I would like to announce that my term here at 901am.com will end by April 30 this year. Splashpress Media, the publisher of this news blog, has elected not to renew my term, so I am left with no choice but to go.

It’s been stressful running a news blog but it’s a lot fun. I have to thank the bloggers who worked with me, the readers, and Splashpress Media for publishing this.

What is in store for me when the term expires? I still do not know but one thing is sure, I will go back to my roots.

Minic Rivera

Her blogs are: shaicoggins.com and justmakemoneyonline.com.

Please tell us something that we still do not know about yourself.

Hmmm… Tough first question, seeing as I don’t know what you know about me. And, having been blogging for almost a decade now, I’m not even sure what I already shared online. Scary thought.

Anyway, maybe I’ll just say something that I don’t usually admit out loud (and still have trouble accepting): I’m a lousy housekeeper. I don’t like ironing. Making my house look like it’s ready for a Home & Garden photo shoot isn’t in my top priority. And, I’m grateful that I have a husband who’s great in helping with the chores. I mean, sure, I can psych myself up to clean and de-clutter like a mad woman when I need to. I love to decorate and such when I get the chance. The only housework I actually enjoy is cooking. Even then, I don’t attempt to cook everyday. So yeah, I definitely won’t be winning Housekeeper of the Year.

There, I said it. I know that won’t surprise my husband and close friends, though.

Why do you blog?

Simply because I’ll probably explode if I don’t.

Seriously, if I wasn’t blogging - or if this thing called a blog has never become popular - I would still be doing something close to this activity.

Blogging, to me, is a form of self expression, a catharsis, a therapeutic exercise, a creative outlet, a personal journey and a note-taking lifestyle… long, long before it became a way to make money, network, and do all sorts of amazing things.

How did you get into blogging?

When I first went online about a decade ago, my first instinct was to learn to create a webspace for my personal interests. That’s how I ended up building sites via Geocities back in ‘99. I put in there a diary of sorts (much like how blogging’s like) - plus a whole lot of other writings like quote collections, short stories, poetry, essays, features, and other resources.

A couple of years later, I discovered a journalling software that I can install myself and pretty much tweak to make it more like the way I want my site to look like. Plus, it made updating sites easier and quicker (no more messing with Frontpage and hand-coded pages).

With that first discovery came a few more. I think I may be one of the first few to test MovableType and WordPress a few years ago. This experimentation with blogging platforms became an addiction (and a necessity) when I became the first Guide to Web Logs on About.com (a NY Times company).

How much time everyday do you spend blogging? How do you divide your time between being a mom and being a blogger?

I only really have two main blogs that I update on a regular basis now - http://shaicoggins.com and http://justmakemoneyonline.com. And, it probably takes approximately an hour from my day, depending on the type of posts I’m writing. Sometimes, I end up with less time on them, sometimes just a bit more.

So yeah, the actual blogging doesn’t take that long. It’s all the other things that go with it that take up more time - from networking and blog reading to leaving comments and researching.

In terms of dividing my time… Hmmm… funny how this question hardly ever gets asked from male bloggers who are also dads, huh?

Anyway, I do most of my blogging and my online work when the kids are at school/childcare - or when my husband’s taking care of them. And yes, when they’ve all gone to bed.

I make sure that I give them a lot of my time, energy and attention when we’re together as a family. And, we definitely make an effort to have family time, every day. And more at the weekends. I can’t have it any other way. Kids grow up so fast. And, there’s nothing that blogging can offer that will overshadow my joy as a mum to my two kids.

However, to me, it’s not really an either/or situation.

How do you attract readers? Any tips on getting the word out about your blog and driving users to your site?

There are many ways to attract readers. There’s an abundance of advice on this topic in various blogs - from using social bookmarking sites like StumbleUpon and networking on Twitter… to creating fabulous content and making headlines and such that work. They all definitely play a part in improving one’s readership.

But, after many years of blogging, one thing I realised is that I actually need to attract the most important reader of all: Myself. Seriously. If I came across my blog and it wasn’t written by me, would I be interested in it? Would I subscribe to my blog, read and re-read my own blog posts?

