* * * * *
                                        
                                  Selling out
                                        
> From: XXXXXX XXXXXXXXX <XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX>
> To: sean@conman.org
> Subject: Interested in Purchasing Text Link
> Date: Thu, 7 May 2009 08:36:32 +0500
> 
> Interested in Purchasing Text Link
> 
> I am interested in purchasing textlink advertising on several pages of your
> website http://boston.conman.org/. Let me know if you are interested and we
> can discuss further details.
> 
> I can make a good offer.
> 
> Best Regards,
>  XXXXXX XXXXXXX
> 

I get emails like this from time to time and sometimes, I'll follow up on it,
curious as to what the actual deal will be, and for this particular email, I
was curious.

The deal basically was a one time payment for a permanent placement of a
paragraph on seven particular entries. And the seven selected entries were a
pretty ecclectic collection of posts for text advertisements for educational,
exam, certification and internet related websites. But hey, it's their money
I'll be receiving …

The only thing that did bother me was the “permanent placement” part,
especially for the amount of money being offered. I replied with: “I'm
interested, but the price given for perpetual ads seems too low. A year is
fine though.” Hey, it can't hurt to haggle a bit.

> From: XXXXXX XXXXXXX <XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX>
> To: Sean Conner <sean@conman.org>
> Subject: Re: Interested in Purchasing Text Link
> Date: Sat, 9 May 2009 14:56:00 +0500
> 
> Hi,
> 
> I can understand your concern for a higher fee but you have to consider the
> fact that i am advertising on the internal pages. Also i am advertising at
> the bottom of each page which doesn't have much real estate value.
> 
> Most advertisers look to advertise on the top of the page but at the bottom
> of each page the value has to be lower.
> 
> See basically there is no opportunity cost there, plus you can continue to
> advertise on the top of your page which is really your premier advertising
> spot.
> 
> Even then, after reconsidering my budget, I am willing to [increase the
> amount by 50%] for the 5 years deal.
> 
> I hope, now, it will also OK to you.
> 

Okay, if the check clears, why not?

So I received the ads today, and placed them on the given entries and am
currently awaiting approval before the check is sent. And I figure that if I
hear nothing in two weeks, I can pull the ads.

But if all goes well, I'll have some additional fundage in the bank account.
And don't be surprised if you come across something like:

— Paid Advertisement —

Well, not actually. This is just a sample. You too, can purchase this spot on
any entry here in this blog. Just write [1] and ask for details …


in the random entry or two … 

Update on Sunday, June 22^nd, 2014, after the ads expired

I go into bit more detail about this deal [2], and why I won't be selling out
any time soon …


[1] mailto:sean@conman.org
[2] gopher://gopher.conman.org/0Phlog:2014/06/22.1

Email Sean Conner at sean@conman.org

.