From the Flight Deck

I'm 100% on board with bloggers having ads. For one thing, it makes it less likely you'll decide to quit randomly (i mean, who wants to walk away from income), and second, it just feels right, karmicly speaking, that you get paid for your writing.

TgardnerH. First of all...welcome to my blog! (You've never commented before).

Maybe I better change my thinking. I know the boss would love it. She said she would leave me alone a little more if there was money involved. :) :) :) Karmicly speaking maybe this is fate talking? (I love that word karma (karmic). :)

Thanks for the comments!

Captain Doug

I've always wondered how Adsense works? Do you understand it at all?

I have it on my (interesting primarily to people who know my dog personally) blog, and it's unbelievably easy to set up, took me maybe a half hour, and cost nothing. You also keep control of where they put the ads, for instance you can decide you only want them in the side bar, or you can make it look like times square. A modicum of taste and discression is always appreciated by readers.

I agree with TgardnerH, put the ads! Most already have them on their blogs or web-sites. Those ads do not bother me, and if you can make a few bucks, just seems practical!! Besides A little tinkering with one's peripheral vision, hell you can block them out...lol(i hope)..Wouldn't that be something if you start advertising....I can see it now,,,I'm in the 7-11 and what do I see, but an ad for "FROM THE FLIGHT DECK", on a carton of milk, you smiling now ain't ya....ha ha! Put the ads!!!! I can't have you going bankrupt on me...and safe flight tomorrow Captain! misstwa ^j^

Andrew. I'm in the dark about this stuff. Captain Doug :)

TgardnerH. Thanks for sharing this. Can you go one step further by hinting as to how much?
No this is not greed asking...just curious as to whether it truly is worth it. :)

You could send me a personal email if you prefer.

[email protected]

As far as taste and discretion, I agree wholeheartedly. :)

Captain Doug

Getjets. You're too funny! But I do like the concept....From the Flight Deck on a milk carton. :) :) :)

^D^

It goes by the click--and in my experience it works out to roughly a dollar a click. So, if lots of people read them and they like what they see, then lots of clicks and lots of cash. And if not, you can just turn them off, no harm in that.

TgardnerH

A dollar a click? Where do I sign up? :) I better not tell the boss...or as you said...my blog might look like Times Square. :)

Thanks again.

Captain Doug

ya, you can just hire random kids to go clicking away, pay them a quarter a click and they're set :P

Captain Doug,

Had a look at the F/O's blog, found the content of his blog to be interesting, but most of the 'Comments' appear to be spam advertising websites, definitely makes it look a little cheap in my opinion.

There are a few other commercial pilot blogs out there that use advertising in a much more tasteful media. And what do you think the response would be the first time a WestJet ad appeared on a A/C Pilots Blog?

Thanks again for your great blog.

YYC Dispatcher

YYC Dispatcher. You made some great points! But I didn't want to say anything. :)

Andrew. There's always a way around the system. :) Now I hope no one out there paid kids to go clicking
on my blog to put it in the 700 page view category each day. lol

Wow! That's some pretty sweet footage...what a blast it would be to do some runs on skiis on those slopes!

It's amazing how much of the world is still uninhabited, and how lucky some pilots are to get a glimpse of something 99% of the global popluation has never seen.

Great post.

CAT III Approach

CAT III Approach. I've flown with a few F/Os that were lucky to see that part of the world.
Actually one the F/Os was part of the daring rescue in getting a sick scientist from the South Pole in the middle of the winter. It was a huge endeavour.

Gone flying.

I get to fly across the Rockies three times today. :)

Captain Doug

Good morning Captain,

Sounds like a great day for you....here's hoping for a good METAR, smooth ride over the mountains, and an awesome view!

Just watched some CAT III ILS landings on youtube.....wow....trust your instrumentation???? Thanks an understatement.

I'm guessing the PF does not call the ILS in sight :P

CAT III Approach

CAT III Approach. For a CAT III approach, the captain calls "CAT III Dual" and then "retard" is heard from the airplane. Meaning close the throttles (actually they are already closed) and wait for the bump. :)

Captain Doug...gone flying.

Observation: has it ever been considered that the plane saying "RETARD RETARD RETARD", might not have a thing to do with the mechanics of the flight...and have you ever took it personally??????? Big LOL!!!!! ^j^, i just could not resist this one....!!!!!!

Just in case,to be sure of no misunderstandings....my last post(retard) was me poking fun, injecting hopefully humor!!!!! I hate that I feel the need to say this!!!!but the P.C. world we live in, has gone too far!!!! Never the less, my apology if anyone misunderstood!!! I like to think as an aviation geek of sorts..that I provide a valuable service as well, a lighter and hopefully funny perspective on the aviation world, that I luv so much!!!!! but I gotta tell, after watching 1000's of take off and landing videos....and hearing the plane say "retard retard",it has crossed my mind... did that plane take a shot at me....lol, there I go again....backsliding ain't pretty, so get used to it..ha ha!!!! one last time, apology to anyone who may have......flying jets is serious business and that is not lost with me, just to be clear, but it doesn't hurt to get a snicker now and then...esspecially when your feet are on solid ground!!! misstwa signing off for now....^j^

About the ads,

I personally wouldn't mind you having ads on your blog, as long as they are well placed.