And yes - another thing that I try to keep in mind is to be involved. Always. Getting involved in my own blog is one thing. But, there’s more to it than that. Becoming involved in other people’s blogs - and the blog community in general - are definitely very important aspects of blogging and gaining readership. So, leave comments, participate in projects, get other people involved… It’s all part of the whole blogging scene.

What blogs do you read? Can you share with us some URLs of your favorites?

I’ve got a few hundred blogs in my feedreader. So, it’s a bit tough just to choose a few favourites. Of course, I do my best to read as many b5media.com blogs as I’m able to read. And, I read and visit blogs of folks who interact with me on a regular basis (via joining my blog projects, leaving comments in my blogs, etc). Those who make it to my ‘Top Commenters’ get special attention because I find links to their blogs easily. Other than the bloggers in my communities, I make it a point to visit blogs in my industry and my varied areas of interest. Plus, blogs of my family and friends.

What is the status of blog networks? Is it still as hot as two years ago?

Blog networks are still all the rage, of course.

But, I think people have come to realise now that making money from blogging networks is not so simple and easy. It really does take a lot more than just installing blogging software, getting a blogger to write on a topic and reaping advertising dollars.

So, maybe that’s why we haven’t really seen as many people starting their own networks. At least, not as much as they used to after the initial surge.

Is there room for more? It depends on the kind of network you intend to start.

Are blogging networks really worth it? Absolutely. However, the scene will most likely evolve as technology and social media evolve in the next couple of years.

What is your job description as VP of Community for b5media?

In a nutshell, I take care of all community-related activities within b5media. Primarily, our internal community of bloggers (via chats, contests, surveys, and other related activities). Although, I do work in some external projects too. And yes, seeing as my work is all about community, I am grateful that we have our great Channel Editors who help to make a lot of wonderful stuff happen.

Other than these “official” community work, I’m also part of the Content Team in b5media. Here, I work closely with Darren Rowse (VP, Training), Christina Jones (Content manager), and Tris Hussey (Training manager). We basically work together regarding day-to-day operations - from handling content policies to training feedback.

Then, there’s the ‘unofficial’ role of being co-owner of b5, where I work with the rest of the management team regarding “higher decision making” stuff.

Can you give us a ballpark figure as to how much you earn from blogging? How do you monetize your blog?

This is another tricky question for me, as I make money from blogging directly and indirectly. My answer will depend on which area of blogging income we’re looking at. Combined direct and indirect income from blogging amounts to a good full time income for me that helps in paying for a mortgage, day-to-day living expenses, travel, school fees, etc.

On direct income from blogging through my ’side projects’ - I monetise my blogs using various strategies. Like most bloggers who try to make money from their blogs, I use AdSense. I also have text links, affiliates, and other ad programmes. They come up to a decent amount of extra change that I use to indulge my photography, gadgets, crafting, eBay and etsy habits.

What common mistakes do you see other bloggers are doing?

Starting a blog purely for making money. Having unrealistic expectations from their efforts. Spreading themselves too thin. Not being involved enough in their own blogs - and in the blogging community in general. Not knowing how to grow outside their comfort zones.

What advice can you give to someone who’s starting a blog?

Do it because you love it. Blog because it’s really something you feel passionate about. Know why you want to blog and set your expectations accordingly. If community is one of the reasons you wish to blog, then by all means, reach out and take part in conversations. Don’t be insular. Take advice lightly. And, enjoy the ride!

Is the blogosphere crowded already?

Really, I don’t even think about the blogosphere in that way. How can it be crowded when there’s enough web space to go around for everyone? But yes, it becomes increasingly difficult to get heard and to stand out as more blogs get started.

But, not everyone blogs to get heard/to stand out/to make money.

So, it’s more about what you want to get out of blogging. If it serves your purpose, then you’re doing the right thing. And, there’s always room for more people wishing to use blogs as a way to define and to achieve their purpose.

You like photography. What is your camera of choice?

My first and only DSLR is the Nikon D40x. And I love it. I know it’s considered entry-level - and it does have some limitations. But, I’m no pro - and have no aspirations of becoming pro. So, the D40x suits me just fine. Besides, it’s one of the few great DSLRs that can actually fit in to my handbag. Very nifty.

