2008 May Bloghology

2008 May Bloghology
By
Search For Blogging &

Peopleized.com
June 11, 2008
© 2008 May Bloghology ● Web: http://www.bloghology.org

Table Of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................... ..3
Bloggin-Ads by Mike Huang ............................... .5
The Evolution of A Writer by Anne-Marie Nichols ............................. 8
Change Therapy by Isabella Mori ............................... 16
Cute Writing by Lenin Nair ............................... . 21
Mint Blogger by Rajeev Edmonds ............................. 24
JobMob by Jacob Share ............................... 27
Why Most Bloggers Stuck Reporting by Yaro Starak.......................... 31
Mert Erkal Recommends 36
© 2008 May Bloghology ● Web: http://www.bloghology.org

2008 May Bloghology - 3
Welcome to May 2008 Bloghology!
Bloghology is a collection of unique and remarkable bloggers and their

profiles from all around the blogosphere. April 2008 Bloghology downloads
exceeded 3000 by today.
In May edition, I introduce you 6 talented and unique bloggers. It has
been a great experience for me to meet and interview them. I would like to
thank all participants for their dedication and collaboration. Without their
efforts, this document could not be finished.
You will also find an interesting article written by Yaro Starak at the
end of Bloghology.
If you want me to promote you and your blog in the coming editions
of Bloghology, please do not forget to sign up at www.bloghology.org.
Participation is completely free.
I want to make Bloghology even better by providing you with more
and greater coverage of blogging and top bloggers. If you like what you are
getting on Bloghology, if you want more of it, and if you believe that
Blogholoy is providing a vital service, please give me a hand and help me
spread the word. With your contribution, Bloghology will become more
popular, thus will add more value to participating bloggers. Always
remember, ideas that spread, win!
Here's to add value to your blogging,

Mert Erkal
www.bloghology.org
© 2008 May Bloghology ● Web: http://www.searchforblogging.com

4 - 2008 May Bloghology
Who is Mert Erkal?

Mert Erkal is a young Internet entrepreneur from Istanbul,
Turkey. Mert has designed several different websites since 2006
and currently works on Peopleized.com project with Halil
Mandal. Apart from freelance web designing and involving in
Internet projects like Peopleized, Mert has been working for Maersk Line, worlds
largest container line since 1998. His profession is Marketing. He shares his
knowledge and expertise with Small Businesses and builds up Corporate Identity.
He also provides Marketing and Branding service for Small Business companies.
www.searchforblogging.com
Ilker Yoldas from TheThinkingBlog.com says...

"This is one of the most ambitious projects ever with its ground-
breaking objectives and creative approach to online marketing. I
look forward to the project's progress and, hopefully, its ultimate
success!"
Ilker is a top blogger, freelance designer and media marketer.

www.ilkeryoldas.com
Tina Su from Thinksimplenow.com says...

"Bloghology gives insights into the lives of bloggers, their motives and
what makes their blogs successful. An interesting use of the new social
media tool Peopleized.com where all the interviews were conducted."
Tina is a professional photographer, blogger, Internet entrepreneur and designer. Currently,

she has a full time job with Amazon.com as an experience designer and technical program
manager.
www.thinksimplenow.com

Bloggin-Ads by Mike Huang
Biography:
Bloggin-Ads was created by Mike, a 20 year old student, to explore

the whole Blogging Community by reviewing a blog every single day. Mike
started this idea because he felt that people paying to get reviewed wasn’t very
fair to smaller blogs or blogs that do not receive income. With the help of his
wife, Michelle, a 19 year old student, Mike decided to open this blog and
search Technorati, Sphere, and BlogPulse daily to review in detail about the
specific blog. Aside from searching for a blog to review, Mike will also be
accepting “Submit A Post” posts and not to mention Weekly Video Reviews.
Inspirited by many blogs in the community, there are a few
exceptional ones that actually inspired Mike to create this blog. Upon entering
the blog world for the first time in April, 2007, Mike stumbled upon John
Chow’s huge money-making success blog when registered at Agloco.
Although Bloggin-Ads is not about money, Mike loves the evil Mr. Chow’s
success at making so much money. After stumbling on the blog, Mike
stumbled upon Darren, ShoeMoney, and John Jordan’s blog.
Mike wishes to turn Bloggin-Ads.com into a huge blog and blog
directory where bloggers will not only be able to search for blogs under certain
categories, but also read a full detailed review about the blog. Although
Bloggin-Ads.com does not want to take money from viewers, Mike still hopes

there will be sponsors that would wish to advertise on his site so he would be
able to pay for his hosting and his supplies to get bloggers informed with the
best reviews in the blogging community.
Favorite Posts:
Guest Posting’s True Infinite Power
How Many Subscribers Do You Have?
John Chow Is NOT Evil
Should Contests Run Your Blog?
Why Rambling Posts Will Be A Hit
Bloggin-Ads by Mike Huang

Interviewed by Mert – Tuesday, 03 June 2008
Mert: Hi Mike, please tell us about yourself. Who are you? :)

