1.

Types of Blog Posts (via Franklin Bishop at http://franklinbishop.net/5-types-of-blog-posts-for-more-traffic/)

Controversial Posts

This is actually one of my favorite kind of posts and it will sure bring you loads of traffic. There are many different ways to be controversial when writing an article. Having a strong opinion on something is okay even if people do not agree with you. That is basically the point. When you get on topics such as is it professional or not to disclose your online earnings, tell people whether a link is an affiliate link or not, whether it’s okay to photoshop your feeds subscriber count, etc. you’re tapping into controversial topics.

2. Death by Blog Post

The posting of a particularly controversial blog post within the owner’s niche, intended to finally “kill” a blog the owner has either lost interest in, or they believe is not receiving the recognition it deserves.  The decisively controversial blog post is designed to create conflict, make everybody upset, and comfort the blog owner by assuring them they are not 100% responsible for closing their blog. ie: “It’s what everybody wants.”

Akin to “death by cop.”

In no particular order, I am proud of…

IMPOROMPTU STUDIO
www.impromptustudio.com

When I first met Daniel he was just a guy working at the Great Ape Trust making a vending machine for a gorilla.  Next thing I know he is pioneering co-working in Des Moines.  While I haven’t had the opportunity to actually work for any length of time at Impromptu, I want to. The place oozes creativity and energy.

TWEETUP BADGES
www.tweetupbadges.com

When Chris Pirillo came to town, Rich made little badges for those in attendnace with their twitter handle.  This idea grew and became a sub-business of his “day job.”  This is the kind of innovation and keying in on trends that really make me proud to be part of the Des Moines tech community.

SMARTY PIG
www.smartypig.com

Ok, so they outsourced their web site to HappyCog, but they are still an Iowa company. Shortly after launching, their site design was hijacked and the DM community rose to the challenge and helped bring awareness to the infringement, and helped push down the search engine rankings for TrustyPig – the infringer.

BITMETHOD
www.bitmethod.com

Ok, so we’re back to Daniel Shipton again.  Diving this time into app development with Igor Dobrosavljevic and Neil Roberts, BitMethod has released several apps and have several “in the labs.”  They already look top-notch with their products and their site, with a little more staff and time, they could really be an app powerhouse in the area.

ROB JENSEN
twitter.com/jensenrf

I throw Rob into the mix because he has been instrumental in trying to organize big events in the area.  He and Aaron Webb (and others) helped organize one of the first barcamps a few years ago, tried to bring a podcamp here (or did we actually have one?) and understands the value of collaboration with unconferences.

LAVA ROW
www.lavarow.com

Ok, so I give Lava Row a lot of indirect flack.  Mainly because I know founder Nathan T Wright can handle it.  We Ames people have to stick together. When I was hearing about firms out East such as Crayon, there was Nathan starting something similar here in Des Moines.  That deserves a lot of credit.

So there are just a few of my top “nods” to Des Moines companies and people making the tech scene what it is.  If yo aren’t listed, it’s not that I don’t like you or think you are important, its just I had to start with a “top list” and after thinking about it, these bubbled up to the surface.

The great thing about Des Moines tech companies is the variety of services they offer, and the different ways they implement their customer’s needs.

This city has a lot of promise, I hope we can keep moving it forward.

The article I am referring to is this one, announcing the arrival of a new social media firm: One Social Media. With this addition, Des Moines has almost as many social media firms/consultants as the birthplace of social media: Boston.

Whereas Boston has CC Chapman, Chris Brogan, Chris Penn and others, Des Moines now has Lava Row, One Social Media and Catchfire Media – and others.  A lot of others.

What is it about Des Moines that is a breeding ground for so-called Social Media Experts? Is it the corn?  Can the city support three social media firms, and countless wannabes who think they have all the answers?

I don’t think so.   Something has to give.

But more importantly, I want you to look closely at the comparison above.  Notice the names from Boston, then notice the names from Des Moines.  See anything… different?

I do.

CC Chapman, Chris Brogan, Chris Penn.   Bam Bam Bam.  Three powerful names.  If you had those names on a conference (which I was lucky enough to meet all three at Podcamp Boston 2) you would have a great event.  Period.  CC Chapman is presenting at Blogworld this year, I wouldn’t doubt Chris Brogan makes an appearance as well.  Chris Penn is one of the co-founders of Podcamp (along with Chris Brogan.)  There must be something in the water, besides tea, that makes Boston the hub of social media.

Then there’s Des Moines.  With one social media expert per 1,000 population, it remains… stagnant.  Full of inbreeding, and mutual pats on the back, its social media leaders stay close to home, giving lectures to college business classes, attending or throwing tweetups (drink-ups) / and meetups on a local scale.

Boston – takes their leadership in social media to a global scale with big conferences, keynotes around the world, writing books and being leaders in the industry.

Des Moines… you get the drill.

But why is this?  Why can’t Des Moines with its 3 (at least) social media firms, step up into world-wide recognition and first-class status?  The answer is hidden above, but I’ll recap it below in a nice form that can be quoted.

