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Wanted: Experts – No Experience Required

November 17, 2011 By 18 Comments

Wanted: Internet Expert | Robb Sutton

I have been thinking about something a lot lately that is nothing new…it just seems to get worse and worse with time.

As the internet becomes more social and less of a resource, we are seeing the emergence of more “internet experts”. Whether it be bloggers writing about subjects they have no experience in or friends on your friendly Facebook wall turning into a heated political debate, the social internet has now given people the ability to say things online that they would never say in person…at least not with the grander and force they do digitally.

We are now in an age where everyone sees themselves as an expert in a specific field because of their ability to research their passion through their favorite sources. This creates a certain amount of hostility online as these “experts” butt heads over what they feel is right. But…just like the experts that think they are right…the sources they quote can be just as biased and misled.

Another example…

As many of you know, we had our first kid last month. I am sure we are going through the same thing most new parents do…the ultimate search for the perfect way to raise your kid. In the pursuit of perfect information, we scour the web and books looking for the “expert” to tell us how things are done and what we need to do next. However, what we find is that no one is on the same page on anything! They can sooth themselves at a month…no wait…not until a year…6 months…3 months…can’t all of you guys just get on the same page?!

This has brought me to the underlying conclusion that you can find whatever you want to read at the time.

  • Are you having a hard time getting your kid to sleep? Then the book that said one month must be wrong and the 6 month one must be right…because that is my experience. (ours is down for the count at one month…and we are grateful for it!!)
  • Do you feel like you lean more to the conservative side of politics? More liberal? You are going to read the sources that you connect with.
  • Have friends on Facebook that are saying what you want to hear? Think you’ll listen to them more than the ones that are saying what you don’t at the time?

Now days…everyone has a voice and the answers online can bring us to a state that we forget to think for ourselves.

Before the age of the internet, we had books and other resources, but the massive volume of information was not present. Now…before we do anything we head to the computer asking The Google what to do next. We forget to stop, think and assess the situation. We completely forgo our gut instincts to trust people we don’t know or ones with zero experience in the specified field.

The internet does a lot of amazing things for our daily lives, but our trust in self proclaimed experts that arose from the ease of publication of information has brought many people to a state that they no longer adapt and think for themselves. They don’t question what they read or try to adapt and change information to fit their lives. Objectivity is going away as blind faith in information is taking over.

It as almost as if the internet put up a wanted ad for experts in fields that have zero ability to talk about things rationally.

While this article might seem like a rant (and it is in someways), it is more about challenging you to question and actually think about what you read online (including things I write and say). There is no right answer for everyone. Everything in life needs to be thought out and interpreted as your life is not the exact same as your neighbors.

That said…we have to be willing to make mistakes and learn from those mistakes. I do believe a lot of the trust we give to people that are providing the answers we want to hear stems from not wanting to mess up. We then have the ability to say someone else was wrong if it doesn’t go right, or we can then take credit if it works and push that same ideal on others. Some of the greatest rewards in life come out of what we learn from the mistakes we make. We can not let that fear run how we make decisions.

The internet is a great source of information…when used correctly. It is up to you how you process the information on the screen whether it is from a friend or an article on a website written by someone you don’t even know. How are you going to adapt as information overload continues to expand in our lives?

Filed Under: Lifestyle Design, Social Media, The Web Tagged With: , , , , ,

Top 20 Free Resources for Entrepreneurs

August 30, 2011 By 4 Comments

The internet contains a wealth of information for entrepreneurs seeking resources on all levels of setting up and operating a business. Setting aside time to look for such resource material will pay dividends but there are 20 such sites recognised here, that will lead you in the right direction and they give you a good place to start. And the great news is that they are all FREE. They are:

  1. A good place to begin would be at Intent Hub in which you will find an intuitively organised series of resource sites that give advice on when to start or not to start, how to develop your plan, the importance of a business model, how to get a good team around you, developing your product, creating a business identity, creating the right structure and how to develop an interest among investors.
  2. Pivotal tracker – a free project management tool, Dropbox a free fileserver, BaseCamp for online collaboration & project management have a free account.
  3. An efficient way to set up and co-ordinate your backend data is with Force.com. There is a free version that is well worth serious consideration.
  4. A Javascript application that has remained free so far is the Joyent Smart platform.
  5. Those getting involved in technology and media start ups should not do so without becoming familiar with Employment Law Traps for your state/country.
  6. Quora products is of course the place to go for all the links that you could dream about, all on the one site, a must bookmark for all aspiring entrepreneurs.
  7. All the information you require regarding legal and financing documents for startups, including fill in the blanks contracts has been very kindly put together by Ted Wang and made available for free on his site called Series Seed.
  8. Matthew Bartus has a lot of relevant information to impart on how to increase your VC Valuation on his site of the same name.
  9. We all know that the number of advisors on the web is quite prolific and all you need to know about them can be located on Venture Hacks, a site put together by Babak Nivi.
  10. Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich and Rosati’s online insight into venture financing is well worth studying on their site, Term Sheet Generator.
  11. Brad Feld has also created a worthwhile read on Term Sheet Series regarding venture financing as well.
  12. Any entrepreneur knows full well the importance of seed funding and to get the low down on the best practices in this area, Seed Funding by Mark MacLeod, will prove to be well worth the visit.
  13. Private individuals who are most likely to provide funds to assist the starting of a new company are known as ‘angels’ and to find out the varying types of angels in the investment world, an inspection of Scott Edward Walker’s work called Angel Financing is an entrepreneur must.
  14. When does it become advantageous to incorporate? This is a question many people argue over, therefore the site, Start Up Company Lawyer, that is contributed by Yoichiro Taku, is quite valuable in this area.
  15. Frank Demmler has put together quite an interesting study on his Founders’ Pie Calculator, an important tool in seeing where your business stands at any specific time.
  16. We are all subjected to abiding by the law but it can often be difficult to understand the language of lawyers, especially when starting up. Mark Suster has assisted here with his post, Work with Lawyers.
  17. A successful start up can sometimes be difficult without somebody to share the idea with and this has been recognised by Naval Ravikant with his contribution, Pick A Co-Founder.
  18. Google App Engine allows you to build and host web apps on the same systems that power Google applications. Offers a free quota of 1GB inbound + 1GB outbound bandwidth, up to 43 million requests and 6.5 CPU hours. Supports Java and Python development environments.
  19. The comprehensive site, delicious.com, will help you find expert resources on most topics. A great tool to fall back on when trying to position your product in a competitive market.
  20. For online invoicing, time tracking & billing software you cant go past FreshBooks free account.