Mike: My name is Mike Huang and I'm currently a student at East Los
Angeles College in Southern California. My wife, Michelle La, and I are
currently attending the same school and we're just average teenagers trying to
make the best of our young lives.
Mert: When did you start blogging? Do you make money out of your
current blog?
Mike: We started blogging in November 2007, which wasn't that long ago.
We were lucky that once we launched, Bloggin-Ads became a big hit within a
few months. There are so many blogs now that it is very difficult to get off
your feet.
Bloggin-Ads actually doesn't not condone the topic of making money online,
but of course that doesn't stop us from making money from different sites (still

under construction). We believe that making money through blogging is just

an overkill these days. Everyone is trying to do it, but it's all being scattered
and done wrong. This is the main reason why Bloggin-Ads does not charge for
a blog review.
Mert: Your new blog design looks pretty good. Do you think customized
blog design made a big difference? How was the reaction of your fellow
readers?
Mike: The new custom design I received after just a few months of blogging
with a free theme surely did bring in a lot of new hits. We believe that a
custom unique theme is something a blogger needs if he/she wishes to grow.
Of course there are exceptions, but it's just like seeing good food and bad food.
The best reactions would go towards the good food while the bad food
receives no attention at all.
Mert: What are your 2008 goals in terms of blogging?

Mike: Our goals for 2008 is basically to continue growing and getting noticed
by bigger bloggers. We always mention that there are so many blogs that it is
difficult to get noticed, but we're slowly getting there. We also wish to change
the way that blog reviews are going :)
Mert: Do you have any suggestions to newcomers? Which areas should

they focus in 2008?
Mike: Our suggestions to newcomers is basically to be honest and be yourself.
We had to learn the hard way after almost 8 months of blogging that trying to
be professional and educated was a mistake. Being yourself is what readers
look for. Focusing on the content and mistakes will definitely turn a blogger
into a "BLOGGER".

The Evolution of A Writer by

Anne-Marie Nichols
The Evolution of A Writer:
Some writers are born, and others are made. Then there are those who
stumble into it like me.
I don’t remember writing much as a child. There was a report on
squirrels in third grade, and an autobiography in fifth – an assignment that was
more about binding and illustrating a book rather than writing. There was a
play about taking an airplane flight, and a script for a children’s pants
commercial.
Writing wasn’t my passion. Art was. I loved to throw pots, paint
pictures, and draw. I eventually ended up in art school at California State
University, Long Beach then Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. After
four years of fine art with an emphasis in advertising, I realized I was never
going to get a job. Not because jobs were hard to find, but because I wasn’t a
good enough artist. In art school, you weren’t graded on your ideas, but how
well you could illustrate them. (This was before computers, Photoshop and
Illustrator.) My work always got a “B” while the students with beautiful hand
lettering and drawing skills received an “A.” There was no way I could stand
up to the competition, so I quit.

Work 1.0:
After graduation, I worked in the financial, insurance, and software
industries writing direct mail pieces, brochure copy, newsletters, and press
releases. I learned about UPSs, ERP, supply chain, data centers, and the metal
industry. I wrote marketing plans, translated British idioms into American
plain speak, and edited engineering white papers into sales pieces. I wrote web
copy for my employer’s North American website, and trained their clients on
how to use the customer website. I even prepared a daily intranet bulletin on
industry happenings way before there was ever such a thing as a blog.
Then like so many corporations, my employer was bought by a firm
who quickly laid off the marketing department. I started collecting
unemployment and looked for a job. While there were many good
opportunities available closer to home and with better pay, there was one
problem – I was six months pregnant. I went on many job interviews but
received no offers. Who would want to hire me in my condition? I finally got a
job through a temp agency doing technical writing at a health
care/pharmaceutical company.
Fate:
Two days before I was to start my tech writing job, I gave birth to my
son Nathan. He was seven weeks early, weighed under four pounds, and had
medical problems and developmental issues. So much for the job search, I was
home with the baby and busy with Nathan’s therapist and doctor
appointments.
Three years later his sister Lucie was born, also premature with some
mild health and developmental delays. Around this time Nathan, who was
doing much better, started preschool. I saw a chance to start working again, at

least part-time. Yet how was I going to jump start my stalled career?
Work 2.0 – Beginning Freelance Career:

In 2004, I went back to my roots – journalism – and started writing
stories for my local newspaper on community volunteers. I started freelancing
by producing my mom’s club monthly newsletter and writing an e-newsletter
for MOTHERS (www.MOTHERSOughtToHaveEqualRights.org). I did the
mom’s club newsletter for two years and continue to do the MOTHERS e-
newsletter and MOTHER Book Bag blog (www.MOTHERSBookBag.org)
today.
I also started blogging as a way to start writing on a daily basis, first
on my mommy blog, A Mama’s Rant (www.amamasrant.com) and at group
blogs like DotMoms. After realizing that I was blogging about food, I started a
cooking blog, This Mama Cooks!, which is now This Mama Cooks! On a Diet
(www.thismamacooks.com). Talk about your middle-aged spread.
My Other Career- Charter School Founder:

From 2004-2006, I helped start and govern a charter school, Carbon
Valley Academy (CVA) in Frederick, Colorado. Like all good things in my
life, like my husband and kids, this just fell into my lap. I wasn’t happy with
my neighborhood school, so when I heard of a meeting to start a new one, I
went. Excited about not having to drive my kids “into town” until Nathan got
his driver’s license, I volunteered to help. First, I found myself editing the
charter application. Then, after missing a meeting, I found myself elected to
the board of directors. I went from assistant secretary, to secretary, to
president.
As a founding board member, this volunteer position soon turned into
a full time job. Not only was I conducting board meetings, but I was meeting

with the public and the press. Initially I had to cut back on my freelancing
because I was writing a great deal for the school – everything from meeting
minutes to school policy and the volunteer handbook. I helped create
marketing pieces for CVA including a mailer, a brochure, and several press
releases. I was also creating content for and updating the school’s website
(www.carbonvalleyacademy.org) 10 to 20 hours a week.
Finally, I had to choose between volunteering for my children’s
school or continuing to build my freelance business. I resigned from the board
in December 2006.
Getting Back to The Write Spot:

Starting in June 2006, I was professionally blogging – yes, getting
paid to blog or earning money by running my own blogs. Again, this was
something I stumbled into. I never consciously set out to be “paid to blog” but
the money and jobs kept finding me.
First, it was a mass emailing to join other mommy bloggers at
ClubMom I applied and pitched my idea for a new blog – either a cooking
blog or a children’s book blog. On the advice from my editor, I combined the
two, which became A Readable Feast, a blog where I show how reading and
cooking can bring families closer together while encouraging literacy.
ClubMom ended their blogging program in December 2007. So I moved the
content over to My Readable Feast (www.myreadablefeast.com).
I also joined two large blog networks – b5media and 451Press - for
awhile. Then an editor found me though my first mommy blog, A Mama’
Rant, and wanted me to write stories of my daily life with kids for an online
magazine blog called Citizen Mom’s Family Journal
(www.realfamiliesrealfun.com/blog). I eventually won two awards for the
blog, a 2006 web award and 2006 Silver Davey Award.

Getting paid a competitive wage to blog was exciting. I was now a

professional and blogging wasn’t just a cute, time-wasting hobby as some
would put it.
While I was busy blogging, I continued to work with copywriting
clients in creating traditional marketing communication pieces like brochures,
web content, mailings and press releases. You can find samples of my work,
client lists, and clips at The Write Spot (www.the-write-spot.com).
2007 And Beyond:

For now, I plan to expand on my professional blogging efforts. This
includes learning as much as I can by networking with other probloggers,
taking mentoring courses, going to conferences like BlogHer and BlogWorld.
I gave two blogging workshops at the 2008 Northern Colorado Writers
Conference and will be speaking at BlogHer 2008. I'm also teaching
professional writers how to start their own blogs.
The more I learn and succeed, the more I can help my clients in
combining traditional marketing with social media like blogging, podcasting,
videocasting and the use of social networking and bookmarking sites.
I continue to build a revenue stream on my personal blogs via affiliate
programs, sponsorships, advertising, paid posting, and am increasing
readership and RSS feed subscription on a daily basis. I blog therefore I am.
My youngest is less than three months away from full time
kindergarten. Will I go back to the corporate life, write a book, try magazine
writing, or put full time efforts into increasing my social media consulting,
professional blogging, and freelance copywriting business? Only time will tell
where my passion for writing will lead me.

My Blogs:
A Mama's Rant
Writing about motherhood, complaining about everything. A mama's
adventures with Monkey Boy, Boo Girl and their Big Bad Dad.
My Readable Feast
Bringing families closer with children’s books and a pinch of cooking.
The Write Spot
Promoting your business through social media and marketing communications.
Anne-Marie Nichols, professional blogger, freelance copywriter, and social
media consultant.
This Mama Cooks! On a Diet
Watch this mama lose it...one pound at a time. Diet and fitness tips, weight
loss inspiration, and delicious, healthy recipes the whole family can enjoy!
Blogs for Clients:
Citizen Mom's Family Journal - A RealFamilies RealFun Blog

Entertaining and insightful stories from my own experiences as a writer,
domestic engineer, and mom.
DotMoms: More By Anne-Marie
Writing our memoirs.
MOTHERS Book Bag
Books on motherhood for book groups and consciousness raising from
MOTHERS (mothersoughttohaveequalrights.org)
Favorite Posts:
Bearing life, fearing death

Nekkie Girl
My Son The Writer
5 ways to stay lean and green this St. Patrick's Day
Snow Fatigue Syndrome - Part III
The Evolution Of A Writer

Interviewed by Mert – Tuesday, 03 June 2008
Mert: Hi Anne-Mare, please tell us about yourself

Amnichols: I'm a 40-something WAHM (work at home mom), professional
blogger, freelance writer, and social media consultant. Besides running several
of my own blogs including A Mama’s Rant (www.amamasrant.com), This
Mama Cooks! (www.thismamacooks.com) and My Readable Feast
(www.myreadablefeast.com), I have blogged at ClubMom, 451Press,
b5Media, DotMoms, and for several clients. In 2006, my blog, Citizen Mom’s
Family Journal for Studio One Networks, won a web award and a Silver
Davey Award.
When I'm not showing Colorado book authors the hows and whys of blogging
and social media, I'm a community moderator at CafeMom, a social
networking website for mothers. I recently signed on with Mom Central
Consulting to help them with their social networking needs. You can learn
more about me at The Write Spot.
Mert: While reading your biography I noticed that you started part time
freelancing. What were the reasons for that?
amnichols: I started to freelance write part time as my children got older. I
have a degree in journalism and a background in marketing communications.
Writing from home on freelance assignments seemed like a good fit with my

