3 Awesome Blogging Tips That Will Skyrocket Your Blog Business

This article is not intended to give you the newbies course about hosting, installing a blog on your domain and etc. It will give you some serious advice on your blog business 

Bad blogging habits are easy to get into, and one of the worst is to leave your 'About' page unchanged. You know the page: it is provided by Wordpress as standard and a whole host of bloggers leave it unchanged. Why they do this is known only to them, because this is the first page that a large number of first-time visitors to a blog check out, and the reason why many of them leave without looking further.

All you have to do is to say a little about yourself, who you are, and what your blog is about, why you feel qualified to write a blog about this topic and how you can be contacted. If your blog covers a particular niche, rather than being simply a log of personal comments, then your potential readers will want to know why they should believe what you say by reading your credentials on the subject. 

There is nothing wrong with having a personal blog about your personal thoughts on things, but if you are presenting yourself as a form of expert on a specific topic, then you will have to persuade readers that you have a right to do so. You should use your 'About' page to do that. 

Another tip you should take is to claim your blog with Technorati. This registers it as yours with Technorati, and you can get a whole load more visitors. Since joining Technorati most of my blogs' traffic rocketed. It takes a while for new blogs to get going, but it's a lot easier if you make use of sites such as Technorati. The same is true of most of the social bookmarking sites if traffic is important to you. If you are using a blog to promote a product, then this is essential. 

If you have a website then don't get lazy and be content to run your blog from a hosting site such as wordpress.com. It is better to download the software from wordpress.org, and host your own blog. You have much more control over the look and feel of it, and can use any of the thousands of plugins that are available online. You can also use any template you want, or even design your own. That way you get total customization of your blog pages, and can make it more distinctive than the majority hosted on Wordpress or Blogger's site. If you have tried and had problems downloading and installing it then send me an email. If needed I can take you through it online, or by telephone.

These are the two main tips that any blogger should take if they intend to blog seriously. However, was I to provide the third most important tip for anybody interested in blogging, then it would be to monetize your blog. Don't blog for nothing. If your blog concerns a specific niche subject you can likely throw up one or two affiliate programs on your sidebar so that they appear with your new posts. A three column blog is useful for this, since your regular sidebar will generally be full of permanent links. 

If you monetize using Adsense, a three column layout is even more essential, since you will want a vertical block down one of the columns, in addition to some at the bottom and the middle. A good Adsense layout would be a column to the left or right of the main text column containing a vertical ad unit, a horizontal link unit at the bottom of the blog, and also a horizontal ad unit at the bottom of the latest post. You could also include a search box at the top or bottom of your main sidebar that allows a search either on Google, from which you get income, or on your blog. 

You could also include one of your websites as a second search option, providing three altogether. The income might not be a lot, but most blogs with a few hundred visitors a day should be able to make from $10 to $20 daily minimum, depending on the niche. All you need are a few blogs like that. 

These are my three main blogging tips. Yours would likely be different, since blogging is a very personal thing, but if you take these three on board you will likely find that you will get more visitors, have more fun and also be able to put a bit put aside for the holidays or that unexpected bill that always comes at the wrong time. 

8 Ways To Use A Blog To Develop Content For Your Book

If your planning to write a book, you can use a blog to develop content for the book.

1. Participate in the blogosphere: Read and comment on other blogs in your field. This is a prime way to build readership of your blog. It is also a way of getting fresh content for both your blog and for your book.

To check out other blogs in your niche: use www.blogsearch.google.com, www.technorati.com, or www.google.com.

This is also a good way to get ideas. What are other people in your field writing about? What are the major challenges of the people in your field? If you have competitors, check them out. They may be a great help in inspiring you for content ideas, different slants and perspectives. The old song, "Anything you can do, I can do better," comes to mind.

2. Ask readers to comment on your blog. In fact, each time you post something, ask them a question. Then spell it out to them on how to post a comment because your readers will probably need to be educated or at least encouraged to comment. ("Click on the comment link in the footer of this post, and leave your responses.")

