So, here’s the thing: I love blogging. I’ve had this blog for over three years now. I blogged when my only audience was Christine and a couple of crickets.
Not long after I started writing, a few of you joined me and began reading what I wrote – walking alongside me in those early months after our Evie Grace passed away. And you’ve been here ever since. I love that. Y’all are great.
Others of you have been here for one or two years – maybe since Hazel was born or since I started sharing my garage sale finds or sewing tutorials. And some of you are brand new to Finding My Feet. Hello! Welcome!
What I want you to know is that I really enjoy doing this. I love writing. I love the friends I’ve made. I love taking pictures and sharing them. I love documenting my growing family so that someday my kids (or just Ryan and I) will be able to look back and remember the time Davis defeated Golias, or the time a strange man offered to cut Oliver’s hair on the sidewalk.
I would blog whether anyone was listening or not.
But you’re here, and I love that.
And since you’re here, I want to talk to you all openly about something that, in a way, affects us all. I respect you guys and, although this is my blog, it does matter to me to be transparent with y’all about this.
So, where am I headed with this?
Gosh, I had this big long thing written out explaining the ins and outs of my decision, but the gist of what I want to say to you is this:
Blogging takes time. I love it.
Tutorials take time. I love those too.
I’d do them both for an audience of 10 or 10,000 (well, maybe fewer tutorials – those things are work!) :)
I love getting to share things with you. You know I’m picky and I love that you trust my taste. Usually, if I don’t tell you where I found something, someone asks within the first ten comments. I love that and I’ve learned to anticipate it. :)
I am adding ads to my sidebar and may share/review things occasionally in post form. I love what I do and why not make a little money doing it?
I’m going to keep being the picky sharer of things and ideas I’ve always been. I’ll never steer you in a direction I wouldn’t steer my own friends (or self!). I will always be honest.
This blog looks different (eee! so happy with it!), and there are occasional commercial ads amidst my lovely sponsors, but the content (and the author) aren’t going anywhere! And who knows? I hope I’ll be sharing things with you that you’ll like and be glad to know about!
Lots of love to all of you on this lovely Sunday morning! And enjoy my new digs! Didn’t Kayla Aimee do a fabulous job?
I’ve been here since you were pregnant with sweet Hazel, and became a mama myself in that time. I love the thoughts you share, your sense of humor, your crafty skillz, and the humble way you share the love of Jesus with your readers.
The ads will not detract from that, and I say GO AHEAD, GIRL. You should absolutely make some money!
I, for one, appreciate the time you put into your blog. And I know this is odd to say to someone I’ve never met in real life, but you are such a positive person and your posts are a little sunshine in my day! Your little corner of the blogospere is a blessing to me.
Thanks for what you do. Be encouraged!
Thanks for the sweet note, Sarah! I’m so glad you’re here :)
I think it’s is great for people with great blogs to get paid doing it! I honestly don’t even notice when there are ads because almost all websites and blogs have them these days. I thought you were going to say you were cutting back on how much you blog, that would have been sad, I check your blog everyday! Thanks for not going away! haha. Have a great Sunday.
Haha! No, not going away :) Thanks for your kind words :)
The title made me think it was bad news, I’m so glad the post is about ads! I honestly don’t notice ads most of the time, they don’t bother me.
I started reading after our babe was stillborn, and kept reading because I like your outlook on life. Your photography skills, craftiness, deals and stories are a definite draw as well.
You go girl with your ad’s. That is amazing that people want to put them on your blog!!! I love everything that you write….from your tutorials (which I have uesed…thank you very much:)), checking out your incrediable sewing skills to seeing youe oh so sweet pics of your babes….KEEP THEM ALL COMING!!!
Ahhh, I was so disappointed to see this but I sort of thought it might be coming with the new move and new design. I’ve been reading since Evie and I always loved and admired that you were one of the few bloggers who didn’t go commercial. I’ll still read because I care about your family and I’ve followed for years but I miss the blogging community the way it used to be.
I’m glad you are enjoying your Michigan vacation!
Hey Kaira! I was just thinking about you the other day. Sorry to see you’re disappointed, but thanks so much for your support. I wasn’t sure how this would be received, but the overwhelming response has been super duper supportive. Love to you!
