Written on March 9th, 2005 at 07:03 am by Darren Rowse
On ‘When to Post’ to your Blog
Just got a good email from Chris from Passive Digressive with some good questions in it. I’m about to duck out now so can’t reply to him at this moment - but thought I’d open up one of the questions for discussion to see what you my wonderful readers think. Feel free to answer it below in questions from your own perspective. Lets learn together. Chris writes:
‘I’m curious as to what you think about *when* to post.
Typically I’ve heard that it’s best to post near the beginning of the week to make it more likely that your post will be read. This implies that the blogosphere has a sort of weekly “pulse”. The closer to the weekend you post, the less likely your article will be read seriously. What are your thoughts on this?’
Over to your expert opinion fellow bloggers.
Update: Great comments below, I think it mainly summarises my position on it actually - I get less traffic on weekends (well on US time weekends which is actually Sunday and Monday Australian time) and notice that most blogs tend to go quiet on weekends also (and news dries up a little). I personally have a goal of posting every day on my main blogs - I do tend to slacken off a little on the weekends but attempt to keep things ticking over.
If I have a big scoop I post it whenever I get it unless I’m assured that no other blog will get it. If I’m writing an original post that I think might get picked up by others I tend to hold off until Monday (US time) to post it. You’ll notice that I tend to post my interviews on Mondays or Tuesdays. I guess this is partly about discipline (I want to do them weekly) but its also to give them as much exposure as I can.
With the growth of RSS I suspect that it won’t matter quite so much which day you post - people can always read it later with RSS. However as Bobby rightly points out - this depends upon how many posts you publish and how many your RSS feed shows.
So - take home advice post regularly - post on weekends but if you can you might want to save your original non scoop like posts til a weekday.
Written on March 9th, 2005 at 07:03 am by Darren Rowse
How to write for the Big Blog Networks
The people at Gawker must get people offering to write for them all the time - Nick Denton suggests that rather than sending in a resume that the best way to get added to their stable of writers is to start your own blog. He writes:
‘Rather than attaching a resume, or clips, why not start your own blog? That’s pretty much the only indicator we look at. A personal blog shows commitment, a writer’s interest, and a modicum of technical competence, all of which are necessary qualifications.’
Read more at nickdenton: Writing for Gawker
On the other hand the people at WIN seem to be Actively campaigning for bloggers at the moment and have a bit more of an open policy about recruiting bloggers - instead of starting a blog they ask for three examples of your writing. They explain further on their digital photography blog:
‘We are currently seeking bloggers in a number of different topical areas here at WIN. If you believe that you are the blogger for us, and you consider yourself a team person, then please send the following three sample posts that you would write for WIN:
1. feature a new announcement in the area you would like to write about—cite a press release, etcetera and include your own comments and observations regarding this news.
2. write a quick ‘how to’ on an area within your field of blogging interest.
3. write a post that is highly interActive and designed to engage your readers in an ongoing conversation with you and your other readers on your blog.’
Read more at Is Blogging Your Passion? - The Digital Photography Weblog
Written on March 8th, 2005 at 08:03 pm by Darren Rowse
Pharmaceutical News joins the BNB collective
A big welcome to Tris Hussey who has joined the Breaking News Blog collective of blogs with a brand new blog which he’ll be editing for us - Pharmaceutical News. Tris has been involved with the pharmaceutical industry for 7 years now and has a good understanding of the ins and outs of it. He explains his hopes for Pharmaceutical News on one of his regular blog by writing:
‘The goal of this new effort is to provide both consumers and pharma experts a source of news that is easy to read and understand. I’ve been involved with the pharma industry for over seven years now, so I have a deep background and understanding of many facets of the industry. I also hope to maybe do some interviews with some poeple who I used to work with and have interesting perspectives to share.’
All the best with the new blog Tris.
A short note to the many other who have expressed interest in writing on Breaking News Blog - thanks for your submissions - we’re working through them at present and are excited by the quality of bloggers and ideas submitted and hope to make some decisions on who we’d like to offer spots to in the coming days and weeks.
