Statements that have been putting me off reading include:

-If you aren’t making lots of money on your site don’t talk about making money.
-If you aren’t an expert in something don’t write about it.
-Find your niche. But make sure it’s something you are passionate about. And make sure you are an expert on the subject.
-Use various forms of social media to promote your site.
-Guest post on other sites to drive traffic to your site and to position yourself as an expert.
-Promote, promote, promote.
-Write, write, write.
-Do this. I don’t do it but it’s the only way to be successful even though I don’t do it.
-Comment on other sites. Don’t comment on other sites. Respond to your comments. Don’t respond to your comments. Leave meaningful comments.

See Spot run. Run, run, run. Run Spot run.

The problem isn’t the advice. Most of it is sound.

The problem is in the people who are giving it.

I used this example in a video post I did.

I like biking. When I was the most serious about biking I biked a minimum of 120 miles each week (which isn’t particularly far by the way). This was urban, highway and a lot of trail riding.

My friends and acquaintances at work knew how much I biked. They either saw me and asked about it or someone they knew told them about it. I biked with another guy from work quite often and he talked about our biking all the time.

People I knew asked lots of questions about bikes and biking. They often said they biked a lot as well and would describe their bike rides.

I biked farther and faster on my rest day than they did on their “big” rides.
I could share their enthusiasm but we just weren’t on the same level.

Sometimes they would talk about how difficult a certain section of a ride was. I couldn’t really relate to it because it wasn’t difficult for me anymore. A grueling climb to them was simply a gear change to me.

I knew people who biked far more than I did. We talked occasionally but again we were on completely different levels.

Which brings me back to blogging.

Getting advice from “A” list or even “B” list bloggers is nice. We all blog so we have something in common.

But, as a “no list or F list “ blogger the advice usually doesn’t make any sense to me.
We aren’t on the same level.

For example, the whole responding to comments on your blog issue.
Most “A” listers either don’t comment on comments, have turned commenting off or only respond to a few of their comments.

I get it. They are on a completely different level from me. I don’t get 50+ comments on my posts. And no one says “Brilliant observation Glen” about 50 times each time I post something trivial.

Or needing to be an expert if you are going to write on a topic.
Of course the “A” list blogger is an expert on their subject. They’ve been writing about it for years.

How can I be considered an expert until I’ve been writing about something that interests me for years?

Even some of the suggestions drive me nuts.

You need to have a mailing list when you start your blog. And it only costs about $20-$30 a month to have a good one.

But, if you don’t have readers yet and you don’t have a product to sell why would you need a list right away.

What sounds logical to someone at that level makes no sense to someone at my level.
Logically or financially.

The reason all blog posts sound the same is because everyone is writing for the new bloggers. People like me I guess.

Quite frankly I think that new bloggers are being told to do things a majority of the time that don’t even work any more.

Blog business is evolving. The information is telling us to do things that worked in the past. Not in the current environment.

The experts are telling us the steps that got them to where they are. In some cases the information is valid. There are principles that every successful business used in the past and will use in the future.

But a lot of things have been discarded along the way by business. They served a need in the past but are no longer valid in the current market.

Returning to biking:

One of my bike rides started at 7am. We rode an out and back trail ride that ended at 7pm. The trail was cut up by moose, deer and other assorted animals.

A large percentage of the ride was spent off the bike seat to prevent my nether regions from getting pounded to a pulp.

I rode a mountain bike with no suspension which wasn’t all that uncommon at that time.

I wouldn’t recommend that people do that ride on that type of bike anymore. Times have changed. Full suspension bikes would make the ride much more efficient and comfortable.

So, why am I still reading about things that don’t work anymore?

Which is why the more I read the less I want to read..

Editors note: This post is really long. Which is also against the blogging “rules”.
Auuuuggggghhhhhh,……..

I’m glad they came. It was fun to see them. Hope they return again soon.

But, and there always seems to be a “but”, whenever something like this happens it throws my routine off.

And yes, I do have a routine like everyone else. Except that one guy in Asia who is kind of a rebel. And that one girl in Poland who refuses to follow any routine. And a few others who I don’t know who also don’t follow any routine.

My routine, where blogging is concerned, involves getting up early in the morning, writing a post and posting it, reading and commenting on other blogs and checking my email and maybe responding to it.

The whole process only takes about 3 hours. I’m pretty organized. Well, I’m consistent anyways.

Of course the visit ruined my routine. As visits often do.

Each day I would be half way through writing my post when someone would pop in to visit.

And each day I would visit and spend little bits of time finishing my post before being interrupted again.

I don’t remember visiting other blogs. And I like that part of my routine the most.

There is no way to avoid surprises like this visit. I wouldn’t want there to be anyways.