In addition to the resource materials outlined here, all entrepreneurs could also benefit by taking out a good life insurance policy, as there is little to be gained if your enterprise got off the ground only to flounder because you became injured or ill to the extent that you were unable to continue managing its growth. Or in the case of your untimely death, left your beneficiaries to carry the debt of your start up costs.

 Kristy Ramirez writes for Life Insurance Finder where she helps people to compare life insurance quotes and select the best life insurance policy to meet their needs at the best possible price.

Filed Under: Generating Cash, The Web Tagged With: , ,

Every Pro Blogger Starts Somewhere…

May 4, 2011 By 9 Comments

Last week, I wrote an article on Bike198 about how every single rider had to start somewhere (Never Forget We All Started Somewhere). No one just wakes up one day able to jump road gaps or magically gets the endurance and skill to win races. At some point in time, every rider started at square one with zero knowledge and probably not even a bike. All they had was the willingness to learn and the drive to make their own dream a reality, but when you see it on the outside…it appears they have always ridden like that…

In the blogging world, that same paradox exists. You see blogs that are well established and making money forgetting that they too started with an idea and a blank screen.

With my BlogWorld Expo presentation coming up, I have been thinking a lot lately about the sequence of events that got to this point. When I look back on it, it really amazes me. I was just a guy who started a blog…nothing more…nothing less. My idea started to grow with hard work and dedication to the dream to become what it is today, but…at the end of the day…I am still just a guy that started a blog.

Every Pro Blogger Started Somewhere

If you are just starting out or trying to get over a plateau in your progress, it can seem like the world had it easier than you. It can seem like there was some secret that you missed out on. The reality is that every blogger (or rider like I pointed out in the biking article) has been exactly where you are sitting right now.

What separates the successful from those that aren’t is the willingness to push through the harder times and not give up. By learning from our experiences and keeping the drive to move forward, we see success and the monetary benefits that come along with that. No one…I repeat…no one wakes up one day with a “6 figure blog”. Every blogger that generates income from their efforts works hard at it day in day out to make it a success.

Nothing is free in life and everything that is worth having requires work.

You are not the first and certainly will not be the last to start a successful blog or make your blog successful by pushing through the harder times. Every blogger goes through these phases. It is how you deal with the ups and downs that determines your own personal outcome.

Successful business building and blogging does not come overnight. Everyone has to start somewhere…and it is that journey that makes the fruits of your labor so rewarding in the end. Every success has a story…what will yours be?

Filed Under: Blogging, Lifestyle Design, The Web Tagged With: , , ,

Is There Money To Be Made From Affiliate Programs?

March 31, 2011 By 5 Comments

This guest post was submitted by James Martell. Given the current state of “push button” income schemes…I thought it was highly relevant to post here.

Sadly the online “opportunity” training arena has become populated by hucksters and professional liars who’ll resort to ever trick in the book to market your a** off until they’ve drained you of not only your bank account (or credit cards) but your self esteem too.

I’ve been a full time “affiliate marketer” since a buddy showed me how back in 1999. And I’ve been teaching what I know since 2001. And I didn’t start teaching until my affiliate income was up to $10,000 a month.

I’ve witnessed hundred’s of success stories since then. So yes, there is most definitely “money” to be made, both with affiliate programs and with training.

Income Claims and Sleazy Tactics Have Muddied the Waters

Regrettably, consumers are a lot more wary these days; and with good reason. I, like you, am appalled at the ridiculous “overnight riches” (with little effort) claims I regularly receive in my inbox.

And I have come to loathe those confusing pop-ups that won’t let you get off their site unless you answer their sneaky trick question: press Cancel or Okay. Heck, the other day I found one that would not go away whether I hit Cancel, OK or hit the red X upper right.

Oh, they think they are so clever – so marketing savvy.

But I’ll say this: they are phony, slimy amateurs because “marketing”, whether online or off, are based on establishing trust. Would you ever do business with someone who came to your office or home and refused to leave when you said no thank you?

Not likely. Yet those tactics are commonplace online these days.

How I Made $200,604 in 36 Hours with This Simple Secret

Headlines like this are ridiculous on any level, but mainly because the big lie behind it is that even if someone did make that money, it is certainly not going to happen for you if you buy their BS “system” for $97 (before midnight because it’s so powerful they’ll be forced to take it off the market so it doesn’t get saturated. Yeah, right.)

