The Way I See It

Yes, it is. It’s time to bring this blog back.

I’m not sure why I stopped blogging here. It was doing so well. It bears my name, after all. For some reason I did stop blogging here and the site just sort of fizzled. But now it’s coming back.

With politics at the front of everyone’s mind, either because of interest in the election or frustration from being bombarded with the same thing over and over, this is probably the best time to resurrect a blog that focuses on my thoughts. Because, well, I just know everyone wants to read my ramblings on the passing political, social and bizarre scene. .

Somewhere along the line I’ll be changing the look here a little. I think the tiara is getting old. Hell, I’m getting old. Time for a new look, too. But first, I’ll blog. For now, keep in mind that I am neither a Liberal or a Conservative. I am a Libertarian. I have no problem separating my spiritual (Catholic) beliefs from my political beliefs. I’ll probably expound further on that later. And more.

Stay tuned. You’re about to discover The Way I See It.

I’ve neglected this blog and I’m so ashamed. I’m such a slacker sometimes. But that’s all going to change. I’m going to commit to at least two posts per week here to start. Hopefully, once I get into the habit, I’ll post more often. I really do have things to put here but sometimes my mind gets bogged down in other stuff. No more. It’s a new day.

So, pay attention. the focus here may sway a little as my brain negotiates the ebb and flow of ideas. Hopefully, in a month or two I’ll have a clearer picture of where we’re going here. Won’t that be fun?

Sometimes when you have something to say regarding an online discussion, you just have too many thoughts to put into a simple forum post. Like now. So rather than creating forum drama or beating a dead horse or whatever it might turn out to be, I’m going to just spill my guts right here.

It all started with a post on a blog that bashed PayPerPost and ended with kudos to v7n. John from v7n picked up the story and posted a link to it at the v7n forum. The “Bash PPP” bandwagon began to fill up as more people joined in until a few Posties (PayPerPost bloggers) spoke up to defend the company.

I want to make it clear that I love PayPerPost. I don’t do PPP here because this blog is too new. Also, I’m very selective about which opps I’ll take on my other blogs. I go for weeks without a paid opp simply because my primary concern is quality blogging; monetizing my blog is a distant second. The Posties I know have the same attitude. We take opps that fit with the theme of our blogs and which we’d probably blog about even if we didn’t get paid. That’s a matter of ethics and it’s personal, not at all related to the company that you utilize as an advertising marketplace.

Back to the drama: It seems there are a number of issues causing a stir. First, some v7n fans dislike PayPerPost for a variety of reasons, most of which are not entirely true. I’m not saying anyone is lying, only that there is apparently a lack of understanding. I believe that Trish (dragonden) addressed several of the issues in the original blog post. I’ll address a few more.

One of the complaints by bloggers at the v7n forum is that PayPerPost offers low pay for a lot of work. Actually, you will find a variety of opportunities and pay scale at PayPerPost. Sometimes the higher paying opps are segmented by PR or Alexa; other times they’re available to everyone. One thing you will notice is that those opps requesting 200 words, 5 links and a graphic while paying only $5 will remain on the available opps board for a very long time. That may give the impression that all opps are like that. In fact, the good opps, i.e. those paying $10+ for 50 or 100 words, go relatively quickly.

Since I don’t have access to everyone’s numbers I can give only my own data here. I started with PayPerPost in October of 2006 with one blog. I don’t remember when I added my second blog but thus far, I’ve taken only about 4 PPP opps on it. My all time payout per post is $14.38. Going back only to mid-February (around 40 opps), my average payout per post is $29.60 and going back to March 24 (roughly two months, 20 opps), my average payout per post is $33.95. This would indicate that there are plenty of higher paying opps, especially since there were many that I chose not to take for a variety of reasons. To imply or even state outright that PayPerPost makes you jump through hoops for a paltry pay is not just misleading, it’s false.

As an aside, you can probably see from this post that I have absolutely no problem coming up with 200+ words for a blog post. Credit my Sagittarius moon and mercury for that.

Also, it appears that there are advertisers who prefer v7n contextual ads over PayPerPost’s ads. According to v7n’s John, these advertisers don’t want any blogs that also do PayPerPost because of lack of quality. At first blush that would seem quite unfair, given there are many very good blogs signed up with PayPerPost. John did explain further that his company is not primarily an advertising marketplace but rather a company focused on SEO (search engine optimization). He was referring to “link quality” not writing or blogging quality. That does make a difference.