But, it made me think that getting some posts done up ahead of time really would be a smart move.

And I wondered:
How do you deal with changes to your routine? Do you have an alternate plan in place? Do you just take things as they come? Do you throw a tantrum?
What do you do when your routine is changed?

On Saturday when I was out there were two soldiers walking down the street, both dressed in camouflage uniforms. The camouflage wasn’t working. It’s still Winter here and the uniforms were for Summer. But that’s beside the point.

What struck me about these two soldiers was that the one in the front was a big man. And following behind him was a small woman with a huge pack on her back.

If the pack she was carrying was set beside her it probably would have been 2/3 of her height. And it was almost as wide as she was.

She was bent quite far forward. It looked like each step was a struggle.

I watched the two of them until the light changed from red to green and then I drove past them.

The man in the lead was a big guy. He probably could have carried her and the pack she carried.

But he didn’t. He just kept walking. And she kept following.

The incident made me wonder why. Why was the man not helping her? I would have. Doesn’t one of the rules about being a man clearly state that the man has to carry stuff for the woman?

I don’t know Armed Forces ways. So I concluded that this was a training exercise.
He wasn’t helping her carry her load because she needed to do this.

He was helping her by walking with her. So she could achieve a goal. One that he probably had achieved a long time ago.

But I’m usually wrong?

Do you think the male soldier was helping by letting her carry the load or was just being a jerk by not helping the female soldier?

When you are trying to learn something new do you feel bitter when your “helper” doesn’t seem to be helping? Or do you just want them to guide you and let you learn by doing it yourself?

When business blogging began it was with pay per click. The object was to leverage your readers to make money by steering them to click on ads on your site. For that click you would get a small amount of money.

This system worked well for the initial popular sites but as more and more people started doing the same thing the system collapsed. There are still people using this business model successfully but they are few and far between.

The next wave in business blogging was producing and selling ebooks (information products).

Once again the initial group that started with this model probably made a decent living from them but now that market is also diminishing for most business bloggers. Free ebooks are used as a marketing ploy to get people on your mailing list so that you can convince them to purchase other products.

Mailing lists and the “magic funnel” approach to sales involves providing a free product, usually an ebook or two, followed by emails which lead the “customer” to purchase products from you on an escalating price scale.

Mailing lists are still popular. Masses of business people have once again jumped on this bandwagon. I would venture to say that beginning a business blog (MMO) without an email list and a few free products is almost a thing of the past.

The problem with mailing lists is that everyone is doing them. As markets become saturated they lose their effectiveness.

This is not to say that mailing lists are no longer effective. They are part of an ongoing business model that is still valid. The market for people joining your list as opposed to another list is just more competitive.

All this leads to the latest trend in internet marketing which is paid forums.

I haven’t been blogging long enough to know how long paid forums have been in existence but it is obvious to me that they are the new great money making thing.

The object is to get people to pay monthly for belonging to an exclusive forum where they will get to interact with other members and the experts who started them.

The upside for those running the forums is a continuous stream of steady income.
And the upside of those joining is in networking and having access to the people who started the forum who often don’t respond to comments on their sites. And yes, I get why they don’t. I’m not knocking them I’m just stating an opinion based on my experience.

This list is not all inclusive. There are affiliate sales which are quite popular, people who are selling non information type products, people using ebay, craigslist, etc.
This is just my opinion of the major income streams that have been used by most business bloggers.

Which leads back to the title of this post. After paid forums what is left?
And the next big money making scheme is…????

What are your thoughts on internet business? Do you think that my assessment is correct? Flawed? Completely wrong? Are we not supposed to talk about it?

We want to receive comments on what we have written.
To know that others have read what we have toiled to create.
To spark discussion on a topic we are interested in. To gain further insight and ideas that will help us all grow.
To obtain important links from others so we can return to their sites, read what they are thinking about, comment and get to know them better.
To begin building a relationship with others.

This is really the primary reason we blog. To meet and interact with like minded people.

When comments go bad

Comments are supposed to help both the writer and the reader.

The writer gains feedback into what others think of their ideas.
The person leaving a comment gets their questions answered.

Comments are not meant to be a place for personal attacks or threats.
It’s fine to challenge someone’s idea as long the challenge remains directed at the topic of the post and not the person writing it.

The problem comes when we take the challenge to our ideas personally.

When we start threatening the person for their views then we lose our credibility.
When we stop listening to what they are saying and attack we lose any possibility of reaching any common ground.

Why do comments go bad

Often people have strong opinions on a particular subject.
They read a post, strongly disagree and state their case in the comments.

Or they, like me, are learning. And something that’s said seems contradictory or confusing to them.
So they point it out and wait for clarification.

In both these cases the comments aren’t bad. It’s in how they are interpreted by someone reading them.

