As I posted earlier there are two big changes coming to jazztheologian.com:
1) New Design: A new, sleek look is just around the corner.
2) I have been asked to blog for Beliefnet.com. Beliefnet is the worlds largest religious website with an average of over three million unique hits a month. I'm excited about this opportunity though there is one big difference--advertising. This is where I could use your feedback: Will the presence of advertising on my blog effect your willingness to visit? It's tastefully done and is not that intrusive...sometimes you just need to close a pop-up for World Vision before you can read the post. (Check out Scot McKnight's blog for an example of what my blog will look like) Let me know what you think.
Stay in the groove,
robert
It would not affect me at all-I would visit that site ~ for sure!
Posted by: Bonnie | February 08, 2010 at 09:02 PM
It wouldn't affect me because I have pop-ups blocked like many other visitors, I'm sure. Would the content on your Beliefnet blog be separate from that on jazztheologian.com, would it be the same or would it be a mix of some unique and some crossover?
In any event, you've got great content and I think it's a terrific opportunity. Congrats.
Posted by: Shane Halstead | February 08, 2010 at 10:04 PM
I'm pretty used to tuning out ads and pop-ups, although I will tell you that Beliefnet's are particularly good at eating bandwidth, slowing my connecting and irritating me enough that I don't go to the site anymore. I read McKnight's blogs through RSS and email update, rather than clicking over to the site for that reason, which is what I would probably do with your blog.
Grace & peace,
Tara
Posted by: Tara M. Owens | February 08, 2010 at 10:29 PM
i would visit still, inspite of the ads. even though belief.net's ads are annoying sometimes. but i still visit the Jesus creed and bwIII's site.
Posted by: Rod | February 08, 2010 at 11:13 PM
Content rules!
Ads are secondary to content.
I read many blogs and RSS feeds that have ads because I want the content.
I would certainly read your blog.
Posted by: Alan Baumbach | February 09, 2010 at 08:00 AM
I don't necessarily like ads on any blog --- especially if there are lots of them --- but that has never stopped me from visiting, and most certainly will not run me away from here. This is an exciting opportunity for you --- a broader audience who will be exposed to the Truth and for this reason alone, it's worth whatever minor "distractions" there may be. Congratulations!
Posted by: Dina | February 09, 2010 at 10:50 AM
I have found the ads on Jesus Creed at BeliefNet very distracting. But I still go there for the content. And, altho I'd be disappointed by the ads, I'd still go to your blog because of teh great content.
Keep it up, bro
Shalom
Posted by: GordonG | February 09, 2010 at 04:15 PM
i know when mcknight jumped over to belief net, i felt like i lost his personality a bit as the layout felt 'commercialized'. there is some value to having a template/web layout that makes you feel like you're entering "robert's world" when i go to your site. Even with Mcknights sidebars it still feels cold. if there is a way to differentiate yourself in that design on beliefnet it would help a lot. The experience about visiting a blog isn't just about the content. People want to see as much personality come forth as possible.
of course, the ads and layout may take away from what you have here with typepad. but regardless, beliefnet will open you up to such a wider audience with more hits per day. can't be that as a blogger. at any rate, you won't lose my viewership.
Posted by: Luke Parrott | February 10, 2010 at 10:56 PM
No problem with advertising. The site may not exist otherwise without a way to monetize through advertising.
Posted by: Gene Bruhn | February 20, 2010 at 08:08 AM