family's schedule.
Mert: How did you discover blogging? Are you passionate about writing?
Amnichols: I discovered blogging by reading mommy blogs. My youngest
daughter was a year old, and I was trying to find a community of moms with
whom I had something in common - something I had not found in my town.
They inspired me to write again. Now I find I get very crabby if I do not write
on a regular basis, so yes I'm very passionate about it. The only thing I'm more
passionate about is reading, and my family of course.
Mert: You have quite a lot of blogs. How can you manage them at the
same time?
Amnichols: Not very well, I'm afraid. I wish I had more time to write, but now
that I'm working as a community moderator at CafeMom and a social
networking consultant at Mom Central Consulting, I don't have as much time
to blog. I'm hoping that when my children go back to school in mid-August
(both will be in school full time then) I will have more time to blog as well as
do all the other things I'm doing like teaching blogging workshops and talking
at conferences.
Mert: Please tell us one thing missing today in the blogosphere which you
think will happen in the future.
Amnichols: Bloggers getting paid what they are worth. While I'm supportive
of the "pay to post" model - especially for stay at home caregivers and people
who can't work outside the home due to health problems - getting paid $5-10
for 250 words of content is less than minimum wage. Horrible! I'd like to see
good writers get paid their worth. I'm starting to see this happen as advertisers
realize that paying $5 for a post won't get them much in return. They are
starting to see that if they pay bloggers better, their products/services will get
better quality reviews and buzz.

Change Therapy by Isabella Mori
Biography:
I'm a psychotherapist and writer living in Vancouver, Canada.

Born in Germany, I grew up listening to endless conversations about
art, philosophy and psychology. After living in the UK, Paraguay and Chile, I
came to Canada in 1982.
My jobs very always interesting, e.g. pioneering computer technology
at a large broadcast station, but I was never completely happy with any of
them. In the 90s, after ending a difficult relationship, I took my first counseling
course and immediately knew this was for me.
Ever since, I have steeped myself in psychology. During my BA I
studied chronic pain http://www.moritherapy.org/chronic-pain/.
My Masters thesis was about transformative learning
http://www.moritherapy.org/article/transformative-learning-making-the-world-
a-better-place/ – learning moments that change people’s lives. I also have
various related diplomas, e.g. in Satir’s systemic brief therapy
http://www.moritherapy.org/article/therapy-goal-setting-yearnings-
expectations.
I have led meditation http://www.moritherapy.org/article/relax/
groups, conducted research projects, and for some years, worked in the

trenches of Vancouver’s inner city http://www.moritherapy.org/article/lets-

remember-jane-doe-not-willy-pickton.
My clients feel that while my education helps, what’s more is that I
have life experience, and that I am passionate about supporting people in
making a better life for themselves. I believe that everyone has the power and
knowledge to create goodness for themselves and the world around them.
About My Blog:
My tagline is “Making lives better, making better lives
http://www.moritherapy.org/article/transformative-learning-making-the-world-
a-better-place/”. Through helping people improve their individual lives, I
support them in passing on the joy – because genuine happiness will always
spill over.
My blog is about psychology, creativity, spirituality and social justice.
I am particularly interested in the topics of depression, eating disorders and
removing the stigma around mental health. I write quite a bit about Buddhism,
liberal Christianity, and the place that atheists and agnostics have in the big
beautiful stew of spirituality. Poverty, the environment and peace (yes, I’m one
of those crazy old hippie pacifists) come up regularly, as well.
Favorite Posts:
Creativity: the murky mind
Ernesto cardenal: verses from the pluriverse
Recovering from anorexia: 10 activities
A Buddhist carnival - 2nd edition
Sex trade workers and free will

Change Therapy by Isabella Mori

Interviewed by Mert – Sunday, 01 June 2008
Mert: Hi Isabella, please tell us about yourself

Isabella: Well, I guess I should talk about some things I didn't mention in my
bio.
I'm the happy parent of three wonderful human beings, a grandmother since
last year, and eagerly awaiting another grandchild. I'm married to my third
husband - three times lucky: we've been together for 16 years, and we have a
wonderful relationship. We're both fiercely independent, quite easygoing,
introverted (he more obvious than I; I'm a bit more of a social chameleon) and
have an odd sense of humor, I think that helps :)
Mert: When reading your biography, I noticed that your childhood

played a big role in your life. Who was your role model?
Isabella: I think we're all shaped by the people around us, in one way or
another so I'd say I had lots of role models - my father with his strong
philosophical bent, my mother who is so passionate about music, a good
family friend who showed me the fun of eccentricity - and many more.
However, talking about grandparents - lately I've been very aware of how my
grandparents have influenced me. Their quiet, well-paced lifestyle that had a
place for everything, from gardening to hiking to praying to playing cards to
making music together, is something that I would like to emulate more.
Mert: What is change therapy? Most people think that it is easier said
than done. Can we easily change ourselves? Please convince us.
Isabella: Change therapy - well, that's simply the name of my blog. Through

therapy and counseling, I help people change their lives.
How easily is that done?
We change every day, in small ways. Part of the role of a psychotherapist is to

support her client in using the "change muscle" in ways that work for them. It
works best when we not only want to change - I believe that we all want to
change for the better - but are also acutely aware of that desire, and can find
the courage and energy to follow that desire.
I have helped people change their decision making process, their way of
seeing themselves, the way they deal with depression, the way they approach
work, how they interact with others, how they use food ... these are just
examples.
And convincing? I don't convince people. I'm not in the business of "making"
people think a certain way. I'm in the business of supporting people to make a
better, healthier, more spiritual, more creative, more conscious, happier life for
themselves and those around them.
Mert: When did you launch your blog "change therapy"? Who is your
target audience? What is in it for bloggers?
Isabella: I started Change Therapy in 2005. My target audience are people who
are interested in psychology, particularly depression, eating disorders and the
stigma of mental illness; people who are interested in open discussions about
spirituality, especially Buddhism, liberal Christianity and atheism; people who
don't mind reading a poem or two and like to think about creativity; and, most
of all, I believe, people who have a strongly developed sense of social and