You’ve handled this topic the same way I’ve seen you handle every topic you’ve addressed on your blog–with grace & eloquence. I’m thankful to be part of this piece of your life and if that means it also helps your family, then yay for that! :) Thanks for the time you’ve given all of us!
some blogs have ads and i’m like, “huh?” how does mcdonalds make money from this blog about VBAC childbirth. but then there’s you (aw). i have gone out and bought things 100% on your recommendation or after seeing you wearing/using the product (yes i am super lemming!). hello!?! that is a 1 to 1 connection from you to the product and you SHOULD be compensated for that kind of referral! get it, boo!
I totally am for your decision! I’ve been a loyal reader for a couple of years now, and was really holding my breathe during this post thinking you were going to say you weren’t going to blog anymore! EEK! I’m relieved that wasn’t the case :)
This is so funny – so many of y’all thought I was signing off! I totally didn’t mean to be a tease or misleading – and definitely wouldn’t have gone through the trouble of this big redo if I were going private. Thanks for your kind words, Katie. Glad you enjoy it here :)
There is a pretty obvious distinction between bloggers than blog for the right reasons, because they love it, and the wrong ones, to make money. Your blog is awesome and that doesn’t change because you put ads on it. I love that sometimes you share awesome products, like the Madsen bike.
I think between you and your fab hubby and those UH-MAZE-ING kiddos and all the awesomeness y’all share with us everyday, we can handle a couple ads!! Expecially if it helps keeps it all coming our way everyday! ;) You go, GURL!!
Glad you are going to be making some extra cash! And love your new design, this is the first time I have been on your site on a computer in a while since I usually read through my reader on my iPod. Hope you are having a good time in Michigan! I’m envious, we won’t be visiting there until December this year!
Okay, if you totally do the “look of the week” (or day{s}) then I will totally be okay with the ads….and if you don’t do the “look of the week” I guess I will still be okay with the ads. Ha!! :) I love your blog, your pics, your helpful hints, your recipes, heck I even love your family (in a bloggy kind of way!). So go for it!!
Whew!!! :::wiping the sweat off my forehead!::::: Jeeperz! Thank God, you’re just adding moneymaking things to your blog! Something you should have done a long time ago. I love your blog. Your pictures, stories, Tutorials, all of it. Honestly, I thought you were going to either shut it down or go private. I have no problem with ads or whatever, as long as I get to see your writings! Good luck!
oh, you’re hilarious! No, not going anywhere! :)
I agree with all the above. More power to you…..I think you should benefit from having your blog just like we benefit by being able to read it and get joy out of it. I’m really just a hobby blogger. The “career” bloggers do such an amazing job. I can’t imagine how easy it is to put so much together so often and so well. You go girl!
Is your twitter, ads, facebook blinkies, blogroll etc supposed to be on the sidebar? On my iPad they are all underneath the cooments where I am typing this.
It’s that way on my screen too!:(
I’ve been reading for a long time, since before Hazel. Funny how we measure time around our babies….”I was pregnant with ____ when that happened!” I don’t think I’ve ever commented before, well…maybe once before, a long time ago, like before Hazel. :-) I’m quite a bit older than you and in a much different place in life, but I enjoy your blog so much and ads aren’t going to deter me from visiting. If you can make money with your blog, you should definitely go for it!! I love your tutorials, your tag sale finds, your adorable children, your photography, and just the way you share your life with all of us. When I read your post, I just had one little shudder…..I would hate for people to start getting down on you because you have ads. We regular blog readers have seen it happen to others and it’s so not pretty. I’m not sure why some people have to tear bloggers apart…..can’t they just stop reading??? I just hope no one starts giving you a hard time because that would make us long-time readers very sad for you. Thanks for taking all the time you do to share so much with us! :-)
Gosh girlie! You had me scared for a moment! I thought you were closing up shop and I was TOTALLY bummed about it! SO glad you’re not going anywhere! I’ll read your blog with or without ads! That stuff has never bothered me one tiny bit! It’s the author’s heart and the stories they share that matter to me! Love, hugs and blessings!!:)
I really don’t see you as someone who will go nuts with this or start tricking people to click on your blog for money purposes, so I think it’s awesome you’ll get paid to blog. To be rather honest, I found you when all the things with that one blog went down in 2009 (I’m sure you know the one), and I’ve always found you to be a genuine, kind person and an awesome mommy. :) I know that won’t change!
you have ads?? huh. apparently your pix and writing are so awesome that i hadn’t even noticed. ;)
also, i was afraid you were going to go “private”. and then i was going to cry. and beg you to let me still read your blog. and that would have been awkward. so, PHEW!