If the author or other commenters take issue with the comment and either ridicule it or attack the person who left it then no one is gaining from the exchange.

When it becomes a personal attack, in my opinion, it’s far better to either respond in a civil manner or, if you are the author, just delete the comment.
You can also respond to the person via email if it would help clarify your position.

As stated at the beginning comments are the lifeblood of blogs.

The authors need to remember that the purpose of allowing comments is to gain new insights.
And those leaving comments need to remember that the authors words are merely ideas for positive discussion of a topic.

What are your opinions on comments? If you disagree with the author do you leave a comment on the post or do you just leave? How do you deal with someone who attacks you in the comments?

Midge’s motto was “A deal in mind saves nine” which makes no sense really but Midge was about deals, not sense. She was about saving a few cents though. And she often smelled scents if they were on sale and involved a product she might use.

Anyways, it was a typical Tuesday, like it is today. And Midge was looking to save money. Like she always did.

And today there was a sale on safety pins which she desperately needed. Two bags for the price of one. Two whole bags of safety pins for $0.79 she thought although it’s most likely she really thought two bags for seventy nine cents. Most people don’t really think of money with a dollar sign or decimal place in it.

For this particular deal Midge had figured out the savings potential by utilizing the common formula: Savings = E=mc2 x phi 13y x .00003cr which in layman’s terms equated to $0.06..

This saving was obviously to much to pass up on. Plus her last deal was on boxes of lard which, because she didn’t have anywhere to store a case of lard, she had chosen to eat with everything. And as a possible outcome she had popped the buttons off all her clothing. And, since there wasn’t a sale on buttons, she need safety pins to fix her clothing problem.

So, after duct taping her clothing together, Midge hopped into her big old truck and headed across town to buy the safety pins. The same safety pins that were on sale of course.

After a 30 minute drive she arrived at the store. And she rushed inside to grab up the safety pins.

But they were sold out.

A sales clerk said that they did have the safety pins at another location though and that they would hold them for her. Sales clerks are always just so nice about things like that.

So, Midge thanked the clerk and off she headed to the other store location which just happened to be in another city.

And 4 hours later Midge had her safety pins and she started to head home.

Of course she had to stop at the gas station first. And of course she needed some snacks to nibble on as she drove the 4 hours back home.

But $220.15 later she was on her way.

Back home Midge admired her safety pins.

“I’m so smart” she thought. “I saved $0.06 on these safety pins. That’s $0.06 in my pocket and none in less thrifty peoples.”

Later that night Midge noticed something odd with her safety pins. One bag had 47 safety pins in it and the other one had only 46 safety pins in it.

So, she called the store. And they offered to hold a bag of safety pins for her if she returned the next day.

Which of course she agreed to. Because no one could stop Midge from getting full value from a deal. Even if it meant driving 8 hours the following day.

So, do you ever wonder if a deal is always a deal?

This book is amazing. Mike and Nathan did an excellent job with creating the book.
If you haven’t already read it I’d highly recommend it. And I don’t even have an affiliate link thingy on my site so I’m not making anything out of steering you to the product.

You can find links to Beyond Blogging on Nathan’s site or Mike’s site or you can find affiliate links on one of your favorite blogs if you prefer.
Either way I would highly recommend purchasing the product even if you aren’t monetizing your site.

Yesterday I read about Gary Vaynerchuk. His work ethic is inspirational.
Gary does videos on wine which I’ve never watched and on more general topics on the site I do visit (initial link).

I remember the first time I visited his site from a link from another site a few months ago.

My first thought was who is this guy and why all the fuss about him. He looks like the average joe off the street. He’s casually dressed. He doesn’t have a fancy set. It’s just him, his words and a table separating him from his audience.

Then I watched his video. I remember the video but I remember him even more.
Gary has a way of making you feel like he is talking to you personally. One on one.

Watching one of his videos is like visiting a friend. And when you leave you look forward to visiting them again.

It’s an amazing talent and something I am working on accomplishing in my own videos.

You can check out my progress on the sidebar. I know..I have a long way to go..
But in my defense I am trying to get better. And eventually I will.

Anyways, buy Beyond Blogging if you haven’t purchased it already. You won’t be disappointed.

And check out Gary Vaynerchuk’s site if you haven’t been there. His enthusiasm is bound to rub off on you. If you have been there you already know what I mean.

Oh, and keep watching my videos. Eventually you will be able to tell your Grandchildren
“I knew that guy when he sucked..”
And they’ll say “No…you’re just joking right Grandpa (or Grandma.)”
And then you’ll mumble something about kids today and your false teeth will fall out.

So, have you read Beyond Blogging? If you have read it whose story inspired you the most?