environmental responsibility.
What is in it for bloggers?
I strongly believe in the blogosphere as a community. I link freely to other

bloggers (not the best SEO strategy, I know) and like to exchange guest posts.
I have a relatively good Technorati ranking (although it used to be much
higher but I just can't be bothered to "fix" that; do we see a pattern here??) - so
particularly newer bloggers can probably benefit from me linking and talking
about them.
I also run two blog carnivals - the Carnival of Eating Disorders and A
Buddhist Carnival. Once in a while I also host the Carnival of Healing, one of
the longest-running and most successful blog carnivals.
Mert: How do you see the future of blogging?

Isabella: Let me get my crystal ball ...
One thing is clear to me: Blogging is here to stay. There are so many people
who love to write and who love to connect through the word - all of them, I
predict, are still going to use blogging or something similar in - let's say 30
years.
Get back to me in 2038. (I only used this year because I'm relatively hopeful
I'll still be around then. My guess is something like blogging will still be
around in 50 years but you won't be able to hold me to it :)

Cute Writing by Lenin Nair
Biography:
Lenin Nair is an aspirant writer and technology enthusiast. After his

Bachelors degree in IT, he worked for an MNC for about six months in India.
Later in 2007, he quit the job in order to concentrate full time on writing and
publishing. He currently publishes two main blogs (one on helping writers
achieve success and the other related to News stories) and writes for web
freelancing company, Constant-Content. His other interests include reading
fiction, music, films, and social networking. His active Search Engine
Optimization and promotion work has pushed his writing blog, CuteWriting
high up in the search results within a very limited time.
About CuteWriting, the Writing blog:
CuteWriting started off as a writers’ help central in March 2008. It is

now in the third month. Within this time, it achieved success as a PR1 blog
and hit in the first page of Google search for some average search volume

keywords, beating competition. It is generally regarded by its reader

community as a very good writing help blog.
Favorite Posts:
Unethical Business Practices by Associated Content (AC)
My Success Mantra
Detect and Fight the Threat of Plagiarism
Hail! These Talents: Victor Hugo and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Constant Content: The Best Field for Technical Writing
Cute Writing by Lenin Nair

Interviewed by Mert, Monday, 02 June 2008
Mert: Hi Lenin, please tell us about yourself

Lenin: Hi Mert, Thanks for your interview. I appreciate your consideration of
fellow bloggers out there.
I am an Indian freelance writer. I hold a degree in Information Technology and

worked for about six months in Accenture, India, before becoming active in
the blogging field. I take pride in writing, and hence started off as a freelancer
with Constant Content about three months back. Now, I have a promising
blog, CuteWriting, educating readers on how to write well. I spend time
writing for Constant Content, writing for Cutewriting, and promoting my blog.
Mert: When did you start blogging? Why did you select writing as your

blog's topic?
Lenin: I began blogging in January 2008. I began with a less popular blog,
Lenxworld.blogspot.com, which didn't have any particular topic to address.
But soon enough I realized that creative writing is my field. So, I started
CuteWriting on March 12th. Now it is in its fourth month.
I am an already successful freelance writer in Constant Content, and I take

great interest in creative writing. So, I believe it is the best field for me.
Mert: Your blog is fairly new, yet you did a great job so far. How is it
going?
Lenin: I believe it's going fine with my readers. From the comments and e-
mails I get , I have a general feeling that it has a good enough reception. I have
a subscriber count of over fifty as of now, but it will, I hope, multiply in the
coming days.
Mert: What are your future plans in terms of blogging?

Lenin: I have just started a new blog based on news stories,
newsflashjournal.blogspot.com It is written in an alias, Gayatri Jayashankar.
(Like writers using pen-names.) I have great plans on that blog as well. Once
these two blogs have become successful and I got enough money from them, I
plan to host my blog myself.

Mint Blogger by Rajeev Edmonds
Biography:
I started my career back in 2000 as a programmer. I developed IVRS

(Interactive Voice Response System) on Dialogic products. Two years back, I
heard about blogging from my friend and started it as hobby. My first blog was
Adsense Primer, which is dedicated to serve Adsense information to
publishers. Currently, I am working at Shemrock, as Blogger & Web Content
Writer.
Blog Description:
MintBlogger is all about blogging tips and social media interaction
techniques. It’s a very competitive niche, but still I chose it, because I have
some experience of blogging and there is enough traffic for this niche for all
blogs, whether small or big.
Digg profile: MintBlogger At Digg

Twitter Profile: MintBlogger At Twitter
Favorite Posts:
How to Write a Good Blog Post

How to Make Money From Your Blog

How to Choose a Profitable Blog Niche
How to Stop Content Theft
How to Promote Your Blog
Mint Blogger Rajeev Edmonds
Interviewed by Mert, Sunday, 01 June 2008
merkal2005: Hi Rajeev, please tell us about yourself

mintblogger: I'm a 31 year old professional blogger. Happily single and enjoy
playing chess and watching birds. I graduated from Delhi University and
earned my Computer science master's degree in 2000. After joining as a
programmer, I spent about 3 years in software development. My software
development domain was (CTI) Computer Telephony Integration. I am net
savvy and follow about 192 RSS feeds to keep me updated about what's
happening around the world.
merkal2005: When and why did you start blogging? Do you like writing
in general?
mintblogger: In the year 2006, one of my old friend working in IBM, told me
about blogging. Although I knew about it, but never took it seriously. He
showed his own blog and gave me some insight about professional blogging.
Since then I never looked back. First I created a personal blog on
Wordpress.com, to learn the basics and brush my skills. Later on I started a
blog on Blogger platform named 'Adsense Primer' http://adsense-
primer.blogspot.com, which proved to be a fairly successful blog. Mintblogger
was started in Jan,2008. After 4 months, it has PR3 with 104 subscribers and
is making steady progress.

