The Future of TUK
Posted on May 12th, 2008 by Jason under Daily RamblingI’m back.
Exams went well, although I’ll only know how well when the results come out in a couple of weeks; anyways, now I have three months off and although I’m taking the first bit slowly I’ll be trying out all the things that I’ve wanted to but been busy with.
This will benefit you guys because I’m releasing a little report about how I made $480 on Craigslist in less than 24 hours with an initial $1.19 initial investment (can anyone guess what that investment was for?
) - it will cost you nothing as I’m looking to build up a list that I can spam like the gurus do through Aweber or similar - the report is already done, but I’m waiting a bit so that I can sign up for Aweber and maybe to have a killer squeeze page done. At the moment, I’m thinking of using the domain EarnersGuide.com for the whole thing - I think a forum run off it could work well and the domain was suggested by someone that I had worked on it with in the past. At the moment, the only thing setting me back is that it isn’t really brandable (in terms of graphics) - do you guys have any better ideas?
I’ve been thinking a bit about this blog - the Hostican f’up did nothing to help, but it’s been growing a little stagnant. Same people commenting, same average level of traffic (although slightly less than before, due to this dying for ten days - i think people still don’t know it’s up) and it’s getting a little boring… for me, at least.
I was never going to make money off this blog, as to do so I’d have to a) put in a tonne of work or b) promote crap like certain A-List bloggers do. Now, the former would certainly be possible, albeit… involve work, something I’ve never really liked doing - the latter, I can’t. I have only promote things on here that I think will help people that read TUK, and even then they have to be high quality. For example, Peel Away Ads would have helped you guys, and paid a decent commission too - but why promote it when you can get it free with a certain level of tweaking? Similarly with OIO Publisher - I’m still of the opinion that it is an amazing tool for medium sized - large bloggers, however when you are just starting out it is not something you need to buy.
Being a selective git means that I didn’t promote many products on here, but that’s fine isn’t it, as I’d always have reviews and advertising revenue to fall back on. That was until this post at least, which I still point any blogger who has had his blog up for less than one year at… I don’t see why people should waste their money, and even though I do paid reviews to the best of my ability, I still don’t see them as a decent way to get the word out about your website.
So that’s most revenue killed. However, although I started blogging for money, I don’t really care about making money off this much now… as I said earlier, I make a lot more elsewhere than this blog will ever bring in so it is not that much of a loss.
I would however like this to grow - the more people that read TUK, the less people that read certain blogs which do nothing but try and take your money - however, there were two things I was thinking of.
First, let me add in a poll, so you guys can help me out.
[poll=6]
Yes… a sale is one of the options I’m considering. Not really so much for the money, as I do not think it would fetch much - I’d rather it go to someone with ambitions of furthering the website than someone with a load of cash to blow but not much idea of what to do with it (see Cashquests sale). I would start another blog, but more a personal one - with no advertising, at all; I’m looking at a few domains already.
Another thing I’m looking at is keep this one, but get in a brand new spanking custom theme - I like the current one, but the problem is that they made it so good and so affordable that half the bloggers in this niche are using it and it has become a little cookie cutter shall we say. I spoke about this before my exams, but basically drop a few hundred on someone that can make me one of the best themes out there.
Of course, I could change nothing, but start promoting the blog like mad, maybe run a few contests. Nothing huge, as I’m tired out by the last one, but one with a few prizes for you guys (everyone likes free stuff).
This blog wouldn’t exist without its readers, which is why I will ask for you guys’ opinions. Help me out and vote above ![]()
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May 12th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
I pick none of the above - go back about a month or so in your archives, and read your own blog.
Now WRITE.
With all the hosting issues and uni winding up, I must say the quality of posts has gone down a bit. Ramp it up. (That’s not a complaint, just a constructive criticism. You asked.
)
Andrea_R’s last blog post..Getting close to 1.5.1, and I need more authors
May 12th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
i stumbled on your blog and its like the only blog I read all the time , I’d say stick with it. Don’t care which way you choose to go but I figure a little marketing wont hurt. Either ways I think I like it , and I’d hate to see it in someone else’s …hands.
Del Sauzo’s last blog post..Free web template web sites
May 12th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
I don’t think anything need to be changed right now, although you could market it a bit more. Anyway, if you do decide to change the design then I suggest that you keep the header since I like it
I also wouldn’t mind finding out how you made that much money in that much time
May 12th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Hi TUK,
I did not vote either. However you certainly can do the 1st, 2nd and third things but I am against you selling this blog because I like your style of writing and have benefited from your posts.
Whatever your decision, wish you all the best
BobbyT’s last blog post..Entrecard Review
May 12th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Don’t sell, yet………
In terms of stagnation kick it off with a contest, and I also have an idea (talk to you about it tonight if I can)…
IS the marketing blackhat by any chance…. he he
Moneybites’s last blog post..Sunday Musings - May 11, 2008
May 12th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
@ Andrea, thanks for the feedback. I need someone to tell me every so often when I do something wrong, and to be honest I’d agree with you - I haven’t produced much over the last few weeks that helps the reader - even if I have a couple excuses for that.