I love this! You’re so sweet. :) Thanks – and don’t worry! Not going anywhere! :)
ZOMG, I remember when you emailed me and were all like, “Dude, I started a blog, you should read it,” and I was like, “I love it, and also, ME TOO” and I just copied you. Like the next day. And you were so okay with it. That has been 3 years! (I only remember the time frame because I was great with child.) And the ads have been so gradual, and so well-designed (not flashing and huge and blingy) that they slide right on in, un-annoying-like. AND it’s all stuff that you support and talk about, so it’s obvious you’re not JUST doing this for the benefits. Benefits are just a nice extra. That’s how it should be. You’re doing it well. Love to you.
I’m so glad you posted this. I am so sick of people getting blasted for having ads – I think it’s great! Why not make some money if you can? It in NO way detracts from the blog (although, I’m with those above, your entire sidebar is now below all the posts, it wasn’t like that a few days ago when I was over here).
From my perspective, bloggers who HAVE ads and sponsors are more likely to have consistent and valuable content than those who don’t. I always look forward to new posts from you and enjoy the diversity of what you post – and if the content is not going to change I could seriously care less about what ads are in your sidebar, it makes zero difference in my opinion of you and your blog. :)
So happy you’re not going anywhere & so happy you’ll get to make some money! Thanks for sharing your life with us! I truly admire you!
Thanks, Aileen!
I think it’s WONDERFUL that you are adding ads. Blogging IS hard work and takes up tons of time. I commend you for it! My stomach dropped when reading the title of this post… sheesh!
My initial reaction was a bit, “What? She doesn’t already have ads? She totally should be making money off it.” I don’t think you should be feeling guilty about it for a minute.
Something strange – When I try to click on the older links you referenced (specifically, the time a stranger offered to cut Oliver’s hair), I see the older post for about two seconds and then I’m bumped back to your current post. Something to do with the switch from the old blog to the new raechelmyers.com, I’m sure…
I don’t mind the ads. It’s great that you’re able to make some money blogging! Thanks for not breaking up with us, your readers. =)
Oh, you’re totally right! Fixed now. I have a feeling there are a lot of links and things that I’m going to need to go back and correct. Always so grateful when y’all let me know, though!
Now you can go back and visit Davis and Golais if you like :)
I think it is awesome that you are sharing with us the places you enjoy shopping. I fell in love with Jordan’s headbands thanks to your introduction to Little Town, and I got fabrics from Sew Fresh Fabrics just a few days ago. I share your taste, so you save me the hunt :) And making some extra money when you are raising a family is just wonderful!
Shannon
So glad you’re not going anywhere, I thought the same when I first started reading! I haven’t followed for too long but I love your posts, your tutorials and garage sale finds. You have a beautiful family and the way you love Jesus even after what you’ve gone through is an example and inspiration, thanks for sharing!
Oh and by the way I am happy you can get paid to do what you love, way to go girl!
I, too, remember when you sent out the emails saying you were starting a blog. I’ve been reading ever since. (was it *only* 3 years ago? According to Christine, and the calendar, I guess it was. But, man, it seems like a lot has happened in both of our lives since then.)
Good for you on the ads! You have so many followers now, it just makes monetary sense. ;)
Hi, I am new to blogging and have only just started doing one myself since having my second daughter Lily. I find your blog so inspirational. As others have said, it’s like a little ray of sunshine (and living in the UK, sunshine is gratefully received!). I discovered your blog through twitter and I get so excited when I see a new post. It’s refreshing to have an insight into somebody else’s life, especially when you share interests and have things in common like children. Help, advice and tips are what I take from your blog, and I love seeing pictures of Oliver and Hazel.
We Brits are sometimes afraid to share, as a nation I think that stiff upper lip holds us back a bit!! I love how open you are about your life and hope you carry on doing it forever… pleeeease! The ads don’t bother me one bit. I think I may have made you a fortune already!
Hi Katy! I loved this note – thank you.
I’ve been reading since you were pregnant with Hazel and I think it’s great that you’re able to make some money with your blogging! Each day I look out for a new post from you, as I’m sure many other do :)