Our rich friend above could have gotten access to a mailing list of 2 million. He might have spammed everyone on it and made a bunch. Big deal; I could rob a bank too.

For those who feel no compulsion to play by the rules, yes, they can make wads of cash fast. They can also find the FTC at their door, lose all their assets, be forced out of business and/or go to jail.

Are You Practiced In The Art Of Being Ethical?

I always made it a practice to rarely make income claims on my websites promoting my affiliate marketing training. Not that I did not have the stats to back it up. It was more of a strategic plan to gain the trust of my readers. It was also because I knew very well, as does every coach, mentor or trainer in any field, that most simply do not have what it takes.

I know this has cost me money in lost sales. Sadly, many prefer the “big lie”. They want to be sold by someone selling the dream. But I refused to do that.

You could say I’m practiced at it.

I’d prefer teaching students how to come up with a topic for their website, such as rocking chairs or keyboards, or any number of solid consumer products that are sure to stand the test of time and generate ongoing, steady revenue for site owners.

Maybe not as fast or as easy as some “opportunities”, but nevertheless it’s legal, ethical and bankable.

About the Author:

James Martell lives in White Rock, BC with his wife Arlene and their three children. James is a pioneer in the affiliate marketing industry and was successfully profiting with affiliate websites as early as 1999.

Filed Under: Generating Cash, The Web Tagged With: , , , ,

Blogging Labs – Formulating Blogs That Make Money

November 8, 2010 By 37 Comments

As you may have already noticed, things have drastically changed around here! What used to be RobbSutton.com is now BloggingLabs.com and that comes with a new design! So let’s dive into it as I explain what we did here and why the change.

Why the domain change?

RobbSutton.com started with a single purpose, to help other bloggers make a run at making money online through blogging. After getting numerous emails from other bloggers asking how I got so much product into review on Bike198.com, I decided to start RobbSutton.com as a way to talk to those bloggers publicly and not through just email. It was the simple theory of reaching more people in a personal way which is one of the foundations of blogging.

As time progressed, the blog continued to grow and expand. Through that expansion, RobbSutton.com actually grew past what I wanted from a personal blog standpoint. When you start to move past your personal name into a site that creating its own brand identity, you really need to have a domain name that is not your own personal name. This has several key positives to it.

  • Trust is built into brand names easier than personal. How many “wannabe” probloggers are out there talking about internet marketing and making money online through their personal name all looking to be the next John Chow (who also wishes his site was not on his personal name) without any real world experience or income to back up the claims?! A lot…don’t you want to separate yourself from those other bloggers? I do…
  • Branded domains are easier to sell in the future. While I nave absolutely no intentions of ever selling this site, you have to think about how having your content cemented to your personal name can affect your business plan down the road.
  • My personal domain can now stay personal. One of the biggest driving forces behind the move was this one. I want to create a personal blog on my name in the future to keep friends and family updated on our family. My wife and I are looking to start having children and it would be cool to have all of that information in one place. Since I do not want my name to be the brand anyway, having my personal domain stay personal is the perfect avenue to accomplish that goal.

So here we are…Blogging Labs…where we formulate money making blogs through real world experience that generates real income online.

First Impressions Start With The Name: Blogging Labs

As I racked my brain to think up of a domain name for the new site, I wanted something unique that was applicable to all past content as well as where I saw the blog heading in the future. Domain names are a tough animal to tackle as you not only have to come up with something catchy and memorable, but you also have to come up with a name that is actually available!

It took me about 2 weeks to actually nail this down and Blogging Labs is where we landed. At Blogging Labs, we formulate blogs that make money through tested and proven techniques on blogs in and outside of the MMO/internet marketing niche. With solid offerings like Bike198.com to back up the claims, we are going to keep pushing forward to innovate the way content is delivered online and consistently monetize that content. That is the core to Blogging Labs.

The New Design: Pagelines Platform Pro Framework

When I went looking to hack up a new design, I wanted something that was going to offer more flexibility than I had in the past. Previously, I had been using WooThemes and while I absolutely love their design and backend management system, I needed something that was easier to integrate key elements without a lot of hand coding and hacking.

Naturally, when you start looking at theme frameworks, there are four sources you are going to turn to.

At the end of the day, I ended up going with Pageslines Platform Pro because it had a lot of the key elements I needed as I sketched out exactly how I wanted this site to lay out. Platform Pro is the new dog to the race in terms of frameworks and so far I am incredibly impressed with the back end management, drag and drop functionality and incredible support from the developers. The other frameworks are all great and have an incredible reputation, but at the end of the day…I made the right choice for my abilities and this site. As you take a look around, you will see the elements that make this framework unique.

The Future and Blogging Labs

As we move forward into the ever evolving future of blogging, Blogging Labs is going to continue to pump out content that is going to help you increase your bottom line through real tutorials, techniques and reviews. Since we solidly believe that mindset is also key to success, we will continue to publish hard hitting articles to get you off your ass and working. Thank you for the support over the years with RobbSutton.com and we are looking forward to the future with Blogging Labs.

Filed Under: Blogging, The Web Tagged With: , , , , ,

Three Ways You Can Build A Great Online Brand

November 2, 2010 By 3 Comments

The following article on building an online brand is a guest post by Vik Tantry from There Is Money Everywhere dot com. Online branding is essential to success in blogging as you strive to set yourself apart from the rest of the noise.