Please tell us something that we still do not know about yourself.

The 30th anniversary of my ballet accident is soon; it put me in the hospital, twice.

Why do you blog?

I like to promote good efforts by people much smarter than me, and I’m also indulging my sense of humor.

How did you get into blogging?

Just started doing it, not so hard.

How much time everyday do you spend blogging given the fact that most of your time is into Customer Support?

Very little time blogging, maybe ten minutes per week.

How do you attract readers? Any tips on getting the word out about your blog and driving users to your site?

Well, I don’t really try, I do it, and get a little word of mouth.

What blogs do you read? Can you share with us some URLs of your favorites?

A bunch, a few that come to mind: Huffington Post, BuzzMachine, fishbowl NY and DC, Techcrunch, Slashdot, Engadget, OneVoice, Tim Goodman, On The Media, Jenna’s World.

What common mistakes do you see other bloggers are doing?

Well, to accentuate the positive, “brevity is the soul of wit.”

What advice can you give to someone who’s starting a blog?

Make sure you have something to say, then see (above).

Is the blogosphere crowded already?

Very much so, but that’s good; the Net is everyone’s printing press.

Tech is slowly being developed to help people find what they need.

Barack or Hillary?

Barack is a genuine leader, not a boss, and he’s pretty much free of pernicious influences like bad lobbyists.

Editor’s note: Here is Jon Stewart’s interview with Craig Newmark

Photo by JD Lasica

Please tell us something about yourself that we still do not know.

My very first job was working for a public library, and I still visit libraries and bookstores more than once a week.

Why do you blog?

I blog to be helpful to people looking for ways to build relationships and community using these social media tools.

How did you get into blogging?

In 1998, I used a WYSIWYG software called Trellix to do what was then called “journaling.” I started out using it as a way to write fiction and promote it.

How much time everyday do you spend blogging?

In one format or another, I do over 4 hours of blog-related things a day, but I include commenting on other people’s blogs and helping others with their blog interests part of that four hours.

How do you attract readers? Any tips on getting the word out about your blog and driving users to your site?

Funny you should ask. My post on using Twitter to promote my blog was just featured on Problogger: http://www.problogger.net/archives/2008/03/25/how-i-use-twitter-to-promote-my-blog/

What blogs do you read? Can you share with us some URLs of your favorites?

Boy, I read over 1000 blogs a day, so that’s a really tough question. Some of my favorites are:

http://gobigalways.com
http://thesocialorganization.com
http://copyblogger.com
http://redcouch.typepad.com
http://levite.wordpress.com

And then too many more to name.

Can you give us a ballpark figure as to how much you earn from blogging? How do you monetize your blog?

I earn zero dollars (ballpark) from blogging directly. I get plenty of money indirectly from all the opportunities my blog permits. You’ll notice there are no ads running (yet) on http://chrisbrogan.com.

What common mistakes do you see other bloggers are doing?

Related to your last question, some bloggers mistake wanting to make money with wanting to build relationships. They’re two different things, and require a different mindset. If you’re doing A, then be all about that and don’t pretend you’re doing B.

What advice can you give to someone who’s starting a blog?

Write from your passion. Do your best to make your blog useful to others. Give your ideas “handles,” and by that, I mean “make your best ideas those ones that people can take with them and do for themselves.”

Is the blogosphere crowded already?

Yes and no. There’s plenty of room for great voices. But if you’re writing a “me-too” blog, don’t bother. Get a real job.

You advise businesses, organizations and individuals on using social media– what is the first advice do you give them?

Listen. Most people make the mistake of jumping in to talk. I advise them to listen.

What social media tool do you use the most?

My blog comes first, and then Twitter.

Yankees or Red Sox?

I live in Massachusetts. Which do you think?

Barack or Hillary?

Barack.

Please tell us something about yourself that we still do not know.

Hmmm, right out of the gate, eh? No first date? No dinner and a movie?

Well if you insist…

I’m a hardcore introvert. I fool people because, in social and professional environments, I have trained myself not to be. However, I value my quiet time and insist that my wife go to bed before me so I can have it. Surprise you at all?