Sometimes readers will need assurances of privacy, in which case, you can ask them to email you their questions or comments in private. Others are not worried about privacy because after all, a blog isn't meant to be private. However, readers can be shy about commenting, and need encouragement.

You may also encourage them to respond by telling them that you would like to use their replies in your book, but will only do so with their permission.

3. Survey your readers, do a mini-study on their preferences, their experiences, etc. The Internet is the fastest way to acquire some statistics of readers' preferences. Far from being a scientifically validated study that would pass muster in universities with academicians, an informal survey can give you ideas and material to write about. It can also confirm that you are addressing the concerns of your readers.

4. Run a contest for the best idea, funniest experience, most influential or heart-grabbing situation. If you want to use these readers' responses for content in your book, you should tell them. Many people jump at the chance to be included in a book. Others may prefer to participate anonymously. You can give them both options.

Here's an example of how one writer asked his readers for input:

Do You Have A Broken WIndows Story?

Michael Levine's new book, Broken WIndows, Broken Business is being released later this month. Many people feel this is going to be a mega best-seller.

We have set up a website, where you can rant about broken windows in your everyday experience... Check it out at BrokenWindows.com

People love to share their experiences, and they love to rant, or rave. Just ask.

5. Ask your readers to attend a teleseminar based on the needs, challenges, concepts and ideas of your blog readers. This is a great way to go deeper into the problems and solutions you are writing about. You can record the sessions, transcribe the dialogue, convert the teleseminar to audio and PDF files. These can be sold, or given away as marketing materials for your book.

6. Use your blog site meter stats to examine what are the most popular articles posted. This information will guide you to expand on the topics and subtopics that capture the interests of readers.

7. Consistently reconnect with your passion, and ignite and inspire others with similar interests. After you've been blogging for awhile, you will probably develop good blogging habits:

a. Write something on your blog daily, or at least 2-3 times a week.

b. Read other blogs 2-3 times a week. Be sure to use the My Yahoo or other RSS feed buttons to subscribe to your favorite blogs, or sign up to get email updates through a FeedBlitz service on each blog.

c. Write with your readers in mind. And if you're not sure where their interests lie, ask them. If they've found your blog, and have subscribed, chances are you share a lot in common.

d. If you ever fall into blog-block, reconnect with your core purpose for the blog (remember, the one you wrote out before starting your blog?). When this happens there is usually a reason, although it may not be clear to you at the time. This will pass. You can help it along by asking questions – of your readers, yourself, your closest allies.

8. Podcasting – Create audio files easily by scheduling teleclasses and recording them. Some people like to get their information auditorily and at their convenience by downloading mp3 files to their iPods.

Use a free teleconferencing bridge line like http://www.freeconference.com to host a call. Record your call, upload the audio file and then post to your blog or podcast using a service like http://www.audioblog.com.

As an added benefit, you can get these calls transcribed; then convert the word doc to a PDF file which you can either give away, or sell, in exchange for people's email address; http://www.CastingWords.com is a fast, affordable transcription service.

Manny Pacquiao Wins Over Shane Mosley

Filipinos are very proud of our own Manny Pacquiao to win the recently concluded fight with Shane Mosley. Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao won by unanimous decision.

It was another a breathtaking view of power and techniques that both boxers shown on the ring especially by Manny Pacquiao.  Manny, you are truly a winner, a champion, a superstar!

Pacquiao time and time again has has been an inpiration to the Filipino people and this win against Mosley only show that perserverance and hard work (and a bit of divine intervention) will always help you succeed in your goals

Congratulations Manny Pacquiao for winning the fight with Shane Mosley!

I am Cesar Noel: Another blogging project

I have been playing around with my free webhosting account since I don't want it to go to waste so I created a subdomain name and installed Wordpress and whalla! I am Cesar Noel is born. The blog may borderline as a personal blog but the niche is all about my work as a IT professional in an outsourcing environment. This blog will also "demystify" the common man on how the outsourcing works as well as the tools of the trade if you plan to engage in a outsourcing business or you want to become part of an outsourcing industry either as a an individual (freelancer) as a part of an outsourcing firm or company.