Written on March 8th, 2005 at 06:03 pm by Darren Rowse
Search Engine Optimization for MSN Search
One of the nice surprises that we’ve had over at the Breaking News Blog collective over the past few months has been the way that MSN Search has ranked our blogs highly. Even though the blogs are new and are yet to have the many links that their competitors have pointing at them - we have been on the receiving end of some pretty decent traffic from this new search engine.
A number of times I’ve asked why this is so - I’m not sure how long it will last but we’re making the most of it while it does and doing our best to optimize the blogs for MSN and the other Search Engines.
Search Engine Journal has a helpful article on Search Engine Optimization for MSN Search which might give some hints as to why we’ve been so highly ranked on MSN Search. here are a few of the key points that they make that might help you optimize your blog for MSN search - a growing force in the Search Engine wars.
- ‘MSN readily admits that MSNbot will Actively be using Meta tags for part of its web site analysis.’
- ‘Similar to other search engines, the ‘title tag’ again appears to be the most heavily weighted within the algorithm, followed closely by the Meta Description Tag’
- ‘The Bot does not read text within a graphic’ (rather it likes simple and plain text best)
- MSN Search calls for pages to be under 150K in size
- Words (even keywords) within headers, footers and tables will not be read. Again, simple text is the rule of thumb.
- Linking, as per usual, will be an important part of MSNBot’s equation. (particularly internal links from the main page are powerful. They suggest that every page on your site should be accessible from your front page by three clicks only).
If you want more information on SEO for MSN search you might want to look over the MSN Search section for Site Owners.
Written on March 8th, 2005 at 12:03 pm by Darren Rowse
Siemens Flies Blogger to Germany to Cover Show
Joel at Gizmodo just posted that he’s being flown to Germany for the upcoming CeBit show. His flight and accommodation is being paid for by Siemens. This is just another example of how blogging can bring other non monetary perks. Joel writes of the details for transparency’s sake:
‘Siemens offered to pay for my flight and hotel at CeBit, which I thought was pretty nice of them, especially since I wouldn’t have been able to go otherwise. They seem pretty progressive about the whole thing, really, saying they had considered setting up their own press outlet during the show, but thought it would be easier just to show Gizmodo what they were launching and get it out there. I accepted their offer, of course, so I thought it was important to let you guys know the details. We’ve got no agreement to treat them with kid gloves, so I’ll be as objectively off-the-cuff and misguided as usual.’
I’m sure Joel will receive some criticism for his decision to take up this offer but I don’t really have a problem with it if he’s being open with the fact that they are paying his expenses. If his readership keeps this in mind they can filter out any bias that may or may not end up in the commentary Joel does on Siemens products at CeBit.
Read more about it at Gizmodo Germany: CeBIT Bound : Gizmodo
Update - As one would expect, not all bloggers agree with Gizmodo’s acceptance of Siemens offer - in particularly Weblogs Inc top guy Jason Calacanis has a few things to say on it and sheds a little more light on what else Gizmodo might have been asked to do in order to get the CeBit deal. And Nick responds.
Maybe its time we got Nick and Jason in a room to beat the hell out of each other for a while til they get it all out of their systems?
Written on March 8th, 2005 at 04:03 am by Darren Rowse
Interview with Joel Comm
A few weeks ago I stumbled across a thread on a discussion board discussing the success of a website owner who was claiming that he was earning $15,000 per month ($500 per day) using the Google Adsense program - not only that but he had released an E-book about it. The guy being discussed was Joel Comm, the owner of the successful Worldvillage.com, blogger at joelcomm.com, co founder of ClassicGames.com which was bought by Yahoo and is now Games.yahoo.com and author of What Google Never Told You About Making Money with Adsense and Chitika eMiniMalls Secrets“>Chitika eMiniMalls Secrets (aff. links). Joel is a net entrepreneur who has been making a living online for 10 years and who has a story that inspires me every time I read it.
The more I read about Joel the more I wanted to interview him for this blog. Whilst he’s not making a living from his blog - Joel has a decade of experience from making a living online and has a lot of great advice for bloggers trying to make money from their blogs.
enternetusers - Joel thanks for giving us your time this way - can you briefly tell us a little about yourself? Who is Joel Comm?
