Look Ma, I gotz skillz!

Sunday, September 30th, 2007

Sometimes blogging is a tough sell. Especially to loved ones. Be it a parent, or spouse, or a sibling it is often times hard to explain to a non-blogger why you do what you do and why they shouldn’t complain about it. Instead of justifying myself I just tell them about the benefits and life skills that blogging helps me to acquire and develop.

The benefits of blogging

Helping others

Whether you are helping others by doing product reviews, how to articles, or just a generally good read it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you are helping others. Many times in ways you never even considered.

Possible secondary stream of income

Plenty of bloggers use their blogs to make money. I’m not too proud to admit I make a few dollars here with a combination of referals like Adsense (
), Text Link Ads, Host Gator and others. I also make a few cents here and there via Google Adsense.

My income is pathetic however when compared to some of the big names out there. Take a look at sites like Shoemoney, or Problogger to get an idea of the kind of income that is possible via blogging. Those are a couple of the “superstars” of blogging so their results aren’t the norm, but plenty of people are making a few hundred to a few thousand dollars each month via their blogs alone.

Increased recognition for your brand or name

The more people see your name (or your businesses name) out there the more your product will be recognized. Beyond that, and perhaps more importantly is the fact that you are able to become an expert at your field or product. Are you a literally an expert? Maybe, maybe not. The point is that by having a blog, and writing halfway intelligent articles about whatever subject you choose you are marketing yourself as a professional. People respect professionals. People do business with professionals. People buy from professionals. Whether your selling affiliate products or your own home made peanut butter it doesn’t matter. It only matters that by increasing your name recognition via a blog you are going to increase sales. If you work hard

Skill development

We’d all like to believe we have all the necessary skills naturally, but in reality we don’t. I doubt that most of us have any of the skills naturally. Blogging helps us to develop various skills.

• We have to market our blogs to the proper audience depending on its purpose
• We have to promote our blogs on a continual basis to our existing audience or they’ll quickly move on
• We have to continually improve our writing skills both in general and specifically for blog audiences
• We have to learn how to take criticism both good intentioned and bad
• We have to learn time management
• We have to learn quality control and self-analysis

I could go on and on recalling to mind what skills blogging develops, but is there really any need? The point is that it does develop them.

Being a part of a growing community

I’ve heard all kinds of crazy numbers regarding the number of blogs started each day. I’m sure you’ve heard them too. I won’t quote any because I don’t know how true they are, but what I do know is that there are a lot. From the largest to the smallest blog each one is part of a community known as the blogosphere. It’s a community that is always growing, always learning, always willing to lend a hand to other members. It is a community with global appeal. Everything from American popular culture to Myanmar to the environment to book reviews to… well basically anything and everything is blogged about. As you might suspect there are plenty of people to read those blogs as well.

Certainly there are more, but I want you guys to tell us what you feel they are and how they benefit bloggers. Write a comment or if you’re feeling brave (or bored) write an article on your own blog about one or two of them.

Posted in Blogging | 12 Comments »

You can’t make this kind of stuff up III

Saturday, September 29th, 2007

Once again a few news items that you simply can’t make up. This is the third part of the series. The other two parts can be found in the archives. You can’t make this kind of stuff up I, and You can’t make this kind of stuff up II

Iran’s parliament votes to label CIA, U.S. Army ‘terrorist’ groups

The Iranian parliament on Saturday voted to designate the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency and the U.S. Army as terrorist organizations, IRNA, the country’s state-run news agency, reported.

The Iranian parliament says the U.S. Army and the CIA are “trained terrorists,” IRNA reported.

The CIA and the U.S. Army “trained terrorists and supported terrorism, and they themselves are terrorists,” the parliament said, according to IRNA.

The Iranian parliament said the condemnation was based on “known and accepted” standards of terrorism from international regulations, including the U.N. charter.