A few weeks ago, I received an e-mail from a fellow blogger. He was frustrated because he had been blogging for more than a year and hadn’t achieved any real traction. He wanted to understand what he could be doing better. It’s never easy to build a brand, but there are definitely things you can do to help. Here are three tips to help you on your way to a stellar online brand:

Tip #1: Be Credible

Explain why people should listen to you

A good example is Jim Cramer from Mad Money. Although he is highly entertaining, he makes sure that people know about his prestigious investment background: top of his class at Harvard, investment banker at Goldman Sachs, and manager of a profitable hedge fund. I doubt he’d be as successful if he didn’t advertise these impeccable credentials

What if you aren’t a proven expert? That’s ok, but be sure to admit that you are willing to learn. Pat from Smart Passive Income does this very effectively. He is very upfront about the fact that he is learning how to make money online, and is extremely transparent with his process. This level of honesty has taken him exceptionally far and will continue to serve him well as he builds his user base.

Demonstrate value time and again

Glen Allsopp at Viperchill has some of the most detailed, thoughtful articles on web marketing. While most content on the web is only 300-500 words, Glenn typically writes long, rich posts that are anywhere from 1500-3000 words long. In just over a year, he’s built up a tremendous following and many of his posts are seen as “authoritative guides” on various topics.

Tip #2: Be Likeable

Stay positive

S^%t happens, but people will like you all the more if you can take it in stride. An exceptional example of this is Pat Flynn over at Smart Passive Income. In 2008, Pat was laid off from his job at an architecture firm. Instead of getting down on himself, he took it as an opportunity to build his own business and grow his personal brand. Around the world, thousands of readers (including yours truly) listened to his story and took inspiration from his outlook on life. Today, Pat’s blog is a major brand in the “making money online” space.

Be Responsive

There is no bigger turn-off than apathy. If you come across like you don’t care, people won’t care about you. The opposite is also true. If you go out of your way to respond to people, they are much more likely to keep your on the radar.

Be Humble

Neil Patel from QuickSprout is one of the more successful entrepreneurs at his age. He’s accomplished more at 25 than most people do in a lifetime. And yet, he never misses an opportunity to tell people that he’s not that smart and he’s actually made a lot of mistakes. He’s always willing to learn and never comes across like he’s “above” other people. This humility is par t of the reason that he has one of the most successful blogs in the world.

Tell a story about your past

Many successful “gurus” come from humble origins. Robert Kiyosaki was homeless in 1985, living out of his car. Real estate guru Dean Graziosi was raised by a single mother who made $90 a week. These “rags to riches” stories are inspiring and contribute heavily to your personal brand.

Tip #3: Be Funny

Humor sells. It also has a lot of value in drawing in people’s attention. Ramit Sethi at I Will Teach You To Be Rich does a masterful job of integrating humor within a traditionally boring topic: personal finance. His lighthearted, witty approach brought in a younger audience that was curious about personal finance but couldn’t get through the boring material.

But be careful: being funny isn’t the same as being mean. If you constantly poke fun at others, you risk coming across like a jerk. A better approach is to poke fun at yourself; things that you do wrong, mistakes you’ve made, etc. If you are going to make fun of others, try to use fake names to protect their identity.

Have you had success using these techniques? Please share in the comments.

Vik Tantry blogs about making money online to lead a better life at theresmoneyeverywhere.com.

Image by Mike Chen aka Metalman

Filed Under: Blogging, The Web, Tutorials/How To Tagged With: , , , ,

What You Should Know About Hosting on a Managed Private Cloud

October 25, 2010 By Leave a Comment

First and foremost, let me start off with a working definition of a private cloud. A private cloud (also known as an enterprise cloud) is “a cloud computing infrastructure created by an organization for its own internal use.” Organizations may develop such a private cloud instead of using other infrastructures, this is a convenient way for an organization to store sensitive data and host internal information. You can identify a private cloud verses a public cloud mainly by their use of an independent server and network infrastructure with internal data centers that are set up within a firewall.

Within the different forms of cloud computing, there are different deployment methods whether it is public, private or a hybrid, private clouds have been able to address the disadvantages of public cloud computing. It is my goal throughout this entry to give a brief overview of the strengths and weaknesses of hosting on a managed private cloud and what you need to know.

Strengths of Hosting on a Managed Private Cloud

One great thing about hosting on a private cloud is the available control. These clouds may also be called on premises clouds being that they are hosted on site rather than by a separate vendor. Organizations using a private cloud have a large amount of control of the software used to create the cloud, implementation of its security, the network set-up and the available operating systems. Organizations therefore also have full control of their data and information. Maintaining their own data gives them complete responsibility. Using someone else’s infrastructure, or public cloud, one loses that amount of control that is available when hosting from a private cloud.

Location is another strong advantage of a private cloud verse public clouds. Having direct access to the server makes it easier to move data in or out of the cloud. Locations to the server, keeps your information tangible and close at hand and reduces the need for outsourced IT support. The internal location also increases the performance and transfer rates. As the private cloud functions within a firewall, it allows for these higher transfer rates.

A third strength of hosting on a private cloud would be security. Assuming the network is closed to outside, it is a great deal easier to secure. Going back to the control issue, you are able to control the network’s security with your own judgment.

Weaknesses of Hosting on a Managed Private Cloud

The largest weakness to hosting on an enterprise cloud is the work put into creating and maintaining the cloud. As building a cloud is an intricate process, it may be easier to use a different, pre-existing, infrastructure.

