Has Anyone Else Run Into This? (responses from advertising requests)

I had the problem too, but I was targeting bigger sites. You'd think they would be extremely kind to the advertisers because that is how they make money. But it's a different story.

Do they have adsense on their sites? Maybe you could target that specific site with adwords.

Using the site's form mail generator should get you the audience you seek. I have all sorts of SPAM filters on my email-- however I do seem to get notifications through form mail ... Mostly spam-- but I go through everything.

Q...

Same thing with me, Firegirl. I tried contacting a few but never heard anything back. I was guessing it's because my site is new, too, and they'd rather work with someone larger and has a lot of money.

I'm just glad I'm not the only one in the boat! I think I was really disappointed because some of the sites I contacted were ones that I regularly visit and respect. Bummer for them!

spammers couldn't have help the situation as the webmasters could have been trying to weed out the genuine emails from 100s of spam emails and just missing yours?

I'm guilty of not replying to some emails requesting advertising, the main reasons for not replying are:

Stupid questions/asking for information already given on page
Incorrect email address supplied - this is very common
Is not in English
Is not related to my sites content
To busy - webmasters have lives to ya know
Spam - even if you only get 10 spam a day but dont check your email for a week, thats 70 emails to go through and if the subject is blank it wont even get looked at, throw away email addresses usually don't get looked at or silly names like black dragon, lady rose ... plus then you also have the spam filters which can get a bit of legite email as the content usually contains spammy words: advertise, $, credit card, website ...

To be honest the little guy can be better for webmasters using advertising as a long term advertiser usually gets a discount where as the small guys only do a month or so at a time paying top dollar in some cases.
But on the other side of the coin the little guys even though can make you a bit more money can be a pin in the butt time and resoucres wise as the ads have to be set up and in some cases the ads/banner supplied or taught how to be made

I have recently been trying to promote a site, I must have submitted to over 500 related sites and free web directories, in the end i got less then 3 links back from related sites, most just dont bother replying.

Personally i think this is due to the fact that most site owners do not work along with thier web designers and there is a lack of communication in the process, or dont think it warrants to bother them with it when they get a lead, as most main related sites usually have someone else who looking after it for them.

I found the same with link exchange requests- even if one was using the "official button"!

I think I'm guilty of not responding to link exchange requests - mainly because the sites that ask are so new and have nothing to offer our site in exchange. When you're sending a link exchange request you should make an effort to communicate to the other webmaster what exactly your site has to offer them. Especially if your site is new. I'm also fussy about the type of site we'd want to link exchange with. It has to be something that is good quality and would be useful to our members.

Also make sure you tell them that you are a regular visitor to their site and butter them up with a little flattery. Only a true jerk would ignore someone who tells them how great their site is.

Advertising, on the other hand, is a surefire way to get my attention! I don't know why other webmasters wouldn't reply to an advertising request. Unless they were one of the ones who don't disclose their rates and looked at your site and assumed you wouldn't be able to pay their rates.