So apparently the US Navy, Airforce, Marines, NSA, FBI, etc, etc, etc aren’t terrorist organizations by the “standards” Iran is using. I believe all in all Paul Gimigliano, a CIA spokesman said it best There are some things that don’t even deserve comment. This is one.

6 die from brain-eating amoeba in lakes

It sounds like science fiction but it’s true: A killer amoeba living in lakes enters the body through the nose and attacks the brain where it feeds until you die.

Even though encounters with the microscopic bug are extraordinarily rare, it’s killed six boys and young men this year. The spike in cases has health officials concerned, and they are predicting more cases in the future.

“This is definitely something we need to track,” said Michael Beach, a specialist in recreational waterborne illnesses for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Yeah, but no thanks. I don’t fancy having my brain eaten by anything let alone an amoeba.

Strong Canadian dollar said hurting pot exports

The strong Canadian dollar has hit the illegal marijuana sector just as it has other industries that export to the United States, one of Canada’s best known legalization advocates said on Thursday.

But western marijuana growers have also benefited from Canada’s strong economy, especially the booming Alberta oil patch, which has increased domestic consumption, according to Marc Emery, a founder of the British Columbia Marijuana Party.

I guess it shouldn’t suprise me but for some reason it does. Also anyone want to explain to me why we’re still throwing billions of dollars down the drain going after marijuana?

Court won’t declare chimp a person

He’s now got a human name — Matthew Hiasl Pan — but he’s having trouble getting his day in court. Animal rights activists campaigning to get Pan, a 26-year-old chimpanzee, legally declared a person vowed Thursday to take their challenge to Austria’s Supreme Court after a lower court threw out their latest appeal.

A provincial judge in the city of Wiener Neustadt dismissed the case earlier this week, ruling that the Vienna-based Association Against Animal Factories had no legal standing to argue on the chimp’s behalf.

Well to be honest I know a lot of people less deserving of the title “person” than a chimp would be…

Posted in News and Politics | 4 Comments »

I have some questions for you

Friday, September 28th, 2007

I have some questions for you

I’m working on improving A Blog about Nothing for you. Please have a seat and take a look at these questions. Your answers will go a long way towards improving things around here!

Why are you reading this blog?

Out of the billions of blogs out there why have you taken the time to read A Blog about Nothing?

What do you hope to gain from reading this blog?

Are you hoping to be informed about specific topics? Are you just looking for a decent read? Are you hoping for link backs? Do you just in general like the blog? Is there something else?

How long have you been reading this blog?

It’s not very old, but how long have you been reading this blog?

How did you find this blog?

If you recall how you found it please let me know

Do you recommend this blog to others?

Why or why not? Is there something I could change that would make you recommend it to others?

On a scale of 1-10 (10 being highest) how would you rate this blog in terms of:

• Originality
• Content
• Quality of writing
• Apperance
• Clickability (liklihood you’ll click on articles, ads, etc)
• In comparison with similar blogs
• In comparison with other blogs in general
• In comparison with your own blog

And why?

How often do you visit A Blog about Nothing?

If you don’t visit daily why not? Is there enough content (both new and archived) to keep you interested?

Do you use the RSS feed?

If I removed the RSS feed would you still visit? Are there enough articles in the RSS feed at any given time?

Thank you for taking the time to read this article, give it some consideration and answer the questions. It will help me to improve the quality of A Blog about Nothing to better serve you as a reader! I’d appreciate you leaving comments with your answers so we can all learn from it, but if you prefer use this form to contact me.

Finally if there isn’t something I covered but you really want to voice your opinion please feel free to do so in the comments section.

Posted in Blogging | 2 Comments »

One surefire way to get out of a contract

Friday, September 28th, 2007

One surefire way to get out of a contract

This is practical advise NOT legal. Whatever you do with this is entirely on your own head and hands!

There is one guaranteed way to get out of a contract. One method that will ensure your contractual obligations are forgiven and forgotten. Before you use this method there are some things you need to consider.