merkal2005: As you put your blog's name "mint blogger" I am sure most
people will think you make good money from blogging. Do you make
money from blogging?
mintblogger: To be honest, at present I do not make enough money that I can
quit my day job. As you can see, I do not flood my blog with Ads. My strategy
is to first gain the readers and later on monetize it aggressively. Presently, I
earn about $40-$45/month from Mintblogger and about $30-$35/month from
'Adsense Primer'.
merkal2005: You started your career as a programmer. Do you have any

interesting blogging software ideas? If I tell you I have a great blogging
software idea in my mind, would you become partner with me? (I am
serious man!)
mintblogger: I would like to hear your idea. Send me an e-mail and we can
discuss it over Skype or Google talk. Who knows, it may become the next
revolution in blogosphere :)
merkal2005: What is missing today in the blogosphere? From your point
of view, please tell us the future trends in social media and blogging.
mintblogger: I think the developments in blogosphere are going at fairly
steady pace.
In future, it seems the feed distribution services will undergo some major
changes. For example, offering premium content to paid subscribers through
same aggregators. Social Media services are bringing up some new and
innovative ideas to market, brand and promote web content. Twitter is perhaps
the most innovative social media service today.
With the upcoming of Opensocial, an initiative by Google, in future I think
there will be central hub to maintain your social profile, friends and activities,
which will be mashed up with all popular social media services.

JobMob – Alltogether Now
Jacob Share's Biography:
Empowering bloggers...
Jacob Share is the founder and SVP of Share Select Media, a
company focused on empowering quality bloggers and blogs such as the
award-winning JobMob, a blog aimed at helping people find their dream jobs
in Israel and around the world, and Group Writing Projects, the original home
and premier resource of the blogger favorite- group writing projects.
From Jacob:
“I grew up between Canada, France and Israel where I had my first
Internet experience in 1994 and was hooked. Since then I’ve enjoyed playing a

part in growing the Web as a manager-developer and project manager at

Amazon.com and other e-commerce companies before starting up my own
venture. To learn more about me, check out my LinkedIn profile.”
Join the JobMob LinkedIn Group for job seekers and job finders
Friend Jacob on StumbleUpon,Digg, del.icio.us or Facebook.
JobMob at http://jobmob.co.il/
JobMob is about bringing together job seekers and job finders to find
jobs in Israel and all over the world. The blog is filled with straight-talking
advice based on real world experience and lots of humor thrown in.
Favorite Posts:
36 Beautiful Resume Ideas That Work

150 Funniest Resume Mistakes, Bloopers and Blunders Ever
50 Funniest Short Job Descriptions Ever
Gigantic Tips Guide for Finding Jobs With LinkedIn
A Microsoft Word Resume Tip That You've Never Heard
Group Writing Projects at http://groupwritingprojects.com/
Group Writing Projects is the definitive place for all things related to
the blogger favorite- the group writing project.
Favorite Posts:
The Success Checklist I Used To Hit #1 on del.icio.us
How To Run An Awesome Group Writing Project

Group Writing Project or Blog Carnival Debate: What's the Difference?

How Jacob Cass Raised Over $5000 in Sponsorship and Other Lessons
What Were You Doing 15 Years Ago Today?
JobMob - All Together Now

Interviewed by Mert, Thursday, 05 June 2008
Mert: Hi Jacob, please tell us about yourself

Jacob: I was born in Montreal, Canada. I studied Computer Science at
Montreal's McGill University and received my Bachelor of Science degree
there before moving to Israel. After completing my mandatory army service in
Israel, I moved to France to join Amazon.com. Over the next 6 years, I moved
back and forth between France and Israel while still working in e-commerce
before turning towards blogs and social media in 2006 with my own sites such
as JobMob.
Mert: When did you have your first Internet experience? How was it?
Jacob: I spent one year of university in Israel from 1993-1994. While there, we
had access to email but I didn't have an account since none of my friends or
family had them so who would I email? I do remember receiving a copy of
Windows Magazine with an article about the World Wide Web and right away
I knew it was going to be big.
It wasn't until August 2004 that I finally had a chance to get on the Web. I
created my first site after that using Notepad and NCSA's Mosaic, the first
browser.

Mert: Did you work Internet related companies before?

Jacob: Since 2000, I have only worked on the Internet. Amazon.com is of
course a purely Internet-based company. At my last formal employer, I
managed the Internet development team. The company itself was originally a
mail-order service.
Mert: When did you found Share Select Media and JobMob? What kind
of services do you provide at the moment?
Jacob: Development on JobMob began in October 2006, I had the idea a few
months earlier. The site opened in December but officially launched with a
press release in March 2007.
Once I saw the business potential, I created Share Select Media in August of
2007. JobMob continues to grow well and we have also launched another blog
in 2008, Group Writing Projects.
Share Select Media's revenue comes from three sources- advertising, affiliate
marketing and sponsorships.
The main service we provide is exposure. If you have a product, service, event
or website that would interest our large readership, you should come to us.

