Passing the 5 year mark did not just bring the idea of my Six Years Blogging, Lust, Love, Seven Year Itch panel for South by Southwest Interactive 2011.
One thing that has been bothering me in past few months is the ever 'diminishing returns of online ads'.
Readership has grown steadily yet it seems money that the ads on this site bring is going in the opposite direction.
I see Serge the Concierge as my labor of love yet I would like site to cover its own costs.
Since ads are not accomplishing that, I am thinking fazing most online ads out and replace it by a Marketplace of Sorts where services and products that I like enough would be listed.
This solution would give me a way to reduce clutter, control what is displayed and know what is coming in and when.
Services and products could range from books and publishers, music, green products and services, food, to travel and keep it connected to what I write about, a healthy mix like at the Farmers Market.
I would appreciate your feedback on the idea.
Thanks
Serge
(Illustration from July 2010 Photo Album of Minneapolis Farmers Market)