In 2007, I started The $100 Challenge (see documentation and participants’ list). Then, I revisited the challenge again in 2008. However, things got so hectic that I didn’t really manage to come up with a decent follow-up on it.
Well, now it’s 2009 and I thought I’d start it all over again. This time, I have more hopeful plans for this challenge. And, I already have a few ideas in mind. Including a similar documentation, participants’ list, etc. like that of the 2007 challenge.
So now, what do you do? If you want to take on this challenge, here are the instructions:
1) Name your $100 challenge. Will it be making you first $100 online, regardless of the time deadline? Will it be a target of $100 a year, $100 a month, $100 a week, or $100 a day?
2) How do you want to reach your $100 challenge target? Blogging? Writing? Sales? Affiliates? Of course, this is not set in stone. No matter what you plan to do, though, do share the relevant URLs (your blog, online shop, etc).
3) Say that you want to take on the challenge. You can do this by either commenting on this post and/or posting on your blog about it (and telling me that you did).
Once you’re a fully-fledged $100 challenge participant, you’ll be listed in our $100 Challenge Participants’ List (2009) in JMMO’s brand new Business Directory. If you have any questions, feedback, ideas, etc. on this project/challenge, feel free to share. I look forward to seeing how this year’s $100 challenge will work out.
It’s the start of another year. And, I just want to greet you all JMMO readers and subscribers a wonderful 2009.
While all this talk about the recession and such can put a damper on celebrations - especially when it comes to looking forward to making money in the new year - I still hope and wish everyone a very happy, healthy, and prosperous new year.
So, what are your goals and plans for 2009 when it comes to online money making?
Merry Christmas!
It has been a while since I last updated this blog, JMMO. Like I mentioned in my post last month, I was working on moving the site to my own web host and transferring the domain ownership back to me. Including moving the Feed subscriber base to my account. And, although it took a while to get all of it sorted out, it looks like it’s all finally done. (Note: Thanks to Lee and Franca for the help in the transfer!)
And yes, for those who are asking: I have put the sale of this blog on hold for now. I thought it was best not to pursue it while I get the move sorted out, just to make sure that if I end up proceeding with the sale, that the next owner will get a smooth transition. Besides, I thought that it might be better if I let the holidays pass.
So for now, I’ll continue blogging here and working on preparing this blog should I proceed with selling.
That’s why at the moment, the theme/design will look a bit strange for a bit as I get a different one sorted out. And, I will have to do some cleaning up around here.
In any case, I just wanted to say hello and to let you know that JMMO is still well and alive. In fact, I’ll be making some plans around here for 2009.
And yes, to greet you all a happy holidays! I hope you’re all enjoying the season.
JMMO is moving servers/hosts. This is partly in preparation for the sale, just to make sure that the next owner will have an easier time making the transition.
So, I thought I’d let you all know that I probably won’t update the blog until the move is settled. I just want to make sure that we don’t lose anything during the move.
But yes, I’m still entertaining queries/offers on the Blog Sale. Just send an email to shaicogginsATgmailDOTcom (replace AT with @ and DOT with .). I respond to all queries within 24-48 hours. If you’ve sent me an email about the blog sale, and you still haven’t heard from me, chances are: I did not receive your email. Please feel free to re-send and bug me about it.
In any case, thanks for your patience as I make this move.
Hi, everyone. It’s almost the end of the month again. So, I thought I’d nudge you a little and ask that if you haven’t voted on this month’s poll just yet, please do so. It’s always great to hear from JMMO readers and visitors - even if it’s just from a poll vote. 
Are you preparing your online business for the recession?
If you’ve already voted, thank you so much!
As always, I’ll be sharing the results of this poll shortly after I close it in the next week or so.
If you’re not running Chitika | Premium Ads yet, now might be a good time to try. Especially if you can come up with interesting ways to display your ads.
You see, they are giving away a total of $200 for “the most interesting/cool/unique placements of Chitika | Premium ads”.
What does it mean to have a cool/interesting/unique ad placement? Well, according to Chitika, “a good way to place these ads is by placing the ads inside the content (right after the first paragraph) - which will generally earn a very high CTR/eCPM. But since it will only display to search engine traffic, it will not display to your regular readers (they won’t be annoyed by ads in the middle of their content!).”
The one who can come up with the best placement will receive $100, and 2 runners-up will receive $50 each. To enter, email specialprojects@chitika.com with a link to your interesting Premium ad implementation. Chitika asks entries to include a sentence or 2 about the ad setup. Deadline for this is on 12:00pm US EDT on Monday, November 10.
