Blogging Background Information

If you’re serious about making money online, blogging is your answer. Blogging is incredibly easy to do, anyone can become a blogger, and making money with a blog is relatively simple. Will you become rich just by owning a blog? Probably not. But realistically, you could make over four-figures a month with enough dedication and hard-work.

But what exactly is a blog?

Blogs are online software programs, formally known as content management systems, where people can post diary entries about their personal experiences, hobbies, jobs, interests, whatever. Fortunately for you, in order to operate a blog, you need absolutely no prior technical knowledge. As long as you know how to navigate around a web page and you can type into a box, you can easily manage your own blog.

Is running a blog for you? Absolutely it is. I need to reiterate that you need no prior technical knowledge to run a blog. Forget any notions you have linking blogs to coding and advanced degrees of technical comprehension. Those are the days of the past.

How exactly do I make money with a blog?

You can use your blog to make money through showing advertisements, promoting affiliate programs, and creating posts. That’s right. Depending on your popularity, companies will pay you for showing links on your blog or creating sponsored review posts.

I need help setting up a blog.

Well you’re in luck! If you want your own domain name and blog, but don’t want to deal with any of the technical aspects of setting one up, let me do it for you free of charge. All you need to do is follow an instruction set. I’ve laid out a detailed 10-step process (with pictures!) that will show you how to order a domain name and hosting. Once you do that, I’ll handle all of the scary technical stuff and you’ll be left with a fully functional blog. All you have to do is provide content.

Click here to get started now!

Recommended Blogging Programs

Once you get a blog setup, you can use these sites to get paid to write articles on your new blog. Be sure to check them all out!

• Review Me
• PayPerPost
• Blogitive
• Blogging Ads
• Blogsvertise
• Linkworth
• Loud Launch
• PayU2Blog
• Sponsored Reviews

We published our Greatest Hits this week—the most popular content at I’ve Tried That based on search engine results and pageviews.

And you learned more about me and Steve this week than you ever wanted to know with the top 5 strangest things Steve has ever said and our About Us post, now a permanent page at I’ve Tried That.

We finally published a review of My Power Mall. Our conclusion? It’s not a scam, but don’t waste your time.

Finally, you saw an updated post in our ongoing review of Helium.com in which I describe my impressive earnings. Look for more detail about Helium in the coming week.

Around the Web
Speaking of making money with your website or blog, check out Bryan Clark’s attempt to do just that. One Man’s Goal follows his journey as he creates a blog, builds traffic to it, and earns an income. He tells you how he did it and publishes his traffic and earnings in regular updates. With a two-month old blog, he already makes about $500 a month and has thousands of visitors. We’ll be posting some terrific resources soon for people who want to start a blog and profit from it.

You ain’t never seen link love like this before.

I published a guest post at Wendy Piersall’s excellent blog. It seems we’re always pointing to here for great tips for moms and online business owners.

Week in Review

Snoskred kicked off the week with a beautiful post outlining fake check scams and scambaiting. It is a must-read that could save you thousands of dollars.

Joe took a look at a new scam that’s been popping up lately. It’s called the Global Trade Company and they are looking for ‘employees’ to process checks. Yea, total crap. That’s why we sent Richard Williams to handle this one.

Around the Web

If you have a blog and are not using the WordPress platform, Snoskred gives you yet another good reason to switch:

If you did not and you are using blogger, you need to know that Blogger has added a robots.txt file to your blog – without asking you, and without giving you any options of changing it.

Do you rely on Adsense for blog income? Learn why you’re losing 10% of your earnings.

If you’re having trouble promoting your home based business offline, Laura at Work at Home Momma has a list of tips for better offline promotion.

Coming Up

This week, we’ll be taking a look at My Power Mall. We’ve received a lot of requests lately and it’s about time we did a review.

So, after my post at JohnChow.com on combining link love and week in review posts, it would be pretty ridiculous if I didn’t practice what I preach.

Sabrina from Sabrina’s Money Matters was kind enough to guest post about mystery shopping and secretcomsumer.com. If you’re trying to get into mystery shopping, this is a great post to help you get started.

I gave a quick step by step on how to start a blog and I’ll be more than willing to help anyone get setup if you have trouble following the post. I will be posting more about this.

Joe took a look at Helium.com and getting paid to write articles. It’s a continuing review and more information will be posted later including how much you can make and how long it takes to get paid.

Finally, our most important post of the week concerns cashing checks from SurveyLot.com. Read about the check fraud scam and be on the lookout if you’ve joined the program.

Around the Web

Wendy from eMoms at Home has a new post about the top 10 internet home businesses ideas you can start and run in your underwear. It’s a great piece that can give you some general direction.

Having trouble getting out of debt? Follow Sean’s climb out of debt at Irregular Payments and you’ll realize you’re not alone.

From the comments we have this concerning Agloco:

Agloco won’t work because Agloco won’t pay, they’ve said so themselves!! searched google and found this agloo article from digg

Take a look and make a decision for yourself.

Also, we’re still looking for stories on how we’ve saved you from spending money on a scam. Read about it here and be sure to submit your story.

We kicked off this week with a response from the owner of smartbusinessformula.com to our review of his program.

Steve updated his review of Project Payday, and Franklin McNugget, Esquire, had some questions for the Project Payday scammers.

Inspired by Franklin, Richard Williams, the big rW, loved on “CP Deals,” the gas cards scammer. Neither Franklin nor Richard have received replies. Go figure.

We heard a disturbing story about Surveylot.com from I’ve Tried That reader Joanna, who was scammed by a fake check purported to be from Surveylot.com to the tune of $2900.00! Yowwch!

