The main reason why my husband and I opted to work from home is to be able to take care of our children. Last year, another angle was added to the situation when my Dad got very ill. Since I am an only child, we took care of him until he passed away in May. By then my Mom was already sick. She is now bedridden and also under our care. This is why I haven't been able to post in the past days.
I am glad that we are able to do this for our family. I am hoping that my blogging and other online money making efforts will eventually create viable income streams to further strengthen our position and make us less dependent on client-based freelance work.
Showing posts with label Working Freelance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Working Freelance. Show all posts
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Trying to Earn Global Online from the Philippines: How to Grow at a Faster Pace
These past days have flown by at a dizzying rate for me. The first entry on this blog was last March 22. In about a week's time after that, I had put up five other blogs on different topics, all documented here, too.
Now, after only a month, this Manila Mom blog has pulled away from the other five in Technorati. How? Two very potent tools: The Ultimate Technorati Favorites Exchange and The DoFollow List!
I only posted the Favorites Exchange last April 15, and the DoFollow List last April 21. As of today, Manila Mom has been favorited by 86 members and has 118 links from 70 blogs. Its Technorati rank is 60,696. And every time I check, even within the same day, the numbers are changing.
Of course, all this is happening with work on my part, too. My comments are moderated so I check my email several times a day to process them. I do the favorites exchange and add links to the list. I also surf the dofollow sites and sites on my favorites list to read and comment. Well, this last part doesn't really feel like work because I enjoy doing it. I discover new blogs and learn a lot along the way. And I'm creating new links to my blog as I do it.
My days - and nights - have been busy. My friends based in the US and Canada are surprised to find me still online at 3 or 4 a.m. Manila time.
And I still dared to put up another blog just a few days ago - Manila Mom's Veranda at PinoyNetwork.org.
Well, it was an offer I couldn't refuse. PinoyNetwork.org is a very new baby of a fellow Filipina who shares the same contagious enthusiasm for exploring all that the internet can offer. I can already see the powerful potential of the network and am honored to be with her from this building up stage.
So that's where I'm at now, folks. All of these have been accomplished with the help of fellow bloggers and other friends, so I'm sharing it all with everyone, too.
Now to my life offline...yes, I still do have one! :-D
Related Posts:
I Joined The Ultimate Technorati Favorites Exchange; You Can, Too
Reward Your Readers and Do Follow the DoFollow List
Online money-making opportunities you can join for FREE: MyWorld / e-gold / SFI / AGLOCO / MyLot / No-Minimum.com / Paid Forum
Technorati tags: e-gold, make money online, work at home, money, writing, work
Now, after only a month, this Manila Mom blog has pulled away from the other five in Technorati. How? Two very potent tools: The Ultimate Technorati Favorites Exchange and The DoFollow List!
I only posted the Favorites Exchange last April 15, and the DoFollow List last April 21. As of today, Manila Mom has been favorited by 86 members and has 118 links from 70 blogs. Its Technorati rank is 60,696. And every time I check, even within the same day, the numbers are changing.
Of course, all this is happening with work on my part, too. My comments are moderated so I check my email several times a day to process them. I do the favorites exchange and add links to the list. I also surf the dofollow sites and sites on my favorites list to read and comment. Well, this last part doesn't really feel like work because I enjoy doing it. I discover new blogs and learn a lot along the way. And I'm creating new links to my blog as I do it.
My days - and nights - have been busy. My friends based in the US and Canada are surprised to find me still online at 3 or 4 a.m. Manila time.
And I still dared to put up another blog just a few days ago - Manila Mom's Veranda at PinoyNetwork.org.
Well, it was an offer I couldn't refuse. PinoyNetwork.org is a very new baby of a fellow Filipina who shares the same contagious enthusiasm for exploring all that the internet can offer. I can already see the powerful potential of the network and am honored to be with her from this building up stage.
So that's where I'm at now, folks. All of these have been accomplished with the help of fellow bloggers and other friends, so I'm sharing it all with everyone, too.