I would like also to remove the stereotype that when you talk about outsourcing is not all about "call centers" or BPO (Business Process Outsource). Outsourcing services also include web designing, web development, search engine marketing/optimization and virtual assistance aside from the usual "customer service"-oriented servives like call centers.

Let the Summer Begin in April

Now April is here and as of this writing the "April Fools Day" has also passed a was fortunate not to receive some pranks but the real essence of the Month of April is the Summer "vibe". Since school year mostly ended around the 3rd week of March, most of these students has now passed the college test and enter the REAL world (which is evident of the increase workload of our HR officer and my workload as a training and development officer). For some of you might wonder, where am I last March? To tell you honestly I've been busy doing weekend workshops to some of our existing agents as a part of our skills enhancement and retention program (which most company do to stay competitive) and even though it's April, daily work will still continue (except on the third week which is Holy Week and we expecting a much lesser workload by that time).

Work aside, I have updating my social media presence via Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, and my latest craze GetGlue and Instagram since these services can now be enjoyed on a portable capacity via my smartphone, and other gadgets. Blogging took some neglect on my part but I always remind myself to write a blog post when I have the ample time and inspiration to write. As of this writing I have made some updates on some of my blogs and I would like to list the latest posts:

• Relic Hunting (Simply Entertainment Blog)
• Emily Prentiss does a "Horatio Caine" (Crime Scene TV)
• Anthrax and Death Angel to perform on Pulp Summer Slam 11: Resurrection (Rock Music Buzz)
• St. Louis Rams Mockdraft:  (Grid Iron Rams -  American Football)
• 10 Great Ways to Make Money via Podcasting (Money and SEO)
• Canon T3i Review (iCNSQ Tech blog)
• 10 Usability Principles to Guide you through your Web Design Maze (Cnsqonline Blog)

That would be list for now but there will be more updates to come.

OMG, FYI, and LOL enter Oxford English Dictionary

In an acknowledgement of the internet's overwhelming influence on the triviality we sometimes refer to as "real life," the Oxford English Dictionary doyens have decided to add a few of the web's favorite pronouncements to their lexicon. Among them are the standouts OMG, LOL and FYI, joining their compatriots IMHO and BFF among the proud number of officially sanctioned initialisms (abbreviations contracted to the initials of their words) used in the English language. Shockingly enough, the expression OMG has had its history tracked all the way back to 1917, while LOL used to mean "little old lady" back in the '60s, and FYI first showed up in corporate lingo in 1941. Not only that, but the heart symbol -- not the <3 emoticon, the actual ♥ graphic -- has also made it in.

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Listening to Podcast has become a hobby

Listening to podcasts has been my latest hobby as listening to conversations are now more entertaining than listening to some songs from my playlist (although I still listen to some songs on occasion).

By definition: A podcast (or non-streamed webcast) is a series of digital media files (either audio or video) that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication. The word usurped webcast in common vernacular, the word podcast is made famous from iPod due to rising popularity and the innovation of web feeds but it can be also played on some other portable media devices as long as the format is supported.

In other words it's basically a non-streaming "radio show" which is good because you can listen to the shows anytime you want at your own convenience.

Most of the time I have been listening to a couple of shows which are: Appslappy, a weekly podcast dedicated to users of the Apple App Store; Filmsack a weekly podcast on which the hosts ( four of them actually) picks a movie and the host will give their best (or worst) criticism about the selected movie; and of course Good Times with MO which is hosted by DJ Mo Twister of Magic89.9 and my latest is the SEO 101 Podcast which is a podcast about Search Engine Optimization as explained by the experts. I recently wrote a blog post about SEO 101 on my Money and SEO blog elaborating the advantage of listening to the show for SEO enthusiasts.