Another weakness would be the shear cost of hosting on a managed private cloud. There are hidden costs involved in complying to regulations, IT support, backing up data, recovery or restoration, and troubleshooting. With the new technology, these costs may fluctuate while the practice gets perfected.

Hopefully I have addressed your issues with a private cloud and have left you with a clearer knowledge of the topic. If you are interested in private clouds but are concerned more of its weaknesses, I encourage you to look further into hybrid clouds as they have been designed to address the weaknesses of both public and private clouds.

This article was written by Sebastian Brown, a technology veteran and hosting expert. For all your hosting needs, check out Rackspace.com. Rackspace is a company that delivers enterprise-level hosting services to businesses of all sizes. Check out Rackspace by clicking here.

Cloud image by unifiedphoto

Filed Under: Technology, The Web, Tutorials/How To Tagged With: , , , , ,

EGO: Drop It or Get Dropped

August 4, 2010 By 17 Comments

If there is one consistent character trait that I can honestly say I see in all of my successful friends from big corporate CEO’s to one man show entrepreneurs (in life and business)…it is a simple one.

They are humble.

I see a common occurrence among bloggers. They start up a blog, get a little bit of press, start to grow a following and then all of the sudden…out of the blue…said blogger thinks their shit doesn’t stink! Their writing starts to change. Their interaction with other bloggers turns into “only talking to the elite” and forget that they used to be the small guy on the block (and in some cases…they still are!)

Entrepreneurship Is An Ever Learning Process

When you hit that point in your brain function where you start to think you are better than others, you are forgoing the ability to be teachable. Entrepreneurship is not a race to who knows the most. It is an ever changing, learning process that can flip at the drop of a hat. If you are not teachable, you are going to be left in the dust…and quickly.

Here are a couple of things to remember when dealing in a highly social environment like the blogging world.

  • That blogger you put off as small potatoes and not worth your time…might end up passing you one day. How do you want them to remember you?
  • If you already know everything, do you have any room to grow? I would hate to think that I am so awesome that I am already at the peak of my game.
  • When you were just starting out, how did you feel about those “ego bloggers”? Is that how you want to be remembered?
  • To REALLY GROW YOUR BLOG…you will need the help of others.

There Is A Difference Between EGO and Confidence

As a business owner and blogger, you are going to have to be confident in yourself and your abilities. If you spend your entire career doubting your ideas and processes, you are never going to get anything accomplished and you will never go out on a limb and take some risks. However, this confidence can not translate into an inflated ego.

The moment you cross that line from confidence to ego, you are making the willing decision to not grow your blog any farther than it already has.

An over-inflated ego can be spotted a mile away. When it starts to become transparent in your business activities…you will start to see a decline in traffic and earnings because no one likes to hear someone pat themselves on the back all day long. Of course, the ego driven blogger will put it off and think the rest of the world just doesn’t get it, but the profit producing audience will know and leave.

As I continue with my blogs and business practices, I try to keep one moto true throughout the process.

The day I think I know everything will be the dumbest day of my life.

Stay teachable and continue to help out those around you. By staying humble, planted in the real world and forever teachable…you will be able to grow your corner of the web farther than you would have ever dreamed. If you want to be #1 and awesome…be prepared for disappointment.

Filed Under: Lifestyle Design, The Web Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Gizmodo Trap: Don't Fall Into A Negative Blogging Tailspin

June 28, 2010 By 10 Comments

Over the past couple of days, Gizmodo – a reputable tech blog on gadgets – has been on a tear trying to rip apart the new iPhone 4 during its initial release. This all stems back to the prototype iPhone 4 leak and Apple not inviting them to the iPhone 4 release or making a review unit available for their site. Now…while that is the bare bones of the history between Apple and Gizmodo over the previous weeks, what has happened over the last couple of days is something that you need to pay close attention to as a blogger. Gizmodo has decided to take their fight with Apple public and go on a tear trying to discredit the iPhone 4 and…by doing so…has sacrificed some of their credibility in the industry.

Unfair Bias Leads To Credibility Decrease

No one will ever really know what goes on behind closed doors, but during the span of your blogging, there are going to be times that you get into disagreements with other bloggers and companies. The initial ego reaction is to use your spread online to bash and attempt to bring down the other participant in your disagreement because you feel you are right and other people should know. However, by doing this, you are destroying your credibility and losing subscribers by showing an unfair bias and prejudice against one individual or firm.

The first couple of articles that Gizmodo published on the new iPhone 4 (I have 2 of them by the way!) addressed some issues with the initial release. Now, they were not the only ones covering this part of the story as other Apple related blogs were also following suit. At this point in time, it was more of a reporting atmosphere on the initial units and not an online bashing argument. Like most gadget/electronic redesigns, there are going to be those that love it and those that hate it. With a couple of small issues being reported amongst early adopters (specifically the signal and screen issues…both of which do not affect my 2 units), Gizmodo used this opportunity to publish content that was being searched for on a second by second basis.

Then something changed…

All of the sudden, the Gizmodo articles moved from reporting issues to multiple articles in succession that were pure flame war styled publications. Whether it was an attempt at humor or getting their feelings hurt over the past couple of months, Gizmodo decided that this would be a good time to stretch their jaw bones and try to take their chunk out of the Apple. Take a look at some of the responses…

Gizmodo is becoming the Apple bashing site- how many people are reporting this- everyone I know, including me, with iPhone 4s has not experienced any problems…. It’s not good journalism to create inflammatory headlines when the real story is much simpler.

giz is so noob. they are just apple haters. remember, they didnt get ticks for othe last keynote? anyway, intelligent people dont get convinced about this noobish site, which isnt credible!

