Blogging with Cents

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Yes, I’m still here!  Although, perhaps not for long.  I have decided to make some changes to lighten my load, as well as give me the time to pursue my real passions.  Now technically, I’m not going anywhere but this blog, well, that’s different story; one that I will talk about more another time. 

You will still be able to read the same stuff I write here, but it will be in a different place and won’t be daily like I was doing before.  Sometimes when you’re getting paid to blog, you tend to write posts just for that reason and not for quality reasons.  While I did try to fit in paid links inconspicuously, I did notice that the quality was diminishing.  I don’t want that because I do care about my name and what my readers think of me. 

With all that said, I sincerely hope that when things do change here, you will continue to follow me.  I adore my commenters and fans and would love to have your support when the ’new’ arrives. 

 

Just like your home, your blog needs to be organized & cleaned of clutter. It’s easy to let your blog go when you’re focusing on content, forums, and social networking but by maintaining your blog regularly, you’ll help it run more efficiently and stay visually appealing as well.

PLUGINS

• Sort through your plugins and delete all the unneccessary ones.  Just like widgets, plugins can be addicting so you probably have several sitting there collecting dust.
• Analyze the performance of certain plugins.  If they don’t do their job to your expectations, find a new one to replace it.
• Upgrade any that haven’t been already. With WP 2.5, it’s super easy to upgrade now!

WIDGETS (SIDEBARS)

• organize your widgets into sections.  Most people do this with their sponsored ads, you know, up in the right corner?  But for some reason, many people let the rest of their sidebars go.  Some sections to have could be a resource section, blogroll, vote for me badges, etc.
• Get rid of the heavy widgets that bulk up your sidbars.  I see many widgets that show content from other bloggers.  If you’re a personal blogger, that’s fine but if you’re a serious blogger, the last thing you want to do is provide content links that may lead your readers away from your blog.  If a link of sorts is required to have your link at their place, do just that, use a simple text link or button.
• Use recent posts and popular posts.  These 2 widgets can keep your readers on your blog longer.  It also will give them a sense of what you write and what other readers like.
• Move your blogrolls to their own posts/pages.  Blogrolls tend to make a page load slower so I recommend that, if you’re going to have them, put them in their own home.  If you put them in a post, you can always back date them and then provide a text link in the sidebar.

AD MANAGEMENT (OIO-Publisher PLUGIN)

• Use something like OIO-Publisher to manage your ads.  Powerful plugin and super user friendly.
• Take advantage of alternate ad rotation until your ad spots get filled.  There is a place to put the image urls and destination urls so that different ads will rotate until they get filled.  What I love, is that you don’t have to do anything but provide those urls and then after that, the plugin does the rest.  If an advertiser buys a slot, it put their image up for you!  LOVE IT!
• Update your advertise page if needed.  I’ve written a basic advertise page with links to purchase.  Those links are managed through my dashboard via the oio plugin so that I don’t have to go and actually edit my advertise page.  I simply go to my dashboard and change my ad price if I want to.

PROFILE & ABOUT ME PAGE

• Go back over your profile and about me pages and make sure things are still correct.   Over time, some things have probably changed so it’s important to note those changes. 
• Link to your other blogs from your about me page.  I’m really surprised at how many people don’t do this. 

POST CATEGORIES

• For me, a big turn off is 50 categories.  My time is limited and precious at that so spending 5 minutes reading through a million categories is the last thing I want to do.  Try to have 10 or less categories because chances are, I’m only going to read the first 5.
• Keep your categories as relevant as possible.  Example for a personal blog: You have to categories - blogging and blogging tips.  Do you really need them both?  If you write about home, parenting, and relationships; blogging should be a specific enough category to use.  Get rid of the excess and keep it simple.

I was excited to wake and read the news from Darren and Chris! We knew it was coming and now it’s finally here! Learn secrets to Six Figure Blogging with the ProBlogger Book, ways that truly works.

What is the book about? Read here:

Product Description
Blogging has become a popular and fascinating pastime for many, but more and more bloggers are finding it can also be an excellent source of direct or indirect income. Although the barriers to starting a blog are low, without expert guidance it is easy to get frustrated when success doesn’t match expectations. Written by the creator of the world’s #1 resource for making money with blogs, ProBlogger takes the reader from absolute beginner to earning money from or as a result of blogging. Through step by step practical lessons the reader will choose a blog topic, analyze the market, set up a blog, promote it and earn revenue.

Unlike other books that are big on potential and theory, ProBlogger provides results based on the authors own experience of what really works through practical, tried and tested advice. Inside readers will learn:

* How Bloggers Make Money

* Direct Income Earning vs. Indirect Income Earning methods

* Why Niches are Important

* Using 20 critical blogging tools

* 20 Ingredients for a successful blog post

* Optimizing advertising

* Which advertising platforms work best

* Expert analysis of Technocrat’s Top Blogs - why they work

and so much more.

From the Back Cover

Blogging for dollars — Do you have what it takes?

Here’s the place to find out. Problogger.net is where bloggers worldwide go for advice and information on enhancing their blog’s presence. Whether you’re just starting out or have been blogging for years, learn from two professional bloggers how to turn your passion for blogging into extra revenue or possibly a rewarding career. This is not a get-rich-quick book, but rather a practical guide to creating and marketing a blog with the potential for generating a six-figure income.

Learn to:

Choose subject matter that works for you

Handle technical issues

Examine different ways your blog can earn income

Evaluate your blog’s success

Keep content fresh and interesting

Use your blog to generate income indirectly

Order it today! You won’t find anything on mortgage lenders folks, just good ol’ blogging & making money doing it!

I’m on the prowl for a new chair for my desk, possibly a massage chair?  I sit here for so long sometimes that this crappy one I have makes my butt go numb.  Do you have a great office chair?? If so, where did ya get?  I could really use a recommendation on something that will help my butt and my back.  I can look online but I’d like to know about yours since they are in use, get it?! 

Not much else going on this weekend.  I updated my girly blog with a new video about my weightloss journal.  I’m surprised at how my subscriber count went up so quickly.  I also think there’s money to be made in that niche, I just haven’t focused in that area too much.

Well, I guess I’ll holler later!  Have a wonderful Saturday:)