A new blog template

At last I was able to change this blog's template to a 3-column one, thanks to "BloggerStyles". I did this for three reasons.

First, I want to give equal importance to my advertisers' widgets and my blog's contents represented by the labels. Since I've started to monetize this blog, I'd like to be serious about it. That will mean displaying advertisers' widgets in an auspicious area, without sacrificing the best way for my blog's contents to be noticed. Content is King, and will still be the best source of information, whether intended for buyers or people from all walks of life who might benefit from what is relayed by a post's content.

Second, to make my blog's layout more organized. One of the best ways for me to be organized in my thoughts is to have an organized surrounding and the layout of my blog is not an exception.

Last but not least, to give my blog a more professional look. I believe that is one way a blog can attract traffic. Taking myself as an example, I stay longer on blogs that look professional, looking for posts that might interest me. That doesn't mean I ignore blogs that don't look professional enough, it simply depends on the time I have the moment I happen to land on blogs. Professional looking blogs would usually steal my time from doing my intended tasks.

Blog advertising

I'm so glad that through blog advertising, both advertisers and bloggers like me will have more opportunities to earn. They can sign up for free in a site like “Paying Post” where bloggers and advertisers meet in the marketplace, the latter making his offer and the former selecting an offered opportunity.

There were times in the past when my only objective in looking for social network sites for bloggers and advertisers was to earn, but later, blogging about products which I would have wanted to write about in the first place became my objective. I enjoy writing about those products, and the readers enjoy reading my posts. That, I feel, is the main reason why blog advertising will always work more than any other mode. The passion and sincerity of the blogger can be felt by the readers. Rapport is established, and that can be the most important link that can hold the readers. Of course a link to the blog is first established through the search engines where keywords are entered by readers looking for products. These keywords are required by the advertiser for a blogger to include, or sometimes, creating the effective keyword is left by the advertiser to the blogger.

The new layout of the "Paying Post" site is so friendly to both bloggers and advertisers because articles about the most frequently asked questions is the first thing they see so their interest to know more about the site's features is triggered. It also gives them the assurance and comfort that they are on the right site.

I was inspired by advertisers to create a new blog, titled "Amusing Tips", because I simply find most opportunities offered by these advertisers amusing. I've enjoyed talking about their products because I was always reminded of past experiences I wouldn't thought of if not for those products, and I was also challenged to be more creative and persuasive. I've said that in the past, and I can't help but say that again, so that the advertisers and other bloggers, especially the new ones, will also be inspired like me! In other words, the advertisers and bloggers should sign up as early as possible to sites like “Paying Post”. Do that now, and let’s talk about your wonderful learning experience!

A new blog

I'm thinking of creating another blog, and I'll do that tomorrow. I can't publish the name of the blog yet since I'm not sure if the URL I'm thinking will still be available tomorrow. I've been planning to do that since last year and I've thought of focusing in Traditional Chinese Medicine as a topic but I lacked the confidence to write about it. I've thought of a better idea, so I hope you can check what's it all about maybe two days from now. Just to give you a hint, my new blog will cover the following topics:

1. Feng Shui Tips
2. Traditional Chinese Medicine
3. Household Tips
4. Interior Design Tips
4. Any helpful tips I'll encounter
5. Tips from advertisers

The last item insinuates that I also hope to earn an income from this new blog but that will come later, maybe after 6 months or even one year of posting. Through this blog, "I Don't Want To Retire!", I've enjoyed talking about products from advertisers because they've always reminded me of past experiences I wouldn't thought of if not for their products. I was also challenged to be more creative and persuasive, and I really had fun!

My Blogging Story - Part 2

Browsing my notes for make-money-online researches, I just traced how I ended up blogging. I mentioned in "My Blogging Story" that I was told about how blogging can make money, but it was not the first thing I looked for when I was looking for online jobs. That is the real reason why I had to pay $49. I was looking for other online jobs because I heard that affiliate marketing makes the most money online. But I realized that affiliate marketing is not that easy, though I can't remember why that was my conclusion. Since blogging is basically writing about anything, and writing is what I've wanted to do at any point in my life, I decided to choose blogging.

Through my notes also, I traced that it was Blogsvertise who recommended that I join Blogcatalog and other social networks for bloggers, and was the first to give me tips on how I can monetize my blogs. I would have forgotten that, if I didn't write those information in my notes. Why? Because my first blogging earnings came from Payperpost followed by Socialspark, and it was only after 7 months of blogging when I received a task assignment from Blogsvertise, which I've already forgotten at that time. If I can only get several tasks from these social networks, I won't look for any other source of income, simply because I enjoy what I'm doing. But blogging is not just enjoying what you write because with it comes some responsibilities like promoting your blog, reading other blogs also and commenting on posts which can be enjoyable too, and other ways that will increase the traffic to your site. Anything I forgot?