Now to my life offline...yes, I still do have one! :-D
Related Posts:
I Joined The Ultimate Technorati Favorites Exchange; You Can, Too
Reward Your Readers and Do Follow the DoFollow List
Online money-making opportunities you can join for FREE: MyWorld / e-gold / SFI / AGLOCO / MyLot / No-Minimum.com / Paid Forum
Technorati tags: e-gold, make money online, work at home, money, writing, work
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Trying to Earn Global Online from the Philippines: So Why Do I Do This?
Gary Vaughan tagged me to answer the question “Why do I blog?” Before I could do so, the Virginia Tech tragedy happened. I just had to express my feelings on that shocking incident first.
I think the tragedy also distilled my thoughts on why I very recently decided to blog.
1. I blog because I am passionate about expressing my feelings in writing and this medium allows me to do so while reaching a global audience in a way that is – as I mentioned yesterday – person to person, mind to mind, heart to heart.
Blogging is a unique medium because it is both very personal and very public. In a way, it is like the romance novels I write – available widely to the public but touching each reader one heart at a time.
2. I blog because there is so much more I want to write about that could not fit into my romance novels and my freelance writing projects. I even had to put up several blogs to accommodate them.
3. I blog because I want to continue to learn and grow with the rest of the world up to my last breath, and the blogosphere gives me access to that learning and space for that growth.
4. I blog because my passion for writing is also my profession offline and when I learned that I could do the same online (although the returns are not that immediate) there was no reason left not to. I believe that if you feed your passion, your passion will feed you.
5. And I shall continue to blog because I have been meeting people who embody the best in humanity and I am eager to meet more. There may be unfortunate experiences but the balance is still tilted toward the good in people, and I trust that this will always be so.
I now tag:
1. Female-Gamer
2. Marghil
3. Markk
4. Manilenya
5. Eydyeyey
The rule is that you should use a list format and name 5 reasons why you blog. You then tag 5 others to do the same.
This meme is being tracked at SOLO SEO. You can go and add your name to the linked list as soon as your own post is up.
I’ll be eagerly awaiting your answers. :-)
Technorati tags: e-gold, make money online, work at home, money, writing, work
Online money-making opportunities you can join for FREE: MyWorld / e-gold / SFI / AGLOCO / MyLot / No-Minimum.com / Paid Forum
I think the tragedy also distilled my thoughts on why I very recently decided to blog.
1. I blog because I am passionate about expressing my feelings in writing and this medium allows me to do so while reaching a global audience in a way that is – as I mentioned yesterday – person to person, mind to mind, heart to heart.
Blogging is a unique medium because it is both very personal and very public. In a way, it is like the romance novels I write – available widely to the public but touching each reader one heart at a time.
2. I blog because there is so much more I want to write about that could not fit into my romance novels and my freelance writing projects. I even had to put up several blogs to accommodate them.
3. I blog because I want to continue to learn and grow with the rest of the world up to my last breath, and the blogosphere gives me access to that learning and space for that growth.
4. I blog because my passion for writing is also my profession offline and when I learned that I could do the same online (although the returns are not that immediate) there was no reason left not to. I believe that if you feed your passion, your passion will feed you.
5. And I shall continue to blog because I have been meeting people who embody the best in humanity and I am eager to meet more. There may be unfortunate experiences but the balance is still tilted toward the good in people, and I trust that this will always be so.
I now tag:
1. Female-Gamer
2. Marghil
3. Markk
4. Manilenya
5. Eydyeyey
The rule is that you should use a list format and name 5 reasons why you blog. You then tag 5 others to do the same.
This meme is being tracked at SOLO SEO. You can go and add your name to the linked list as soon as your own post is up.
I’ll be eagerly awaiting your answers. :-)
Technorati tags: e-gold, make money online, work at home, money, writing, work
Online money-making opportunities you can join for FREE: MyWorld / e-gold / SFI / AGLOCO / MyLot / No-Minimum.com / Paid Forum
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Trying to Earn Global Online from the Philippines: Don't Hate Me Just Because I Want To Make Money Online
I read some very strong words against making money from blogs and, frankly, I'm shocked at the hate that oozes from many of those bloggers - mostly from the comments. I could understand perfectly having differences in opinion - a natural part of any community - but does it have to be nasty?
