How to respond to an advertising request on my blog?

[Jane @ Kidzarama]

Hi all!  Celebration time here...   

I've just received an email from the promoter of a site, asking about advertising on Kidzarama.

I read an article about what rates to charge (http://www.mombloggersclub.com/page/page/show?id=988554%3APage%3A52753), and was frankly surprised at the rates mentioned ($10-15 per mth for a blog with 1000 visitors per mth).

I'd like to accept the advertising, but I'm not sure whether $10 a month is too much (I have had between 1000 & 1600 visitors for the past 4mths).

Also, how should I phase my reply?  Is formal better, or should I just use my blogging 'voice' & be myself? 

I want to get back to them in the next 36 hours, so any help here will be a lifesaver. 

Cheers,
Jane

[girlzstylin]

$10 is reasonable. Ask about the site they want to advertise on your blog. View it first. Make sure there are no pop ups, viruses, unfavorable links away from the first page you may not approve of. Does it fit your blog topic. Did they mention your blog specifically or mention your url? If they mentioned neither this could be a bot and not an actual. A promoter looking at a blog to me personally sounds a bit odd. Also the 1000 visitors you mention are these hits, visitors, or unique visitors? How many are returning visitors. Know your stats so when you propose an advertising fee it is justified. The reason is they are paying for ad impressions and an educated guess on clicks for that ad. Also know how you want to accept payment, the terms in which you will allow advertising, where you wish to have ads placed, and so forth.

[Candid Carrie]

Jane ... celebrate you cool news!  And I would just like to add that I agree with the previous writer's answers.  I would answer in your writing voice and don't sell yourself short.  Dig around and check out the place that wants to advertise.  I've done it numerous times and have always been paid immediately via paypal.  Very simple.  Just remember you are the boss, not them. 

Lately I've been getting a tremendous amount of solicitation via email and I always ask them a few questions.

1. Where did they find me?

2. Was I part of a "group send" and if I was, how many others were approached?

3. Have they actually read my blog (and I always add it is alright if they haven't, I just like to know if they read it).

Many times I have been solicited by friends who are hoping to be able to help their friend sell a product or a book or a service and they really have no idea what to do when I start asking questions. 

You know where to find me if I can help you more.  And "oh happy happy day" ... maybe there needs to be a greeting card that says, "congratulations on someone wanting to advertise on your blog" ...

[Jane @ Kidzarama]

Thank you, girlzstylin. You brought up some issues I hadn't thought of.

I've since started using statcounter as well as the basic stats from wordpress, so from now on I'll be able to give more detailed info about all that stuff.

[Jane @ Kidzarama]

You know where to find me if I can help you more.  And "oh happy happy day" ... maybe there needs to be a greeting card that says, "congratulations on someone wanting to advertise on your blog" ...

lol... Thanks Carrie. I've really missed you and your sense of humour.

I have contacted the woman & said I'm interested, but haven't had a reply, so we'll see.

At the moment, I'm just looking at it as a wake-up call to get myself organised {like with a special page for "media" or something} before the mad rush starts.

[Candid Carrie]

If I don't hear from someone within ten days, I'll resend the email with a different line in the subject matter of the e-mail.  Just a thought. 

[Jane @ Kidzarama]

Thanks Carrie, I didn't want to come across as desperate or anything.
{we all know how cool, calm & collected I can be}

The kidz go back to school on Wednesday, so I'll give that a try if I haven't heard back from her by then.

How is your blogging empire going?