Archive for January, 2008

Tyler Vs Gyutae: Who did I pick?

Tyler Vs Gyutae: Who did I pick?

Yesterday I posted about the various blogs I read, and within it I mentioned TylerCruz’s blog. Today I intend to touch upon further the competition I mentioned in that post, so here we go:

Tyler Cruz is currently holding a competition versus his good blogging friend Gyutae Park, the aim for the competition is to get blog readers (like myself) to write a blog post (like this) about the competition and nominate a winner. I am choosing Tyler of course, not only because I wouldn’t mind a chance at winning the $100 prize, but due to Tyler having a great blog!

I have been reading Tyler’s blog for well over a year now, and more of my thoughts can be found on my old review here, but if you have yet to check out his blog and are interested in making money online then his entrepreneur blog is highly recommended. I see his blog as something of an inspiration for me starting this blog, as one day I hope to be in a similar position to Tyler, making money through a series of successful websites and living off the earnings. Being your own boss sure does sound good.

If you have a blog it may also be worth getting in on the blogging action and voting for TylerCruz, as all entries will receive a link back in a future post, and considering Tyler’s high RSS and Technorati rankings you can only stand to benefit from being linked to via this well positioned blog. Tyler is also on Entrecard so if you are after a free way to advertise on his blog, entrecard it is!

I wish Tyler the best of luck in his competition and sure do hope he wins. No doubt I will update this blog with the results, regardless of who wins. Vote for TylerCruz.

January 10, 2008 Comments are Disabled Read More
Bloggin-Ads Updates

Bloggin-Ads Updates

A few days back I reviewed Bloggin-Ads, in the review I recommended possibly getting a custom theme. Now only days later Mike has posted about his new custom theme, and it’s live.

Bloggin-Ads
The new Bloggin-Ads.com

The new design, which even carries over the old colour scheme (see above) is now live on Bloggin-Ads, so check it out. Congratulations to Mike & Michelle on there new theme, I hope it brings in new readers!

January 9, 2008 4 comments Read More
Blogs I Read

Blogs I Read

I often on a whim add a blog I come across to my RSS reader, but more often than not I find myself ‘cutting the fat’ and getting rid of them soon afterwards. Blogs that stay have that something extra special and in today’s posting I will be writing about those blogs; the blogs I read.

To begin with here are the blogs I read that all have something in common, making websites and/or making money from them:

  • Wake Up Later – I started reading this freelancers blog in the summer and have been impressed with the content ever since, always well written, and interesting it’s one I can’t recommend enough.
  • 365 To Freedom – A site I found via Entrecard and have only recently started reading, this site blogs about various blogging topics, but has an overall goal of making a healthy income in 2008. Worth keeping an eye on, even if it’s just to see how much money can be made in 365 little days.
  • I am Jack’s Design – Another site found via entrecard, and one I can see myself coming back to again and again to check the interesting content, be it for the plugin recommendations, freelancing discussion and so on. Check it out.
  • TylerCruz – The story of an internet entrepreneur, and well worth following, I reviewed Tyler’s blog a while back, and since then it has gone from strength to strength. I think its fair to say I see him as my inspiration for this blog, and you can’t get a stronger recommendation than that. Subscribe now! (It’s down to this inspiration that I am choosing him in his current competition versus Gyutae. Vote for Tyler people!)
  • DavidAirey – Whenever it comes to design, David always has some top tips, and his blog uses imagery very well so it’s always a pleasure to visit.
  • DoshDosh – Plenty of ‘How To’ guides on internet marketing, useful, sound advice.
  • Skelliewag – An odd name sure, but it’s down to earth guides and advice are superb, and yet again the blog uses imagery superbly to accompany posts.
  • EatFruitPlease – Yet another entrecard find, and another young man from the UK like myself, toggling Uni life and online work can be a struggle at times so it’s nice to know your not alone!

The above are my regular online visits, check them all out as I recommend them all. Below is a list of other unrelated blogs I frequent, because you never know you may find something interesting!

  • Joystiq – Up to date gaming news to satisfy my inner nerd.
  • IdiotToys – A fun take at technology ‘news’.
  • UK:Resistance – From the people who brought you Idiot Toys, this is there gaming blog. Again humorous.
  • Icanhascheezburger – Because cat’s amuse me.

That’s it, apart from some blogs of personal friends. Please share your favorite blogs and let me know if you enjoyed discovering some of the blogs mentioned above.

January 9, 2008 5 comments Read More
BlogReviews#2: Bloggin-Ads

BlogReviews#2: Bloggin-Ads

This review is part of my free blog review offer.

Bloggin-Ads impressively aims to review a new blog every single day. The owner claims that his inspiration for creating the site was to enable smaller sites to get some exposure along with helpful advice, and I admire that goal.

This site has a really impressive backlog of blog entries, and as although it may not be an actual review every day, it appears Mike and his wife sure have been posting consistently since the blog started in October of last year (see archives). The daily posts made are informative, detailed, and in some instances can offer solid advice and ‘food for thought’ for any blogger. All posts offer up social link options, like bookmarking and adding to digg for example, a good move which will help bring in new and returning visitors. Other positive social aspects of the blog include MyBlogLog and Blogosphere widgets among others.