Why do you blog?

Blogging, to me, is all about connecting with people. Over the four years that I’ve been blogging, I’ve taken a lot of different tacts and done it for a lot of different reasons. Early on, I just wanted to get noticed. At one point, I wanted to make money. Another time, I saw it as an opportunity to build personal brand. Through all that stuff, my blogging has evolved in terms of its purpose and focus.

Today, there is a lot of people blogging about a lot of the same things. If you look at Techmeme, though, you’ll see that the pool of “thought leaders” is small. There’s probably a dozen regular headliners, and everyone else listed is simply participating in the continuation of the conversation. While there is value in continuing the conversation, I want to be the thought leader. To that end, my blogging is very much oriented around provoking thought on the topics I write about.

How did you get into blogging?

Early on, I was actually joining the Navy and hoped to communicate the experiences from that. That’s where the “sailor” part of the name came from. To me, it was an opportunity to share my thoughts with the world.

How much time everyday do you spend blogging?

I don’t actually blog everyday. I don’t believe in the proverbial “quota”. My thoughts are that if you blog well, and use the tools available effectively, such as Twitter, you can do just fine in building traffic and brand. Ironically, since I stopped worrying about daily self-imposed requirements, my traffic and quality has increased exponentially.

When I do blog, it’s typically because I’ve already developed the thought in my head over a period of time. When I actually sit down to write, it’s effectively a brain dump of what is already there. So, I may spend only 15-30 minutes on a 500-750 word entry. I’ve already done all the “show prep” in my mind.

How do you attract readers? Any tips on getting the word out about your blog and driving users to your site?

Twitter is the most effective one on one marketing tool at my disposal. I still get lots of traffic from StumbleUpon, but that is not the result of active marketing, as much as quality writing in conjunction with viral tools like Twitter. A word about Twitter, and I think this is very important to highlight, Twitter becomes ineffective when it is used as a “low hanging fruit” method of marketing. While Twitter is easy to use, the use of it is not something that should be used trivially. There are too many plugins and tools that “automate” Twitter use, and doing this actually dilutes the effectiveness of your communications and marketing.

You’re with b5media, what do you do there?

I’m the Director of Technology at b5media which simply means that all the tech that’s involved with an internet company (there’s a lot right?) is under my control. We build the platform and infrastructure, participate in the open source community by not only using and extending WordPress, but also contributing directly back to the WordPress community and we try to anticipate scaling opportunities and ways to empower our bloggers to be more effective at what they do.

What blogs do you read? Can you share with us some URLs of your favorites?

I’m a huge fan of Chris Brogan who is the reluctant king of community. Here is a guy who is a rock star without claiming to be one. He has a natural magnetism that attracts community to him. In a lot of ways, I am trying to model my interaction with the local Washington, D.C. community in much the samer way as he has in Boston and in the podcamp, social media communities.

In addition, I’m a big fan of Loren Feldman at 1938media.com. As amazingly blunt as Feldman is, his brand is consistent and transparent. People trust and can relate to someone who is willing to say what everyone else is thinking. And as much of a jackass as Feldman is, he’s the nicest guy you’ll ever meet.

Can you give us a ballpark figure as to how much you earn from blogging? How do you monetize your blog?

Currently, my advertising is handled through b5media. As such, I’m not at liberty to talk about exact figures. I’ve declined a variety of formats of advertising on the blog, though, and so the money I am able to make is not as large as it could be, but that is mainly a result of my choices for the blog.

What common mistakes do you see other bloggers are doing?

I find it unconscionable for bloggers to use Blogger. Everyone knows me as a WordPress fanboi, but the truth of the matter is that Blogger moves bloggers who may not know any better into a corner. When they do hit a moderate degree of success and realize the options available to them, they face the dire consequences of losing pagerank or indexed links.

