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InLinks - TextLinkAds 2.0 Posted: 19 Nov 2008 05:08 PM PST In the last 24 hours MediaWhiz (disclosure - they are sponsors of this site) have released a new advertising product for those interested in selling text links on their blogs) called InLinks. InLinks is an ad network that allows advertisers to buy text links within the content of your posts. The links pass on Google Juice (ie they don’t have nofollow tags), they are approved by publishers before going live and they don’t have any kind of indication that they are ads on them (no popups like Kontera ads for example). Lets be clear - these ads are against Google’s quality guidelines and if you’re caught selling them your blog is likely to be penalized. Also - not disclosing ads as ads is seen by many as unethical (and in some parts of the world is outside of the guidelines of bodies like the FTC - there is risk involved here. Having said that - InLinks is banking on their ads being difficult for anyone to see as ads (including Google). I’m yet to see them in the wild but would bet that they are intended not to have a footprint that Google can see. I personally would advise to proceed with caution. If you want to rank high in Google then this is probably not for you. If you don’t care whether your blog is in their index or not then it could be something to investigate. If you want to be up front with your readers about what links in your content are paid ads and which are genuine and useful links - then this isn’t for you. If you’re not worried about disclosure and transparency with readers - you might consider this. Our latest Poll here at ProBlogger indicates that 31% of readers of this blog currently sell text links - so I’m pretty sure that there is a market for InLinks - but I’m sure there’s going to be lots of debate on this on in coming months. My personal stance is that I don’t sell text ads. Further Reading on the InLinks story: At TechCrunch - Insidious New Seo Ad Product Will be Hard for Google To Detect (includes a reaction from Google’s Matt Cutts). At Shoemoney - Does Google Really Want to go Down this FTC Route? At Deep Jive Interest - Text Link Ads Debuts InLinks At Digital Inspiration - InLinks - These Text Link Ads May be Tough to Detect SEOmoz - Normally, It’s a Good thing to get Featured on TechCrunch Tags: Advertising, Search Engine Optimization Share This

How to go about finding a Blogging Buddy: The Power Of Collaboration In Blogging Part 2 Posted: 19 Nov 2008 12:31 PM PST Yesterday we heard from Eric Hamm from Up-And-Coming-Blogger and “Motivate Thyself” and Sean Platt from Writer Dad who wrote about the power of finding a blogging buddy to work collaborate with in your blogging. Finding that special blogging buddy (or buddies) isn't anything you can place on Craig's List. Like any relationship worth developing, only the proper combination of time and place will lead to conception. It is important to understand that part of the challenge lies in the patience it takes to wait for the right blogger to enter our lives. Of course, while being patient, it wouldn't hurt to speed the process along by meeting a myriad of people. Here are a few tips to help open doors, and invite the right bloggers to come inside. Offer assistance wherever needed, and whenever possible. Most people would agree that the adage what goes around comes around is mostly on the money. Even more so in Blogopolis. Everyone playing the game is new, even those who have been in it since before the beginning. Lending someone a hand when you find yourself in a position to do so is not only kind, but will most likely be remembered later. Add bloggers that you’d like to meet to your blogroll. Most blogs have a blogroll either on their sidebar or on a separate page. Using your blogroll in the right manner is an effective way to wave hello to those bloggers that you would like to know better. Blogs included in a blogroll earn an immediate link back to their site from the home blog. Even if the traffic you send is minor, the action might be noticed, and appreciated, by an observant blogger. If that blogger happens to be at your house, and encounters his or her name in your sidebar, they are probably far more likely to strike up a conversation. Link to potential buddies in your posts, while praising their most deserving work. The power of praise doesn't dim when as soon as we leave the primary colors of Kindergarten behind. Even as adults, we peer around for people to prop us up, and tell us that we are doing things the way they should be done. When we link to someone in our posts, we are sending them a chance to discover our praise through a ping back. Linking a potential buddy is the same as sending them an invitation. Send complimentary emails to bloggers you respect. Like a link from within a post, an email is an invitation. The difference lies in their privacy. Email allows us to be more direct about our praise, and honest about the things that we might like to ask our potential buddy. Ask for assistance from other bloggers and take note of their response. If we approach a blogger for assistance, and they seem unwilling or hesitant, it might be a sign that they aren't overly eager to help. We can never assume to know what is on another's plate, and must never be pushy. If it doesn't seem like a good fit, it probably isn't. The right match will come along, but we cannot will success into submission. When interacting with another blogger, look for common ground as you seek potential chemistry and like mindedness. Email can open a floodgate of conversation. If you notice threads of common pinging your inbox, it is prudent that you follow through. Try to gauge the background of your potential blogging buddy, and determine what you have in common. The more fluid the communication, the more likely the relationship. NEVER be overly eager or desperate! As in life, this tactic will not help in the search for a blogging partner. A blogger worthy of the other side of a relationship will most likely be turned off by impatient or desperate behavior. It is important to remain cool and collected. The right decision is rarely made in desperation. A great example of the above information in action. About a dozen fallen leaves into Sean's third month blogging, he got a note in his inbox from a daily reader, regular commenter, and first time emailer. The reader loved his site and wanted to know if there was anything he could do to help make it better; the Blogopolis version of asking if he'd like to share a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The email was from Eric, and over the course of a weekend, he added the 40 to the WD, and scrubbed Writer Dad until it was all shiny. Only a couple of weeks, and the two of us were pooling ourselves on a project. Collaboration has been a constant since. Having a blogging buddy is an excellent strategy, but one that cannot, and should not be forced. Being mindful of what surrounds you, and reading between the lines, is the best way to turn your budding blogging into blogging with buddies. Share This