Alright, I get it. Gizmodo hates apple and has a big axe to grind.

Giz calling apple users a cult is going a little far me thinks. Especially after being kicked out of the cult so recently. Have you no class?

Used to love gizmodo. But ever since they were raped over the iPhone all they do is bash apple.

Of course…the flipside to these comments are the readers that get entrenched in online drama and love to get in on the bashing ring. But, the reality is that Gizmodo has not shown this much negative attention to anything else in the past.

Gizmodo Forgot The #1 Rule In Marketing

While Gizmodo may have thought they were being funny or “revealing the truth” as they say it, they forgot the #1 rule in marketing that will actually get you the opposite result you are looking for if you go down this same road.

Even bad press is good press.

By going on this tear online, Gizmodo is not achieving the goal they have set out. They are…in reality…actually selling more iPhone 4′s for Apple than they are hurting sales. If there is one true thing in marketing, it that even bad press is good press. Now, even people who had no interest in the new iPhone 4 are wanting to check it out to see if Gizmodo’s articles are true…and this comes at the expense of some of Gizmodo’s credibility.

When you start to jump into EGO blogging, you might feel good for a split second, but you are sacrificing all of the hard work you have put forth to try to win an online argument. And guess what…no one wins online arguments.

How To Avoid The Negative Blogging Trap

Feeling like you need to vent online? Here are some tips to bring you back down to reality.

Remember You Are Running A Business

Are you willing to throw all of your credibility on the line and possibly lose everything? By taking the flaming path, you have to be ready for backlash that will inevitably ensue afterward. Personally, I am not ready to throw away years of hard work to try to show how cool I think I am online. I run online businesses and I treat them that way. When was the last time you saw Coke make a political like flaming to Pepsi? You don’t…why?…because that would actually make Coke look bad instead of bringing Pepsi down.

Honesty Does Not Mean Flaming

Blogging is built upon the principle of honest opinions. But there is a difference between your honest opinion and biased flaming. It is all in the delivery, so even as you have negative things to say about a product or service, deliver that message in a respectful, fact based manner and you should keep your integrity/reputation in tact while not pissing off the company and your readers at the same time.

Think Past Today

Do you actually think Gizmodo is going to have a good working relationship with Apple after this incident? Even if they do, it is going to take a lot of work to get that trust built back up again. As you look at the temptation to flame online, take a serious look at how it will affect tomorrow and not just today.

Take A Deep Breath

Draft up your article and then walk away for awhile. After you have had some time to calm down, go back a re-edit the article. You might be surprised what kind of perspective you will have after you get out of the heat of the moment.

What Kind Of Readers Do You Want?

Do you really want the kind of readers that feed off of that kind of controversy. As you look at the most successful blogs online, can you count on more than one hand the ones that take that tactic? I can’t. Controversy blog readers are typically the least profitable. They are more interested in controversy and online arguments than they are with value and consuming your products, services and content. When you are trying to make an income online, you need readers that will value your content and products to make money online.

The Gizmodo Aftermath

Will Gizmodo lose all of their readers and fall off the face of the Internet. No…probably not. With a blog that large, things will appear to go on as normal even if they do see a small subscriber decrease. In the world of blogging, it is much easier to weather those types of storms the larger you become and they are probably justifying any decrease with ego.

However, as you look at your blog with 100 to 1,000 subscribers or even up into the 25k range, are you willing to throw it all on the line by taking a similar stance on an issue in your niche?

Filed Under: Blogging, Content, The Web, Tutorials/How To Tagged With: , , , , ,

30 Most Influential Bloggers and Website Owners of 2010

June 1, 2010 By 87 Comments

2010 is and has been a great year for bloggers and website owners. As the blogging industry continues to stray away from its journaling past to evolve into a solid business platform, we are seeing success by entrepreneurial spirits all over the world. Never before have people from across the globe been able to connect as easily both personally and professionally to work together towards a common goal.

Throughout my blogging career, there have been numerous site owners and bloggers that have directly influenced and affected how I run my business. The following list is a collection of those individuals and the online real-estate they represent. This is by no means a claim that they are the most influential on the web. These bloggers and website owners have directly affected how I blog and business build as well as affected those around me.

Some of these names will make you think; “oh…here we go again.” as their spread of influence can not be denied. However, hopefully you find some names on this list outside of the blogging/MMO niche that you can observe and pull influence from to increase your success.

30 Most Influential Bloggers and Website Owners of 2010

So let’s jump right into it…in no particular order…the 30 most influential bloggers and website owners of 2010.

#1 – Darren Rowse

Darren Rowse

Darren is the bloggers blogger. With his highest grossing blog residing outside of the blogging niche (DPS), Darren proves that being successful online has nothing to do with blogging about blogging and credibility is built upon experience and success. He continues to redefine himself and expand his online offerings through eBooks, forums and other outlets.

Problogger.net | Digital-Photography-School.com | Twitip.com | Interview on RS

#2 – Alborz Fallah

Alborz Fallah - Car Advice

Alborz provided a lot of inspiration for Bike198.com as a successful blog outside of the blogging niche in an expensive, product based market. Dubbed as the million dollar blogger, Alborz is able to drive some of the hottest cars in the industry for a living exemplifying…for me…the ultimate “internet lifestyle”. Not being a blogger…but doing what you love day in and day out and getting paid for it.