A second, potentially more problematic decision young bloggers make, is in regards to paid content, such as PayPerPost. I had the chance to talk at length with Ted Murphy at IZEA (PayPerPost) at SXSW and he expressed that his company was all about giving bloggers the choice in how to make money. I agree in principle with this concept, however blind choice is never good. Educated decisions are always better. If you wave $100 in front of my face and tell me I can have it, I might just take it. But if you leave out the fact that by doing it, I have to give up a certain control of my destiny, I may not make that decision. The choice bloggers have to make needs to be in the context of what the ramifications might be. Making easy money (and potentially a lot of it) vs. losing credibility with readers, search juice at Google or damaging reputation and business potential for years to come.

(As of posting time, Aaron Brazell posts on his thoughts about PayPerPost)

What advice can you give to someone who’s starting a blog?

Have an idea what you want to write about before you start. It’s more than okay to adjust later on, but write yourself a mission statement and stick to it. You will become an authority quicker than if you jump around a lot, a mistake I made early on. Consider a personal blog and a professional blog, if you’re so inclined, so you have an outlet to do whatever it is you want to do and a professional blog that stays on topic.

Is the blogosphere crowded already?

Yes, but it’s not a bad thing. We just need more effective ways of distilling the information into relevant nuggets that apply directly to us. Search feeds, Alltop, and social networks like Twitter can provide effective means of doing that, but are not the all encompassing solutions either.

Photo by Tris Hussey

Please tell us something about yourself that we still do not
know.

I am a Presbyterian.

And I love beer (Mirror Pond Pale Ale).

And my cat Luther.

Why do you blog?

I ran out of money for postage (submitting to literary journals) about three years ago.

How did you get into blogging?

Some time ago I saw a guy doing his work online and building an audience both inside and outside the traditional art world. Fortunately, I understood what he was doing just as my postal budget was leaning into the red.

How much time everyday do you spend blogging?

Around 3 hours per week. What’s that, 8 1/2 minutes a day?

Of course, the writing itself amounts to around 10 hours per week (after the day job). So, factor that in as needed…

How do you attract readers? Any tips on getting the word out about your blog and driving users to your site?

I used to employ the tactics you find on every third blog out there, but it grows tiring, keeping up with the 1001 Ways To Market Yourself. It takes away from the WRITING. Which is the entire point, right? So I guess my tip is to write the best damn poem you can get your hands on. And then write another one. And another.

What blogs do you read? Can you share with us some URLs of your favorites?

Sure, in no particular order, Loren, Clark, Hugh, Monergism, Boog, Costa, Doyle, ZYZZYVA, Karp, Lefsetz, Silliman, Many Twitterers, Volume 11, Unusual Business Ideas, Wainwright, Maki, Merlin, and throw the NY Times Arts and Charlie in there for good measure. There are many more, too much to list here really…

(7) Can you give us a ballpark figure as to how much you earn from blogging? How do you monetize your blog?

Last year I took in just over $3K. That’s split between donations, live shows and a few writing gigs that came through because of Knife Gun Pen. Not much I realize, but I think OK for a non-slam writer of poems (I can’t take much more of these “slam poets”).

I don’t really monetize. I mean, I give folks the option to become a Knife Gun Pen Patron as everything on the site is free to take, but I’ve stayed away from ads. The arts and the ads don’t play nice, in fact, don’t really play at all. I’m not necessarily opposed to the idea, except in the sense that I don’t like a lot of bullshit clutter on the site. However, if Gerber Legendary Blades or Remington Arms or the Deschutes Brewery and I came to a Patronage agreement, then let the money flow…

The future is in the Live Talking Show. It’ll be years before the momentum picks up, if it does at all, but unfortunately I’m a much better performer than writer.

(8) What common mistakes do you see other bloggers are doing?

Writing crap.

Ignoring video.

Constantly grabbing for the four-hour workweek.

(9) What advice can you give to someone who’s starting a blog?

Learn the tech basics (or hire someone to do it).

Work your ass off.

(10) Is the blogosphere crowded already?

Sure, there’s 6 Billion+ people on this planet and many of them feel like they’ve got something to say. That means a lot of sites, a lot of cookbooks, a lot of How To, a lot of everything.

(11) Don’t you think you should be in New York or Hollywood?

No. I did my time in Hollywood.

