Lorelle’s entry yesterday touched something I have been thinking of a lot lately. And the topic came up today in a discussion with a colleague as well.

WordPress is a great platform, but a service which has become even more admirable is Akismet, the spam filter created by Automattic.

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PayPerPost, ReviewMe, Blogitive all are services to help to blogger make a quick buck from her/his blog. With LoudLaunch a new service has entered the space.
Earn from $5 to $200 per post.

Are all those services really bringing you the much desired honey pot or is there more you should know?
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1. Warbucks, Oliver “Daddy” – $36.2 billion – 52 New York, N.Y. – Defense Industries
2. Burns, Charles Montgomery – $16.8 billion – 104 Springfield, U.S.A. – Energy
3. McDuck, Scrooge – $10.9 billion – 80 Duckburg, U.S.A. – Mining, Treasure Hunting
4. Rich, Richie – $10.7 billion – 10 Richville, U.S.A – Inheritance, Conglomerates
5. Clampett, Jed – $7.7 billion – 51 Beverly Hills, Calif. – Oil & Gas, Banking
6. Monopoly, Mr. – $7.1 billion – 71 Atlantic City, NJ – Real Estate
7. Wayne, Bruce – $6.8 billion – 32 Gotham City, U.S.A. – Inheritance, Defense
8. Stark, Anthony – $3.0 billion – 35 New York, New York – Defense
9. Prince Abakaliki of Nigeria – $2.8 billion – 37 Lagos, Nigeria – Inheritance
10. Howell, Thurston III – $2.7 billion – 60 Private Island, South Pacific – Howell Industries
11. Wonka, Willy – $2.0 billion – 57 Kent, England – Candy; aerospace
12. Malfoy, Lucius – $1.3 billion – 51 Wiltshire, England – Inheritance
13. Montana, Tony – $1 billion – 42 Miami, Florida – Cocaine
14. Croft, Lara – $1 billion – 37 Wimbledon, England – Inheritance, Antiques

Last month, I bought myself a new laptop. It’s not bleeding edge, but it does the job. I only use it for blogging and surfing the Web (and the occasional MP3 downloads and DVD movies–I love westerns!) However, I’m kind of rethinking my purchase, particularly whether it was worth it to buy back then than wait a few months. And my reason? Windows Vista.

It used to be that the moment you buy a new computer it’s already obsolete. Now, it seems that even before you buy a computer it’s already obsolete. Sure, you get Vista-capable computers these days (you need a ton of RAM and a speedy video ram). It’s a question of the pre-bundled OS. Buy now and you get Windows XP. Buy in February and you get a flavor of Vista (Vista is launching by first quarter next year). You might even get a zippier computer by that time for almost the same price.

Buy now, and you’ll have to buy your copy of Windows Vista later on. Some might think it’s just another way for Microsoft to rip us off. Vista was supposed to have been released this year. Some probably held off major purchases waiting for Vista. Some might be rethinking purchases made this year, just like I am.

However, I’m not rethinking because I feel ripped off. I think it’s just a way of life. If I kept on putting off my purchase, I might have ended up miserable and unproductive (no laptop to work on). It’s just like putting off a car purchase today to wait for next year’s model. Pretty soon, you’ll realize that you’ve been walking and taking the bus all this time and spending your money on trivial stuff.

But that’s just me. And with Vista just a couple of months away (give or take a few weeks), I think it might be a good idea to hold off until then. Or, if you’re itching for a new gadget this Holiday season, you could get a Mac. Wait. Leopard is coming next year, too! Ah, decisions, decisions!

[tags]computer, laptop, technology, business, microsoft[/tags]

It’s one of those buzzwords soon to be condemned to hell: pro blogging. So who are these pro bloggers and what can we learn from them? Hopefully we can make a million dollars by doing very little work. In fact, quite the opposite is true- as with most things in life. As DPY pointed out in our “Attempting the William Hung Path to Celebrity” post- it’s just good old-fashioned, honest, hard work that will enable you to reach those dizzy heights.

