Why you should not join blogging networks

If you are new to blogging or have been blogging for a few years, you would have probably heard of blogging networks. They are blogging communities that allow you to put a link to your blog, discuss your blog and even pay to advertise your blog......all to other bloggers. That is the problem, you are singing to the choir. Most avid blog readers are not bloggers themselves.

One well known blogging network that is now gone was EntreCard. I was a member for several years until Google started to down grade websites and blogs for high bounce rates. EntreCard was well known for encouraging high bounce rates among their users. In order to curb high bounce rates on my blogs I removed all the EntreCard code.

So what do you do to encourage new visitors or engage your readers? Simple, use social networking sites  like Twitter, Facebook or Google+.  Google the search engine really loves social networks and if it finds links to your blog on them it will boost your blog pages in searches. To Google the more people talking on social networks about your blog means your blog has value.

So forget the blogging gimmicks and engage your readers naturally and socially.


 

Google puts a stop to link selling once and for all

Well it looks like Google has finally had enough of people selling links and will stop it. Google dropped the biggest hint of all, by not updating the PageRank in the toolbar since April. They have also sent hints out via their own employees in their help sections. You should read this one about the PageRank update. It was posted just a few days ago.

I would not be surprised to see all the toolbar rankings go to "0" or gray out. Google removed the toolbar from its webmaster toolbox last year.

So here is my suggestion for those companies that want inbound links to your own websites - find well respected blogs and websites that have the same subject matter as your company and contact them to place real advertisements on those sites. Don't use advertising companies as they have those weird forwarding links like doubleclick, linksygny or clickad and they don't have a direct link to your site. You are going to have to contact blogs and websites the old fashion way, individually.

Now that Google has taken its ball off of the playing field you have to rethink SEO.

A list of low paying adsense ads to remove from your website

I bet you have tried your hand at earning money with Google Adsense and have made only pennies so far.Your websites and blogs are getting lots of traffic and even lots of clicks but each of those clicks are only .01 or even less. You are thinking about flushing the whole idea down the toilet....but wait, before you think about toilets, flushing and giving up on the idea of Adsense on your website or blog have you thought about removing those low paying clicks?

I bet you didn't know that you could filter out all those .01 cent ads from being shown on your sites, did you? You can. All you have to do is add the URL's of the low paying ads to your Competitive Ad Filter in your Adsense account.

But what sites do I add? You can either add each one by hand as you find them through an internet search or you can use the list I have. Here it is as I have entered them:

10-bestsites.com
10-top-sites.com
101soho.com
12-bestsites.com
12-topsites.com
1click.com
1homeshopping.info
1s.md
1st-free-articles.com
1st-home-business.net
1st-lingerie.net
1st-portal.net
1step1.info
2020ok.com
21publish.com
25-bestsites.com
25-topsites.com
5-top-sites.com
50webs.com
7-bestsites.com
7-topsites.com
8-bestsites.com
8-topsites.com
8-topwebsites.com
8bestsites.com
8topsites.com
8topsitespro.com
9topsites.com
aavalue.com
aboutastro.com
acne.com
ad2006.com
advancedwebsearch.info
agematch.com
aish.com
all-about-puppies.com
all-free-info.com
allcoolmusic.com
allinformationabout.com
allpspgames.com
alltheautomotive.com
alltheindustrials.com
amazon.co.uk
amazon.com
answerstoday.com
aprido.com
aptmicro.com
arc99.com
arcaderockstar.com
ardice.com
articlescafe.com
ask.com
assortedinternet.com
atdmt.com
audioblog.com
be-healthy.net
best-download-sites.com
best-healthcare.info
best-price.com
best3websites.com
best4sites.net
best4solutions.com
best5online.com
best7sites.com
best8sites.org
bestautosites.net
bestcomputingsites.com
bestcraftsites.net
besthomegardensites.com
bestphonesites.net
bestpictures.org
bestringtonesoffer.com
bestsportingsites.com
bestwebdiscounts.com
bestwebpix.com
bestwebpix.net
big.com
bit.ly
bizjournals.com
blinkbits.com
blog-software-blog.com
blogexplosion.com
blogger.com
bloggerbusiness.com
bloggercrab.com
blogging-bonanza.com
bloggingbiz.com
bloggingequalizer.com
bloggingsecrets.com
blogharbor.com
blogidentity.com
blogigo.com
blogit.com
blogizm.com
blogjet.com
blogmysite.com
blogomonster.com
blogpulse.com
blogsource.com
blogspot.com
blogster.com
blogstogo.com
blogstream.com
blogware.com
business-wiz.com
buymp3music.info
buzzmetrics.com
camera.co.id
canaca.comcerado.com
caninepottytraining.com
chasingstuff.com
cheblogs.com
chiwawa.com
chosenresult.com
chrisabraham.com
click-here-4-best.info
cliqz.com
clobo.com
cohit.com
cohit.comcomputerweekly.com
commerce-database.com
compare-to-choose.com
compendianet.com
computer-offer.com
consumerincentivepromotions.com
consumersearch.com
coolringtones.com
coolstartpages.com
cornertheatre.org
correctmytext.com
cruiseshipjobs77.com
cv2006.biz
dailyseek.net
dbmoz.biz
dbmoz.com
dbmoz.net
dbmoz.org
dealsandoffers4u.com
dealtime.co.uk
democraticstuff.com
dexigner.com
dholmes.com
didakutz.com
digg.com
digg4it.com
digitalcamerareview.com
digitalearning.com
dirkw.com
discussit.biz
divavillage.com
dog-trainer-pro.com
domaindirect.com
donnamoderna.com
download-hub.com
download-it-free.com
downloadrings.com
downtown-internet.com
dreamhost.com
drift-kings.com
dry-skin-care-guide.com
e-isn.com
e-kazaam.com
e-nternet.com
e-softwaresource.com
eanimationschools.com
eantispyware.info
ebay.co.uk
ebay.com
ebay.com.au
ecomputerwallpaper.com
edigitalphoto.info
edigitalphotoalbum.com
editme.com
educational-online.com
effectivebrand.com
egoweblog.com
emotivationalvideos.com
enewsblog.com
englishcramschool.com
ephotoalbum.net
eretirementjokes.com
eroyaltyfreeimages.net
everyclick.com
everyrule.com
ewoss.info
ewossnewsbar.com
ewossuk.com
excite.co.uk
expert-expert.com
extreme-rides.com
ez-tracks.com
ez4search.com
ezsgblog.com
faces.com
factguide.org
faqsdirect.com
fastcoolrides.com
faster-results.com
fasterinfo.com
fatburningfurnace.com
faxingsoftware.info
feedzilla.com
filtersspam.info
findexia.com
findinfotoday.com
finditonline.ws
findmonk.com
findmoreinfo.com
findnot.com
finest4.com
flashingblinkielights.com