It doesn’t matter if you’re in North Dakota these days, in fact, it’s probably better if you are. It would allow you to stay away from the parties, the conferences, the other writers, the “easy money” and the backslapping vampires.

Do your work.

Do your work.

Do your work.

In the end, and I’m talking 30-40 years, the ones who work and devote themselves to their craft/trade will be rewarded. And they’ll sleep well at night along the way.

Or, if I end up dead and penniless in a Detroit gutter, there’s always heaven.

Please tell us something that we still do not know about yourself (other than what you’ve written about yourself in your blog).

I’m currently on a mission to read every CS Lewis book ever written. I also enjoy burnt bologna.

Why do you blog?

I enjoy it. I think any other reason would fall short in motivating me…

How did you get into blogging?

Back when blogging first hit the scene years ago, I think many people had the narcissistic notion that others would care to read their writings. I was one such person and blogged at a personal level for a few years. This past year, I realized that my professional knowledge was probably more valuable, so I began blogging about that instead.

How much time everyday do you spend blogging?

It depends on other stuff going on in life. Early on, I was spending a couple hours daily as I was learning and trying to build a sizable readership and community. That’s tapered off a little, and nowadays, I spend less time on promoting and more time on just content writing.

How do you attract readers? Any tips on getting the word out about your blog and driving users to your site?

Nowadays, I am fortunate enough to have a reader base that lets me ease off the “marketing and promoting” aspect of my blog. But back when I was promoting more, I would first sure my articles were somewhat unique and contained content that I myself would find interesting as a blogger or web worker. Then I just stayed involved in the blogs of others and in social communities like StumbleUpon, Digg, etc. Most methods don’t return a lot of visitors but with persistence and with content worth reading, you’ll eventually get there…

What blogs do you read? Can you share with us some URLs of your favorites?

I’m always discovering new ones out there. I’ve posted 40 that I think are a good starting point: www.wakeuplater.com/online-business/start-reading-blogs-40-feeds-to-read.aspx

Can you give us a ballpark figure as to how much you earn from blogging? How do you monetize your blog?

Because I’m primarily a web designer/programmer and then a blogger, monetizing is not really a priority in my blogging. I only use direct ad sales and the (very) occasional affiliate offer. All said, it comes out to a few hundred a month. Considering the hours involved, it’s not a great return by any means, but I enjoy blogging and it covers my car payment.

What common mistakes do you see other bloggers are doing?

Successful blogging, like successful writing, is no easy task. You must continue to persevere, learn, and work even when no one cares about your writing. Don’t think that you can throw a few blog posts out there and begin to make money. If you’re not blogging because you enjoy it (and would do it for free anyways), there’s a good chance you won’t be blogging for long. Also, don’t rehash a topic that’s been covered innumerable times in the same way (i.e., use Google to research the subject first). And oh yeah, always be reading and learning more…

What advice can you give to someone who’s starting a blog?

(See above). Also, concentrate on what you know or can learn thoroughly.

Is the blogosphere crowded already?

Certainly, but the internet is still a big place. But as long as you enjoy blogging and don’t care about visitor levels, this fact shouldn’t matter.

What do you think of JohnChow.com?

Well, the site has over 20K visitors and makes good money, so I can safely assume that the site works quite well. In my opinion, you don’t get those kind of stats without providing value to readers.

Barack or Hillary?

I stay out of politics and only have the simple hope that the government will let me live peaceably amongst friends and family.

The problem was that her account was shut down last week. She got this email from Google:

While going through our records recently, we found that your AdSense account has posed a significant risk to our AdWords advertisers. Since keeping your account in our publisher network may financially damage our advertisers in the future, we’ve decided to disable your account.

Please understand that we consider this a necessary step to protect the interests of both our advertisers and our other AdSense publishers. We realize the inconvenience this may cause you, and we thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation.

Her earnings for March was almost $70 when her account was closed. According to Google’s FAQ, she will not receive her February check, and obviously, this month’s earnings. She sent Google an email arguing on why her account was closed, but to no avail.

Earning money through her blog is now a fact for her, and cannot just be ignored. So, without Google Adsense, she opted to look for an alternative.

What is your alternative to Google Adsense? BloggingMama.com needs help.