There might be an investigation

Depending on the other party you are breaking the contract with they may or may not conduct an investigation to ensure you are being honest and disclosing everything you should.

You will never be able to do business with the person/company again

Breaking a contract is serious business. Especially when you use this proven method. If you think in the future you might want to go back don’t use this method to break your contract! Always keep in mind that “the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t know”

It can be embarassing

Like I mentioned there could be an investigation which might involve speaking with friends, family, and neighbors about your situtation. Be certain you’re prepared for some strange looks and odd questions.

So what is this powerful method of getting out of your contract?

Die

That’s right die, any company will release you from your contract if you’ve died. Of course I don’t mean literally die. You only need to convince the company in question that you have died. Best way is to call and say a family member who does business there has recently passed away and you want to know what you need to do because obviously services are no longer required.

Posted in Potpourri | 5 Comments »

Revitalize your blog

Friday, September 28th, 2007

Revitalize your blog

Request a reader review

In this age of paid reviews, or often times more appropriately entitled paid opinions, it can be difficult to find a reader who is willing to do a through, free, and honest review of your blog. Those people are however out there. Find one of them and ask that they write and honest and through review of your blog. Both good and bad. Once the review is completed take what they had to say to heart and implement some changes if you see your blog needs it.

Both the fact that you were willing to subject yourself to a review and that you actually pay attention to it will get you huge “points” with the folks who read your blog.

Have a few guest posts a week

As well as you write if you’re the only one writing on your blog you are boring. Yes, I did say boring. Redundancy is boring. Even if I write about 10 different things a day it’s still boring. Mix it up a little bit. Try to get a few guest posts per week. Don’t try to get the A-List bloggers to guest post right away. Work on those people you know who have small, but high quality blogs. Some tips for attracting a guest writer for your blog:

• Simply ask (If you’re interested in guest blogging on A Blog about Nothing please let me know!
• Let people know you are interested
• Hold a contest the winner of which will be allowed to write X number of guest posts. Smaller blogs might have trouble convincing people this is worth the effort
• Offer something relevant in return. Perhaps write a few guest posts on their blog, or it could be that you will drive more traffic to them by virtue of the size of your blog.
• Offer money. This is what I would consider the least attractive, but it’s not something that should be overlooked if you have the budget for such a thing.

Request to write guest posts at a few other blogs

It might take some effort but eventually you’ll find a blog that is willing to let you do a guest post or two for them. When you are asking around and showing off your work keep in mind a few things.

• Put your best foot forward. In other words show off your best work if they ask you for a sample of work. Even if they don’t somehow make sure they see it
• Respect their right to say no. Sometimes that’s hard to do because it feels like a personal rejection. That’s rarely the case it just happens they aren’t interested in a guest post from you at that time
• Prewrite the article you want them to publish on their blog. Send them an excerpt from it and see what happens
• Protect your reputation. Word travels fast online. Don’t forget that your reputation is really all you have online. When you ask someone if you can guest blog on their site rest assured they’re going to find out whatever they can about your reputation.

Facilitate an active community

Invite comments and invite interaction not only between the readers and yourself, but also readers and other readers. Set up basic ground rules that things will operate under, but for the most part let the community grow as it wills.

Comment on other blogs

If I’ve heard it said that comments will get you more traffic I couldn’t agree more. How much more is diretly proportional to the quality of your comments, the frequency, and just general attitude.

Content, content, content

If you don’t have strong, regular, and through content why would I want to read your blog? Some tips to good content.

• Good content is timely
• Write regularly
• Occassionally get off track and write about something totally different than you normally write
• Use your content to open up conversation not preach a lesson
• Ask questions

Has anyone ever tried any (or all) of these ideas? If so how were your results? I’ve tried a few and been quite pleased with the return for my investment. Just a reminder if you think you’d be a good fit I am looking for a few guest bloggers who are willing to put out high quality content on a fairly regular basis (at least 2 times per week). If you’re interested please let me know and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Posted in Blogging | 4 Comments »