Reporter vs Expert – Why Most Bloggers Are Stuck Reporting

Article Written by Yaro Starak
There are basically two types of bloggers in the world - reporters and
experts - and some people perform both roles (usually the experts, it’s hard for
reporters to become experts, but it’s easy for experts to report).
If you have ever taken an Internet marketing course or attended a
seminar specifically for beginners, you have probably heard about the two
different methodologies. Whenever the business model is based on content,
and if you blog for money then the model is based on content, people are
taught to either start as reporters, or if possible step up as experts.
I’ll be frank; you want to be the expert.
Reporters leverage the content of the experts and in most cases people
start off as reporters because they haven’t established expertise. Experts enjoy
the perks of preeminence, higher conversion rates because of perceived value,
it’s easier to get publicity, people are more likely to seek you out rather than

you having to seek others out, joint ventures come easier, etc… experts in
most cases simply make more money and attract more attention.
Most Bloggers Are Reporters

The thing with expertise is that it requires something - experience. No
person becomes an expert without doing things and learning. Bloggers usually
start out without expertise and as a result begin their blogging journey by
talking about everything going on in their niche (reporting) and by
interviewing and talking about other experts (reporting again).
There’s nothing wrong with reporting of course and for many people
it’s a necessity at first until you build up some expertise. Unfortunately the
ratios are pretty skewed when it comes to reporters and experts - there are a lot
more reporters than there are experts, hence reporters tend to struggle to gain
attention and when they do, they often just enhance the reputation of the expert
they are reporting on.
Don’t Replicate Your Teacher

If you have ever spent some time browsing products in the learn
Internet marketing niche you will notice a pattern. Many people first study
Internet marketing from a “guru” (for lack of a better term). The guru teaches
how he or she is able to make money online, and very often the view that the
student gleams is that in order to make money online you have to teach others
how to make money online.
The end result of this process is a huge army of amateurs attempting
to replicate what their teacher does in the same industry - the Internet
marketing industry - not realizing that without expert status based on a proven
record and all the perks that come with it, it’s next to impossible to succeed.
Even people, who enjoy marginal success, say for example growing an email

list of 1,000 people, then go out and launch a product about how to grow an
email list of 1,000 people. Now I have no problems with that, I think it’s fine
to teach beginners and leverage whatever achievements you have, the problem
is that people gravitate to the same niche - Internet marketing - and rarely have
any key points of differentiation.
How many products out there do you know of that all claim to teach
the same things - email marketing, SEO, pay per click, affiliate marketing, and
all the sub-niches that fall under the category of Internet marketing. It’s a
saturated market, yet when you see your teachers and other gurus making
money teaching others how to make money (and let’s face it - making money
as a subject is one of the most compelling) - your natural inclination is to
follow in their footsteps.
If the key is to become an expert and you haven’t spent the last 5-10
years making money online, I suggest you look for another niche to establish
expertise in.
Report on Your Process, Not Others

The secret to progress from reporter to expert is not to focus on other
experts and instead report on your own journey. When you are learning how to
do something and implementing things day by day, or studying other people’s
work, you need to take your process and what you do as a result of what you
learn, and use it as content for your blog.
It’s okay to talk about experts when you learn something from them,
but always relate it to what you are doing. If you learn a technique from an
expert it’s fine to state you learned it from them (and affiliate link to their
product too!) but you should then take that technique, apply it to what you are
doing and then report back YOUR results, not there’s. Frame things using
your opinion - your stories - and don’t regurgitate what the expert said. The

key is differentiation and personality, not replication.

Expertise comes from doing things most people don’t do and then talking
about it. If you do this often enough you wake up one day as an expert,
possibly without even realizing how it happened, simply because you were so
good at reporting what you did.
You Are Already An Expert

Most people fail to become experts (or perceived as experts) because
they don’t leverage what they already know. Every person who lives a life
learns things as they go, takes action every day and knows something about
something. The reason why they never become an expert is because they
choose not to (which is fine for some, not everyone wants to be an expert), but
if your goal is to blog your way to expertise and leave the world of reporting
behind you have to start teaching and doing so by leveraging real experience.
Experience can come from what you do today and what you have done
previously; you just need to take enough steps to demonstrate what you
already know and what you are presently learning along your journey. I know
so many people in my life, who are experts simply by virtue of the life they
have lived, yet they are so insecure about what they know, they never commit
their knowledge to words for fear of…well fear.
Blogs and the Web in general, are amazing resources when you
leverage them as a communication tool to spread your expertise because of the
sheer scope of people they can reach. If all you ever do is talk to people in
person and share your experience using limited communication mediums, you
haven’t much hope of becoming an expert. Take what you know and show
other people through blogging, and you might be surprised how people change
their perception of you in time.

