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Home / Disclosures: How I make money on this blog

Disclosures: How I make money on this blog

pam kueber

Publisher Pam here. This page explains how I make money on my blog. There actually are FTC guidelines for bloggers, and you can bet I aim to meet — even exceed — those guidelines.

Following is an explanation of income to the blog and how I deal with various issues:

  • Google Ads: The largest share of income for the blog comes from the Google ads featured on each post and page, and on the Forum. Google allows up to three ad units per page. The way I understand it, every visitor to the blog may be getting different ads, depending on your interests and web-browsing history. I have little control over these ads, although I have “opted out” of anything that seems inappropriate for my G- or occasionally PG-rated blog. Contact me if you get anything served up that you consider offensive, and I will see if I can block it. You can read more about how Google and its other third party ad networks uses cookies and similar technologies to serve up ads to you in my Privacy Policy.
  • Midcentury Marketplace Ads: The second way I make money is with what I call the “Midcentury Marketplace” advertisements — the smaller ads in two sizes in the far right-hand column of the blog and the larger “sticky” ad at the bottom of the same sidebar. I also have started adding one such ad at the bottom of our Sunday newsletter. I sell these ads directly to advertisers. In general, I accept ads only for products and services that are relevant to homeowners remodeling or decorating their midcentury homes — I want these ads to be a “win win win” — a win for readers who are looking for relevant products, a win for advertisers with relevant products to sell, and a win for me so that I can make a living and continue to blog. I do not promise editorial coverage to these advertisers. And, please do not consider these ads a personal endorsement; I may or may not have personal experience with a given advertiser; do your own additional homework if you are considering making a purchase. When and if I do write something about their products while they are an active advertiser, I may note a Disclosure: in the story so that it is clear that the story was not a quid pro quo.
  • Ebay Links and Ads — I am a member of the Ebay Affiliate Network. When you click on a product in one of my ebay carousels, or on other links to ebay posted in various spots on my blog, ebay follows you with a “cookie” and if you end up buying something, I receive a commission. I always try to remember to put a parenthetical “(*affiliate link) note adjacent to such links.
  • Amazon Links, Ads and A-Store — Similar to the Ebay situation described above, I am a member of the Amazon Associate Network and receive a commission if you buy anything from Amazon via a link on my blog. I always try to remember to put a parenthetical “(*affiliate link) note adjacent to such links.
  • Other Ads and/or Affiliate Programs — If it looks like an ad, all design-y like, I’m likely an affiliate and earn a spiff, or earn money directly for the placement. If I am an affiliate and mention the company or one of its products in a story with a live link, I always try to remember to put a parenthetical “(*affiliate link)” next to such hotlinks or otherwise note it conspicuously at the top of the story.
  • NO Text links: I do not sell text links. Kissing cousins: I do not take guest posts from writers who are being paid by commercial interests to get their links online in a sneaky way. That is:  Shame on all the so-called “writers” who are proposing a guest post without your being 100% upfront about who you are working for.
  • Sponsored posts RARELY: I am open to the idea of “sponsored posts” — that is, companies pay me to publish a story about them — and I have done a handful so far. (I have turned down or ignored many other such requests.) When I run a sponsored post, I seek to make it conspicuously clear that these are sponsored, that is: paid for. As per Google’s rules, all outbound links are no-follows. (FYI: Google considers such outbound links in sponsored [paid-for] posts to be equivalent to paid text links. They do not want websites to to “sell PageRank.”)
  • Giveaways: I don’t typically charge money for retailers to provide items for giveaways. I do these as a surprise and delight to readers — and to grow my newsletter list.
  • Consulting — In addition to being a blogger writing about vintage laminates and laminates available today for midcentury style kitchens and bathrooms, I have worked with Wilsonart to launch a capsule collection of 7 new colorways for their boomerang laminates. They promote these laminates on the blog with an ad. I disclose our involvement when we write about this collection. If I write about any other such projects I’ve been involved in, I will disclose that. 
  • In general: I don’t want my editorial coverage to be affected by advertising or other revenue sources to the blog…
  • …and I believe in, and strive for, transparency when it comes to calling out financial relationships where they may occur.
Disclosures related to direct payment, in-kind payments and samples for review:
  • I seek to comply with FTC guidelines requiring “conspicuous” disclosure of any direct payments or in-kind payments (products supplied) by companies or vendors seeking to promote their products. If I end up doing a review of a product supplied from a company or individual vendor (yes, I’ve received samples), I note these with a Disclosure: up top conspicuously in the story.  My general policy is to not take any free products for review unless they are relevant to readers, and I do not promise a story even if a sample/product is sent.
  • Similarly I am occasionally invited on media trips to review new products. I may accept these if I think they are relevant to my readers. No coverage is promised in return. If I end up doing a review, I will aim to conspicuously note that the trip has been paid for by the inviting company with a Disclosure:  in the story.
Want to know more about the FTC Disclosure Guidelines for Endorsements, including bloggers? It’s actually pretty interesting:
  • FTC Endorsement Guidelines 
  • FTC Update March 2103 — in particular, see Example 21