flexfinder.com
focus77.com
forum4bloggers.com
fotothing.com
free-crochet.com
free-lyrics-online.com
free-pictures-photos.com
free-quilting.com
free2select.com
freedigg.com
freeenterpriseland.com
freelanceworkexchange.com
freeusefulinfo.com
freshhunt.com
friendcircles.com
fullscalecommerce.com
futublog.com
gd-invest.com
get-free-reports-tips-and.info
getacoder.com
getbestinfo.com
getinfoon.info
getmusicfree-jump.com
getmusicfree.com
getworldpassport.com
giantexplorer.com
globalinfoexchange.com
go-2-shop.co.uk
go-4-best.com
go27.com
goodplace-on.net
google.com
gooyeep.com
gowholesale.com
gr8info.net
greatinfo.biz
growinglifestyle.com
gubaara.com
guide2biz.com
guideya.com
haohao99.com
he4lth.com
health-answers.org
healthquestlinks.com
homocon.com
hot4sites.com
hotelscombined.com
howtotrainyourdogs.com
idesktopwallpaper.net
igossip.com
imedicalanimation.com
imusicsearch.com
incentiveleader.com
incentiverewardcenter.com
indeed.com
indonesiancupid.com
info-on.biz
info-zap.com
info.com
infobeagle.com
infoforyourhealth.com
infoscouts.com
infosearch4u.com
infoworld.com
inhunt.com
instant-free-info.com
internet-downloads.net
ironpower.biz
ittoolbox.com
ivue.com
jobs77.ca
knowledgestorm.com
korea.net
ldsplanet.com
leapfinder.com
lensbaby.com
links-4-you.com
linxbest.com
livemocha.com
local.com
logo-lites.com
made-in-china.com
maximuminformation.com
mediataskmaster.com
medicalhelpers.com
medkuz.com
megasearch.biz
mingoville.com
monstermarketplace.com
morpheusultra.com
movieadvanced.com
movies-all-free.com
mozsite.com
mp3musiq.com
mpfree.com
mqsearch.co.uk
myipodownloads.com
mylot.com
mylot.info
mylot.us
myluxuryyacht.com
myluxuryyachtcharter.com
mymusicinc.com
mywebgold.com
nationalaperture.com
oceleb.com
oneinvestment.co.uk
oninformation.com
ontheweb-offer.com
op10-web-hosting.com
otelevision.info
pattisondogtraining.com
paydotcom.com
pcworld.com
pictures88.com
picturetoplist.com
pimpingyourspace.com
pimpmyride.com
popularq.com
pricetool.com
professionaladvices.com
prophecynewswatch.com
purebusiness.com
puredirectory.com
purityplanet.com
qckjmp.com
quotematch.com
rapvideos.info
ratedsolutions.com
rebrandsoftware.com
resourcemecca.com
reviewsbykrystal.com
richesse-succes-sante.com
ringringmobile.com
ringtonemusic.info
rockywoods.com
romingerlegal.com
ru2006.com
rw2006.com
savvygate.com
scholarshipnet.info
searchemu.com
searchguide.biz
searchignite.com
searchinaflash.com
searchscribe.com
searchtorpedo.com
searchwisp.com
seek4me.org
sempatiyun.com
seniorpeoplemeet.com
sentrotercumeceviri.com
shopica.com
shopping.com
simpli.com
smmsite.com
sneakyprograms.com
soft4kids.com
starware.com
successuniversity.com
sureresult.com
teachandtravel.net
teachatoz.com
thebabydepartment.com
thextremehosting.com
thinktarget.com
tipace.com
tntdownloads.com
tools4myspace.com
top-10sites.com
top-3-sites.com
top-articles-house.com
top-rated-mp3-sites.com
top10-web-hosting.com
top10mostexpensive.com
top10websites.net
top4search.com
top4search.net
top4sites.net
top8sites.com
topbeautysites.com
topbestsites.org
toptensites.org
toseeka.com
toy-offer.com
traveldiary.com
tripadvisor.com
trixy123.sitstay.hop.clickbank.net
truelocal.com
truthaboutabs.com
tunu.com
u-i-x.com
usefulfaqs.com
usnom.com
vertippdich.de
videosstreaming.info
webfinder360.com
website-savvy.com
webzsearch.com
wilddreams.org
wisegeek.com
woodworking4home.com
world-click.com
worldslastchance.com
xdope.com
xtraone.co.uk
zimply.com