Nevertheless, there are those out there making a living from blogging as a “real job” and kudos to them. Why shouldn’t they? They write better and more engaging articles than half the “real” offline journalists. And so..if I could impart a message to these bona fide “pro bloggers“- don’t be shy, go for it!

Case in point with perhaps the most successful “pro blogging” site out there: problogging.net run by Darren Rowse. I’ve read a lot of his posts and they’re excellent- & he’s obviously very active with promoting “pro blogging“, but when it comes to telling us about his earnings- which is surely one of the chief goals of pro blogging, Darren becomes amazingly reticent. While this is quite endearing, it’s also something to get over and shout from the hilltops. Usually he escapes the question by providing another link, hoping that the effort of further navigation will deter us! So that even with the post “How Much Do I Earn From Blogging” one doesn’t actually get a straight answer, but rather a series of self-deprecating excuses (are you sure you’re not English?)

This is a question that I get asked more than any other. I was brought up not to really talk about money and what you earn so I’m always hesitant to do so – but due to the large interest in the subject I’ve from time to time given some indication (it can be vague) of what kind of money blogging brings me. Remember I have 20 blogs and these figures are not just for this blog (in fact this blog makes very little).

But I think we get the idea with “I’m a six figure blogger“.

Well done, mate. It’s nothing to be sniffed at. And if you are in college or just graduating, so say from age 18-25, it’s not bad at all. Or if it’s just a side-income. But if you’re getting a bit longer in the tooth and its your fulltime job, then $100,000 really isn’t going to cut it. Health care, diapers, kids’ education, mortgage payments, the wife’s Gucci handbags- you name it- $100k doesn’t go far in this day and age.

And for such obviously intelligent people as Darren Rowse is- it’s nothing in comparison as to what he would earn in a white collar job- whether it be in the stockmarket or any corporate set-up. The achievement here is in that blogosphere remains so “amateur” in nature- that to make six figure earnings per annum is remarkable in relation to the earnings of other bloggers. But in itself, it’s really no big deal at all.

So what to do? If you’re really thinking of going “pro” with blogging- I’d take in some of the conventional marketing wisdom passed down by the likes of Matt Gagnon (mazu.com) and the late Corey Rudl (marketingtips.com). There is nothing these guys like doing more than selling their own success stories to make more money. I think Corey was making about $4 million per year at the time he died so tragically in that car accident. Now there’s a tidy sum…

Of course, there are some total scoundrels out there calling themselves “pro bloggers” just because they’re egomaniacs who believe their own propaganda. Well, it’s not like they’re giving out accredited diplomas for the status of “pro blogger“. Now there’s an idea, Darren. How about starting a membership club for pro bloggers…?

[tags]pro blogging,pro bloggers,darren rowse,blogging for money, blogging for profit,problogging.net,corey rudl, matt gagnon[/tags]

If you are like me- then you spend way too much time in front of your comp. You have probably let some other part of your life slip- maybe your health or your relationships. A lack of balance usually comes hand in hand with a lack of perspective. Personally I justify it as “temporary” and that I’m doing it “because I have to“, i.e: for the money.

Hmmm. Maybe that’s a load of codswallop. Maybe I can earn less money and have more fun. Maybe I could be happier as a person with a more rounded life if I stopped worrying so much about money. I hate letting anyone down, but just sometimes the darned emails can wait….

Good old Benjamin Franklin reputedly changed the word “profit” to “happiness“, as in “the pursuit of….” while drawing up The Constitution. Point being- money does not bring happiness.

It’s not just a cliché told by the rich to the poor, it’s the truth. For those of you who have not had the chance to witness the irony of seeing rich people you know personally- utterly miserable, or the smiley, innocent disposition of people in the Third World who are dirt poor, there is an excellent illustration of this concept by an old school chum of mine, Alain De Botton, in his book “The Consolations Of Philosophy“. Below, is part of his reflection on the teachings of Epicurus.

1. Identify a project for happiness.

In order to be happy on holiday, I must live in a villa

2. Imagine that the project may be false. Look for exceptions to the supposed link between the desired object and happiness. Could one possess the desired object but not be happy? Could one be happy but not have the desired object?