CarAdvice.com.au

#3 – David Schloss

David Schloss - Mac Create

Many of you probably have never heard of David. The originator of the Aperture Users Network, this photographer and website owner has been around for quite awhile. With his recent expansion of his original network into MacCreate.com, David has built an online empire revolving around Apple and digital products.

MacCreate.com

#4 – Collis Ta’eed

Collis Ta'eed - Envato

While we are on the blog network kick, Collis Ta’eed created a massive online network of blogs and stores with the Tuts Plus network and family of sites under the Envato name. Started in his mom’s garage, Collis sets the blueprint on how blog networks should be created and expanded upon.

Envato | TutsPlus | ThemeForest | Rockable Press

#5 – Arianna Huffington

Arianna Huffington

While I do not normally agree with the slant the Huffington Post takes on news, I greatly respect the amount of success Arianna and the rest of the crew have achieved online. Recently, Google released the top 1,000 most trafficked sites online and the Huffington Post was the top blog on the list. If that doesn’t spell success…I don’t know what does…

The Huffington Post

#6 – David Risley

David Risley

Friend and fellow blogger David Risley has been around before the days of WordPress. With several successes in and out of the blogging industry, David still manages PCMECH and helps others achieve online success on DavidRisley.com.

DavidRisley.com | PCMECH | 3DayMoney | Blog Masters Club | Interview on RS

#7 – Matthew Inman

Matthew Inman

While his most notable successes online are for SEOmoz and Mingle before the age of 27, I find Matthew Inman’s originality with The Oatmeal inspiring. Every time I land on the pages of The Oatmeal, I am reminded to be myself and original.

The Oatmeal |0at

#8 – James Richmond

James Richmond - The Infopreneur

Having just started TheInfopreneur a short 7 months ago, James managed to inspire many with his dedication and hard work. With long “regular job” work weeks, he was still able to blast a ton of quality info on the web and bring in thousands of comments on his blog. Unfortunately, James is having to step out of the limelight for a little while to battle some health issues, but I don’t think this will be the last we hear of him online.

TheInfoPreneur.net

#9 – Michael Dunlop

Michael Dunlop - Income Diary

Michael has proved…without a doubt…that you can have rapid monetary success online by being original and providing value. His dedication to studying web trends and providing high quality information and interviews for bloggers and young internet entrepreneurs is unprecedented.

IncomeDiary.com | Retireat21.com | Interview on RS

#10 – Elden Nelson

Elden Fatty Nelson - Fat Cyclist

What started off as a humor blog about cycling and losing weight took a drastic turn as Elden’s wife got cancer. Elden used his spread online to raise more money for the Lance Armstrong Foundation than any other individual. Now passed, Elden’s wife still provides strength and hope for other cancer patients through Elden’s (fatty) continued support of fighting cancer and cycling.

FatCyclist.com

#11 – David Leggett

David Leggett - Tutorial9

Owner of Tutorial9.net, panel member of UXBooth and web designer, David Leggett has his influence spreading all over the web with design and blogging. The design he created over at Tutorial9.net also happens to be one of my favorite in the industry.

Tutorial9.net | UXBooth | TheLeggett

#12 – Arn Kim

Arn Kin Macrumors

For those of you wondering if you can have a full time job and blog at the same time, Arn Kim ran MacRumors.com for eight years while being a full time doctor before taking his online exploits full time. Arn is an inspiration for everyone trying to put in the late hours to make their online income take over their “regular job”.

Macrumors.com

#13 – John Chow

John Chow

John Chow and blogging are two terms that go hand in hand. Having grown up in a small mud shack in China to building his empire that now sits atop the nicest neighborhood in Vancouver, BC. While some do not agree with his tactics, John Chow shows how drive, determination and a passion for blogging can really bring you to the “dot com lifestyle”. Having started in the tech industry, Chow backs up his monetary gains with real life experience outside of the blogging/MMO niche that he is now famous for.

The TechZone | JohnChow.com

#14 – Justin Shattuck

Justin Shattuck

Justin Shattuck is a name in the blogging industry that you may not even be aware of his influence. You have seen his designs, used his plugins and engaged with his content…most likely…without even knowing it. Owner of Just The Web and several blogs, Justin is an entrepreneur that has left his mark on the blogging world quietly. He also happens to be a partner in oneninety8.

JustinShattuck.com | ReviewTea | Creamily | Just the Web

#15 – Peter Anderson

Peter Anderson - Bible Money Matters

Peter and his wife went from tons of student loan and personal debt to only owing on the mortgage on BibleMoneyMatters.com. His financial advice and faith has helped others achieve the same through his blogging efforts. I first met Peter way back when I was first starting RobbSutton.com. His drive and passion for the subject matter has really brought his blog to the success it sees today.

BibleMoneyMatters.com | Quicktofit.com | Logosforwebsites.com

#16 – Kelly Diels

Kelly Diels - Cleavage

Kelly has a true passion for writing and blogging and that has landed her the fantastic opportunity to blog on Problogger.net and be a full time freelance writer. Once chained by her desk job, Kelly know gets to make a living full time doing what she loves…writing. I’ll never forget the day she popped up on my chat screen with the news…the excitement could be seen through the screen!

