Name: Internet Advertising
Uploaded: 2008-01-28T19:40:58-05:00
Duration: 1 min 31 s
Description: Internet advertising presents many opportunities for trial and error, Kottke says.

A weekly newsletter featuring the biggest ideas from the smartest people

Internet advertising presents many opportunities for trial and error, Kottke says.

/* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;}

Question: What advice do you have for Web entrepreneurs?

Jason Kottke: The thing about online advertising is it’s so . . . It’s just . . . it just sort of works. I mean I run ads on my web site, and I never have to think about it. I . . . the ad is just sitting there, and you know I get a check every month, and I just don’t have to think about it. I also did this thing where I solicited contributions from my readers, and I did that for a year – sort of a PBS fund drive sort of thing. And that was quite a bit harder for me because there was a lot more work involved. And you know and I think people on the Web are used to getting things, if not for free, then for cheap. And you know asking people to pay sort of a $30 subscription where they’re not really getting anything more than what they had is kind of a . . . I don’t know. It was a difficult thing to . . . to try and get across. But at the same time I guess I’m glad I tried it. And you know I guess the advice I would offer is . . . is you know don’t . . . I don’t know. Just don’t be afraid to try . . . try different stuff . . . you know try and fail. It’s really not such a bad thing.

Recorded on: 10/9/07