2007 September « Just Another Writer

Why I Will Not Make Money With DealDotCom September 16, 2007

Filed under: Metablogging, Money — News Writer @ 7:21 am

Because I didn’t sign up.

Why?

1. I don’t want to waste people’s time. If it turns out to be a great money maker, all of you will have had the chance to sign up, but elsewhere. There’ll be no multi-level marketing pimpin’ over here. Unless I decide to become Mary Kay rep, of course. Any cross-dressers out there? You know I have to put my own spin on things. It would be fun to build a large network of shemales and then go to one of the Mary Kay conferences as a super-duper team leader director person and earn a pink Cadillac while others explode with envy, splattering the walls with NouriShine Melon Sorbet lip gloss. A girl can dream, right? Oh wow, I digressed. Badly.

2. I don’t want my blog to look like everyone else’s. Those banners are everywhere! Doing what everyone else is doing takes me out of my comfort zone. Note to self: Delete the Text Link Ads banner that no one ever clicks on. The Adsense will stay, though. It’s like blogger crack.

3. What are the chances of seeing some real cash, anyway? Since DealDotCom hasn’t went live yet, and I’ve already seen it being pushed on at least five sites, how many people would actually sign up under me? And if they did, how many people would sign up under them? And if they did, for how long? The shelf life of “make money online” blogs appears to be about three months–correct me if I’m wrong, and then check back to see if I’m still around September 19th.
Oh, and feel free to torment me in the comments by telling me that you did, indeed, click on over and sign up.

4. I’m not convinced it’s ethical. The site itself plays up how it is good to “get in” before everyone else does. Am I really providing a service to readers by hoping that they sign up for a site where they probably won’t get any money, but I will–if they buy something later?

In life, you usually find out about something good when it’s too late — like getting the skinny on a huge golf club sale that ended yesterday. Or, being handed a Denny’s 50% off coupon when you just ate there like two hours ago.

I know, sometimes life sucks.

Well, this time… YOU will be the one who is laughing.

5. I can’t keep track of it all. There are so many affiliate programs online that I can’t remember what is what. To make things worse, they keep changing things around all the time. At any rate, only the DreamHost affiliate program is making me any money, and I won’t see a dime of that until next year, if people renew their contracts. Reason? I give away my entire $97 commission when people use my promocode: ILOVEBLOGGRRL. Now that is a service. I can say with absolute confidence that I offer the best DreamHost discount online or anywhere else.

So, obviously I hope to keep making some bucks with Dreamhost. It’ll be interesting to see how the DealDotCom frenzy plays out. Hopefully, I won’t be looking back at this post with regret.
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How Mary Kay Can Help Me Make Money Blogging September 14, 2007

Filed under: Metablogging, Money, Silly Stuff — News Writer @ 2:56 am

I have a new neighbor. She is one of those women who always, always looks perfect. I don’t understand how this is acheived. If I wear a white shirt to work, there is a 78% chance I am going to spill coffee on it. I always have at least one chipped nail and/or hair going in an unwanted direction. I forget to reapply my lipstick after lunch. My students have not noticed or indicated that they care, so it’s all good.

Anyway, my neighbor sells Mary Kay cosmetics. She gave me a makeover while our kids played Let’s Pretend to Kill Each Other in the bedroom. I ended up looking a bit like Johnny Depp in Edward Scissorhands, only not as cute as Johnny Depp. Whatever.

Anyone who has ever encountered a Mary Kay person knows that you get “the opportunity to make loads of cash” while having the time of your life giving facials (guys, quit reading that crap and you won’t think that way) and parties. My new buddy also told me how she writes off everything as a business expense. For example, if she travels 3 hours to visit her aunt, and her aunt buys a lipstick, our gal gets to write off the entire trip as a business expense. Just as I was about to plunk down $100 bucks for a starter kit containing seven shades of foundation, I thought…”How would this apply to blogging?”

I’m no expert, but I do know that the IRS lets people lose money for three years before really taking a close look at all of those lunches. At least that’s what I’ve heard. Do you know how many times I’ve been eating a sandwich or some Pocky and thought about blogging? Talked about blogging? It’s time to write those babies off! Here are some other areas where you can write off your blogging expenses!

Your mileage.

2. Tech gadgets. What about that sweet laptop you’ve had your eye on? Need a new digital camera? Scanner? Video camera?

3. Your house. Personally, I carry my laptop all over my house while blogging. I blog from the kitchen table, the couch, and my bed. I often use air-conditioning while I am blogging. The portion of your home that you use for your business can be deducted as a business expense–just figure the percentage of the house that you use for your office, and deduct that portion of your rent/mortgage. And utilities. (I do think that it is supposed to be a part of your house dedicated solely to business. I’d better not write off my bed just yet, as the other business option for that location is currently illegal.)

4. Restaurant meals. These add up! How about brainstorming writing ideas next time you go out to eat? Save those receipts. You get to write off 50%. This also applies to entertainment expenses. Does anyone blog about pricey concerts, rugby or strippers?

5. Your cell phone and accompanying bill. I use mine to talk to other bloggers, as I do not have Skype. Some people use theirs to take pictures and send them to their blogs.