Reporting Is A Stepping Stone

If your previous experience and expertise is from an area you want to
leave behind or you are starting from “scratch”, then reporting is the path you
must walk, at least for the short term.
Reporting is a lot of fun. Interviewing experts, talking about what
other people are doing and just being part of a community is not a bad way to
blog. In many cases people make a career of reporting (journalism is about just
that), but if you truly want success and exponential results, at some point you
will have to stand up and proclaim yourself as someone unusually good at
something and then proceed to demonstrate it over and over again.
Have patience and focus on what you do to learn and then translate
that experience into lessons for others, and remember, it’s okay to be a big fish
in a small pond, that’s all most experts really are.
This article was by Yaro Starak, a professional blogger and my blog mentor. He is
the leader of the Blog Mastermind mentoring program designed to teach bloggers
how to earn a full time income blogging part time.
To get more information about Blog Mastermind click this link:
http://www.blogmastermind.com/affiliates/index.php?af=783636

Mert Recommends...
SEO Elite If there is one software you should invest money for
the sake of ranking well for specific keywords related to your
niche, it is definitely SEO Elite With SEO Elite you can view your
competitor’s linking strategy which includes the ability to see the
page your link is located on, the Google and Alexa ranking of
their website, the total number of times a keyword appears on
specified pages etc. If you are new to SEO concept, you are so
lucky! This software also teaches you how to optimize your website for search
engines.
Aweber Email Autoresponder
What do industry giants like Disney, Microsoft, Intel, and American Express have
in common? They've all sought out the expertise of the "master of targeted opt-in
e-mail," Jonathan Mizel! Now you can, too!
Hardcore businesses pay thousands of dollars to hear Jonathan speak, but you don't
have to. Through an exclusive offer with AWeber Communications, Inc., you can
hear directly from Jonathan - for FREE!
Right now, the TWO-PART video of Jonathan's sequential autoresponse seminar

in London, England is in the AWeber control panel. In this amazing hour,
Jonathan reveals:
* Totally unique ways to use AWeber autoresponders
* TWO case studies of DOUBLED, even TRIPLED profits
* Secrets of super-marketers like MARLON SANDERS
* Jonathan's own secrets, a peek inside his organization!
This video puts thousands of dollars worth of intellectual material at your

fingertips. Take advantage of Jonathan's expertise right now! Order an Unlimited
Follow up Autoresponder from AWeber today to get access to the revealing e-mail
secrets of Jonathan Mizel:http://www.aweber.com/order.htm?292299

2008 May Bloghology

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2008 May Bloghology

Search For Blogging &

© 2008 May Bloghology ● Web: http://www.bloghology.org

© 2008 May Bloghology ● Web: http://www.bloghology.org

Welcome to May 2008 Bloghology!

Bloghology is a collection of unique and remarkable bloggers and their

Here's to add value to your blogging,

© 2008 May Bloghology ● Web: http://www.searchforblogging.com

Who is Mert Erkal?

Ilker Yoldas from TheThinkingBlog.com says...

Ilker is a top blogger, freelance designer and media marketer.

Tina Su from Thinksimplenow.com says...

Tina is a professional photographer, blogger, Internet entrepreneur and designer. Currently,

© 2008 May Bloghology ● Web: http://www.searchforblogging.com

Bloggin-Ads by Mike Huang

Bloggin-Ads was created by Mike, a 20 year old student, to explore

© 2008 May Bloghology ● Web: http://www.searchforblogging.com

Bloggin-Ads by Mike Huang

Mert: Hi Mike, please tell us about yourself. Who are you? :)

© 2008 May Bloghology ● Web: http://www.searchforblogging.com

under construction). We believe that making money through blogging is just

Mert: What are your 2008 goals in terms of blogging?

Mert: Do you have any suggestions to newcomers? Which areas should

© 2008 May Bloghology ● Web: http://www.searchforblogging.com

The Evolution of A Writer by

The Evolution of A Writer:

© 2008 May Bloghology ● Web: http://www.searchforblogging.com

© 2008 May Bloghology ● Web: http://www.searchforblogging.com

Work 2.0 – Beginning Freelance Career:

My Other Career- Charter School Founder:

© 2008 May Bloghology ● Web: http://www.searchforblogging.com

Getting Back to The Write Spot:

© 2008 May Bloghology ● Web: http://www.searchforblogging.com

Getting paid a competitive wage to blog was exciting. I was now a

2007 And Beyond:

© 2008 May Bloghology ● Web: http://www.searchforblogging.com

Blogs for Clients:

Citizen Mom's Family Journal - A RealFamilies RealFun Blog

© 2008 May Bloghology ● Web: http://www.searchforblogging.com

My Son The Writer

5 ways to stay lean and green this St. Patrick's Day

Snow Fatigue Syndrome - Part III

The Evolution Of A Writer

Mert: Hi Anne-Mare, please tell us about yourself

© 2008 May Bloghology ● Web: http://www.searchforblogging.com

© 2008 May Bloghology ● Web: http://www.searchforblogging.com

Change Therapy by Isabella Mori

I'm a psychotherapist and writer living in Vancouver, Canada.

© 2008 May Bloghology ● Web: http://www.searchforblogging.com

trenches of Vancouver’s inner city http://www.moritherapy.org/article/lets-

© 2008 May Bloghology ● Web: http://www.searchforblogging.com

Change Therapy by Isabella Mori

Mert: Hi Isabella, please tell us about yourself

Mert: When reading your biography, I noticed that your childhood

© 2008 May Bloghology ● Web: http://www.searchforblogging.com

therapy and counseling, I help people change their lives.

How easily is that done?

We change every day, in small ways. Part of the role of a psychotherapist is to

© 2008 May Bloghology ● Web: http://www.searchforblogging.com

What is in it for bloggers?

I strongly believe in the blogosphere as a community. I link freely to other

Mert: How do you see the future of blogging?

© 2008 May Bloghology ● Web: http://www.searchforblogging.com

Cute Writing by Lenin Nair