Just keep the blog clean and not cluttered with randomly placed ads and annoying popups. If you are seriously considering ads, make them blend in! The best thing would be to have companies contact you wanting their ads published rather than using Adsense. That way, you know what's being advertised and may have a small input in the design of the ad to make it fit your blogs design. With 700-800 daily visitors there has to be someone wanting to buy ad space.

Although I don't know if blogger allows you to modify the HTML and CSS, or if you are restricted to using their interface for the design. That might be a problem.

Edwin.

Hi Capt. Doug,
You bet, Ill visitt Pilot Guy's site. I'm always glad to add another to the list. Some stay & some go. As for ads and revenue: Pilot Guy and Mrs. Doug have an excellent point. That said, there is always a warmer, better feeling of comfort in the ad-free spaces. If you must do it, I'll understand, but I won't like it. As you are already public about who pays your salary, accepting ads may pose some issues. It CAN be done, but it is difficult to "un-ring" bell. I just hope the your blog contines. Why? For me, it is a combination of fun, education, minor social interaction, (Did Imention fun?) easy to navigate and often world-class PIX from your several contributors. (Did I mention fun?) Just know that you efforts, public and private are appreciated.
-Craig

Sorry, I must ad(d) and no pun intended. After reading the comments of those pushing you toward ads, I am distressed. A buck a click is nuts and please don't sell your soul for a $dream$ that won't happen. There are multiple issues to consider and well beyond placement and percent of screen. In many cases you would nave zero control over who bought active/interactive space on your blog and control would be gone. I think AC would take a dim view of a Canadian competitor selling seats on the right third of your available screen space! In short, please keep it clean, pure and honest. The quest for dollars has corrupted more than one and I sincerely hope that you can remain above that. You blog as a hobby, not a profession. Last I heard, you drive airplanes to support yourself and your family and I hope that the two activities do not get confused. Thanks for listening.
-Craig

Cederglen's got a point. As much as your personal boss may like the added income, it'd be a shame to be doing the carpet dance in front of the guy who signs your paycheck, all over a few ads.

@TgargnerH put it best and in so few words! "...Carpet Dance over a few words." (or a few bucks?)
Please think twice, Doug - and then think again. THis is just too much fun to give over to the corporate monsters.
[email protected] also noted that you might find the works too troublesome and just quit. Please so not. The 700-800 daily hits and 127K total (without the lost ones) says that this non-comercial blog is very popular - Just As It Is. Take a hit of that emergency O2 before making any significant changes. If you go light or quit, who will make the good reports, From The Flight Deck? Best wishes, Doug,
-Craig

Good morning Doug, thanks very much for the Rate of Climb info - greatly appreciated. I'm going to have to make some amendments to my sim SOPs.

On ads on blogs per se, I remain neutral but it's interesting to note that very few of the "popular" aviation related I look at on occasion feature ads. I'll e-mail you... There is also the "taxman". I believe that south of the 48th people who use the "Monetise/AdSense" feature are required to declare any income earned from the feature to the IRS. I don't know what the regs are in Canada, but here in the UK, as a company owner I would have to declare any income earned through the scheme and would initially be taxed at 40% of the gross! However, I (the company) would get some of it back depending on gross incomes and various tax thresholds that may apply!

BTW... "Pilot Man's" site - I've had a quick look; there's some good stuff on there for any aspiring pilot in Canada and the US. I'm not sure how much would apply to someone in Europe.

Kind regards / Ian

Getjets. I used to tell student pilots the same thing... in a jokingly manner of course. :)

Captain Doug

^D^

Edwin. Good points! I do get travel companies wanting to add their links. Although most of them look like generic enquiries.

Captan Doug

Craig. As always...I appreciate your take on things!

Captain Doug

Craig and TgardnerH

You two made great points. That does it, I'm not selling my soul to the "ad" monsters! :)

I must remind the "boss" of the four jobs I hold. (Actually, I frequently do, but it falls on deaf ears) :)
Pilot/freelance writer for enRoute magazine/ AC weather instructor and weather instructor for the Brampton Flight Center.

Craig...I took your advice and snorted some O2. lol

Captain Doug - back on course :)

Ian H

Thanks for taking a look at "Pilot Guy's" site.

Good point about the taxman. Luckily with my little business on the side (freelance writing/teaching) it shouldn't be a problem.
Unless of course, the money gushes in. But something tells me that's not going to happen. :)

Doug