Good luck with it!
It has been over a week since I put this blog on sale. And so far, I’ve had 3 expressions of interest + 2 leads + 1 alternative proposal. And several well-wishes. Nothing too major at this stage. But, after only a week - and with not promoting the sale as much as I probably could - I’m not expecting a lot just yet.
One thing I realised is that while I’d love some quick cash, it’s more important for me to find the right buyer under the right circumstances. So, at this stage of the sale, I’m cool with taking my time. I’m not sure yet when I’d feel otherwise. 
Anyway, as I’ve been sharing the steps I’ve been taking to sell this blog, I thought I’d share this next step with you -
Step 3: It’s all about the Data
While collecting the necessary data may only take 30 minutes to an hour for some people who are selling their sites, I’m actually finding myself stuck on this one for longer than I’d like to be. This is due to 2 main reasons: 1) I don’t have direct access to the raw data of ads that are running on this blog; and 2) The affiliate sales from this blog are all over the place.
But, I do have a checklist of things that I’d like to collect, so I can offer the data to prospective buyers -
- Traffic (page views, etc) - This is probably one of the most asked questions by prospective buyers: How much traffic does your blog have? Right now, I’ve got this data using AWStats only.
- Ratings/Metrics (Alexa, Google PR, etc) - This is the sort of data that adds value to a blog. Of course, the better the ratings, the higher the premium for the blog. I currently have my Alexa, Google PR, Technorati ranking, + lists that this blog is on right now.
- Sources of Revenue - People want to know how your blog is making money, just so folks can gauge how much to offer for your blog and/or to know if what you’re asking for your blog is reasonable. Normally, you share screenshots of all ad revenues from various places over the last year. This blog runs the following ads: Direct advertising, Google Adsense, Chitika, TLA, and text links from b5media textpod. And, if you make money from affiliate ads (and JMMO does), then showing the revenue from such affiliates will be useful too.
- Miscellaneous Data - Any other data that might be interesting for prospective buyers - such as top search terms and pages, awards received, etc.
So, what about you? If you sold a blog or website before, what type of data did you share? Did you have a fixed price for the sale of your blog - or did you accept offers based on valuation?
If you’re someone who would consider buying a blog or website, what types of data would you like to have?
To read more about this feature, see:
Image source: Aaron Murphy, sxc.hu
Let me tell you something that I don’t get to talk about often. When I first started trying to make money online over 10 years ago, the very first place I found a gig in was at Suite101.com. Back then, I was happy to make something like $15 a month for writing 4 articles or something similar. And, as a managing editor of a channel, I was paid an extra $15 or so a month. I can’t remember the exact details anymore.
But yes, I was happy to find a writing job online that enabled me to do something I love - and get some extra cash at the same time. There were not a lot of those types of places back then. Especially because at that time, the web was primarily a “free” place. So, a lot of online magazines and e-newsletters offered just “free promotion” if you wrote for them.
About a year or so later, Suite101 ceased paying their writers for a certain period of time. I guess, they must have been re-assessing their business model at the time. During that period, I left Suite101.
A couple of years later, I believe they re-introduced a new payment scheme for their writers. And, that’s where they are at the moment.
Basically, as a Suite101 freelance writer:
- You get to choose a specified area of expertise/interest.
- You are expected to write approximately 10 articles every 3 months.
- You receive some “free writing training”.
- You get paid a revenue share, based on the advertising that are running on your topic.
Since I’m no longer affiliated with Suite101, I’m not quite sure what the “revenue share” really entail. And, how much money a typical Suite101 freelance writer gets in a month. However, I do know that some of my online writer contacts who are still writing for them and seem quite satisfied with their working and payment arrangements.
If you’re a Suite101 writer and/or someone who has written for them in the past, I’d love to get your feedback. Let us know what you think about what it’s like to be a Suite101 freelance writer.
If you’re interested, check out the Suite101 Freelance Writer’s Guidelines.
It’s another proud moment for us at b5media as we launch our second portal - Bizzia. Yes, we now have a “one-stop destination for relevant and timely business information, insights and news, powered by 30 established b5media blogs.”
Bizzia comes with a partnership with yourBusinessChannel (a company that creates business TV shows for entrepreneurs and business people who want to hear the latest tips and advice from acknowledged business experts) - so you can get some great business-related videos.
According to b5media CEO Jeremy Wright: “Bizzia.com not only serves as a destination for users to get their fill of business news and advice, but provides a forum for intelligent discussion and reader engagement as well.”
The first b5media portal was launched last month, a mega entertainment site called Starked.
