Obtaining A Recommendation Or Advertising With The Christian Gun Owner Website

First, I'll preface the rest of this by saying I would be happy to work with legitimate advertisers who produce quality, useful products or publications related to the Christian Gun Owner site.

Here's the challenge.

People often write to me, opening up their emails with who they are, followed by how "expert" they are at something, followed by their credentials.

Then they tell me what book they've written, product they've invented or produced, or video they've made.

Finally, they tell me how I can recommend their product/book/video/service on my site. Remarkably, they then tell me to write them for more information on how to help them make money with their stuff.

All without ever offering anything in return.

Even a sample of their ..... whatever. So, I thought it would be mutually beneficial to be clear about what I'll recommend for anyone who is not nationally known and trusted.

Before reading further, please be aware, I don't recommend or advertise anything at any expense to me or the CGO site. I also will not recommend anything that an individual or company is not willing to send to me for testing and evaluation.

That means send it to me without expecting to get it back.

Who I link to now:

I have links throughout the CGO site, to affiliate sites that I also purchase products from. They are businesses known and trusted worldwide (Amazon, Brownell's, etc.).

Alternately, I have recommended products or publications from lesser known individuals or companies after they have sent their product(s) to me to test and evaluate.

The wrong way to approach the CGO

The site receives from 50,000 - 70,000 visitors monthly; 110,000 - 160,000 page views, according to the time of year. Spring - Summer lower. Fall - Winter higher.

Often, the site will see a surge in visits from state or national news events concerning guns and gun rights. That also applies to other types of news related to the site and blogs.

The number one pursuit of anyone writing, wanting a recommendation: Money.

Nothing wrong with that. But it's amazing how many people approach me arrogantly expecting it to work one way.

Here are the conditions of a recommendation from the Christian Gun Owner web site.

One time blog article recommendation:
1. Send a copy or example of the product/publication to me.
2. Send it without demands or expectation of receiving physical products back.
3. The item will be read, tested, evaluated honestly (only) without condition.
4. If the item proves to be high quality and uniquely useful a recommendation will be considered.
5. The recommendation will be in the form of a short blog post describing the item and a single text link. The post will be placed for 2 weeks, then deleted.

A full page, evergreen (long term) site article for the recommendation.
1. All conditions listed above (except #5) will apply. This will be with the addition of an affiliate relationship to compensate the Christian Gun Owner for click through sales.
2. Article will contain pictures, a text link and a thorough description and evaluation of the product/publication.
3. Producer of the item must have an absolutely dependable affiliate system in place.

No contract or guarantee of specific length of time for article publication. Either party may break the relationship with the other by CGO removal of the article, or affiliate relationship removal.

COMPANY/INDIVIDUAL ADVERTISING:

These will be in the form of a monthly advertisement in the middle of the right sidebar on the highest traffic pages on the site.

They will include an approximately 200x250 pixel graphic and text link combo.

>> All conditions listed in the first description above (except #5) apply.

I have to obtain verification that what is being advertised is legitimate and that the company selling it is dependable.

Advertisements will sell for the following on the pages listed:

>Best Concealed Carry Handguns: 9000 - 10,000 page views per month:

Price: $600.00 per month, paid in advance each month through PayPal. Two (2) spots available.

No contract or guarantees other than the placement of the ad on the designated page.

No refunds.

>Handgun Reviews: 3000 - 4000 visits per month:

Price: $250 per month, paid in advance each month through PayPal. Two (2) spots available.

No contract or guarantees other than the placement of the ad on the designated page.

No refunds.

>One Spot Available On a site-wide slot that will show at the bottom of most articles on the site including the highest traffic pages:

One Slot Only Available: $1500 per month, paid in advance each month through PayPal.

No contract or guarantees other than the placement of the ad in the designated slot.

No refunds.

These are the only available advertising spots on the site.

Trust is my #1 consideration for the visitors coming to this site. Violating that trust for advertising dollars is not an option.

The advantage to advertisers is just that. If it's recommended here, people can trust the evaluation.

Final Comment:

So, do I expect to get lots of products and/or advertisers with this?

Nope.

But I do expect people to stop writing me assuming I'll fall all over myself because they have something to offer or because they have "credentials".

I expect people who are serious, with unique products they're willing to put on the line, to be able to work out a profitable arrangement with me.

One built on trust for us, and for visitors to this site.