First and foremost, this particular issue points out the most important fact: PayPerPost and v7n are very different companies with vastly different purposes. My understanding (and I’m sure John will correct me if I’m wrong) is that v7n is all about SEO. The links they sell are intended to raise search engine positioning for a particular keyword. PayPerPost concentrates on buzz, reviews, opinion, news releases.

I know there were some advertisers at PayPerPost who were focused only on SEO. Jo, for instance, would offer opps that allowed the blogger to write anything at all about their own experience as long at they could work in her keywords and links. Those were a lot of fun to do. I haven’t seen Jo at PPP lately. Perhaps she’s one of PayPerPost’s former advertisers that John claims is now with v7n. If so, that makes perfect sense. The v7n model seems better suited to someone who wants only SEO benefits.

Regarding the quality of links, aka “link juice,” I understand some of what John says. Before starting any kind of Pay-to-Blog program, I had very few outgoing links on my PR5 blog. I won’t claim to understand Google’s algorithm but I do know it has something to do with a ratio involving outgoing links. Before October, 2006, I had less than a dozen outgoing links. My “link juice” was something like 3 – 4. Now, with 80 outbound links, my “link juice” is .053. I have no idea what kinds of numbers v7n are wanting for the blogs they use. It seems to me, though, that the more work a blogger does for v7n or any other Pay-to-Blog program, the more their “link juice” number will fall. Targeting PayPerPost (or LoudLaunch or Blogitive or Blogsvertise or…) as the reason behind this is either naive or disingenuous. Hopefully it doesn’t indicate an attempt to dethrone the most popular Pay-to-Blog company by using misinformation, lies, or other not-so-nice tactics. Equally upsetting would be an attempt by v7n to limit their bloggers to use only their service. Let’s hope that’s not what John has in mind.

I’m willing to give John and the v7n folks the benefit of doubt. Any decision to not use bloggers who also post for PayPerPost is based on advertiser requests. A company absolutely must take care of their paying customers and John is right to do that. However, there really is no need to bash PayPerPost in course of that action. I expect John to take the high road and state simply that this is a business decision. Period. End of story.

Each blogger, likewise, will eventually be faced with the decision to blog for PPP or v7n. There’s no sense in bashing the one not taken. I think it’s a great online blogging world that allows everyone to pick and choose where to spend their online advertising dollars and with whom to associate for monetary gain. If anything, we should all be sticking together and backing each other against the Pay-to-Blog naysayers.

As for me, I’ll take any offers v7n throws my way but I won’t stop blogging for PayPerPost. My PPP earnings have paid for my trip to Hawaii in March, my new computer and the sidewalks my husband is putting around our house this weekend. Both companies have great communities so whether I’m eligible for v7n assignments or not, I intend to keep visiting the forums there as well as the PayPerPost forum.

You know, after reading over this, I’m just not sure what all the fuss is about. Maybe I missed something.

We all know them. They’re the people who, no matter the story you tell, can do you one better. They don’t add to the conversation so much as control it. If you tell them your car get 30 mpg, theirs gets 35. If you tell them about being homecoming queen, they claim to have been that as well as Prom Queen and voted Most Likely to Succeed. If you’ve broken your ankle twice, they’ve broken their three times and dislocated a shoulder, too.

Those aren’t the kind of people I like to be around. And you know, for all their competitiveness, they’re really not very successful.

I was thinking of that today when contemplating my friend, Colleen, who some would describe as being competitive. Yes, I suppose she is but not in the way you would think. Colleen is competitive in a very healthy way. She doesn’t try to outdo everyone around her. Rather, she challenges herself to do better. She sets goals for herself then works toward achieving them.

Today Colleen became the first PayPerPost Blogger, or “Postie,” to earn $10,000. She had been the first to earn $1000 several months ago and at that time set a goal for herself. She decided then to earn $10,000 by July 5, 2007, her one year anniversary with PayPerPost.

Colleen set a goal for herself and then worked like mad to reach that goal. She succeeded ahead of schedule.

Yes, Colleen is competitive but in the healthiest of ways. She challenges herself while cheering on those around her. She’s ready to lend a helping hand and gives of herself; she advises and tutors. She has no problem with the success of others; her self-confidence is strong enough to allow her to be truly happy for those who also do well.

I’ve noticed some people are not comfortable with Colleen’s strong work ethic and go-getter attitude. Perhaps some are intimidated by her strength. I find it inspiring.

Colleen competes with herself. She keeps trying to do better today than she did yesterday. That is the secret of her success. She’s like a racehorse with blinders on; she only sees the goal in front of her as she races toward it.

Colleen is a lesson in how to succeed and I’m taking notes.