KellyDiels.com

#17 – Daniel Scocco

Daniel Scocco - Daily Blog Tips

Daily Blog Tips is a fixture in the blogging industry and Daniel Scocco is at the helm. Add to that…he is a member of the online profits crew with names like Yaro Starak and Neil Patel, so success online is just how Daniel rolls.

Daily Blog Tips | Online Profits

#18 – Yaro Starak

Yaro Starak

Yaro is the king of membership programs and teaching others success online like he has seen over the years. Having gone through Yaro‘s Blog Mastermind program in the past (all of us start from somewhere!), I can tell you the success is well deserved. Yaro has a true passion for blogging and the lifestyle it can bring for aspiring internet entrepreneurs. It spreads through everything he does.

Entrepreneurs-Journey.com | Blog Mastermind | Membership Mastermind | BecomeABlogger.com

#19 – Mike Crimmins

Mike Crimmins - Daily Shot of Coffee

I met Mike through my work on RobbSutton.com. Mike has taken his love of all things coffee and turned it into a coffee blog that is accessible for all types of coffee drinkers. The real appeal I find in Mike’s blogging is his ability to not be the ego driven blogger. He has a real ability to connect with all types of people and their love for the brown bean.

Daily Shot of Coffee

#20 – Nathan Hangen

Nathan Hangen

Nathan just hangs it out there…pulls no punches…and you know exactly where you stand. This brutal honesty wins him readers trust and is true to who he is. Blogging has to be authentic and you have to not just carbon copy another blogger’s voice. Nathan Hangen stays true to who he is and does not bend to public opinion. It is an inspiration.

NathanHangen.com | Beyond Blogging

#21 – Francis Cebedo

Francis Cebedo

If you do not ride a bike, you are wondering…”who the hell is Francis Cebedo?!” Francis started the largest cycling websites in the world and it ranks up there with some of the top forums in the world…MTBR.com. With millions of visits a month, Francis has hit the holy grail in forum ownership in spades and provides the inspiration to other forum starters by showing what is really possible.

MTBR.com | RoadBikeReview.com

#22 – Nicholas Cardot

Nicholas Cardot

Nicholas is just a cool dude with great content. One of the diamonds in the rough with SiteSketch101, Nicholas takes a powerful look at blogging and social media with a unique look, voice and attitude. As a member of the United States Army, he carries that same dedication and consistency into his blogging.

Site Sketch 101

#23 – Shoemoney

Shoemoney

Jeremy Schoemaker is legendary in the internet marketing and blogging industries. However, his millions of dollars in annual revenues is not the reason I included him on this list. His story of self destruction to healthy, happy living is an inspiration to those looking to blogging to make a positive turn in their lives. Anything is possible with the right attitude and determination and Shoemoney is living proof that the sky is no longer the limit.

Shoemoney.com | The Shoemoney System

#24 – Michael Martine

Michael Martine - Remarkablogger

Michael Martine shows businesses how to capitalize on blogging and social media to improve their businesses and jump into the new business world head first. His long term commitment and knowledge in web trends is on par with the top in the industry. Michael is just one of those happy family guys that you want to pick there brain for awhile…and I got the chance on this blog.

Remarkablogger | Interview on RS

#25 – Alex Fraiser

Alex Fraiser - Blogussion

The new generation of bloggers is making fast strides in the industry. 17 year old Alex Fraiser is making waves with great design and content over at Blogussion. With this new wave of talented bloggers, the future looks bright for the industry as a whole. Bloggers like Alex are a reminder to the rest of us to stay on top of trends and never stop learning.

Blogussion

#26 – Rob Rammuny

Rob Rammuny

Having started making waves recently, Rob Rammuny is expanding his offerings online through blogging and WordPress themes. Another one of the younger generation bloggers, Rob is building his empire before most of us even thought of how to write our first articles. Exciting times for the younger generation as things move forward.

Robs Web Tips | Theme Sheep WordPress Themes

#27 – Gary Vaynerchuk

Gary Vaynerchuk - Wine Library TV and Crush It

What can be said about Gary V that hasn’t been beat to death already? Gary brought his family wine business to new heights through his blogging efforts and then continued his empire with content and books. Gary is the new wave of entrepreneurs that are leveraging the power of the internet to increase business rapidly.

Gary Vaynerchuk | Wine Library TV | Crush It!

#28 – Jordan Cooper

Jordan Cooper

Jordan Cooper cracks me up…literally. This comedian, forum connoisseur and blogger brings his unique style to everything he touches. It takes a lot of balls to step on stage and perform a comedy act and Jordan brings that same confidence and humor into his blogging. Jorday reminds me why we don’t have to be serious all of the time to take our business seriously.

Not A Pro Blog

#29 – Chris Garrett

Chris Garrett

Chris Garrett has helped more bloggers, website owners and business owners achieve success through online outlets than I care to count. As a co-author of Problogger with Darren Rowse, Chris has an impressive resume that backs up his willingness to help others.

ChrisG.com | Problogger

#30 – Dave Navarro

Dave Navarro

Dave Navarro’s eBook “How To Launch The #!&@ Out Of Your Ebook” has become my go-to guide every time I get ready to launch a new product. Getting things done the right way the 1st time is essential to success and Dave lays it all out there so you can see the results.

The Launch Coach | How To Launch The @#!& Out Of Your Ebook

There You Have It!

Inside and outside of the blogging world, there are people to touch our lives and affect our business. These 30 individuals are the ones that have had the most influence over my blogging and those close to me this year.

Everyone has their list…who is on yours?

Filed Under: Blogging, Social Media, The Web Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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