May 2, 2011

One final note of gratitude on the April A to Z Blog Challenge

I just want to thank the folks who started the April A to Z Blog Challenge. The good you did me was more than I expected, and I'm grateful. I've really enjoyed myself in all of this, and those things I learned can't be measured.

But the best thing which happened to me from all of this is my oldest daughter (almost 15) decided to give blogging a try. She's now the creative force behind KatieSpeaks. I sorta owe all of that to you folks. I can't thank you all enough.

When Marie Anne St Jean first told me about the challenge, I'll admit to my reservations. But, needing a challenge, this seemed to fit the bill. The Challenge was something requiring consistent, daily effort, goals, and it didn't involved me talking to retail customers.

Since then I've picked up 17 new, regular readers, met a whole pile of bloggers, and learned what it means to take crappy pop-up ads off of my blog. (Only wish someone had told me way before I got yo “y.”) So those things gained alone,are reason enough to be a part of next year's challenge.

But to think, a young child out there in the world, is now inspired also. That's something.

6 Whaddya Think?:

Arlee Bird said...

Congratulations to your daughter for starting her blog and for what you gained. I do think that the content warning at the beginning discourages some readers. I'm not sure what you sometimes put on your blog to warrant that but speaking for myself I will sometimes just turn around and leave when I see a warning such as that.

Also I almost left today when that Cramer Report ad came up. I finally saw how to bypass that thing but if I hadn't looked harder I would have left without actually reading the blog content.

In any case, congratulations on making through the A to Z Challenge.


Don't forget to pick up your Winner's Badge at my site.
Lee
Tossing It Out

Donald Pennington said...

Thanks. The mature content warning is up since I will occasionally use pretty salty language.

As for my advertisers, they stay. Seriously, if a fellow blogger doesn't understand advertising, I can't explain it.

Arlee Bird said...

I am conflicted about advertising. The reason I first started blogging was after seeing so many ads about programs that would teach how to make money by blogging. I didn't pay for any of those programs when I discovered that Google offered the information for free.

However, after I started my blog and I signed up for the Google Ad program they never approved me. Eventually I started hearing about various affiliate programs to make money but I never really pursued them since I had become more interested in the writing aspect and establishing a writing platform.

I would still like to find a way to make money blogging, but I don't want to turn my blog into a forum for advertising. So I'm mixed.

I certainly don't begrudge you for wanting to make money from your blog and it looks like that is your main focus in your posts.

I was a bit put off by the sponsorship ad that takes over your page when one first enters. Yours is the first blog where I recall seeing this and I was confused by it at first until I eventually saw the bypass button after a few visits.

I understand advertising and consider myself someone with a fairly strong background in marketing. So what you're doing is okay by me. However, it seems I have primarily become integrated into a mostly writer blogging community and I'm happy with that.

Can you recommend a good source for obtaining more information about using advertising on one's blog for income? I'd like to know more about it and see if there is a good way that I could make it work for me.

Sorry for this long response but I wanted to clarify my position so you wouldn't think I was knocking you for doing it. I'm all for making money and I applaud you if you are doing that successfully on your blog.

Lee
Tossing It Out

Donald Pennington said...

Maybe I'll share something on that topic within a future post. Thanks for the idea.

I'm really grateful for this whole opportunity, and I hope you know that.

Arlee Bird said...

Thanks for the rapid response. If you do post specifically about that topic I hope you will let me know. I haven't looked to see how many blogs are now showing on my Dashboard and Google Reader, but it's a lot and sometimes new posts are easy to miss.

Thanks

Lee
Tossing It Out

Donald Pennington said...

Absolutely! I'd be happy to.

Thanks for all you've done!

Check your page rank.

Check Page Rank of your Web site pages instantly:

This page rank checking tool is powered by Page Rank Checker service

A sponsor:

Wondering how to get a website, but don't know how to code?
Need to be able to update your website but don't want to hire someone every time?
Looking to start earning $ online but don't know where to start?
Contact your local Web Designer in Tasmania
Working locally to achieve your global marketing goals.