Business Trip To Romania
The past two weeks I’ve been giving much thought as too what I should do about posting frequency on the site while away for work. Presently I am unsure as to how busy I will be and how this will affect posting for the three month duration (flying today).
I was actually considering guest posting for filling the gaps for when I would not be able to post and recently decided against the idea since this is my personal blog and feel that guest posting takes away from that aspect. So I’ve decided to go with option ’B’ and let posting frequency decrease during this time period. Â
I’ve posted 178 posts to date on this site so I’m hoping those will keep you busy during my down times in the next three months. Here’s a few to get you started with:
- Make Money from Blog Posts
- Prepare For the Next PageRank Update
- 7 Personal Values to Live Life
- Blog Tips for Search Engine Optimization
- How to Increase and Build Blog Traffic
- Top Blogging is Not for Everyone
Please be patient with me during this busy time in my life. However if you like celebrity gossip my wife will be updating her site daily so click the link below and catch up on the latest Hollywood juice!Â
How To Increase and Build Blog Traffic
There are many different methods to increasing and building traffic to your blog site. Traffic comes in two forms targeted and non targeted. Do I personally think one is better than the other – No! My opinion is advertising is a gamble because you never really know who will stick around in the end whether it comes from targeted traffic or non targeted traffic. So my conclusion you may catch a customer from either method traffic is traffic never rule out the unknown. Â
Content Rich Site
I’ve talked about this many times create original timeless content and maintain it the search engines love it! You need rich content to prepare for the next PageRank update and for search engine optimization! Â
Google AdWords
Google AdWords have you heard of it, thought so. Yes, I am a user of AdWords not a mega rich campaign but a tidy budget of $30 per month. At present for this month my ad has 162,849 impressions with 228 clicks average CPC is $0.09 and average CPM is $0.12.Â
Microsoft adCenter Ad
I first talked about Microsoft’s new PPC adCenter on 12th of June when they released it and started promoting with a $50 promotional coupon for signing up. Here’s the update! I signed up and was charged the $5 fee as stated in the agreement. Setting up the ad campaign was simple just like Google AdWords except different looking dashboard.
The first two weeks I had the campaign set at .25 cents per click and the results were only two clicks. Since the promo coupon had to be used in a time period of two months I then decided well I’ll just up the click amount to 1.30 per click since I had only received two clicks in the first two weeks. Ok, so end results 40 clicks total charge $52.87 minus $50.00 equals $2.87 plus the $5 activation fee. Result: I do not recommend it I deleted my account and staying with Google AdWords.
Text Link Ads
Maybe you are a new advertiser or blogger and have not yet heard about Text Link Ads. At the moment you can use this coupon to get $100 off your first purchase. You will have to make a $125 purchase to get the discount but just enter the promo code at checkout and your total will be adjusted to $25.Â
Then if you wanted to be sneaky you could email the blogs you advertised on and let them know that you hope the links work well because you will be considering on renewing it. With a little luck some times the blog editor may even give mention to his new advertisers that month.
Review Link Exchange
Straight forward offer a link exchange program on your blog in return for reviewing the site. Review My Blog for a PR5 link back! This methods works well and in my opinion is definitely targeted since the bloggers reviewing more than likely have a desire to come back to your site. Personal results around 180 reviews and still going and if I had to guess I’m sure at least 35% of those bloggers that reviewed the site are now readers.Â
Blog Commenting
Commenting on blogs is an excellent free traffic generating method (time consuming though). Many bloggers have joined in on the Dofollow wagon and you can now get a full credited backlink when commenting on a blog that has it. If by chance they do not have the dofollow turned on then you will most times find a top commentators section that if you comment enough your link will appear on the side bar for a full linkback. Sometimes blogs have both like this one so you are in a sense getting rewarded twice for commenting. Â
MyBlogLog Communtiy
MyBlogLog is a great widget that you can add to the sidebar of your site that allows readers to join your community. Another great aspect of MyBlogLog is that when you set up your account you can upload a unique picture that will appear on ever blog you visit that has the widget install. Why is this great? Well if most bloggers are like me and if I had to guess I’m sure they are because most people are curious by nature they will click your picture and then give your site a visit.  Â
Logo Contest
This traffic generating method is a win win in my book! Most computer related forums have a contest section where you can start a contest of some sort related to the category and rules of the forum.Â
At Digitalpoint I’m running a logo contest for the sum of $20 to the winning designer that designs a logo for my site. So far this ad has generated 1219 unique site views and I have a disclaimer that the contest will continue until I select the winning design but I also reserve the right of not selecting a logo if no entries satisfy my requirements.
Sell Your Blog
Something that will cause a load of comments/controversial on your site but who cares it generates traffic. How do you sell your blog and where? For $40 you can place a premium ad on SitePoint for a duration of up too 30 days. This traffic may not be targeted like with Google AdWords but its traffic and there are never any guarantees with advertising that potential customers will ever come back again to your site.
Presently as of writing this article attempting to sell my blog has generated 1972 unique site views on my ad at SitePoint! What if it sells? Then start another blog site simple as that!    Â
Blogging and the Reality Time Management
When I decided to address time management I did some research and thought about the courses I have taken in the past in my university studies. This subject can be long and discussed forever but that is not truly necessary in my opinion. Personally I think when it comes right down to it everyone knows what it takes in order to effectively manage time but only a small percent of people actually take those steps. The number one reason in my opinion is laziness and the unwillingness to except change and work hard towards that specific path!