Could I spend money on a villa and still not be happy?

Could I be happy on holiday and not spend as much money as on a villa?

3. If an exception is found, the desired object cannot be a necessary and sufficient cause of happiness.

It is possible to have a miserable time in a villa if, for example, I feel friendless and isolated?

It is possible for me to be happy in a tent if, for example, I am with someone I love and feel appreciated by?

4. In order to be accurate about producing happiness, the initial
project must be nuanced to take the exception into account.

In so far as I can be happy in an expensive villa, this depends on being with someone I love and feel appreciated by.

I can be happy without spending money on a villa, as long as I am with someone I love and feel appreciated by.

5. True needs may now seem very different from the confused initial desire.

Happiness depends more on the possession of a congenial companion than a well-decorated villa.

Epicurus himself sums it up best:

The possession of the greatest riches does not resolve the agitation of the soul nor give birth to remarkable joy

As of this week, the One Big Network, brainchild of celebrity cowboy- David Krug, and former owner of Jack Of All Blogs, has officially launched.

Here is the press release going out:

One Big Opportunity

Do you have expert knowledge, but often find yourself struggling to create new quality content for the web? If yes, then you’re not alone.

There’s gotta be another way, right? Well, we think so.

The web is full of content. Lots of it is really bad information. Being an expert doesn’t necessarily require that you create new content. What we need now more than ever are experts who can pick out the best content on the web.

That’s where you come in.

The process is simple. Begin by choosing a topic of interest. Then, go out and find the best, most authoritive sites on your topic (start by finding 9-12 sites). Each authority site should have a feed for its latest content. Your site will simply feature the latest headlines from each site that you deem an “authority.” In other words, you’ll be making a portal or hub of expert information about your topic. Constantly updated…automatically. And you can make money from it too!

Sound too good to be true?

The OneBig Network is enabling just this kind of site…with the added benefit of network leverage. Our method gives you an easy way to make money without the daily grind. All the work is upfront, and then you just sit back. Our system constantly updates the latest headlines from each authority site, making your OneBig site an authoritive, relevant, up to the minute snapshot of the best the web has to offer on your particular topic.

So if you’re struggling to generate new content for your blogs or content sties, why not try building expert sites that highlight the best feeds on your favorite topics. Not only will you be providing a valuable service to those who share your interests, but you’ll also be creating a unique opportunity for the best kind of income…the sit back and relax kind!

For only $250 you can join the OneBig network which includes a fully functional site template, a custom designed header graphic, and total participation in the OneBig Network. Lots of benefits. Zero risk. Why wait?

If anyone is interested in joining the One Big Network, please fill out the contact form: here.

The Bloggy Network has bought four sites, which you can view as samples of “niche areas” covered.

One Big Daddy

One Big Hacker

One Big Sport

One Big Japan

The king of personal success, the guru of getting rich, Tony Robbins, would love to sell you seminar tickets, books, and self-help tapes so you can Fix Your Life.

You don’t need it. You only need a few things.

1. Develop a personal code of honor. Even pirates have a code. Regardless of your spiritual beliefs or lack of them, a code of honor will give you a higher purpose to live up to. Having a genuine sense of purpose will get you up in the morning.
2. Don’t ever be afraid of faking it. Most people don’t have what it takes at first; even if they do have what it takes, they think they don’t. Now, I once taught some classes (er, community service, of course – pirates never do good deeds) in which I taught my students, a somewhat disadvantaged bunch, to Fake It Til You Make It. Then I made them tell me what they did, every class session, until I knew they had gotten it. You can do the same. Do you want to be a writer, an artist, a chef, a business genius? Dress and act the part. Learn everything you can. Hang around with successful people. You’ll get the feel, and you’ll start believing in yourself.
3. Your personal attitude is what will determine your success. If you don’t think you can make it, you won’t. When is the last time you heard a celebrity, millionaire, or other successful person say they didn’t think they’d make it? Never, is my guess. That’s why they made it.
4. Story – a captain was once piloting a ship, and trying to avoid a sandbar up the coast. He knew where it was, knew there was plenty of room, but didn’t think he could make it around. In the end, he sailed right into it. The lesson: look through the things that are obstacles in your path. You’ll be surprised at how easily you circumvent them.
5. Love other people. (Of course, you should love their treasure more, but that’s beside the point.) If you bear a genuine love for your fellow man, they’ll pick up on it. That will make you friends who will help you along your road to success.
6. Learn to recognize opportunities. Opportunities knock all the time. They probably dent your door. But most people don’t hear them. Start looking at every drawback as a potential opportunity. You’ll quickly start finding out how many of them really are.

