to work individually with advertisers, as much as I would like to. I'm so sorry--and thank you for even considering running an ad on my blog. I'm truly honored! :)
Janna: Thank you so much for that--I feel so much better about this decision after reading your comment. :)
oddthings: Wow! First of all, I'm honored that you commented on this blog since you said you're not a big commenter! And second, thank you SO much for understanding and support. xo
PCS: I know exactly what you mean! I too, have purchased products that I normally would not purchase, just because I thought they'd be helpful to cover here. That kind of thing adds up, which is why I'm in the place I'm at right now. :(
Yuki: Awwww, thank you SO much, girlie!!! xo
asianpopattack: OMG, you are an absolute doll!! Thank you so so much for that comment--it truly means the world to me. xoxo
SusieL: Thank you!! :)
bluecollarsophisticate: Believe me, it ain't easy! lol! I am probably running about six months behind on emails, which is so frustrating because I hate to have anyone think I'm ignoring them, when that is SO not the case. :( Thanks so much for your understanding and support--I cannot express to you how much that means to me. xo
Lindsay: Oh my goodness, girlie, you're going to make me cry! I never expected when I posted about this to have such wonderful support--I cannot express to you what your words mean to me. It really takes a lot of weight off my shoulders. It was such a hard decision to make. Thank you SO very much for your support and understanding, honey! xo
ReplyDeleteAww of course we understand!! You shouldn't feel bad for doing this. Anything that helps you- this blog shouldn't be a burden on you. <3 you!
ReplyDeleteAffordableBeauty: <3 you right back, girlie! Thanks so much for that! xo
ReplyDeleteWhat's to understand? You go out of your way to purchase and review products so that many of us don't have to slog through the trial and error of doing so. You do us all a great and valuable service, and if you need a little assistance to help you keep doing it, then, by all means, we understand and will continue to support you.
ReplyDeleteI don't comment much, and I'm a newcomer to Nouveau Cheap, but please know that I appreciate all your time and effort. :)
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ReplyDeleteG., thank you for all your hard work and all you do for us beauty product-obsessed! It doesn't matter to me if there are ads here...I love your blog and will continue to follow it faithfully! :)
ReplyDeleteI understand where you're coming from, I don't mind ads either. :)
ReplyDeleteSweet girl, there are ad blockers on a variety of browsers if people are distressed by additional content. I could care less if you add ads as long as you post your most awesome posts. Ditto on all previous comments - you deserve at very least compensation for the products you review if not a full time salary. How do we organize THAT for you is what I'd like to know.
ReplyDeleteYou're awesome and appreciated. Congrats on the decision to make your life a tiny bit easier
As long as you can keep doing what you do! I love your blog, it is the gem of my day!:)
ReplyDeleteG, Thanks for being so considerate of our feelings first. You are a gem! i personally like ads, it gives me an opportunity to see things that I might not have considered. I hope it helps you financially. Nothing wrong in making something, especially in this economy. Thanks for all you do for us. I have been a big fan of yours for a long time, and will continue to be one!
ReplyDeleteOf course we understand. I've often wondered how you do it, keeping up with the blog, and yeah all the money going out in order to do all the reviews you do. Anything that helps you to run this blog is more than okay by me. I read a lot of blogs, but this is one of the few I check every day, you're that good!
ReplyDeleteIf you have the chance you should ask Phyrra about Project Wonderful for advertising. From what I understand advertisers opt in to be shown on your site, but you also have an opt in/opt out feature so that if there is someone you do not want showing up on your site you can keep them off. It may not be as time consuming as you expect, and will give fans who are bloggers an option for advertising here.
I don't think any of your readers would hold that against you- I know I don't! Regular ads don't bother me a bit especially if their existence on a blog is helping the author.
ReplyDeleteThe only kind of ads that do bother me are the kind that when you scroll your mouse over it, it then appears full-size and blocks a portion of the page you are trying to read. Those drive me nuts because of course you're going to mouse over them by mistake so it's popping up multiple times as you're just trying to navigate someones blog or read an entry. This happens the most when the ad is positioned on the right-hand side of the blog between the scroll bar because you roll over it by mistake while going to scroll down or up. It's enough to turn me off of a blog altogether because it's so annoying.
G! You should have known everyone would be extremely supportive of your decision! You are the most beloved beauty blogger because you are so sweet and considerate. It makes me sad to think that you were struggling with this decision and also struggling to maintain your blog the way you wanted to. You provide us with so much and I'm grateful for the ads to be able to provide something back to you. It's my secret, selfish dream that you end up making a bazillion dollars from your blog and get to dedicate all your time to it, haha!
ReplyDeleteThanks for everything, G. You're awesome!
Hey G! I was actually going to ask you about that and wondering why you haven't had ads here, and how you manage to keep doing this without some compensation!
ReplyDeleteI think there is absolutely nothing wrong with being compensated for your time and dedication in your blog. And of all people, you are one of the best bloggers around and that's why there are so many people who love you and your blog!
I hope that everyone understand that it really does take up lots of time to try out products, $ to buy the products, more time to take pictures, then write, and for some of us vloggers, editing and putting videos together.
And to be honest even with ads, it's not like we are being compensated for that much, but just enough to help out for the $ we spend to buy the products!
I really think that your readers will understand, and also appreciate all the work you have done in the past few years without compensation!
And you know, they may just like some of the ads because usually they correspond to the products you are talking about, and they can just click on the link to take them directly to the site.
Best of luck G!! You totally deserve everything!
xoxo
Wing
Well I, for one, am never reading again.
ReplyDeleteKidding! I ignore pretty much all ads on websites anyway, so your site/ads will be no exception. Your blog is one of my favorites, and I read every day.
I love your blog and I can understand about buying makeup and then writing reviews on it. This is not cheap. I have no problem with ads I also have them on my blog. Keep up the good work :)
ReplyDeleteI have no problem with ads on blogs as long as they're tastefully done, as I'm sure yours will be. I'll continue to read your blog and enjoy it as much as ever!
ReplyDeletenot a problem, now or ever. i can't believe how many products you find and review, so believe me, we all benefit from it if you can break even! :)
ReplyDelete