Joel - I am a 40-year old computer enthusiast from Illinois, happily married since 1989 and father to two beautiful children. I got bitten with the computer bug at the age of 16. I remember my mother asking me, “What in the world are you going to DO with a computer?” Many years later, she finally understands! I remember dialing out on my 300-baud modem (the kind where you have to place the phone receiver on the the modem in order to use it) and thinking that I had “arrived”. Little did I know what the coming years would bring, as computers became more a part of my every-day life….
enternetusers - Can you list the web projects that you are currently involved in? Which is your major focus and how did you start it? Did you start it with a commercial venture in mind or other motivations?
Joel - I have dozens of web sites, but a few that my main focus. In 1995, I launched Worldvillage.com as a family-friendly alternative to much of the “unfriendly” content that was beginning to sprout up on the world wide web. We primarily featured software reviews and downloads, but eventually expanded to clean chat rooms, regular articles, shopping, freebies and a whole lot more. I did have a business model in mind when I started the site. I saw opportunities for publishing free content and supporting the site entirely with advertising, a model that has persisted to this day.
enternetusers - When did you start monetising the site? What are the main methods of generating an income from it that you use?
Joel - I have tried just about every kind of income method that isn’t immoral or illegal. You won’t find any gambling, tobacco or porn ads on my sites. But I have used a slew of banner networks over the past ten years. I have participated in hundreds of affiliate programs, becoming one of the early adopters to Amazon’s associate program (back when dirt was new!) >From CPM, CPA and CPC to banners, popups and popunders, I’ve done just about all of them. I rode the wave of the web from 1997-2000 and I survived the crash of 2001-2003. I am pleased to say I am riding the wave once again, and hope it stays this way!
enternetusers - do you have a favorite banner network or affiliate program that you can tell us about that might be suitable for bloggers?
Joel - I am very pleased with TribalFusion.com, though they do have minimum requirements for traffic as well as an editorial grid. I like websponsors.com and lynxtrack.com for CPC and CPA offers. But Adsense is still the BEST deal of all for publishers, in my estimation.
enternetusers - You run a blog at joelcomm.com - How and when did you first discover and enter into blogging? Why do you blog? What advantages do you see in blogging as opposed to other online mediums?
Joel - I started blogging in mid-2003. My sites certainly had my own personal flavor to them, but blogging allowed me an outlet to speak my mind and share thoughts on whatever I wanted. Whether discussing politics, presenting a movie review, or just sharing some cool links that I find, I love the ability to instant publish in the blog format.
enternetusers - You were half of the team behind ClassicGames.com (which was bought by Yahoo and is now Games.yahoo.com) - how long did it take to build this site into an entity that you could sell? What was the process of selling? Ie did Yahoo approach you, how did you decide how much it was worth to sell for?
Joel - I approached a young programmer in late 1996 when I discoverd that he had created the foundation for a great java-based game site. It was a functional site that allowed people to play hearts, spades, bridge, checkers, chess and a couple other games in a multiplayer format. It was a hobby for the programmer, so I asked him to join me in a partnership to expand the site, and develop it into a premier game room. He took me up on the offer and ClassicGames.com was launched. In mid-1997, we were experiencing fantastic growth. We had over 600 concurrent users logged in at our peak, so I began shopping the site around to the leading search engines. The majority of them were still stuck in the “we’re a search engine” mentality, not having the vision to see where the portal business was heading. However, Yahoo was the one site I did not contact. On the contrary, they contacted me and inquired as to a joint venture with ClassicGames.com. After a meeting in San Jose, we negotiated a deal and they bought the site, along with my partner who became their Chief Game Yahoo! for seven years.
enternetusers - Is the building up of websites for eventual sale something that you are doing with Worldvillage.com? Would you recommend this as a way to earn an online income - what advice would you give to bloggers (and other website developers) wanting to develop sites for eventual sale?