I respect the stand of personal bloggers who want to keep their blogs purely personal and devoid of ads or any hint of commercialism. I hope they respect the right of others to monetize their blogs, as well. After all, it is their own time, their own efforts and their own writing skills that they are monetizing. Isn't that what entrepreneurship is?
I also bristle at the snide comments that earning from blogs is earning from doing nothing or from no effort at all. It's not as easy as it seems. The money doesn't just come rolling in. Try asking those who are already earning well from their blogs. As a newbie it's almost discouraging for me to see meager cents dropping in after maximum effort. It does not happen overnight. All that effort - giving time and writing your best - needs to be coupled with a lot of learning, networking plus more time. It's real work.
As Yuga said, bloggers are like publishers who are also the authors and editors of their own publications. For probloggers who author blogs owned by networks, it may mean only being the author and editor, or even just the author. It's still a very respectable job.
I don't think it's wrong to be paid to write. Isn't that what professional writers do? Isn't that what freelance writers do? It's called making a living. It's honest work.
There is even more hate thrown at paid posts. But aren't these required to be labeled as sponsored posts? If so, then they are not misleading the readers. It's just like serving ads, except the blogger writes the ads himself/herself. It's like copywriting in advertising - another legitimate career.
And for some of us, earning from the hours spent online is the only way to rationalize spending the time that way. With a family to support one can't have the luxury of spending so many hours just for one's personal enjoyment. But if you can incorporate money making in something that you enjoy doing - like writing online on topics you've read about online - then it's a win-win situation. Is that such a crime?
The blogosphere is like the universe. There is room for everyone. We don't need to bring each other down. We should, instead, be helping each other. Or, at the very least, let each one be.
I enjoy reading blogs giving tips on how to make money online, optimize blogs, do search engine optimization (of which much is still beyond me), apply affiliate marketing techniques, and other related stuff. I also enjoy reading blogs that talk about one person's life, or day, or hobby, or profession, or dreams. They fill different needs. They resonate with me on different levels.
Diversity is good. Diversity enriches us. Let us not hate that which is different.
Discussion and debate is good, too. But let's not allow it to get nasty. Please.
Technorati tags: e-gold, make money online, work at home, money, writing, work
Online money-making opportunities you can join for FREE: MyWorld / e-gold / SFI / AGLOCO / MyLot / No-Minimum.com / Paid Forum
I respect the stand of personal bloggers who want to keep their blogs purely personal and devoid of ads or any hint of commercialism. I hope they respect the right of others to monetize their blogs, as well. After all, it is their own time, their own efforts and their own writing skills that they are monetizing. Isn't that what entrepreneurship is?
I also bristle at the snide comments that earning from blogs is earning from doing nothing or from no effort at all. It's not as easy as it seems. The money doesn't just come rolling in. Try asking those who are already earning well from their blogs. As a newbie it's almost discouraging for me to see meager cents dropping in after maximum effort. It does not happen overnight. All that effort - giving time and writing your best - needs to be coupled with a lot of learning, networking plus more time. It's real work.
As Yuga said, bloggers are like publishers who are also the authors and editors of their own publications. For probloggers who author blogs owned by networks, it may mean only being the author and editor, or even just the author. It's still a very respectable job.
I don't think it's wrong to be paid to write. Isn't that what professional writers do? Isn't that what freelance writers do? It's called making a living. It's honest work.
There is even more hate thrown at paid posts. But aren't these required to be labeled as sponsored posts? If so, then they are not misleading the readers. It's just like serving ads, except the blogger writes the ads himself/herself. It's like copywriting in advertising - another legitimate career.
And for some of us, earning from the hours spent online is the only way to rationalize spending the time that way. With a family to support one can't have the luxury of spending so many hours just for one's personal enjoyment. But if you can incorporate money making in something that you enjoy doing - like writing online on topics you've read about online - then it's a win-win situation. Is that such a crime?
The blogosphere is like the universe. There is room for everyone. We don't need to bring each other down. We should, instead, be helping each other. Or, at the very least, let each one be.
I enjoy reading blogs giving tips on how to make money online, optimize blogs, do search engine optimization (of which much is still beyond me), apply affiliate marketing techniques, and other related stuff. I also enjoy reading blogs that talk about one person's life, or day, or hobby, or profession, or dreams. They fill different needs. They resonate with me on different levels.