Additionally to Mike and Michelle posting on Bloggin-Ads the site also employs an interesting user-content style approach which allows registered users the opportunity to have their own review(s) posted. These reviews can be about a blog of the users choosing, and of course their own. This is a unique way of gaining additional content, and a nice way for start up bloggers to get some external exposure and link-backs. It’s like guest blogging for all, an open way for the blog owners to get more blog posts, and more importantly they can pick and choose.

The site has an About page which actually informs the reader what the site is about, it’s inspirations, and it’s overall goals, if only the same could be said for mine! More blogs, mine included, need to work on there about pages. Here is a good post from Skelliewag about writing a good about page. Other pages include the advertising page, which offers up various reasonably priced options, and a basic contact page, with links to social networking sites along with the expected email form.

One thing Bloggin-Ads does have which surprised me is a forum. This surprise was only down to seeing very very few blogs with forums, and as expected the forum was quiet with only 4 members posting in a measly 5 topics (at time of writing). Now a forum may well be a worthwhile addition once the blog grows and has users wanting to discuss and request reviews, but right now it seems like a worthless addition to an otherwise good site.

The site is using a good colourful free theme, and although it is a suitable theme, when the blog grows I suggest going custom.

If the blog keeps up it’s healthy rate of posting and continues to offer free reviews I can’t see why the site will not succeed in growing. Remove the forum for now, and keep on blogging.

Bloggin-Ads is a blog about blogs.
http://bloggin-ads.com/

January 7, 2008 2 comments Read More
Learning to drive

Learning to drive

I posted on New Years Day about my goals for 2008 and it seems I am already making the first moves towards this goal.

I received a birthday card from my grandparents, within it the money needed to apply for a license and the required forms. So either my grandparents read this blog, or they think it’s about time I learned (most probably the latter).

Just a quick update on an update to a goal. If any changes are made in reaching my goals, I will blog about them.

January 6, 2008 2 comments Read More
My 21st brings Nikon fun.

My 21st brings Nikon fun.

I recently turned 21, and for those of you who are interested I had a great birthday. But the best thing about my day was receiving a superb Nikon D40 Digital SLR Camera from my parents.

Nikon D40

I have always had a distinct interest in photography, from feeble attempts to be arty, to just taking pictures of friends (and annoying them in the progress); but in the past my cameras (in my opinion) have always been lackluster, from very early digital cameras to modern phone cameras it’s all been a bit grim. Now I am very much so the amateur when it comes to taking a good picture, so I am currently attempting to educate myself on photography terminology and reading up on techniques used by others; in addition to this today I have been browsing the photography section on entrecard, with some really great results.

For example, BenSpark has been uploading ‘every-day’ style shots to his blog now for over 1,000 days, some of his pictures are great, so check it out. Another blog I clicked through to via entrecard was ‘My Beginnings In Photography‘, not the most catchiest name admittedly but this blog has some excellent beautiful shots. Finally another interesting blog I found was one which touched upon making money online via taking pictures, the blog has some good advice so check it out if your interested in monetizing your picture taking.

Now no doubt over the coming months I will be getting to grips with my new camera and taking a load of pictures (mostly rubbish I’m sure), so I am considering installing one of the wordpress flickr plugins to my blog to share my photographs with the blogging world. So be on the look out for that.

Finally for those of you interested in just the camera itself, and not my random musings, check out it’s wikipedia page.

January 5, 2008 3 comments Read More
Using Tags

Using Tags

Wordpress logo Since WordPress 2.3 hit it introduced tagging into the back end system, allowing blog owners a simple way to associate quick terms of information to their posts and display a tag cloud on their blog. Now this all may well seem all well and good, but was the addition of any value? Personally I think adding a tagging system is a move forward, but it was handled in the wrong way. It’s far to basic and does not share your tagging data at all.

Tagging not only allows the visitor a quick and easy way to see what a blog blogs about most (via the tag cloud) it also acts as a simple search to a collection of content surrounding a certain keyword. But tagging, as far as I am concerned is much more than that. Tagging when put in a social environment helps paint a rich tapestry of what bloggers, and the web, is talking about.

At this point of course I am talking about blogging networking services like the popular Technorati. Not only can bloggers benefit from the traffic and various other benefits having a Technorati account can bring, but via linking up your blog and it’s tags to Technorati you will be contributing to a live view of what bloggers are talking about. For example, for the past few months a lot of bloggers have been discussing entrecard and its strengths and weaknesses, say you blogged about it, tagged it, and then gain visitors and potential subscribers via them finding your thoughts via Technorati. Your helping yourself out, and your helping create a more true image as to what folks are blogging about.