Joel - Worldvillage.com is my baby. It would take a SIGNIFICANT offer to buy it from me, more because of its personal worth to me than to its actual worth to someone else. I have fielded offers for other sites and sold a few, but most people aren’t willing to pay my asking price. With the exception of ClassicGames, I have never really developed sites for the purpose of selling. I see them more as playthings that I can mold in my hands, creating something new and hoping people enjoy it. If they do, the site creates an annuity that allows me to live the kind of lifestyle I enjoy, as well as give back to others who are less fortunate.
enternetusers - What is the best and worst thing about earning an income online?
Joel - The BEST thing about earning online is there is no limit to what you can make. If someone works hard, produces quality content and is willing to tough out the rough times, a person can make a LOT of money. The downside is the same as any entrpreneurial work. There is always the risk of failure. Let’s face it. There is NO job security. If Google or the other search engines drop you from their listings, there is big trouble. I try to diversify my properties significantly and am always building new sites. That way, if one revenue stream ceases to flow, there is always another to try to take its place.
enternetusers - You’ve just recently brought out an Ebook titled What Google Never Told You About Making Money with Adsense – can you tell us a little about your experience with Adsense? How long have you been using it? Why do you like/use it? Apart from getting your E-book – what advice would you give to bloggers wanting to use Adsense?
Joel - I started dabbling with Adsense when they launched their program in June 2003. My earnings were pitiful, so I didn’t pay much attention to it for several months. When I heard what some of my associates were making with Adsense, I revisited my code and began testing and tweaking a variety of different code placements, ad colors and ad blocks. What I discovered blew my mind. I added Adsense to more and more of my pages, all the while watching my revenue increase. Over a period of three months, I went from making $30/day to over $500/day! I began sharing my newfound discoveries with some friends an associates. When they saw their Adsense income take off, they suggested that I compile my tips and tricks into an ebook, which is exactly what I did! “What Google Never Told You About Making Money with Adsense” has been on the market since January 2005, and is already helping HUNDREDS of site owners to increase their Adsense income. I get email every day thanking me for sharing my tips. It’s very rewarding on several levels.
For bloggers, I highly recommend using Adsense on all of your pages. Banner networks are looking to advertise in certain niches, but Google’s context-driven ad delivery system is no respecter of content. It is such a brilliant idea, I wish I’d have thought of it! It doesn’t matter what your topic is, Adsense will display ads relevant to your particular focus. If you aren’t using Adsense on your blogs, you are leaving money on the table. And if you are doing Adsense incorrectly, you are probably not maximizing your revenue. Again, this is why I wrote the ebook.
enternetusers - Have you found writing an E-book to be a worthwhile and profitable experience? Do people buy them?
Joel - The ebook has been extremely popular. I think its success is due to several factors. First of all, the Adsense topic is hot. Thousands of site owners see the opportunity to enjoy an income stream just from putting a snippet of HTML code on their sites. With Adsense on the rise, my ebook is a perfect example of entering the right market at the right time. Secondly, my story is true. People want to know that the ebook can provide them with useful information that they can apply immediately. My Adsense report is on my web page for all to see, lest there be any skeptics. My success can become anyone’s success, if they apply what I teach. There are way too many “get rich quick” ebooks on the market, and they certainly sour people’s attitude on the ebook. But I believe delivering a quality product at the right time is a sure key to success. Finally, I have partnered with many other site owners who have introduced my ebook to their audience. A good affiliate program is a MUST for ebook sales to prosper.
enternetusers - Where do you see your online activities as being in 5 years time?
Joel - Well, I have made it ten years, so five more doesn’t look that far off. The face of the Internet does change rather quickly, so there is no telling for sure. Ideally, I will have built a growing empire of sites that continue to provide quality content and attract a large audience.
enternetusers - As someone who has been in the business for 10 years - what advice or encouragement would you give to bloggers with a dream of earning an income online?
Joel - “Follow your passion. Discover what topic or cause excites you and write about it. Soak up as much information as you can on your topic and devote yourself to becoming an expertin that arena. Whether your gift is humor or insightful commentary, hone your writing skills and blog DAILY. Involve your readers in the discussion by soliciting their input and comments. Many years ago I read a book that was titled “Do What You Love, The Money Will Follow”. While not universally true (there are many underpaid teachers who love their jobs), I have found this principle to be true for myself and many others.”