Diversity is good. Diversity enriches us. Let us not hate that which is different.
Discussion and debate is good, too. But let's not allow it to get nasty. Please.
Technorati tags: e-gold, make money online, work at home, money, writing, work
Online money-making opportunities you can join for FREE: MyWorld / e-gold / SFI / AGLOCO / MyLot / No-Minimum.com / Paid Forum
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Trying to Earn Global Online from the Philippines: A Blogaholic's Rationalizations
Yes, I'm a blogaholic. With 6 blogs now running, I have to own up to that :-)
It's a fairly recent affliction. My first blog was just set up last March 22. I've been very busy since then.
It seems like the more I read about blogging and adsense and optimization, the more I had to set up my own experiments for some actual hands-on learning.
I've come to love three of my blogs so much, though, that monetization seems to be just a bonus when it comes to them.
Of course, first on my list is my first-born blog, Manila Mom. I believe this blog will chronicle my growth in this field. I also hope it can help other newbies like me and that, eventually, I become successful enough to be an inspiration as much as those who came before me have inspired me to go in this direction.
Next is my Cafe Romanza blog. It presents my romance writer persona - a very major part of my career. It also reflects my views on love, marriage, relationships and romance, something that's central to my own growth as a woman and a person. I couldn't do without this blog the same way I couldn't do without romance in my life and my writing career.
And then there's 3 Dogs, 3 Pigs & a Family. This was something I had always wanted to write about. I held back initially because it seemed too personal. Who would be interested? Then the blogosphere itself gave me a nudge by linking me up with an advocate of askals (native Philippine dogs andmixed breed dogs). I found a compelling reason to write about how we should love our askals as much as purebred pedigree dogs. Of course, it couldn't not include our other pets and our crazy family life, as well. (Yes, crazy, as in naming our dogs Poop, Booger and Barf.)
My other 3 blogs have been calculated to fit into particular niches. They are more challenging to write for but I like to think of it as a professional challenge. I am my own content provider and, as such, I have to be able to write on whatever topic is called for.
My 2 Centavos Worth focuses on TV shows, celebrities and what's hot on the web. It's entertaining for me, too, in that I get to keep abreast of the entertainment industry.
My Earn Global blog was initially meant to support and drive more traffic to my affiliate business with Global Domains International. Well, the business was a failure but I decided to keep my blog and focus it on various home based web businesses instead.
Earn Global will be closely related to Manila Mom in subject matter although this blog will be more personal and more reflective of my own journey while the other will be more of a review of what's out there.
Finally, there's Credit Ability, my most "calculated" experiment. It is meant to test whether a blog on supposedly highly-searched and highly-paid keywords will succeed.
So there you have it. These are my rationalizations for being a blogaholic.
Wait, I forgot - making this an income-generating attempt also rationalizes the time I spend surfing :-) Now I can call it research!
Technorati tags: e-gold, make money online, work at home, money, writing, work, blog, blogs, blogging, weblog
Online money-making opportunities you can join for FREE: e-gold / SFI / AGLOCO / MyLot / No-Minimum.com / Paid Forum
It's a fairly recent affliction. My first blog was just set up last March 22. I've been very busy since then.
It seems like the more I read about blogging and adsense and optimization, the more I had to set up my own experiments for some actual hands-on learning.
I've come to love three of my blogs so much, though, that monetization seems to be just a bonus when it comes to them.
Of course, first on my list is my first-born blog, Manila Mom. I believe this blog will chronicle my growth in this field. I also hope it can help other newbies like me and that, eventually, I become successful enough to be an inspiration as much as those who came before me have inspired me to go in this direction.
Next is my Cafe Romanza blog. It presents my romance writer persona - a very major part of my career. It also reflects my views on love, marriage, relationships and romance, something that's central to my own growth as a woman and a person. I couldn't do without this blog the same way I couldn't do without romance in my life and my writing career.
