The Start Of Something Good!
January 30th, 2006 by Vince Chan :: I’m honestly excited when I came back to find an email from Eric Scalf of FyrePlace.com. Eric wrote a very pleasant piece about AmBlogger and also the new upstart SmackDash.com! One amateur site maybe a fluke. Two amateur Bloggers maybe a coincidence. Three amateurs Bloggers is a phenomenon!
Forgive me if I don’t contain my hopeless optimism. I think each of us is bringing a little bit of flavour into the Amateur Blogging scene. This is how Eric described us:
Where Amblogger is concentrating on the passion of blogging (and blogging, in and of itsself), SmackDash is covering the amateur monetization niche.
And it seems like FyrePlace will be some spectrum in between us?? [Sorry Eric, you didn't elaborate!]. The talks of an Amateur Blogging network sounds interesting. However, I feel that such organization is still too soon as we each have to learn to carve out our own voice in the Blogosphere. Though I will openly invite any AmBlogger with a good idea to approach myself and contribute to AmBlogger!
Finally, I’m more stoked than ever that there is a phenomenon brewing. Increasing number of people are tired of those Chitika ads, talks about heat maps, and generic 3-column templates optimized filled to the brim with monetization techniques. Networks like 9Rules with their beautiful Blogs will experience more and more interest from AmBloggers disenchanted with monetized layouts, all the professional talk going on, the Blogger cruises/conventions and talking about their AdSense Christmas gifts. I’ve got much more to say on this, but I’ll target and focus the discussion in future Blogs individually. Stay tuned!
P.S. I’ve added a Proud AmBloggers section to my side bar! If you are a proud Amateur Blogger, why don’t you let everybody know!
2 Responses to “The Start Of Something Good!”
Vince,
I appreciate your forward looking positive attitude towards our common cause with amateur blogging. We could all use the publicity and support of our fellow bloggers. Likewise, I am open to the idea of an amateur blogging network, once we all figure out exactly which direction we decide to take our blogs. Though it appears SmackDash is primarily focused around amateur blogs and monetization, that is not entirely true. More-or-less I am going to focus on the shallow topics leading up to everything related to monetization.
There are alot of individuals who are concerned with how and what and why that doesn’t really get explained all to often on the larger blogging sites. Hopefully us amateur bloggers can fill this void with answers!
Wow, you almost described me, with the heat maps, and the monetized layouts, etc… I’ve been concentrating a lot on monetization, as I want to take blogging to a business. The only reason I’m so concerned about amateur blogging is because that’s where the passion is. I think a lot of professional bloggers lose that passion and zeal as they get more into the scheme of making money.
My start-up with MindFyre was never designed to be a money maker, or for me to go pro with it. It was designed for me to have a place to express my voice in a blog form, and maybe make some money while doing it. I’ve gotten involved in the monetization end of things so much because, well, money makes the world go ’round. I think MindFyre (or rather, blogging@) will wind up being a midline between amblogger and SmackDash. Concentrating on monetization, yet keeping that same zeal and passion about blogging.
If you can’t link to your personal blog, from your money-making blog, then why the hell are you blogging in the first place? Good motto? I think it works.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go to my local Kroger’s Grocer and get some diet coke… and interview some random people for a political spectrum entry I intend to write.