Technorati

Of course for the introduction of tagging in to the back end to be truly perfect WordPress and Technorati would have to come to some form of partnership, but they haven’t (yet) so it’s down to you to make that partnership yourself. If you don’t already have Technorati tagging set up I recommend you do. First up sort yourself out with a Technorati account, and then install this great plugin from David Gibbs over at Geeky Ramblings: WP Tags to Technorati, with everything installed and activated your tags should now appear below your post and on your Technorati page.

You are now adding to the greater view of the blogging world. Enjoy the benefits.

January 2, 2008 Comments are Disabled Read More
Goals for 2008

Goals for 2008

Happy New Year! I hope you all have a great 2008 and achieve all that you aim to. (Also to bring in the new year, a congratulations from Scott at mythermos.com for winning my small holiday entrecard contest.)

Now as for my plans for 2008, these include goals for my blog, my sites and personal aims:

1. Get a custom blog design:

Mainly a goal I hope to achieve far before 2008 is even close to finished, I want to give ChrisBrandrick.com it’s own look and feel. It’s commonly known that using a public free theme (despite their merits) is frowned upon. Having a design unique to me gives my blog an identity, a brand, and recognition. John Cow has various cow theming, John Chow has that big car, TylerCruz has that nice custom avatar, all memorable stuff. Being unique is a big positive. So hopefully I can achieve this goal fairly soon. If you know of any good WordPress design folks, let me know.

2. Increase my blog earnings:

Now from the offset this shouldn’t be to difficult, especially considering my blog is currently earning me £0. That’s right, I am currently making no money from this site, but this isn’t because I can’t, it’s because so far I just haven’t. The goal for 2008 is not only to make money but to make a specific amount per month. For those big internet entrepreneurs out there this may not seem like much, but it’s a goal I am realistically aiming for. By the end of the year I hope to be making a consistent £100 per month ($200 for you reading stateside) from ChrisBrandrick.com. This will be handled carefully, as for a start this blog will never be plastered with adverts, if and when I do implement ads it will be subtle and well placed. I hope to make the majority of this earning via reviews. Watch this space, as once I do start earning from this blog I will no doubt keep you guys in the loop.

3. Learn to drive:

I’m 21 in two days, here in the UK you can drive from the young age of 17. It’s about time I got a driving license and learned to drive, it’s a life skill I want. Sure traveling by train has served me well, but having your own set of wheels is an independence which I eventually want. This year, despite it’s pricey nature I hope to learn and pass my driving test, thats the goal. Buying a car is not.

4. Blog more:

All you have to do is look back over my archives for the past year to see that postings here at my blog have been lacking, sure it may well have picked up in the past month to a rate I am happy with but I intend to improve more, mainly to keep myself motivated and working. I intend to post at least (at a minimum) of five times a week. Hopefully you the reader will appreciate this to! More posts on my web developments, reviews and personal musings coming your way.

5. Launch WebmasterPlay:

You may remember all the way back in June of 2007 I posted about a webmaster forum I was creating, since then little work has took place on it for several reasons. Initially things were going well, with the front page created and the sites feature set building impressively. Unfortunately I hired an individual who wasn’t quite what I was looking for when it came to skinning the vBulletin forum. Due to this misfortune I took a break from developing the site, and this break lasted far longer than expected. I still really want to WebmasterPlay finished, and hopefully 2008 will be it’s year. Videogaming webmasters keep an eye out.

6. Increase RSS Subscriptions:

Only yesterday I made a posting detailing how I had installed Feedburner tools to my RSS feed. With this freshly installed I figured it would be worthwhile to make a goal relating to my readership. So with any luck by the end of the year my RSS subscription will hopefully be at 500, I have no idea how hard this goal will be to reach, but why not start me on the right path by subscribing now.

7. Get into my final year of University:

An academic goal which relies on me working hard(er) and getting the required grades, from now until May. Although without sounding to cocky, I am fairly confident that I will get into the 3rd and final year of University, this goal will act as a reminder as to why I am doing the course I am (Web Technology) and why I want to do it. The 3rd year starts in September so be sure to check back for the results then!

8. Launch and make a success of GameBrit:

This is the first time I have mentioned GameBrit on my blog, but here we go. GameBrit simply put is a british gaming website I have been working on for a short while, I hope to launch it within the next month or two. But more details on GameBrit coming in a separate post. I want to make sure I get it launched with the desired features, and getting at least 15,000 uniques per month before the year is out.

9. Purchase an iMac:

This goal really does depend on my online earnings, as I intend to fund this expensive purchase almost entirely from my money earned online. A new 20″ inch iMac, will it be mine this year?

10. Increase overall earnings:

What with me launching a small number of new sites this year (more details soon) I hope to start earning a healthy income from my online endeavors. As detailed above I would like to earn £100 a month from my blog, so on a whole £1000 a month from all my sites seems like a logical target. This will require a lot of personal effort and hopefully I will see the results. £1000 ($2000) per month from my portfolio of websites.

Those are my goals for the year, and hopefully when I come back to review this post in a years time, it will have been a successful year. (The above aims are in no particular order.)

I wish you all a productive new year; be sure to share your goals with me!

January 1, 2008 Comments are Disabled Read More
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