And then there's 3 Dogs, 3 Pigs & a Family. This was something I had always wanted to write about. I held back initially because it seemed too personal. Who would be interested? Then the blogosphere itself gave me a nudge by linking me up with an advocate of askals (native Philippine dogs andmixed breed dogs). I found a compelling reason to write about how we should love our askals as much as purebred pedigree dogs. Of course, it couldn't not include our other pets and our crazy family life, as well. (Yes, crazy, as in naming our dogs Poop, Booger and Barf.)
My other 3 blogs have been calculated to fit into particular niches. They are more challenging to write for but I like to think of it as a professional challenge. I am my own content provider and, as such, I have to be able to write on whatever topic is called for.
My 2 Centavos Worth focuses on TV shows, celebrities and what's hot on the web. It's entertaining for me, too, in that I get to keep abreast of the entertainment industry.
My Earn Global blog was initially meant to support and drive more traffic to my affiliate business with Global Domains International. Well, the business was a failure but I decided to keep my blog and focus it on various home based web businesses instead.
Earn Global will be closely related to Manila Mom in subject matter although this blog will be more personal and more reflective of my own journey while the other will be more of a review of what's out there.
Finally, there's Credit Ability, my most "calculated" experiment. It is meant to test whether a blog on supposedly highly-searched and highly-paid keywords will succeed.
So there you have it. These are my rationalizations for being a blogaholic.
Wait, I forgot - making this an income-generating attempt also rationalizes the time I spend surfing :-) Now I can call it research!
Technorati tags: e-gold, make money online, work at home, money, writing, work, blog, blogs, blogging, weblog
Online money-making opportunities you can join for FREE: e-gold / SFI / AGLOCO / MyLot / No-Minimum.com / Paid Forum
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Trying to Earn Global Online from the Philippines: Cutting My Losses in Affiliate Marketing
At around 3 a.m. today (Manila time) I discontinued my affiliation with Global Domains International.
I joined as an affiliate sometime in August last year, taking advantage of the week-long free trial. Near the end of that week I found out that in order to opt out I would have to call a certain number long-distance, Monday to Friday 9 to 5 Pacific time. That meant between 1 to 9 am Manila time.
I did not opt out immediately. The $10 a month charge seemed reasonable considering that it came with a domain name of my choosing and a free website with web-building tools provided and a ready-made business selling GDI memberships.
It was not as easy as it seemed, though.
The initial come-on said no selling, but I was expected to keep sending emails to relatives, friends and acquaintances inviting them to GDI. I wasn't keen on doing so.
The website was there but even with their web-building tools there was not much I could do with it. I don't know html and couldn't improve on it. Even to my own eyes, the resulting site looked unappealing despite my best efforts at putting in what I thought was good content pitching the business.
I also did not know how to drive traffic to the site, perhaps because I felt lukewarm about it in the first place.
In the end it just stayed there online, unnoticed, while I continued to pay for it. It just got a few visits after I linked to it in my recently-opened blogs and at MyBlogLog. Still, no takers for the GDI business I was pushing. Not even in the links in my other blogs.
I know, I know. This is all my fault. There's no one I can blame for it, not even GDI. I'm sure it's true that there are a lot of people out there earning from the business.
It just wasn't the right fit.
I know now that the only kind of business or money-making venture I can succeed in is something that I'm comfortable with or, better yet, something I'm passionate about.
My goodness, I know this already. Why do you think I stuck to freelance writing and romance writing despite the fact that I could have been more secure employed? I chose my passion, that's why. And it has supported me through the years.
So trying to force myself to make a go of the GDI business was really a stretch and I should have seen it earlier.
Well, I lost $90 before I woke up and let go of the dream. It wasn't me so it wasn't for me. I had to cut my losses.
Now I have that figure to target initially for my new blogs. I hope they make up for what I lost, and then LOTS more! :-)
I'm also feeling my way here. Will my passion for writing also translate into success in this medium? There's so much more I have to learn still beyond content. There's also the technical side and networking.
I gave up on GDI already but I'm not giving up on blogging anytime soon. I hope my visitors don't give up on me, too.
Technorati tags: e-gold, make money online, work at home, money, writing, work
Online money-making opportunities you can join for FREE: e-gold / SFI / AGLOCO / MyLot / No-Minimum.com / Paid Forum
I joined as an affiliate sometime in August last year, taking advantage of the week-long free trial. Near the end of that week I found out that in order to opt out I would have to call a certain number long-distance, Monday to Friday 9 to 5 Pacific time. That meant between 1 to 9 am Manila time.