Answer:

The Des Moines social media scene is concerned more with being local leaders than global.  They fight with/over each other to be the definitive “expert” while simultaneously patting each other on the back to make themselves feel good.  They throw tweetups for the sole purpose of getting wasted (no real networking happens there anymore) and care little about what is really going on in the world around them.

The Boston social media scene thinks globally.  They write books.  They give keynotes around the world.  They go to conferences like SXSW to actually network and not to party.  They aren’t trying to one-up each other, they are just trying to move themselves and their businesses forward.  If anything else, they are collaborative and supportive of each other.  Plus they extend that collaboration to others through their blogs, talks, and books.

Maybe that’s the biggest difference.  The Bostonians give back to the social media community, not really looking for their own accolades.  While Des Moines experts seem bent on making a name for themselves any way they can.

And they are.  I just don’t think it’s the names they want.

What do you think?  How can Des Moines hold so many social media “experts” like Boston, but not be known as a hub for social media like Boston is?  Is there a Chris Brogan type “expert” in Des Moines ready to break out and actually be a leader?  Thoughts?

Front Row (L-R):

• Ian Siegel – Chief Product Officer at MyLife.com
• Jim Moloshok – Executive Chairman at GoFish
• Greg ? – Manager, Creative Services at Vantage Media

2nd Row:

• Barbara Bagwell
• Kelly Goto – Principal, founder at gotomedia, inc
• ?
• Bob Martinez-Diamond

Third Row:

• Don Lipper – Content Director at GlobWorld
• Rikk Galvan – Principal at ShareYourself Media, Principal at BIG Games
• Anna Smith
• Anne Hart – Theatrical Legal Affairs -  20th Century Fox
• ?
• Joy Marrs – Senior Director, E-Commerce at Kor Hotel Group

Fourth Row:

• Matt Angorn – VP Creative, American Greetings Interactive
• Julian Forniss – Owner, Studio 43 1/2
• Brad Scherick – Executive Director, KorAge.Us Inc.
• Robert Gonzalez – President Artaste Inc., former VP, Production Operations Disney Online
• Julie Noiman – Chief Operating Officer at createthe group
• Troy Rutter – Senior Developer at Captain Jack Communications, LLC
• Sam Smith – Director Technology, Walt Disney Internet Group
• Tony Masciola
• Rod Su
• Steven Pena – Owner, Steven J. Pena, A Professional Corporation

Fifth Row:

• David Dotson
• Julie Crane(?)
• Suzanne Abramson – SVP, Operations at Schematic
• Jeremy Berg – Executive Producer, Firstborn Multimedia

Back Row:

• Brian Coleman – Director of Mechanical Design at eSolar, Inc.
• Dave Urban
• Tony Rogers – Manager of Data Center Systems at Digital Insight
• Jim Banister – CEO Spectrum, DNA

If you know any of the missing people, or any of the missing info, please let me know.  Thanks! It’s fun to see where everybody is.

Troy

There is only one reason for dabbling in Google Adsense – to make money.  But one of the lessons I have learned from Joel’s experience over the years is this: Products created to genuinely HELP others will make you far richer than those created for a quick buck.

You see, even though Joel created his Adsense Secrets eBook to make money, he also created it to pass on the knowledge he collected to others so they could make money too.  And that eagerness to share and to help others are an important cornerstone of not only his info products, but his entire business at InfoMedia.

There are a lot of rip-offs out there, and people who copy other’s work in order to make a quick buck.  Sometimes you don’t see it until after the purchase, which is unfortunate.  Other times the author’s true motives are apparent from the get-go.

It’s no secret that I have been trying affiliate programs and Adsense for years.  And while I could always use “more money” – it goes beyond that for me.  More money = more funds I can donate to my favorite charities.

That is why I am finally putting my experience to use and will be launching “Twitter for Nonprofits” – a quick start guide to leveraging Twitter for nonprofit organizations.  It should be available here in the next month or so.   I plan to donate 50% of the sales to our local community theater where I am President.

No matter how much (or how little) you make, you can afford to donate to charities in your community.  I hope my Twitter for Nonprofits report is well received, and that it will not only help others, but in turn end up helping our theater.

By the way, Joel is giving away his Adsense Secrets ebook away for free.  Download Yours Here.

That conversation led me to quote one of my favorite Commodore 64 SID tunes (transcribed by Bobbye): Harry Chapin’s “Flowers are Red.”  In the song, a child is told over and over that “flowers are red, green leaves are green.  There’s no need to see flowers any other way than the way they always have been seen.”

Mike Sansone’s eyes perked up, and after a few keystrokes he pulled the following blog post from 2008 up on the screen:

It’s The Way Things Have Always Been

Mike narrates the song along with pictures in a great slideshow.

At Captain Jack Communications, my friend and co-worker Anthony Clifton and I are sometimes seen as wanting to do things the way they have always been.  But in reality, we are constantly trying to find new ways to reinvent ourselves, our business, and bring out the creativity in the office.  The key is never losing focus on the thing you really ARE good at, so you can continue to pay the bills.