Written on March 7th, 2005 at 11:03 pm by Darren Rowse
2005 Business Underblogger Award Winners
More blogs have been nominated for the 2005 Business Underblogger Awards and are listed as follows. Keep those nominations coming in!
Here are the blogs who have been nominated for the 2005 Business Underblogger Awards so far. Nominations remain open for the month of March so don’t forget to head to our nomination page to tell us about business and entrepreneurial blogs that you read that deserve more readership than they get (underblogs). Here are the nominations so far - I encourage you to check them out - there are some quality blogs already nominated that I’d never known about:
2005 Business Underblog Winners
Capulet Communications :: Blueprint for Financial Prosperity :: Consumerism Commentary :: The Budgeting Babe :: Managing the Business of Law :: Hacking Netflix :: Micro Persuasion :: Orbitcast - All things Satellite Radio :: All these Ideas :: Twin Cities Real Estate Blog :: Work Boxers :: Artful Manager :: Behind the Mortgage :: Radiant Marketing :: Marketing Catalyst :: Wine Cast :: Spitoon :: Fermentations :: Lip-Sticking :: Talking Story :: What’s Your Brand Mantra? :: Online Business Journal :: Incite By Design :: microISV :: Ripples :: Small Business CEO :: Danavan :: Small Business Trends :: Gay Guy Blog :: Design Sponge :: Stephen Spencer’s Scatterings :: Dr Lasky’s Blog :: View from the Isle :: VOIP Advice :: Marketing Roadmaps :: Diva Marketing :: Heather Leigh :: Michael Simmons :: Gary Potter :: Business Bits :: Open Xorce Crossing :: Ken’s Management Log Book :: Biz Book Nuggets :: What’s Next Blog :: Leaders Go First :: Blog for Fun and Profit :: Next Level Biz Tips :: Build a Better Blog :: WonderBranding :: Decent Marketing :: Brand Autopsy :: Coach Ezines :: What Retirement :: Business of Life :: Legacy Matters :: Estate Legacy Blogs :: Smart Money Daily :: Mitch’s Blog :: Digitization 101 :: Tom McMahon :: Effective Communication :: Become Unforgettable :: Technical Careers @ Microsoft
If you’re a nominated Business Underblogger feel free to use the image above to announce to the world your prestigious (cough cough) award. Go on, boast a little.
Written on March 7th, 2005 at 11:03 pm by Darren Rowse
MobileTracker combats Feed Hijacking with Summary Feeds
Jon at MobileTracker has just announced that he’s switching his RSS feed back to a summary feed rather than the full feed due to copyright violations and a number of sites who were publishing his full feed without permission. I’ve also had this same problem and found that a summary feed is the only real way of stopping the violation which not only breaks copyright but also creates duplicate content for your blog (and that of the one copying you ironically).
Read about it at MobileTracker - RSS feed update
Written on March 7th, 2005 at 02:03 pm by Darren Rowse
Divester - 74th blog from Weblogs Inc
Weblogs Inc have just announced their 74th blog Divester which could become better known as ‘that blue blog’. Jason writes that they are spending more time on design which is pretty evident with this one. I think that this is a wise move as using the same blog template on a variety of blogs can mean they all start merging into one. Although this design shows what can be down with a few tweaks because in essence they are using a pretty similar tried and true layout.
Good stuff Weblogs Inc team!
Written on March 7th, 2005 at 02:03 pm by Darren Rowse
Apple 1, bloggers 0
I find this finding by a San Jose judge to be quite puzzling. It seems bloggers are not held under the same law as journalists. I’m sure there will be an appeal of the decision - perhaps as bloggers we should pass around the hat to help fund it - this is not the type of precedent that would be in the best interests of bloggers.
‘In a case with implications for the freedom to blog, a San Jose judge tentatively ruled Thursday that Apple Computer can force three online publishers to surrender the names of confidential sources who disclosed information about the company’s upcoming products.
Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge James Kleinberg refused to extend to the Web sites a protection that shields journalists from revealing the names of unidentified sources or turning over unpublished material.’
Read more at Apple 1, bloggers 0
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