I did not opt out immediately. The $10 a month charge seemed reasonable considering that it came with a domain name of my choosing and a free website with web-building tools provided and a ready-made business selling GDI memberships.
It was not as easy as it seemed, though.
The initial come-on said no selling, but I was expected to keep sending emails to relatives, friends and acquaintances inviting them to GDI. I wasn't keen on doing so.
The website was there but even with their web-building tools there was not much I could do with it. I don't know html and couldn't improve on it. Even to my own eyes, the resulting site looked unappealing despite my best efforts at putting in what I thought was good content pitching the business.
I also did not know how to drive traffic to the site, perhaps because I felt lukewarm about it in the first place.
In the end it just stayed there online, unnoticed, while I continued to pay for it. It just got a few visits after I linked to it in my recently-opened blogs and at MyBlogLog. Still, no takers for the GDI business I was pushing. Not even in the links in my other blogs.
I know, I know. This is all my fault. There's no one I can blame for it, not even GDI. I'm sure it's true that there are a lot of people out there earning from the business.
It just wasn't the right fit.
I know now that the only kind of business or money-making venture I can succeed in is something that I'm comfortable with or, better yet, something I'm passionate about.
My goodness, I know this already. Why do you think I stuck to freelance writing and romance writing despite the fact that I could have been more secure employed? I chose my passion, that's why. And it has supported me through the years.
So trying to force myself to make a go of the GDI business was really a stretch and I should have seen it earlier.
Well, I lost $90 before I woke up and let go of the dream. It wasn't me so it wasn't for me. I had to cut my losses.
Now I have that figure to target initially for my new blogs. I hope they make up for what I lost, and then LOTS more! :-)
I'm also feeling my way here. Will my passion for writing also translate into success in this medium? There's so much more I have to learn still beyond content. There's also the technical side and networking.
I gave up on GDI already but I'm not giving up on blogging anytime soon. I hope my visitors don't give up on me, too.
Technorati tags: e-gold, make money online, work at home, money, writing, work
Online money-making opportunities you can join for FREE: e-gold / SFI / AGLOCO / MyLot / No-Minimum.com / Paid Forum
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Trying to Earn Global Online from the Philippines: Keeping Ideas Percolating Even Offline
Arghh! This can be really frustrating. Balancing the blogging bug and real life, I mean.
Despite all good intentions to post daily, real life happens, of course, and throws in some unexpected challenges along the way.
There's no contest here. Real life wins. After all, there's no point in having a life online if you don't have a life offline.
It was my mother-in-law's birthday yesterday and we went out to lunch with the family. I told myself I would blog at night. No way would I miss that family lunch.
Then I realized we were taking my eldest daughter to her friend's birthday party that night. It was at Makati - quite far from our place - and it wouldn't be practical to drive back and forth so we decided to wait for her at the mall. I thought the party would end at 10 so I could still have time to blog. It ended at almost midnight. By the time we arrived home I was pooped.
Today I received a text message from one of my major clients in my freelance writing. So I have to go out to their office to pick up my check. (Yey!)
That means I'll have to postpone my posts for my other blogs till we get back.
I'm so worked up by the new inspiration brought on by marhgil's comment on my previous post, though. Do read his Adsense success story and you'll be fired up,too.
Now I have even more ideas cropping up in my head and I'll keep them percolating while I'm offline.
First off, I'm going to heed my good friend's advice for Cafe Romanza. I will be serializing one of my unpublished fantasy romances there. If you'd like to read a Maia Jose Filipino romance novel for free, drop by. I'll start tomorrow.
I'm also itching to continue telling my stories about our askals (mixed breed native dogs) and guinea pigs in 3 Dogs, 3 Pigs & a Family.
As for My 2 Centavos Worth, I find myself mentally tagging everything I read about celebrities and TV shows for possible posting there.
Then, of course,I also keep my eyes open for news on home based web businesses for Earn Global, and on credit issues for Credit Ability.