Changing a business model that works, in favor of one untested is a pretty stupid thing to do.  But introducing new ideas, techniques, technology, and maybe a few silly-ish thing into the mix can lead to not only a more productive workplace, but a more creative one as well.

With thanks to @jadehandy, @mikesansone, @dmevolve, @thebrandchef, @rhs76 and @clairecelsi

Click here to view the embedded video.

And I do mean every month.  See, before I read Adsense Secrets, I was only making enough on Adsense to get paid every other month, or sometimes every three months.  But after reading Joel’s eBook, I have had a check each and every month for the past year.

Joel and the team at Infomedia Inc. are now releasing The Elevate Blueprint.   This is, quite simply, their own company’s blueprint for success.  They have whittled down the core things that have turned their company from a one-man operation to over 30 employees.   What Joel and his team put into the DVDs is exactly what they do.

From getting that first idea, to launching a product with upsells, to conducting a seminar, the Elevate Blueprint is an intensive course for those trying to get ahead in any business online.

If you act today, you will get $100 off the normal price of the Blueprint.   But act fast, tomorrow the price goes up.

UPDATE: The price is still low – click on the DVDs below to find out more and to order!

Also, come back to troyrutter.com and find how I apply the lessons on the DVDs in creating my own info product and growing my online presence.

My Ed McMachon story takes place in 1997 or 1998, I was working for Universal New Media in Burbank at the time, and we were doing “Real Interviews” – typing  up interview questions as Ed McMahon answered them, and also broadcasting in Real Audio.

At the conclusion of the interview, Ed proclaimed, “I give Troy Rutter 4 stars with a bullet!”  Which was a great honor for me, since I always wanted to be on Star Search.   From that one hour long interview, I was able to glean that McMahon was a person of highest integrity, and just a nice person.

Thanks Ed, for the great memory!

Here is the official chat transcript, sadly the audio no longer works;

http://tinyurl.com/l2w2gh

So, I am officially looking for an adsense mentor.

I have read all the books, tried all the programs (for creating VRE, niche sites, etc) and have all the practical knowledge on building web sites, but am missing “something” – I am looking for a mentor to help talk me through making it to the next level of Adsense earnings.

Precisely, I am looking for:

a) a 1-on-1 daily coach available for email and IM communication
b) Someone currently making more than $1,000/mo. in Adsense earnings
c) Someone who preferably has already mentored others into achieving the $1,000/mo or more target
d) Someone who wants a great testimonial if they can help me meet that goal

In return, I will give a great testimonial to the person who helps me meet my goal of $1,000/mo.   I will also “pay it forward” and pass on the knowledge to another, thus carrying on the tradition of the mentor relationship.

In addition, I will promise to donate 15% of my Adsense earnings each month to charitable causes in my community.

I have already asked Joel Comm himself, but I think he is too busy, and that may have been too ambitious.  If you are interested, or know somebody, please direct them to this post and comment to contact me.   Comments are always moderated, so only I will see it.

Won’t you be mine, would you be mine, won’t you be…. my Adsense Mentor?

From 1995-2001 I helped form the Internet.   I can say that with confidence and a bit of humility, but I know that somehow I had an effect on how the Internet grew – and then broke.   You see, during that time I made web pages and web sites because they were FUN.   Remember fun?

You like a certain band – put up a fan site for it.  A certain actor or actress?  I’ll do a page on them too.   TV show?  Movie?   I’ll do a web site for that too.   Hundreds of thousands of hours I spent making web sites just because I liked a particular subject.   And it was fun.

Then the dot com crash.  Suddenly, the web wasn’t fun anymore.  Oh sure, I had created web sites for the #1 online entertainment destination Warner Bros. such as Babylon 5, Third Watch, Drew Carey, Friends, Lois & Clark, La Femme Nikita, Rosie O’Donnell, and others.   But suddenly the landscape changed, and I lost that spark.

Until recently.

A few months ago I put up a fan site for a music group, well more of a show, and it currently ranks in Google higher than their official site so i get a good number of visitors a day without even doing anything.  A month or so ago I dared to put a few Google ads on it, and my earnings sky-rocketed.

It was something I enjoyed, and was a fun distraction from the sites I “have” to work on.

I resurrected a site I had started back in 1996, recoded it to css (it used tables at the time!) and it is again an OK site traffic wise, and I sprinkled a few ads in there which bring in a couple of dollars a day.

Over the past several years I have been reading ebooks after ebooks trying to find the right “pattern” for making money on the Internet via adsense.   Some say “write what you know” and some say “write what’s profitable” and some say “write a little about everything.”   After years of trying everything under the sun, I believe I have finally decided on the definitive answer:

You HAVE to write about what you enjoy or have an interest in.

Credit card consolidation or cancer lawsuits may have high click-through revenue, but you will never gain the trust of your visitors if you don’t have a sincere interest in the subject.

Now all I need is for my hero, Joel Comm, to suggest a real-live mentor for me to continue my adsense learning.   If I don’t hear from him soon, a singing gorilla telegram may just show up at his door.

From this moment on I will continue to do web sites that I need to do, but also will try and do more web sites that I “WANT” to do and that I will have fun doing.   Perhaps that is the magic I have been looking for.