Venus Trapped in Mars Sports and Lifestyle Blog Dallas

23 November 2013

Saturday Sessions: It's All About The Button


Saturday Sessions is very late to the party today because she was having a little facelift. Looks better right? I've been wanting to put today's Saturday Session post together for a couple of months now, I just haven't gotten around to it. 

So you've got a blog and you want to grow, you now are ready to use your hard earned money to purchase advertising space on other blogs...



Don't Stretch it Out
This is your hard earned money. If you use the same size button for every blog you advertise on you might as well just take the cash out of your wallet and throw it in the garbage can.  You're wasting your money. For example, say you buy ad space and the pixel size is 300px wide by 100px tall. But the button you upload is 200px by 250px. This is what your ad will look like:

Would you click that? I wouldn't. Think about your blog as a business. What if Miller Light bought a billboard on the highway, and just said F it and used an ad image they had previously made for, let's say, a magazine ad. Would you consider this a waste of money if you saw this billboard on the highway?


Do Design a New Button for Each Ad You Purchase 
It takes a couple of minutes to make a button for your blog. You're going to be on someone's sidebar for 30 days, I think you can manage two minutes to make a new button that is the proper dimension. Or you can purchase a new button design from a designer if you want something more professional! 

Do Use a Picture
I'm sure I'll get many people that disagree with me, but I'm so much more likely to click a button that has a picture on it. And keep in mind, if you are a little bit more reserved and would prefer not to have your face plastered across your button, think outside the box. I just said a picture, I didn't say it had to be a picture of your face!

Here are a couple of buttons I've made that don't have my face on them, but still use an image.

Do Design A Button For The Blog You're Advertising On
This is my favorite tip to share with you. I've been testing this theory for a couple of months and it is really working. I design a new button for each blog I advertise on. I pick the image based on the blogger, the type of blog they write and what I think will attract their readers to click my button. 

For example:

1. If I've met the blogger, I will use a picture of the two of us. 
I realize this is not even remotely possible 97% of the time, but can you think of a better advertisement? Say you read Helene In Between regularly, and there on her sidebar sits an ad for a blog you've not heard of before, and the image is Helene and another girl. You're going to click to see who this girl is, right? If Helene is friend's with her, then this chick is probably someone you'll like too! I've met Helene and Sami, so when I advertise on their blogs, I use pics of the two of us! 


So if you're lucky enough to have met other bloggers, always use pictures you've taken with them as your button on their site! 

2. If you're advertising on a blog with a specific niche, use an image that relates to that niche. 
I advertised on Eat Yourself Skinny, and I used an image of me in the kitchen opening Champagne. This was a far better choice than an image of me eating ice cream (which is another button I have). 

When I advertised on I Wore Yoga Pants to Work, I knew Whitney and her readers like to party and have fun, like I do of course, so I used that button I posted above of me holding the Jack Daniels. When I advertise on fashion blogs, I try and use a picture of me that is a bit dressier, and of course, a bit glittered up! 

Advertising on travel blogs? Pick an image of you traveling. Advertising on weight loss blog, use a sportier image. If I bought space on my own blog I'd probably use a picture of me tailgating. You get the picture? pun intended.

The main thing to take away from this post is to put a few extra minutes and some added effort into designing your buttons. Once you design one button, the rest is easy. Just reuse that design concept and adjust your image / size according to the blog. 

As always, feel free to leave a comment asking any questions!

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29 comments :

  1. Great post- and so true! I literally just opened up sponsorships on my blog YESTERDAY so these are great things to keep in mind!

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  2. I love the idea of designing blog specific buttons, I need to do this! I always learn something from your Saturday Sessions they're the best.

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  3. I love the new Saturday Sessions design! You're so good and thank you, these are excellent tips!

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  4. I hadn't thought of these tips. Except the size one. Great suggestions!

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  5. This is perfect. I love these suggestions. Using your advice ASAP! I need to start hanging out at your Saturday Sessions more. I will be back! :)

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  6. Thanks for the suggestions! I have to ask - where did you get that mouse?

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  7. I never actually thought of changing it up based on the blog. Now that you mention it though, it makes so much sense and seems so obvious lol thanks for the advice!

    -Elise @ 9toFit.com

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  8. I get addicted to making buttons once I start. I wish I was a bit faster at it and that I had more uninterrupted time to work on my buttons. Then I'd go button making crazy!

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  9. Thank you for sharing your tips! Just starting up my first blog and this is so helpful!

    Lindi
    Sweet Southern Sparkle
    www.sweetsouthernsparkle.blogspot.com

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  10. this is genius! using this advice asap.

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  11. Great tips! I'm just starting up my blog, don't think I'm ready for sponsors yet, but hopefully one day I will be! I'll be sure to keep these tips in mind.

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  12. Loving the new look, great job! Fantastic tips too. I've yet to advertise on another blog, but rest assured when I do I'll be creatign a button to avoid the crazy stretched out look. Thank you!

    Shannon
    www.brasshoney.blogspot.com

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  13. I also think it's good for the readers to see a little bit of change up. For example if you advertise on multiple blogs that I follow, it's nice to see different pictures advertising your blog. It gets a little boring seeing the same one on every single stinking blog. I don't advertise on any blogs, yet, but I will definitely keep these great tips in mind for when I do! :)

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  14. I wish I had your button making skills!

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  15. I've seriously never thought about using a different button for different blogs...hmm. I've just used my generic text based one for the past two years. Something to look at in the new year!

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  16. I also like the idea is switching up a button design 1/2 way through the month!

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  17. LOVE these tips. I went and quickly created a new button for a blog i'm sponsoring. I agree that I clickon photo buttons WAY more often!

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  18. Great ideas! I never thought about it that way.

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  19. ahh good tips. now i just need to get better at making my own button design :)
    -- jackie @ jade and oak

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  20. you're a genius, really. i really do agree with this. you need to make the button work with the blog!

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  21. SO helpful, as usual - heading to work on my buttons ... :)

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  22. Love this :) I like how you tailor your buttons for specific blogs :) PS> I think you should outlaw stretched buttons on your own blog... make those people pay you to create a rock-solid button... it would be worth it for them AND you... just my two cents :)

    love ya, girl! keep up all your posts. I'm rooting for you and your new WL goals!

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  23. This is awesome! Great advice on buttons and I definitely agree on the stretched buttons... It looks a little unprofessional and doesn't necessarily make me want to click on them (sorry, but it's true).

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  24. Great tips lady! I am definitely including this in my weekend link love post!

    xx
    Here&Now

    Enter my Gigi New York tote giveaway!

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  25. I've found myself going back through and reading all of your Saturday sessions and these are ridiculously helpful. Thanks :) This post makes me want to try advertising on another blog for the first time

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  26. I think I just died and went to heaven. And by that I somehow stumbled onto this post, and have sense read just about every single one of your Saturday Sessions in about 2 hours. Thank you for looking out for the new (and poor, hah!) gal like me. I feel like implementing a lot of your steps will make my blog look like a pro.
    Thank you!

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