TheRodinhoods

Should you display ads on your startup blog?

For the past few days, I was working with a BITSian startup called Teevra. They are into bicycle market providing customization as well.

Currently selling only in Pilani, they are on their way to release their website. They are having a lot of headache in terms of cash flow. Since they are new, nobody’s willing to provide money upfront (for bulk and small orders both). Thus, they have orders on table but no more money left to invest.

I told them to keep an active blog for marketing online and to market their target audience, which happen to be active internet users. Now, there is one fellow in the team who has heard people earning high amount of money while blogging. He asked me if it would be right to monetize their blog to generate some cash to invest back in the company.

I feel it’s a great idea, but the only problem (according to me) is will putting ads do any harm to company or its image? And also, all the ads are served based on keywords, and their competitors will be advertising with the same keywords, so it has put me in weird situation as to tell them to put ads or not.

Kindly help me (and them) out.