6. Etc. Software, outsourcing, gifts (think contests) up to $25, office supplies, Internet service and a whole lot of other stuff.

Here is an excellent article for those of you who are thinking along these lines. As always, take what I say with a grain of salt and check it out with someone who actually knows what they are talking about.

Tax professionals, and anyone else who knows more than me about this subject, feel free to let me have it in the comment section.

On another note, check out Doug from Easy Tech Talk swilling the sake! It’s looking like he’s going to have a great time with his new shot glass chess set (or the $25 cash) because so far, only four of you have entered my September Shot Contest. Doug’s in the lead with 10 points. Go Doug!

How many contests give YOU publicity and a link? Hmm?

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September Shots Contest-Drink Up! September 9, 2007

Filed under: Things You're No Longer Interested In — News Writer @ 7:49 pm

Take a shot at this month’s contest and win a set of shot glass checkers! Five runner ups will win mini-advertising slots that normally go for $5 a shot, as well as have their names on the Contest Page forevermore.

If you don’t live in the US, have an annoying drinking problem you’re trying to get a grip on, or are just plain greedy for cash you have the option of receiving $25 smackeroos in your PayPal account instead.

So what got me thinking about shots? It’s a bit convoluted. On my new Advertising page, I mentioned that in-post advertisements could be had for $5 a shot. Then I became lost in a revere in which I was remembering the buttery nipples that I slurped on at Happy Hour last Friday. I drank enough of them to feel absolutely comfortable regaling my colleagues with the tale of how I once won $100 in The Local Bar’s wet t-shirt contest, which was information that I’m sure they really didn’t need to know. I’m also pretty certain that you’ll show better judgment than me, hence the option of the shot glass checkerboard prize.

There are three ways to enter:

1. Send me a pic of yourself downing a shot or other libation. I’ll post it, along with a link to your site. (10 entries)

2. Mention this contest on your site, linking back to Bloggrrl.com’s main page. You can do this numerous times, as long as the link is in different posts. (5 entries x how many times you linked)

3. Tell a story about the dumbest thing you’ve ever done while drinking and link back to Bloggrrl.com. (10 entries)

That’s it! Let’s lively up this place! Be safe and responsible.

Contest ends on September 30, 2007 at midnight Central time.

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9 Reasons I Need a Wife September 6, 2007

Filed under: Life, Silly Stuff — News Writer @ 11:58 pm

So another Michelle wrote a review of Tim Ferris’s book, The 4-Hour-Workweek. She is much more enamored of Mr. Ferris than I am. In fact, unlike many other women, I don’t think he’s hot. So, Michelle the Serial Entrepreneur can have him. Looking at her page, I have come to the conclusion that she is most likely a kind, nurturing person, whereas I am the sort of woman who sends men running and screaming to the warm embrace of the mental ward of the nearest hospital.

At any rate, when Michelle emailed me about how it was difficult to outsource her life (although she did finally find a Virtual Assistant in Australia), once again I found myself lamenting the fact that I am unable to outsource my work.

However, some people, primarily men, I’ve noticed, are able to “insource” much of their work just fine, and often for a very good price. Where I live, it only costs $41.00 to get a marriage license. Beat that, Indian Outsourcing Company!

Of course, if the worker you find to insource your work wants a Vera Wang wedding gown and a catered dinner for two thousand, you may need to reconsider. At any rate, I am still a tad jealous of men. Why do they get to have a wife and I don’t?

Here are some reasons why I would like to have a wife.

2. Because I just found my son’s homework folder under the chaise lounge, where it has been hanging out all week.

3. There is laundry in the washing machine that has been there two days. I just remembered this. Be right back.

4. My shoulders hurt. It would be nice to not pay $50 for a massage at the club, where I feel guilty for not being on the treadmill during that time instead.

5. I am on the hospitality committee at work, which consists of me and a dude. The dude’s wife makes the food he brings. No fair. The PTA at my son’s school also demands massive amounts of cookies and cupcakes on a monthly basis. Then there are the gifts needed to bribe the teacher so that she will shut up about “ADHD medication”.

6. The dog’s medicine has been sitting at the vet’s awaiting pick-up for a week now. Meanwhile, there are incontinence problems.

7. My right eye is twitching.

8. The plants are looking a bit yellow, and I had to throw away the fish tank after it was discovered that the fish had disappeared, and there was some mysterious green slime floating around.

9. The inside of the refrigerator.

Now, we’ve got to keep what I just told you a secret, okay? I’d like to continue to the illusion that I am Superwoman so that other women can feel inadequate. After all, my cooking is great, when I do it, and my house is pretty clean, probably because I have donated 90% of what I own so that I won’t have to deal with it. I also manage to leave the house having bathed and wearing make-up.

Thanks to those annoying laws that prohibit same-sex marriage, not to mention the anatomical issues, I have come up with another solution.

I will get rich and hire a full-time maid who cooks.

This will not solve the massage or errand problem, but perhaps if I am not cleaning the bathroom I will have time to go and pick up the dog’s medicine. And call the carpet cleaner. So simple. Why didn’t I think of this sooner?

And yeah, I know I could have cooked dinner tonight instead of writing this post. Priorities…

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