Sign Up with Me for ‘Partnering Profits’ and Get Some Great Teaching Posted: 19 Nov 2008 06:01 AM PST Brian Clark from CopyBlogger has done it again. He’s launched what looks to be an amazing new teaching resource to resource those looking to build successful online businesses. It’s called Partnering Profits - and it’s a simple teaching resource focussing (as the name suggests) on ‘praetorships’. It is made up of two main components: 1. A 150 page manual that focuses upon topics like: Piecing Together the Partnership Puzzle How to Prove You'll be a Good Partner 10 Places Profitable People Like to Hide How to Become a Partner Magnet Are You Partnering With the Devil? Boring But Crucial: Contracts, Legal Entities, and Finances Smartly Dividing the Spoils 5 Partnering Models That Work (one chapter for each) 2. Four Expert Tele-classes with some very successful online entrepreneurs - Jeff Walker, Jon Morrow, Rich Schefren and Brian Clark (a great lineup with some great experiences between them - learn more about each on the Partnering Profits page). Brian’s also bringing in a few extra guests along the way - one of whom looks like being me. Of course you also get transcripts of the calls and access to their recordings if you want to come back to them or can’t make the live calls. As a topic I really think that Brian and his team are onto something with this one. Partnerships have been a core part of my own online blogging success. I myself have always ’stumbled’ into them (with a lot of luck) and so I am looking forward to some actual teaching on the topic. Free Preview Call and Chapters from the eBook Not sure if this is a course for you? That’s OK - Brian is offering a free one hour preview call to give you a taste. The call will include information on the course as well as actual teaching from Brian himself and John Morrow. The call is tomorrow - so you do need to move quickly and register to get access to it. You also will get some free sample chapters from the eBook and get on a Newsletter with free tips and techniques on ‘partnering’. To get access to these free tasters you need to register with a first name and email address. Having spent time with Brian on a number of occasions and having taken part in his last training resource (TeachingSells) I am confident that this new course will be of a high quality and hold a lot of practical and applicable information to those of us involved in online entrepreneurship. I’ve already registered for the free call myself (and am already planning on doing the rest of the course) and am looking forward to listening in. I hope you’ll join me! Get more information and signup for the free call at Partnering Profits. Share This

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