Comments on: I would like your input on how to improve this blog http://montaraventures.com/blog/2007/08/03/i-would-like-your-input-on-how-to-improve-this-blog/ Mike Harding's Blog Sat, 22 Nov 2008 09:54:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: mike http://montaraventures.com/blog/2007/08/03/i-would-like-your-input-on-how-to-improve-this-blog/#comment-24728 mike Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:34:04 +0000 http://montaraventures.com/blog/2007/08/03/i-would-like-your-input-on-how-to-improve-this-blog/#comment-24728 Mark, thanks for the enumeration. I'm still thinking about which way I want to go. Right now, I'm leaning toward bloggregation where there are specialty sites ala <a href="http://montaraventures.com/energy/" rel="nofollow">Montara Energy Ventures</a> and the content also appears here in a central fashion. The examples you cite are great. Thanks. Mark, thanks for the enumeration. I’m still thinking about which way I want to go. Right now, I’m leaning toward bloggregation where there are specialty sites ala Montara Energy Ventures and the content also appears here in a central fashion.

The examples you cite are great. Thanks.

]]> By: Mark Yolton http://montaraventures.com/blog/2007/08/03/i-would-like-your-input-on-how-to-improve-this-blog/#comment-24628 Mark Yolton Mon, 06 Aug 2007 22:34:02 +0000 http://montaraventures.com/blog/2007/08/03/i-would-like-your-input-on-how-to-improve-this-blog/#comment-24628 Hi Mike: I think some active bloggers (like John Hagel, author of "Net Gain" and other books http://edgeperspectives.typepad.com/edge_perspectives/) use their blogs as platforms to establish credibility, extend their reach, interact with others to debate ideas ... but ultimately make their money thru consulting. Others form collectives and bill themselves as "blogger / analysts" (like RedMonk at http://redmonk.com/) with similar attributes (gain credibility and have interesting conversations via blog, perform as analyst hired-guns with brains, insights, and attitude for rent). Other bloggers seem to use their blogs to attract an audience for events (like Future-of-Communities at http://www.futureofcommunities.com/), at which they make money from the sponsorships and registration fees. Others (like Dan Farber and Larry Dignan's at http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/) are attached to publications such as ZDnet where advertising and sponsorship are key revenue-generators. Still other bloggers form collectives (like Social Media Today at http://www.socialmediatoday.com/SMC/) where the group is greater than the sum of the parts in attracting wider readership and...? This isn't the full scope of business models, but it's a smattering of some I've seen. Mark Y. Hi Mike:

I think some active bloggers (like John Hagel, author of “Net Gain” and other books http://edgeperspectives.typepad.com/edge_perspectives/) use their blogs as platforms to establish credibility, extend their reach, interact with others to debate ideas … but ultimately make their money thru consulting.

Others form collectives and bill themselves as “blogger / analysts” (like RedMonk at http://redmonk.com/) with similar attributes (gain credibility and have interesting conversations via blog, perform as analyst hired-guns with brains, insights, and attitude for rent).

Other bloggers seem to use their blogs to attract an audience for events (like Future-of-Communities at http://www.futureofcommunities.com/), at which they make money from the sponsorships and registration fees.

Others (like Dan Farber and Larry Dignan’s at http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/) are attached to publications such as ZDnet where advertising and sponsorship are key revenue-generators.

Still other bloggers form collectives (like Social Media Today at http://www.socialmediatoday.com/SMC/) where the group is greater than the sum of the parts in attracting wider readership and…?

This isn’t the full scope of business models, but it’s a smattering of some I’ve seen.

Mark Y.

]]> By: mike http://montaraventures.com/blog/2007/08/03/i-would-like-your-input-on-how-to-improve-this-blog/#comment-24310 mike Sun, 05 Aug 2007 02:11:16 +0000 http://montaraventures.com/blog/2007/08/03/i-would-like-your-input-on-how-to-improve-this-blog/#comment-24310 Thanks Mom...what can I say? It's nice when your family reads your blog. Thanks Mom…what can I say? It’s nice when your family reads your blog.

]]> By: shar-ma http://montaraventures.com/blog/2007/08/03/i-would-like-your-input-on-how-to-improve-this-blog/#comment-24307 shar-ma Sun, 05 Aug 2007 01:43:25 +0000 http://montaraventures.com/blog/2007/08/03/i-would-like-your-input-on-how-to-improve-this-blog/#comment-24307 Hi Mike, I don't know that my comments will help at all, but just to let you know, I have really enjoyed the variety of your blog and keeping up on your life, ideas and perspective about so many things. Guess it's because you're my kid and you live so far away. I read all of your posts and check in on your business website from time to time as well. Good luck on figuring out what works best for you. Hi Mike, I don’t know that my comments will help at all, but just to let you know, I have really enjoyed the variety of your blog and keeping up on your life, ideas and perspective about so many things. Guess it’s because you’re my kid and you live so far away. I read all of your posts and check in on your business website from time to time as well. Good luck on figuring out what works best for you.

]]> By: mike http://montaraventures.com/blog/2007/08/03/i-would-like-your-input-on-how-to-improve-this-blog/#comment-24137 mike Fri, 03 Aug 2007 19:02:06 +0000 http://montaraventures.com/blog/2007/08/03/i-would-like-your-input-on-how-to-improve-this-blog/#comment-24137 Doug, thanks for the comment and for sharing your experience. Somehow, it makes me feel a little better to know I'm not alone in experiencing it. Maybe there is broad appeal in discussing how to "fix" the situation? In relation to the ads, I've attempted to integrate them into the template in such a way that they "belong" - is that working? They're not the obnoxious blinking banners, but there is advertising content here. Is it distracting and/or offensive I wonder? Good luck to you too, I'll share whatever I learn... Doug, thanks for the comment and for sharing your experience. Somehow, it makes me feel a little better to know I’m not alone in experiencing it. Maybe there is broad appeal in discussing how to “fix” the situation?

In relation to the ads, I’ve attempted to integrate them into the template in such a way that they “belong” - is that working? They’re not the obnoxious blinking banners, but there is advertising content here. Is it distracting and/or offensive I wonder?

Good luck to you too, I’ll share whatever I learn…

]]> By: D Curtis http://montaraventures.com/blog/2007/08/03/i-would-like-your-input-on-how-to-improve-this-blog/#comment-24134 D Curtis Fri, 03 Aug 2007 18:53:33 +0000 http://montaraventures.com/blog/2007/08/03/i-would-like-your-input-on-how-to-improve-this-blog/#comment-24134 I've seem the same thing and have a similar problem. I've had various Adsense ad layouts for over a year and it still hasn't generated enough to issue a 1st check. My site actually seems to do better (from a visits standpoint - data via Google analytics) when I remove banner ads. I'm planning a shift in mine as well, to focus more on the cycling. Good Luck. I’ve seem the same thing and have a similar problem. I’ve had various Adsense ad layouts for over a year and it still hasn’t generated enough to issue a 1st check. My site actually seems to do better (from a visits standpoint - data via Google analytics) when I remove banner ads. I’m planning a shift in mine as well, to focus more on the cycling. Good Luck.

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