The list is only a general one and is by no means all conclusive. By adding those URL's above to your filter you should see most of your clicks go up in price. It takes a minimum of 4 hours for the filter to kick in once you have added the URL's so don't expect immediate results.

Experimenting with Adsense

I have never made that much money with Google Adsense so I thought I might start up 2 new blogs that were just geared to generate income only using Google Adsense. I found some great information online on how to do it. Most of the SEO I already knew but it is finding the right high paying keywords that I could wrap an entire blog around that stumped me. For example I love crafts and animals but none of the words I looked up in my own Adsense account showed that they were worth more than a dollar. As you know, the cost of an keyword has very little to do with what a publisher gets so I was aiming at words or phrases that would cost at least $5 or more. Next I tried the shopping angle and put in everything from video games and iphones to LED TV's - nothing over $1.40 Next I tried womens items and checked cosmetics to ecco shoes and still nothing. I did find out that expensive services are high priced keywords. Medical procedures, legal services, loans and even insurance were all in the high priced keyword area. So that gave me a brilliant idea. I would start up a blog devoted to one medical problem and another one devoted to expensive travel and see how each one would do.

The one beautiful thing I know about blogging for Adsense is that you don't have to have a lot of traffic for it, just the right words in your articles to show up in Google searches. I currently have one blog that gets a few cents a day with Adsense and get maybe 20 visits a day so it doesn't take many visitors to generate Adsense clicks. The ads are not large either, they are just a small list at the bottom of the blog post - not plastered all over the place. What makes the difference in the content, it is unique and Google loves unique content.

Another thing for those grammar hounds out there, guess what, lousy grammar makes no difference to Google at all. A blog with misspellings, wrong words or looks like it was written by a 6 year old will often show up high in searches along with the "perfect" blogs because of their unique content. I should know because several years ago my young daughter had a blog on Wordpress.com and she would get 150 to 300 visitors a day! Dumb me, thought I could monetize that blog so I moved it to blogger and added ads and started to write blog posts. My style of writing and proper grammar killed it. 

Back to my experiment, I did find out from the "gurus" that for a good Adsense generating blog you only need 12  - 20 in depth articles on your subject that are 500-1000 words long. I figured if I write one article each week then in about 3 months I should start to see some extra income coming in from those 2 blogs just from Adsense. I am aiming for at least $20 a day income from those 2 blogs in a few weeks. It should be easy to get just $10 a day from each of them. Let's see if this works out.

Age is a benefit for websites and blogs

The older your blog or website is the better the chances for it to be found by search engines. If you have some sort of analytics on your blog or website you can see where your visitors came from. You will notice that your older entries on your blog or your older pages on your website will get more traffic than your newer ones. The reason for this is the fact that those older pages have been indexed by the search engines.

Have you ever done a search for something on the internet and you seem to always come up with results that are over 6 months old? What you are experiencing is the same thing that your own visitors are experiencing.

There is a way to use that fact to get more traffic to your websites and blogs. Using your stats find out which are your most popular entries that are found by the search engines. In those entries make some of the words into hyper links to your newer entries. You are now cross promoting your own blog or website using the search engine. It will force the search engine into indexing your newer blog or website entries and will increase your chances of being found during searches.

Link mania, or how to improve your Page Rank

I know how hard it is to just get a foot hold on the internet. I learned how to blog on one of those community blogs. It was fun for awhile until I wanted to venture out on my own. I found wordpress.com and started up a fun, not for profit blog there. I had fun with it and started up a few more on wordpress over the course of the next year. Some I continued with but most of them I shut down. I still have 2 very popular ones there. Each one has a Page Rank of 5 and 6 each. I get about 250-600 visitors a day on one of them, the other one only 100. Both of them popular but alas wordpress says I can't advertise on them or they will delete them.

So here is what I do, I write short blog posts on them directing them to one of my other blogs that I can make money on. That not only increases my Technorati rating with a backlink but will increase my Page Rank in the long run. The key is to link to blogs that have higher Page Rank than my blog has.

What if you don't have another high ranking blog? Simple find a blog that you enjoy reading and make a comment in their comments section. First check if the comment will allow a link back to your blog - some don't. Most of them link to your name or email and not your blog.