Hi Y’all-
As you may or may not have noticed, I recently qualified for an advertising program called WordAds, which is offered through the host site of my blog, WordPress. I allow WordAds to run ads on my site (at the end of the first article on the home page, and at the end of every subsequent page you click on) and they pay me a modest sum (depending on how many people see the ads) in return. I haven’t received any income from WordAds yet, so this is a trial run over the next few months to see how it works and whether or not it’s worth it.
In the past (without alerting me or giving me any remuneration), WordPress has run ads on my more heavily trafficked articles. In the last seven years (since 2011, when I joined WordPress) I’ve received only three or four reports of an ad being biblically inappropriate. Last week I received one more report. So, I thought I would rerun the article that follows (originally published July 26, 2015, and updated to include information about WordAds) to provide a little more insight as to how this all works. Should you need to review this information in the future, there is a link to the original article under the “Welcome- Start Here” tab at the top of this page.
Thanks so much to those of you who have alerted me that inappropriate ads (containing material that conflicts with biblical values) occasionally appear on my site.
My family is a one income family, so I allow WordPress to run ads on my site as a way to bring in a little extra money. Normally, the ads that run are family friendly, but a few times, readers have reported seeing ads that are inappropriate. I want to assure you that I do not select these ads, nor am I given an opportunity to approve or reject them.
I have contacted WordPress about the ads. This is the response they sent me:
“We endeavor to make sure that no inappropriate ads are shown, but occasionally some do make it through. If you or any of your visitors see inappropriate ads, we ask that you (or they) take a screenshot of the ad and forward it to us at wordads@wordpress.com.”
Since I don’t always see the same ads on my end that you see on yours, I would be most grateful if you would alert WordPress in this way should you ever see an ad that’s inappropriate (you can also click on the “About These Ads” link above the ad itself). Sending polite feedback to WordPress – which, to their credit, they have requested – is the best way to get them to keep their advertising appropriate for all of their sites, not just mine.
Additionally, one of my Facebook friends offered this advice:
“Often if people are using Facebook apps or 3rd party apps, such as are used for games, those kinds of ads show up. Different ads for different users. Google is able to customize the ads based on Internet activity. When I blocked 3rd party cookies and all apps, the questionable ads on my feed and Internet activity disappeared.”
Also, if you are bothered by ads on the sites you visit (not just mine), your browser may offer a free ad blocker that will reduce or eliminate them. I use Google Chrome as my browser, and installed Ublock a while back. It has been very helpful.
I apologize for any inappropriate ads you have seen in the past or may see in the future. It is my desire that my blog glorify God and be a place where biblical values are upheld.
Michelle Lesley 