New Features for Re-Launch of Blog Bloke dot com
Rolling Out New Features for the Re-Launch of Blog Bloke dot com:
While I’ve been taking a break from blogging I’ve been asking myself what really differentiates Blog Bloke from the rest of the crowd?
You might recall I had lamented earlier that it’s getting harder every day to separate my blog from the pack. Besides writing more original content there had to be something else for me to justify all of the time that I spend blogging.
Am I still relevant? Do I have something of value that I can add to the community? Can I still compete with the sploggers out there? Is all of the time that I spend blogging fair to my family?
These are just some of the questions that I’ve been grappling with. Believe you me the soul searching hasn’t been easy.
One huge area that I can see where I’m different is I like to find solutions to problems, such as my well-received tutorials on setting up Blogger with Custom Domains, etc.
I was the first blogger to come up with a solution and to this day it still receives thousands of traffic hits. So I plan to continue writing tutorials where I see a need in the blogosphere.
Another thing that I think separates me from the crowd is I’m not afraid to speak my mind on the blogosphere. In fact, some might even call me “opinionated” but for the life of me I really can’t understand why. 
So I’ve decided to create a new category aptly called: Opinions. It will showcase my views on the state of the blogosphere and how I see its future will unfold.
I’ve purchased a new video camcorder that will enable me to make great quality podcasts. With a camcorder the broadcast quality will be excellent and I’m really looking forward to it.
I’ve also decided to make better use of Twitter by adding a “Tweets” menu in the right-hand sidebar. I plan to use it for broadcasting announcements about the blog, what I’m currently doing as well as news headlines, etc. It should be fun.
These are just some of the new features that I’m adding to the blog. But I’ve also had to make a hard decision that I’ve really struggled with, and that is to introduce advertising on this site.
Now before you decide to castrate me please hear me out. As you know in the past I have criticised some of the more well known blogs out there that do advertise. My biggest gripe about them has been their blatent disregard for ethics and plagiarism, while not adding much value to the blogosphere. Instead of focussing first on adding value and then making money, their priorities are it seems bass ackwards.
What precipitated this decision are several factors:
1. Because of my health issues I was forced to stop working at my real JOB in the real world. This has caused a lot of financial grief, not only just for myself but for my family as well.
2. I need new equipment in the worst way. All three of my computers have crapped out on me and the one that I’m using right now is being held together with tape, glue and prayer, and she won’t last much longer.
3. I also want to experiment and see if advertising can really be viable on a blog site that is run ethically.
I want to stress the word “experiment“, because the bottom line for me is if I want to continue blogging I will have to generate revenue.
So there you have it. What do you think?
- Do you think the Bloke is still relevant?
- Are you disgusted with the Bloke for considering advertising?
- Do you think I still have something of value to add to the blogging community?
I can’t make this work without your support so please let me know.
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My dearest Blog Bloke, YOU is what sets your blog apart from the others. No one else has your style. What’s wrong with advertising, it doesn’t affect the content. Go for it. This isn’t a race and it shouldn’t be competitive. Just blog what you know and love and you will stand out above the rest. Teri
Tica Macha (Teri)’s last blog post..Sister Sulie
Such poor grammer, ‘You is’. Sorry. You are what sets your blog from the rest!! I’m such a hick!
Tica Macha (Teri)’s last blog post..Sister Sulie
“No one else has your style” … is that a good or a bad thing?
Thanks so much Teri. I know I can always count on you. You’re the best.
I agree with Tica Macha–you’re special and have an original, authentic voice which makes you stand out from others! As for advertising, go for it! If anyone can make it work, you can!
BTW, I tried to add your code to my sidebar, but it was way too big and screwed up my blog, so I had to take it off. Do you have a smaller version?
Hey, I really like your newly re-designed blog! I have subscribed!
Kuanyin’s last blog post..Why Did The Blogger Cross The Road?
Thanks Kuanyin. It’s good to hear from you and I hope your health is getting better.
I’m just coming off a break from blogging as well. I needed the time to rethink things and tweak the template. If I can’t make money blogging then I will probably have to pack it in because I’m running out of spare computer parts.
By the way, what code are you referring to?
Good thoughts and well wishes coming your way,
…BB
Relevant? I can’t speak for everyone yet, I doubt I would be blogging today without your help!
Advertising? You gotta do what you think is best!
Have a great weekend!
Debbie Dolphin’s last blog post..New England Vacation Tips and Entertainment Ideas
Ahoy Debbie! Thanks for the vote of confidence and I hope you have a great weekend too.