Recognition versus Income

This year’s Feng Shui prediction for Snakes like me is “recognition will surpass your income”. The problem is it is quite hard at my age to look for a job so I don’t have an income yet since the start of this year, though there are still 6 months left for this year in the Chinese calendar. I’m seriously thinking now about monetizing this blog to earn some income though of course I know earning big cannot be that soon. I'd like the readers, and even myself, to enjoy the contents of all my posts, including the sponsored ones.

At first I was happy enough about the prediction because recognition cannot be bought. Only very recently, while searching for my name in Yahoo! and Google just to see if this blog will come first, I was surprised to see “Hall of Fame” beside my name in one of the search results. That recognition was from Toastmasters Club and I think it’s about time I pay back this club the good things it has done for me, even through my blogs. It was not really me but the whole Makati Toastmasters Club that was included in Toastmasters Int’l Hall of Fame. The past officers of that club tried very hard for our club to always get the "President's Distinguished" award. Until I became President, and had to do my best for the club to be “President’s Distinguished” again because that was the fifth consecutive year it will get that highest award thus could be included in Toastmasters' Hall of Fame.

I won’t deny that this absence of income is starting to make me very depressed but I was still blessed with this timely discovery of a past recognition because somehow it alleviates this depression.

I almost forgot that I’ve also gained more than enough recognition from this blog, at least through the comments in some posts and I’m really very thankful to the people who are mostly bloggers themselves, who have openly shown their appreciation and support. This world of blogging and bloggers has proven to be another blessing not just for me but to all bloggers so I’m hoping that my mother and brothers who are all writers will join me in this very fulfilling endeavor.

SocialSpark is Great for Mommy Bloggers!

Mommy bloggers like me sure have a lot of topics to blog about, but of course, we blog about the things we always see. It can be about our children, our husbands, our pets, our houses or gardens. You can just imagine the endless topics we can think of, focusing only on these subjects.

I can say that blogging is the most convenient way for mothers to journalize the daily tasks of parenting and housekeeping, or big family events. But these journals cannot be left in the archives unread. Blogs need readers, and a medium where blogs and readers can meet, like SocialSpark.

Mothers who join SocialSpark will find endless opportunities to monetize their blogs. Aside from that, their blogs will be spiced up with a variety of topics that are relevant to a mother’s blog, and bring out a mother’s creativity to the max. High quality posts are encouraged by SocialSpark through countless ways, including bonuses from some advertisers. SocialSpark will not only bring about a wiser mother, it will also increase her reputation as a person and make her family proud of her.

If you are a mother, you can now enjoy blogging more, by joining SocialSpark. A support group of fellow bloggers and most importantly, fellow mothers, await you. In SocialSpark, it won’t take long till you discover how contagious the feeling of satisfaction is, among bloggers and mothers who have signed up.

Mommy bloggers can also sign up for the mailing list in order to join, as soon as it is public. This is another calling for you, not only as a mother to your children, but also a mother to fellow bloggers. Since you will be earning from your blogs, you can be a mother to yourself too, and buy the more important things you've always wanted for yourself.

I Made A Mistake!

I was so eager to earn from my blog that I didn't review the terms in posting sponsored posts in SocialSpark. Though it allows bloggers to post at least three sponsored posts from SocialSpark each day, which was the only condition that stuck in my mind, it doesn't allow consecutive sponsored posts. Each sponsored post should be preceded and followed by a non-sponsored post. I don't know if changing the contents of a post so it won't be a sponsored post, like what I'm doing now will work. I will repeat the posting of my Dirt Devil's AccuCharge sponsored post, and well, I just hope they'll consider that.

SocialSpark is Exciting!

As time passes, I increasingly enjoy blogging because of the overwhelming learnings from the other blogs that I read each day. A lot of bloggers monetize their blogs through social networking sites offering opportunities to bloggers. However, just like the opportunities in real life, opportunities for bloggers didn’t come easily. Until SocialSpark was introduced!



Bloggers who join SocialSpark will find endless opportunities to monetize their blogs. They can always find opportunities that are appropriate for their blogs, and even filter its display, just like what I did as shown in the above screen shot. I filtered only those open opportunities where I am qualified and with an offer from $7 and above.

SocialSpark also helps bloggers improve their styles by showcasing examples of selected blogs who has taken the opportunities. It also allows bloggers to give their comments about each opportunity thus allowing them also to interact with the advertisers. The screen shot below shows just that!



In SocialSpark, bloggers and advertisers also have the opportunity to advertise contests or any other free opportunities that can help increase traffic to their sites. I can say that SocialSpark has considered all other needs of advertisers and bloggers to make their networking in SocialSpark more exciting!



SocialSpark's code of ethics ensures the following:

100% Audit-able In-Post Disclosure
100% Transparency
100% Real Opinions
100% Search Engine Friendly

To advertisers and my fellow bloggers, I've been looking forward to this opportunity to share to you the benefits that I and others who have signed up to SocialSpark enjoy. There is still a lot to tell, so sign up now and see for yourself!