When it comes to blogging time management becomes something that you are hit with right in the face! My personal situation is I’m married with two children and work a full time job so time management plays a big part in making or breaking my continued rising success.Â
Blogging from looking from the outside may seem very easy to the untrained eye but to actually maintain a family, job and write one article daily can deem to be impossible sometimes with out the discipline of following a success plan.
What is my plan? Simple, kick myself in the a** and then an article takes me about an hour to write and at least thirty minutes to gather my thoughts before hand. When am I able to write my article? The average time that I am able to do this is between 7:30 p.m. & 9:00 p.m. Then any time I have free for; commenting, emails, tweaking, optimizing, researching and reading I take it.Â
- Manage your time by making decisions and acting on them.
- Establish a plan for success.
- Decide what your priorities are and then concentrate on them.
- Apply all to 80/20 Principle of Pareto / Juran.
Time Management Education:Â
Time management defined is simple just the management of your time into the most productive path for successful outcomes. As simply as it sounds it seems that so many people out there are lacking in this area to an instant that they reach the end of their lives without actually ever succeeding in this area. The time is now to take action and start making decisions that produce results.
There are many time management systems out there that try and entice you into paying money for what ever their given system may be at that time. The reality here is that these plans take your money and distract you from actually accomplishing what it is that you set out to do in the first place. The fact is until you establish a plan that you are willing to go forth with you will never successfully manage your time effectively. Start by finding out what you feel is your blogs purpose and use that reason to coerce yourself into making those needed improvements. Now decide what your blogging priorities are and then start concentrating on them.
Apply the 80/20 Rule by Pareto he established that 20 percent of people owned 80 percent of the wealth. In Juran’s work he identified that 20 percent of defects caused 80 percent of the problems. Ok so given this the 80/20 basically means that 20 percent is essential and 80 percent is inconsequential.
Using this method what you should do is remind yourself daily what 20 percent of blogging is important for success and begin focusing on it first. What are your thoughts on time management and blogging?
Top Blogging Is Not For Everyone
Top Blogging is not for everyone! Starting a new top blog site has to be one of the hardest things that I can think of that someone can attempt to do in life. After you have the site completed and you think that all the bugs are worked out there are most times always extra things that have to be done. Such as with a WordPress blog, I started this blog 10 February 2007 and I have been installing and tweaking almost everyday it seems.Â
Anyway so finally you think you are out of update hell and your site is ready to show the world but wait a minute there are 11.5 billion or more other websites on the net. Now being faced with that it is time to give up right, no this is where the hard work comes in and never stops it’s constant!
Take it harsh/blunt or however you like if you can not communicate/write then you should delete your blog now. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again content is key and with out it you will fail regardless if you want to make money or give advice/stories away free. If you have not deleted you blog just yet then I would suggest asking yourself a few questions such as:
- Can I communicate well?
- Can I write effectively?
- How computer savvy am I?
- How determined am I?
- What is my blogs short & long term goals?Â
Answering questions on paper (or in word) is quite easy. Now all you have to do is come up with the content! The most important aspect of your site, original content that people want to read and then tell others about. The thing that makes a personal blog superior to other websites is that it’s a personal site that allows interaction and bond forming with readers.
Top Blogging is not for everyone and that’s why only a mere 1% out of 100% succeeds. Any Thoughts?
My 7 Personal Values To Live Life
My 7 personal values that I live a better life from are Integrity: Do the right thing! Courage: Face your fears accept and take on new challenges. Passion: Live your life to its fullest potential. Contentment: Fulfillment of human needs. Action: Now is this best approach. Respect: Treat others as you would like to be treated. Expectation: Live with hope and set achievable goals.
- 1. Integrity This is the most import value in my opinion and I consider it to be the foundation of achieving a better life. Integrity is the value in which a person’s character can be determined by others. People that hold high integrity portray this in their work and everything else they strive to achieve has a sense of superiority.
- 2. Courage The moral and mental strength that allows for the acceptance of new challenges without regards to the fear that may lie beneath. Start a method of thinking boldly and greater results will follow in the recreation of a better life.
- 3. Passion Live life to its fullest potential by taking an enthusiastic approach and start by becoming a self motivator. By keeping your mind constantly renewed at the highest possible level you will begin your path to happiness which in turn will empower your passion.
- 4. Contentment The pursuit of contentment is a state of mind established by fulfilling your basic human needs. The basic needs that need to be fulfilled include; shelter, food, health, hope and love. Many studies have produced results showing that content people are more; energetic, decisive, trusting, creative, flexible and happy in society.
- 5. Action Now not tomorrow an expression I use when I want something done and do not want to wait a lifetime for it. Nike’s slogan Just Do It! This is an excellent catchphrase do not wait until tomorrow when it can be accomplished today. Stop the procrastination and start taking action.
- 6. Respect To treat people as you would like to be treated. This is of great significance in everyday life and without it life can seem intolerable at times. First establish self respect by determining your identity and value. Then begin respecting others by formulating a positive judgment about them by evaluating their character.
- 7. Expectation Hope should be the number one tool for overcoming situations that life throws your way that seems discouraging. Hope can come in many forms; spiritual, people, events and family. Set the expectation and use the power of hope to drive this goal or inspiration.
Generally people that set values to live by are more successful in life and become an example to follow. Some self improvement spokespeople say that if you write your values down on paper then you are on your way to success. I do not agree with this at all, writing them down is the easy part in my opinion it is the actually doing part that shows success. A piece a paper with some writing on it is useless if it is just collecting dust beside your bin at home. So Just Do It, like Nike has been saying for years.Â
ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT RELEVANT SITES