Hey Bloke, I still think you are relevant and I love when you give your opinions on the blogosphere or on certain parties within the blogosphere. As for the advertising aspect, I don’t blame you at all. Blogging as a hobby is great, but at some point, you would like to have the hobby at least pay for itself or the hobby will disappear. At least you are being upfront about the advertising and it will be interesting to see if you can pull in any revenue the ethically correct way.
If that doesn’t work, I highly suggest you take your blogging skills and use them to get you hired for another blog. That way, you could get paid to blog on that site and then pay for this site which would be your personal blog. You wouldn’t have to worry about advertising since someone else would be paying you. If you end up becoming desperate for income, my last ditch effort would be to talk with a blog network to see if they could buy you or acquire your site to be added in to the network. Then they pay you either a flat rate or on performance.
Jeffro2pt0’s last blog post..Not So Severe Storms
Thanks Jeffro, that’s a good idea. What paid blogging gigs would you recommend?
Blog Bloke reply on May 4th, 2008 2:28 pm:
Hey Bloke I wouldn’t be blogging and owning my own blog like I am today without your help. Your a great voice in the blogging world.
Curtis’s last blog post..Garden Update 4-28
That’s so gratifying to hear Curtis. Thanks muchly!
Blog Bloke reply on May 4th, 2008 7:20 pm:
Aw common, you are really getting tired of us aren’t you:) Seriously, none of what I’ve done and considered doing with my blog would have kept me going if not for you. Thank you.
The soul searching you’re going through is the same one I’m in the middle of right now and if you can come through your challenge with hope, so can I!
Keep up the great “opinionated and true” posts, add the products or services you think are most helpful to us and we’ll follow you anywhere!
Feed your family and take care of your health are the priorities. Consider this: Even Shakespeare was plagiarized! You’re in excellent company.
All the best.
Georjina’s last blog post..Solo Business Model: Chicken, Hiccup or In Between.
Gosh Georjina I almost blushed when I read your comment. That is sooooo sweet of you to say that. I’m sure my detractors will think I paid you.
Oh well, fooey on them.
I guess I’m going through a mid-age crisis or something because I still haven’t yet found the hook I’m looking for that will excite me to want to write again. There are just too many copycats now out there now and I can’t see the point.
I must be missing something. It’s probably staring me right in the face and I just can’t see it yet but I remain hopeful it will come.
Thanks so much for your kind words. You really made my day.
Blog Bloke reply on May 5th, 2008 10:54 pm:
Bloke, sorry I’m late to the party. Been very busy with writing and dealing with a content stealer. It kind of knocked me off my course a bit this week.
As for relevancy, I’m with Debbie Dolphin. I can say with conviction that every blogger (new or existing) needs to carry you around in their back pocket. I would be nowhere without your help and encouragement. Early on, I needed a lot of help and you were there. Your expertise was and is so valuable to me. This is the first place I come to have questions answered.
As to the issue of advertising, no question. Do it. You owe it to yourself and why not? If anyone knows how to make it work, it’s you.
Again, sorry for my delay in responding to your latest posts. I’m struggling a little with time management. Between my day job, my blog and two others I write for, I think I’m a little over my head. There’s a post idea for you. “How to Avoid the Time-Sucking Vortex.”
Be well,
Kathy
Bloke — Oops, I reset the comment form accidentally, undid the reset, but forgot to put back my name and stuff. That last “anonymous” comment was from me.
Kathy @ The Junk Drawer
Kathy’s last blog post..A Bridal Registry for the Insane
Thanks Kathy. I’ve missed you around here and happy Mother’s Day. I don’t know what I would do without my women Blokesters. You say the sweetest things.
I’m sorry for taking so long to get back into the saddle again. I’ve been fixing little things in the template and playing around with my new podcasting equipment. I’m still debating whether or not to put up a podcast. I’m a perfectionist and keep scrapping it. I thinking I’m working on my 533rd take now.
Cheers!
Blog Bloke reply on May 11th, 2008 1:25 pm:
You know, Bloke, today was the first day I’ve ever considered advertising on my blog. I allowed the idea to sneak into my head, even though I swore I’d never do it. I’m having a hard time justifying the time I put into my blog and not seeing any monetary reward. I’m paid in other ways, though. I’m grateful for my readership and my sister jokes that I’m “paid in love.” She’s right. It’s a great reward. But I do let myself think about advertising more and more now, if only to pay host fees and stuff. I don’t know. It’s a real dilemma for me. Sorry to ramble. Just wanted you to know I think of it, too, and struggle with the idea of it.
Have a great day!
Kathy’s last blog post..We Came, We Saw, We Auditioned!
May 11th, 2008 at 12:49 am
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