“Did you finish your homework?” said his Mother.

“I don’t have any homework.” replied Charlie. “Dotty is in school. She gets homework. I’m only 5.”

“Are you sure?” said Charlie’s Mother. “I thought Dotty was only 5 and you were in school.”

Charlie’s Mother had two children so she often lost track of who was who and what was what. That’s the problem with having more than one child.

“Auuggghhh!” replied Charlie. “I don’t go to school. And I’m bored.”

Charlie’s Mother wasn’t listening anymore. She was busy searching through photo albums and looking for birth certificates.

“Can I go outside?” said Charlie. “Maybe there’s something to do outside.”

“No Charlie. It will be dark soon.” said his Mother.

“It’s 9am.” replied Charlie.

“Are you sure?” said Charlie’s Mother. “I thought it was 9pm.”

“Auuggghhh!” said Charlie. “I knew we should have bought a digital clock with am and pm markers. It’s 9am. We just got up an hour ago.”

But Charlie’s Mother wasn’t listening. She was staring at the clock trying to figure out what time it really was.

And just as Charlie was about to say something his Mother ran into the kitchen.
The coffee pot had finally finished making coffee.

“Mom” said Charlie. I’m bored.”

But Charlie’s Mother wasn’t listening. She was drinking her coffee at a furious pace.

“Charlie” said Mother putting down her cup. “Get ready. We’re going out. I have to get to the store before your sister gets home from school. Go, go, go..”

Do you ever wonder how people survived before coffee?

Canadians are nice.

But, when is being nice just annoying?

Being nice is annoying when we don’t mean it.

We really aren’t “sorry” when someone bumps into us in a mall or on the street. They make us mad. We want to punch them. But we just say “sorry”.

We don’t usually say anything when someone cuts in front of us in a line. We give them a look. But we don’t say anything. Or if we do summon up the courage to say something it’s usually something like “Excuse me. I think I was ahead of you.”

Of course if they don’t agree that we were ahead of them we are more likely to just admit defeat and reply with something like “Sorry. My mistake.” followed by another look..

If a Canadian breaks the rules and is rude they are given the look by everyone around them.

Why are we like this?

When does “Get out there and win.” turn into “Have fun. It doesn’t matter whether you win or lose as long as you do your best and have fun”

To the best of my knowledge all North Americans originated from the same countries.

Did the strong willed people go south to the United States and the wishy washy people go to Canada?

When North Americans sorted themselves out did the conversation go like this;
“Excuse me. We want to live in the warmer part of North America too.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Sorry. We will stay in the land of the ice and snow.”

Did my grandparents settle in Manitoba because they wanted to or where they just being nice?

Did they ask if they could go farther west to Alberta or British Columbia and someone from there gave them the look so they said “sorry” and just settled for staying here?

Why do I feel like I am getting “the look” right now?

Editors note: If I am getting “the look” then “Sorry.”

But first thing in the morning, at about 2pm, she had a cup of tea.

So, it was quite a shock to Jenny when she went to get a tea bag from her tea bag holding thing and there weren’t any left.

“Auuuuggghhh!” said Jenny. “Where are all my tea bags?”

But no one answered her. Not the budgie that was sleeping with his head on a pillow that looked surprisingly like a tea bag. Nor the hamster that was dipping something that looked suspiciously like a tea bag in it’s water dish. Or the cat who was batting at something that looked like a tea bag on a string. Or the dog who was polishing a bone with a cloth that looked like a tea bag.

No one appeared to know where the tea bags had gone. Which didn’t help Jenny one bit.

“What can I do? screeched Jenny. “Without my tea my day is ruined.”

Jenny’s screeching startled the budgie who then threw the tea bag looking pillow from his cage into the tea bag holding thing.

The screeching startled the hamster as well and since hamsters aren’t really all that bright it blamed the water dish with the bag in it for the problem. And it promptly threw the bag out of it’s cage where it also landed in the tea bag thing.

The screeching annoyed the cat but it just kept playing with the thing that looked like a tea bag on a string. The cat did, however, wish that Jenny would shut up.

The dog thought Jenny must have noticed he peed on her carpet and he tossed the cloth that looked like a tea bag. The bag flew into the tea bag holder thing and the dog headed for the door with his now shiny bone.

“What the heck?” said Jenny noticing that there were 3 tea bags in her tea bag holding thing. “I must be going insane. I’m sure there weren’t any tea bags there before.”
And then she laughed as only an insane person can. Or as a normal person who is imitating an insane person can I suppose.

So, opening her cupboard to get her favorite teacup….

“Auugghhh!” said Jenny. “My teacup is missing. Where is my teacup?”

But of course no one answered her. Especially her pet mouse who was hiding from the cat under a teacup shaped object..