Blogging means working both online and offline. That's a plus because it means there's no time wasted. Just because you're not pounding the keys doesn't mean you're being unproductive for your blog. The mental work is just as important.
Then again, you really have to make sure you do update your posts as much as you can.
I have to rush off now. See you later, friends!
Technorati tags: e-gold, make money online, work at home, money, writing, work
Online money-making opportunities you can join for FREE: e-gold / SFI / AGLOCO / MyLot / No-Minimum.com / Paid Forum
Despite all good intentions to post daily, real life happens, of course, and throws in some unexpected challenges along the way.
There's no contest here. Real life wins. After all, there's no point in having a life online if you don't have a life offline.
It was my mother-in-law's birthday yesterday and we went out to lunch with the family. I told myself I would blog at night. No way would I miss that family lunch.
Then I realized we were taking my eldest daughter to her friend's birthday party that night. It was at Makati - quite far from our place - and it wouldn't be practical to drive back and forth so we decided to wait for her at the mall. I thought the party would end at 10 so I could still have time to blog. It ended at almost midnight. By the time we arrived home I was pooped.
Today I received a text message from one of my major clients in my freelance writing. So I have to go out to their office to pick up my check. (Yey!)
That means I'll have to postpone my posts for my other blogs till we get back.
I'm so worked up by the new inspiration brought on by marhgil's comment on my previous post, though. Do read his Adsense success story and you'll be fired up,too.
Now I have even more ideas cropping up in my head and I'll keep them percolating while I'm offline.
First off, I'm going to heed my good friend's advice for Cafe Romanza. I will be serializing one of my unpublished fantasy romances there. If you'd like to read a Maia Jose Filipino romance novel for free, drop by. I'll start tomorrow.
I'm also itching to continue telling my stories about our askals (mixed breed native dogs) and guinea pigs in 3 Dogs, 3 Pigs & a Family.
As for My 2 Centavos Worth, I find myself mentally tagging everything I read about celebrities and TV shows for possible posting there.
Then, of course,I also keep my eyes open for news on home based web businesses for Earn Global, and on credit issues for Credit Ability.
Blogging means working both online and offline. That's a plus because it means there's no time wasted. Just because you're not pounding the keys doesn't mean you're being unproductive for your blog. The mental work is just as important.
Then again, you really have to make sure you do update your posts as much as you can.
I have to rush off now. See you later, friends!
Technorati tags: e-gold, make money online, work at home, money, writing, work
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Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Trying to Earn Global Online from the Philippines: Time Management Is Crucial While Working At Home and Problogging
My friend told me I was very brave to put up a third blog. She knew how much work blogging entails.
Indeed, it would be dangerous to over-romanticize working at home freelance and problogging. It's not as easy as it seems to be.
I'm writing this as a cautionary message to those who may have read my post yesterday and are planning to put up multiple blogs, too. Take it one step at a time, especially if you're a newbie. Do one blog first to see how the work impacts your day-to-day lifestyle, and add each new blog one at a time while observing your time schedule.
I am not strictly a newbie at this because I already blogged professionally for several months in 2005-2006. I maintained a blog on business communication for Global Business Watch, and was paid for it. Thus, I have some experience writing a daily blog and everything else it entails. (But I AM a newbie at monetizing my own blog, using Adsense and all the other online money-making ventures.)
I had to stop blogging for Global Business Watch when my Dad got very sick. We focused on his care until he passed away. My Mom got very sick, too, and we are still caring for her.
Yes, blogging does affect real life and vice versa. You need to plan for that and adjust accordingly for unexpected developments, aside of course from having a plan for your usual daily routine.
I am reiterating this also a note to myself. As I mentioned in my post yesterday at Cafe Romanza, I sometimes sit in front of the computer upon waking and then find myself still in my nightclothes by nightfall. Bad, bad, bad habit.
It's so easy to succumb especially if your work station is just there at home. Before you know it, you haven't even had a bath yet, nor breakfast and lunch - perhaps you just have a cup of now-cold coffee on your table - and you're already so immersed in your work that you feel it's impossible to stand up.