Araw ng Davao is fast approaching

I will suspend my 3-part Iloilo trip story for short  blog post about the incoming summer festivities to which it will be hi-lighted by the Araw ng Davao celebration on the 16th of March. Unfortunately for me this comes on a Wednesday which is still a work day for me (which I was hoping to do my very first Araw ng Davao shoot, unless our office declares a non-working holiday too). This will also be the time of the year that a lot of schools will be ending the school year which mean a lot of college graduates will be entering their professional lives soon. 

Sunday Afternoon Blog: The Caffe Firenzo Damosa

Sunday afternoon blogging on a relaxing place is always a good treat. This week, we tried having some relaxing time at Caffe Firenzo at Damosa IT Park. As what I have mentioned on my blog post, the place was much better than their Quirino branch because of obviously good parking space and the spacious area of the place itself.

My wife also had fun with her Instagram as we took some pictures of the place and of the food so that we could share it for every to know the place.

Finding a Good Web Host

One of the more important decisions you’ll have to make when starting a site will be, who is going to host your site. In a way a web host is the backbone of your site – it gets all of your content and information out on the web, so everyone can connect and view it. If your host is slow, or even worse, down – not too many people are going to view your site and information. Because of this, you want to make sure you find a good web host that will be running 99.9% of the time, and will always be there for you when you have questions – without breaking the bank. Here are a couple of tips to make sure you get the most out of your hosting plan.


It’s All About Balance

A big mistake that a lot of new webmasters will make is looking for the lowest possible price one their web hosting. While finding a good deal is always important – there is a point where the prices some people offer become unrealistic in the real business world. I say this because if someone offers X amount of hosting for $1 a month, no matter how many clients they get, they will have a hard time keeping up with support, if they offer it at all. With all of that said it’s usually best to look for a host that offers realistic prices so they can afford to offer great support, and fast servers.


Ask Around

One of the best things about the Internet is the ability to speak to millions of people from across the world, and even get their opinions on certain topics. This is especially true with the boom of Internet forums, or boards - people from all around the world come and post ideas and comments, usually about a certain topic. You can use this technology to your advantage. Some my suggest to you a hostgator hosting, others might give you Bluehost hosting. Nevertheless is still best to do some extensive research

Most of the time you’ll run into someone who is currently hosted, or was once hosted by that company – and they should be able to give you some good facts and ideas on what to do.



In the end it really boils down to a little research and common sense. If a deal sounds to good to be true, it probably is – and if you want to be sure, just ask. Just remember you get what you pay for, and a good web host will be a great start to keeping your site up and running for a long time.

NLE Results December 2010: May Not Be as Exciting as It Was

Anybody in the Philippines knows how difficult it is to procure enough money just to send a student to college. However, this kind of privilege is esteemed in the many regions of the country that is why parents fight teeth and nails just to be able to send their children to a university or even to a local college. All of them have hopes that it is through this way that they could give their children, and also their own families, a better future.

That is why it is not surprising anymore that when more established and industrialized countries started to look for manpower support coming from nurses from other countries, the enrollment rate for nursing surged. This was the scenario around ten years ago or so. However, for those who had been fortunate enough to pass in the NLE board exam results December 2010, their future may not be as bright as it had been for passers of the same exam years and years ago.

The signs were already starting to appear, but still everybody was confident that the demand for nurses would not go down. In fact, officials of the country were saying that the job will still continue to need more people even after ten years.

However, with more and more nurses, both registered and not, having to sought for employment elsewhere, jobs that are not even close to relevant to their course like telemarketers in call centers, there is no doubt that indeed PRC nursing board exam results December 2010 and in the coming years will not be as relevant as it was before when the nursing profession abroad was still in bloom.

What makes this more depressing is the fact that there are so many nursing graduates and professionals out there who had to pay just to be able to render services in hospitals. If people start to pay establishments just to be able to find work, then there is really something wrong with the system.

Indeed, if you do want to get a decent paying job while you are still buying some time before you could go abroad and work, you have to work extra hard. Being fortunate to be one of the passers in the Nursing Board exam result December 2010 is not anymore a guarantee that you can have a better future. Sad as it may seem, it has become the truth nowadays.