It’s a jungle out there, folks!

Around the Web
What are we reading this week? Wendy Piersall of emomsathome.com shared some interesting secrets to her blogging success in a must-read (for bloggers) article.

It’s worth linking to again: Snoskred has collected $5M in fake checks (and growing). Did you know banks can (and do) say that cashier’s checks are legit, only to reverse themselves later and charge you the face value of the check? You’ve got to protect yourself because you can’t count on the banks to do it for you.

Sabrina’s Money Matters is starting its second week of Career Week. Check out the good wardrobe advice, interview suggestions, and more.

Our I Was Scammed series is growing (unfortunately); read this week’s addition, which focuses on workathometop10.com.

Our July Top Commenters contest wrapped up. Congrats, Matt and Carolyn.

I posted the first of my articles on writing tips. Hop on over and devour it (see? I could have said, “click here to read it.”)

Steve posted his much anticipated review of Project Payday.

And check out the Aug 3 comment by Lilia on the dataentrybusiness.com review! That’s why Steve and I are doing this. Makes me feel all fluffy. Anyone want a hug?

Around the Web
For pre-screened, legitimate telecommuting jobs, you can’t beat The Daily Telecommuter. Every day, some genius combs through telecommuting job ads all over the U.S. and posts only the legitimate ones. Check it out.

Are you a fan of Craigslist.org? Not only can you find jobs there, but you can make some good coin by becoming an expert reseller. Dave Pitlyuk explains how.

For you bloggers and affiliate marketers, check out the free podcast by Darren Rowse and Yaro Starak, two highly successful professional bloggers. (It’s also available, with Darren’s commentary, at Problogger.net.) Inside tips about blog traffic and monetization straight from those who are very successful at doing it!

Telecommuting is getting some good press. For many readers searching for online jobs, don’t overlook the possibility that you might be able to telecommute at your current job.

Joe finally gets a response to his burning question of whether or not the Freemoneyforumla toolbar contains spyware. I’m going to make you hang on to the edge of your seat for now because I won’t reveal the answer here.

Dame Ramsey’s Financial Peace University review finally comes to a conclusion. The program received a positive review and if you’re as bad as Joe is with saving money, you should really consider joining.

I reveal my long time secret of how I save 5% on gas every time regardless of where I pump. The offer is valid until September 30th and it may just hold you over until we receive the final word on the SaveOnGasCards.com gift cards.

I reveal my thoughts on whether or not Agloco is another get paid to surf scam. I have high hopes for the program, but we have yet to see any positive results. I will be sure to keep everyone updated with their latest news.

Around the Web

This is a new feature that you’ll be seeing once a week where we link to different blogs and sites we find particularly interesting.

• Wendy Piersell from eMoms at Home has compiled a list of 25 parent productivity tools for busy moms, dads and kids. Some are entirely free and they are all very useful.
• Jane May from Daily Web Ideas discusses the differences between building a real business or just fast cash. She makes very clear distinctions and it gives a revealing look at why a lot of blogs quit after a few months.
• CyberNet reveals some of the world’s most recognizable brands and takes a look at how Google is climbing the ranks.
• Be sure to check out Contest Blogger. Phil gathers information on blogs that are currently holding contests and gives details on how you can win. It’s a great resources.

Finally, we are still offering RSS and email subscriptions for free. That’s right. We are giving away free subscriptions. We stand firm on a very fine line between genius and crazy just so you guys can reap the rewards. Subscribe to our feed today and stay up to date with our latest material.

Joe started the new I’ve Tried That Glossary. Refer to this if we lose you within a post.

Joe has also deceived and lied to all of us about his 4th of July post. It was an entry in a contest where the entrants pick the winners. Check out Joe’s picks here.

Believe it or not we did review some new programs this week. I gave a Dont-Get-Scammed-Again.com Review and it turns out that if you don’t want to get scammed, then don’t go to this website. Joe looked at the Free Money Formula and was surprised with what he found. You can expect a more in-depth look later.

And finally, we are proud to bring you an overdue update on the free gas cards from SaveOnGasCards.com. It turns out, you’ll have to wait a few more weeks to hear our final verdict. Joe received the certificate and he is now anxiously waiting for the gas cards in the mail. Seriously, he waits out at the mailbox for hours on end. It’s quite sad really. They’re coming Joe. Please stop wasting time looking for the postal worker.

Contest Update

Did everyone forget about the little contest we’re having? It’s still running and you still need to comment in order to secure your entry for the free entertainment book.

This week we continued our How To series about telecommuting jobs with How To Contact an Online Employer.

Steve tried VistaPrint’s offer for 250 free business cards and gave you his review.

We launched a contest that will award two talkative peeps with two Entertainment books. Why not you? (Steve said I’m not eligible to win. I’m still unhappy about that.)

Steve ripped The Guru Enforcer.com with a review that pulls no punches.

I tried CashCrate.com and made $3.50 for my hour’s worth of work. No, thanks; but of the get-paid-to-sign-up- for-offers programs we’ve tried, this one is the least bad, in my opinion.

We took a swipe at ebooks such as that sold by honestriches.com. Our conclusion? Nothin’ to see here, folks. Move along.

We didn’t get to all of the things we had planned for this week, so tune in next week for a review of Free Money Formula and other reviews and tips to save you money or keep you from blowing it on programs that don’t deliver on their promises. You’ll also not want to miss the downloadable video of Steve’s interpretive dance. He calls it “I review, therefore I dance.” I’ve seen it, and God help me, I’ll never look at feather boas the same way again.

We enthusiastically endorsed Entertainment books this week. Read the review, then buy your book.