We need to make a schedule for ourselves. I promised myself not to even look at the computer until I've bathed, dressed and had a proper breakfast. It would be even better if I could squeeze in some exercise first. (Yeah, right! Good luck to me!)
I'm lucky because the chores are taken care of by our long-time help who are already family. That's a great load off my back.(And one reason why I think I could never live anywhere else but the Philippines, unless I could take them with me.)
Aside from scheduling your time at the computer, you also need to determine how you use that time. Plan ahead for your posts - yes, even while you're away from the keyboard. That way, you already have an idea on what to research on when you sit down to work.
Surfing to get ideas for your day's blog can be very time-consuming. It's such fun to just read on and on, hopping from one site to another, that you could lose sight of your goal and lose focus. Before you know it, you've already lost most of the day, too.
I find that it's better to write my posts first before answering my email and bloghopping for networking and advance research on future posts. That way, I make sure that the primary work for the day is done. I also make sure to update my network at MyBlogLog afterwards as this is a major promotion tool.
Yes, it's a lot of work, especially in the startup days when you need to get your rhythm and build your community of readers. It's also important to try to create good work habits at this stage so that you can take off smoothly.
Now if I could just follow my own advice...
Technorati tags: e-gold, make money online, work at home, money, writing, work
Online money-making opportunities you can join for FREE: e-gold / SFI / AGLOCO / MyLot / No-Minimum.com / Paid Forum
Indeed, it would be dangerous to over-romanticize working at home freelance and problogging. It's not as easy as it seems to be.
I'm writing this as a cautionary message to those who may have read my post yesterday and are planning to put up multiple blogs, too. Take it one step at a time, especially if you're a newbie. Do one blog first to see how the work impacts your day-to-day lifestyle, and add each new blog one at a time while observing your time schedule.
I am not strictly a newbie at this because I already blogged professionally for several months in 2005-2006. I maintained a blog on business communication for Global Business Watch, and was paid for it. Thus, I have some experience writing a daily blog and everything else it entails. (But I AM a newbie at monetizing my own blog, using Adsense and all the other online money-making ventures.)
I had to stop blogging for Global Business Watch when my Dad got very sick. We focused on his care until he passed away. My Mom got very sick, too, and we are still caring for her.
Yes, blogging does affect real life and vice versa. You need to plan for that and adjust accordingly for unexpected developments, aside of course from having a plan for your usual daily routine.
I am reiterating this also a note to myself. As I mentioned in my post yesterday at Cafe Romanza, I sometimes sit in front of the computer upon waking and then find myself still in my nightclothes by nightfall. Bad, bad, bad habit.
It's so easy to succumb especially if your work station is just there at home. Before you know it, you haven't even had a bath yet, nor breakfast and lunch - perhaps you just have a cup of now-cold coffee on your table - and you're already so immersed in your work that you feel it's impossible to stand up.
We need to make a schedule for ourselves. I promised myself not to even look at the computer until I've bathed, dressed and had a proper breakfast. It would be even better if I could squeeze in some exercise first. (Yeah, right! Good luck to me!)
I'm lucky because the chores are taken care of by our long-time help who are already family. That's a great load off my back.(And one reason why I think I could never live anywhere else but the Philippines, unless I could take them with me.)
Aside from scheduling your time at the computer, you also need to determine how you use that time. Plan ahead for your posts - yes, even while you're away from the keyboard. That way, you already have an idea on what to research on when you sit down to work.
Surfing to get ideas for your day's blog can be very time-consuming. It's such fun to just read on and on, hopping from one site to another, that you could lose sight of your goal and lose focus. Before you know it, you've already lost most of the day, too.
I find that it's better to write my posts first before answering my email and bloghopping for networking and advance research on future posts. That way, I make sure that the primary work for the day is done. I also make sure to update my network at MyBlogLog afterwards as this is a major promotion tool.
Yes, it's a lot of work, especially in the startup days when you need to get your rhythm and build your community of readers. It's also important to try to create good work habits at this stage so that you can take off smoothly.
Now if I could just follow my own advice...
Technorati tags: e-gold, make money online, work at home, money, writing, work
Online money-making opportunities you can join for FREE: e-gold / SFI / AGLOCO / MyLot / No-Minimum.com / Paid Forum
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