Reader Interactions

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44 comments

Comments

  1. DaraLee says

    May 30, 2015 at 10:52 am

    I rent my house and it is older with add-ons and what appears to be a (?) Youngstown freestanding double drainboard double white porcelain sink with metal cabinets and drawers. I have a son who has been diagnosed with an explosive anger disorder among other things, and during one of his fits he managed to all but destroy the metal fronts of this very wonderful piece. I was wondering if you or anyone else could possibly recommend how I can repair them? It will have to be a DIY project, as I don’t have the money to pay someone else to do it. My landlord is awesome but I don’t think he should have to fix anything my son broke dented or put holes in. We live in a smaller town where there’s not many places to find any real help. If you do have any recommendations I would be truly grateful!

    • pam kueber says

      May 30, 2015 at 4:29 pm

      DaraLee, we are not experts so cannot advise on this issue. Be aware also the paint may contain lead and the doors and drawers may have sound deadening materials inside them and you don’t know what the material is made of unless you have it tested — consult with properly licensed professionals to assess what you are working with so that you can make informed decisions. Good luck.

  2. Brandon says

    February 21, 2015 at 12:39 am

    Pam, please consult everywhere possible. You are a godsend for folks like my wife and I. Maybe you can dial up Kohler and get them to bring back some colorful tubs. My wife wants a baby blue bathroom! Seriously though, thank you and I really respect how you run your site. Please keep it up!

  3. Cindy Friday says

    December 11, 2014 at 6:55 pm

    I admire your full disclosure statement. I wish all bloggers were so forthcoming.

    • pam kueber says

      December 11, 2014 at 11:01 pm

      Thank you!

  4. Lori says

    October 25, 2014 at 4:41 pm

    Hi, I’m a long time fan of your site and recently discovered three GE kitchens in an apartment building belonging to a friend. These include the metal cabinets, built in stove, eating island, colored light yellow, island laminated in pale green. No idea when they were made, but look like 50s-early 60s. I know that there are aficionados of other inclusive kitchens, and thought maybe there might be for these as well. My friend is interested in selling these, can you point us to a forum or marketplace? Thanks in advance for your help~

  5. ChicagoChar says

    April 10, 2014 at 12:16 pm

    See this NOS shelf with the original cardboard!

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Bathroom-Vanity-Shelf-Schwarz-Bros-Plastic-Bubble-Gum-Pink-NOS-1950-60-/191132169416?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c805d74c8

  6. Joe Felice says

    March 30, 2014 at 3:01 pm

    Actually, I didn’t give this any thought. I just figured you sold advertising, and that was it. But I guess I should have known there’d be a gaggle of regulations. We’re in the United States, after all. But thank you for this site. It brings joy into my life.

  7. Mitch Toews says

    March 11, 2014 at 1:28 pm

    Hi! Thx for the post on Simpson Door! I am possibly interested in advertsing on the site – can u send me a link to your media kit? – mitch

  8. Jennifer says

    October 14, 2013 at 9:06 am

    I have a double drainboard sink and would like to find out more about it. How would I go about searching for information about this sink?

    Thanks,

    • pam kueber says

      October 14, 2013 at 9:13 am

      Look for markings underneath it… then google and search to see what you can find.

      • Jennifer says

        October 15, 2013 at 7:23 pm

        There is a painted stamp that looks like the following:

        52/6 (or 32/6)
        2/28/51
        KMP.526.6

        I have googled it and did not come up with anything.

  9. Alice says

    September 17, 2013 at 8:03 pm

    Pam, I am chuckling, as I have been a follower of yours since early 2008 and I just read this disclosure of yours. How far you have come!! I have to say that this disclosure is absolutely one of the best, plain English, thorough versions I have read, anywhere (and I have to do that for a living). – Alice

    • pam kueber says

      September 18, 2013 at 9:40 am

      Well, thank you, Alice – you made my day!

  10. Liza Jane says

    July 31, 2013 at 8:11 pm

    In remodeling our 1955 ranch, we uncovered a green tile floor under carpet. The tiles had been protected by the carpet for about 30 years. After removing perimeter tiles, the remainder tiles just popped up without any adhesive on the back. I have about 260 (8-inch) tiles in perfect condition. I have had them tested and they do not have any asbestos content. I would like to sell them. How would you recommend that I go about selling them?

    Thanks for your response

    Liza Jane

    • pam kueber says

      August 1, 2013 at 9:55 am

      ebay

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