Sheriff’s post yesterday about the dot-com bubble started me thinking on other schemes that broke the investing bank. The oldest one I could remember was the Dutch tulip craze, when Dutch collectors were paying the equivalent of a half-million dollars for a single rare bulb – this in the early 1600s. The craze reached its peak in 1636, when flower prices crashed and speculators panicked, selling at a loss or reneging on contracts.

It’s possible that the tulip craze was not as far-reaching or catastrophic as later historians made it out to be. (Also, I never heard of a pirate raiding a ship for a bunch of flowers – not very piratey. Or smart. Gold keeps better, and wisely invested money grows pretty well.) But the Dutch also invented the stock market as it exists today; while the French traded government bonds, the Dutch started openly selling stocks and company shares in the Dutch East India Company right around the year 1600.

So not long after the first speculations from the first real bourgeois-heavy culture, you see the first stock market crash. Interesting.

And look throughout history – people overreach, get greedy, get too speculative, and boom! The market crashes. Today it may be the housing market, starting in the U.S. and spreading throughout the world. Yesterday it was the dot-com. Before that, oil. Before that, the worldwide crash of the 1920s followed by a worldwide depression.

Need I continue? I can, if you wish. Stock market crashes are as old as stock markets. People should realize that speculating on the stock market is gambling. It is dangerous. And you can lose your shirt.

Now what’s going on today is speculation on the very dubious value of domain names. A few people made a killing selling great web names they were smart enough to seize early. There’s been a terrible battle over the ownership of Sex.com. And a lot of Johnny-come-latelies think they might be able to duplicate the success through other slick Internet schemes.

Guess what? Won’t work. The first pirate to get to the galleon, gets the gold. The next ones usually get caught by the British navy – a fate not to be wished on a barnacle, mate.

Be smart. Work hard. Don’t buy into the get-rich-quick garbage, and don’t ever think you’re smarter than the next guy. You’re not. Neither am I.

Remember the 1990′s? Everyone was so excited about this new boom, the rising of a new age called the Internet age. There was much hype and excitement about the dotcom era. Everyone bought in. People invested. People quit their jobs to create or join startups. Everything’s going to be online, we all thought.

And then what came next? The dotcom boom went bust. The bubble burst. People lost a lot of money from their bad investments. People lost their jobs. And we’re talking billions of dollars just gone kaput. The hype was, well, just that–hype. It was deemed to be unsustainable back then. It wasn’t meant to be.

Are we seeing another dotcom era today? Of course we are. And people are calling it “Web 2.0.” You might not think it’s the same. Yeah, infrastructure today is probably more conducive to commerce and to everything-being-online (with high broadband uptake). Still, what I see is the hype, and that’s what I think is dangerous.

When you hear news about YouTube’s being worth a billion dollars or Web 2.0 posterboy Kevin Rose going from zero to millions from his digg.com, you might think, I’ve seen this before. No, it’s not the money. It’s the hype. Excitement might prompt investors and tech-savvy businessmen to buy, buy, buy into seemingly good investments.

Pretty soon, the excitement will die down and we’ll probably see a lot of money lost on bad investments. Again.

In the end, it’s the companies with solid backings, with solid business models, and with really great products and services that will survive. Think Yahoo!. Think Google. Think NewsCorp. They’re buying into new stuff, but they probably know what they’re doing. And even if they get burned along the way with bad investments, they have solid businesses to lean back on. And they probably got a few things right, like my favorites, AdWords, Flickr, and MySpace (uh, maybe not MySpace).

Remember, when you’re walking on water, be sure you can work miracles.