Just because of you, I spent the last couple of hours writing out posts that will either be published on here or elsewhere - stay tuned
@ Del Suazo, I’m brainstorming marketing ideas now
@ Rajaie, I love the header too, adds a nice touch I think
@ Bobby, let’s see what I can come up with
@ Max, damn you posted a couple minutes before this (had to edit - hehe). Naah, no blackhat marketing, for my blog(s) at least…
May 12th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
DO NOT sell!
Keep writing interesting stuff as well as adding new types of content.
One idea is to provide one “money making” method a week or share “1 top secret” a month
I really get bored reading Problogger and Yaro Starak because all they say is “I went to the so and so convention and I talked with blah blah person and we came up with this trala la idea” …booooooooooring.
Maybe try to diversify your money making methods by experimenting with gray hat stuff etc.
Hope my comments have been helpful
May 12th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
@xpsave, I also feel the same way as you do.
It’s not that I don’t like reading ProBlogger or the other famous ones, but I tend to get bored reading the same ideas over and over again.
Don’t get me wrong, Darren’s posts are wonderful, but sometimes you need a place where you can just relax and learn a couple of new things from a different viewpoint.
So Jason, I don’t think selling the blog is really a good idea
May 12th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
1. Don’t sell your blog.
2. If you are tired out from coming up with new content, ask for some guest posters on a permanent basis. I’d be willing to volunteer.
3. You could use a blog theme revamp. I’m sure you could get a cheap one and mod the heck out of it. That’s what I like to do, but if you’re pressed on time already, I bet there’s theme designers/coders who’d do it for a lower price than normal in exchange for your good word and what not.
4. Do a contest, I love contests.
Zac Davis’s last blog post..Free “Sponsored By” Links
May 12th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Yeah, I know all about stagnating. Why do you think I started the podcast?
What can I say? Try something new.
Geoff’s last blog post..Let Your Users Do the Work for You
May 12th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
I had to say DON’T SELL! I have seen too many great blogs die after being sold. The only exception being blogohblog
EmmaB’s last blog post..2 new web hosting projects
May 13th, 2008 at 12:03 am
Man, I ain’t even gonna kiss your ass lol… but even if you sold your blog, that person taking over wouldn’t be TUK, you know?
But I voted for two options, care to guess which ones?
Jay
Jay’s last blog post..Comment Spammers… Are You One?!
May 13th, 2008 at 12:10 am
Oh, and I forgot to mention. I am also thinking what I should do with DatMoney.com… I’m not sure how much I want to manage it, but if I sell it or anything, all my banner design stuff would be on there too.
And I started a different blog, iBlogtoBlog.com a few weeks ago because I think I lost focus and plus, I just wanted to talk about whatever I wanted to - sexy women, sports, movies, music, video games. And can I just say that SEO is lovely if a lot more options.
More search engine traffic = more PPC clicks.
Jay
Jay’s last blog post..Comment Spammers… Are You One?!
May 13th, 2008 at 2:47 am
I say you market the hell out of it. But it seems like you’re not that into it. If you’re not, let it go. Sell it if you can.
Flimjo’s last blog post..Working All Weekend
May 13th, 2008 at 6:18 am
So you made $480 off of a .info domain? (no one else guessed, must have been too obvious!) Looking forward to hearing how you did that…
I’m all for a earnersguide site and forum. I hang around BP like its an earners guide site, it would be cool to have a place (run by you of course) that is actually geared specifically to that.
As for TUK, this place was pretty happening during and after the contest, but the hosting issues seemed to kill a lot of that. I think you should step back to where you were a few months ago….. looking for a cool theme, planning a BIG contest and marketing the site. Replay all the steps you have previously done only on a bigger level!
May 13th, 2008 at 6:49 am
I definitely don’t think selling is a good idea. I’ve never really understood selling blog, they are such a personal thing. I read most blogs because of the blogger and their personality/knowledge. If someone else started to write the post, I probably wouldn’t stay around.
May 13th, 2008 at 8:02 am
Don’t sell just yet > we’ll all miss you.. :p
What you should do is get the custom theme, and write more about MMO on here, and maybe have a ‘personal blog’ with the really personal stuff? xP
George’s last blog post..Alexa Ranking Script
May 13th, 2008 at 10:14 am
Looking forward to your guide.
I will go for option: Don’t change anything.
Aleks’s last blog post..Funny picture of the day - Wrong turn
May 13th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
Do not sell! I enjoy reading your daily blog posts, selling may bring you money but when you spend it, you have nothing left to show for it. I read a whiel ago that you were making $18/day with this blog. When you have no money from what you earned, you’ll be making $00000.00/day, I love your posts, maybe like a voted to start up a contest! Always kicks things off
Tristan G’s last blog post..Some Site Upcoming Changes
May 14th, 2008 at 5:07 am
I think you should always add some new test to your blog. After 3 months of blogging, I am in mood of update to my blog too. In between I have changed my blog a lot.
Agent 001’s last blog post..Improving Your Alexa Score
May 15th, 2008 at 8:02 am
don’t change anything. This blog is nice just the way it is
NDS Games’s last blog post..By: Joe Cole
May 19th, 2008 at 5:53 am
I really want to see a super sharp and engaging theme here soon. This theme is ready to go out to pasture LOL. Anyway I hope you did well on your exams and I look forward to the extra content production since you will be out of school for a bit.
Big Ben Patton’s last blog post..Traffic Generation part 5