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Blogs and Social Media

In short, Web 2.0 can be described as online user collaboration supported by user-generated content. Hence, the term social networking and social media. A Web 2.0 site typically invites users to create and share something (write and share hotel reviews, share travel trips, add comments to blogs, share bookmarks, share favorites, share photos and videos, etc.) so that other users can benefit from this collective knowledge. It is a fascinating movement, but one gets quickly overwhelmed. Below are a few hand-researched resources that should help you get acquainted and feel comfortable in this space.

Definitions

Best tools for creating blogs

Blogger (by Google)
Fantastic service, loaded with features, ability to streamline AdSense ads and many other perks. Everything is totally free.

Wordpress.org
Create a nice-looking blog with fancy features in less than 2 minutes, absolutely no technical skills required, everything is free, including hosting. Charges apply for advanced features and additional users. External hosting is allowed.

BlogRolling
Add links to your blog as you surf, on the fly, without opening up your HTML template.

Drupal 
An advanced portal with collaborative book, search engines friendly URLs, online help, roles, full content search, site watching, threaded comments, version control, blogging, news aggregator.

Nucleuscms
A powerful blog script featuring multiple blogs, multiple authors, drafts and future posts, bookmarklets.

WebsiteGrader
Check your site rating with Google, Alexa, Technorati and others. Receive basic SEO analysis of your site (note that like with all tools, some entries are questionable).

BlogPatrol
Track your blog stats free of charge.

Best tools for finding blogs

Google blog search

Technorati

Feedster

Blog Digger

StumbleUpon (very cool service, not only for blogs)

Widgets


Weblog and Social Media resources

Weblog and Social Media guides

Most popular syndication feeds

Creating your own syndication feed

Blog and RSS directories (submit your blog or RSS):

Press & News Release Distribution

Create a few paragraphs describing your services and send this information to the outlets below. Your will get fantastic results for under $1000. Make sure your paragraphs are enticing to read, contain your most desired keywords and calls to action. Select those PR outlets that allow you to include images, links and your own anchor text (i.e. link description).

Email newsletter distribution, mailing lists

  • NetAtlantic (very inexpensive)
  • SparkList (more expensive, but still easily affordable)
  • TechOnline (hosted webinars with email promotion, great for technology companies, prices start at $12K, but excellent results)
  • Vizu (create a poll and post it on hundreds of websites, receive answers in real time, $99)

Making money off blogs and writing

Very few people make good money off their blogs. As a rule, you can expect to earn a few hundred dollars per month, and that if you are disciplined and very well organized. Below are a few resources that could help you generate better income, if used collectively and systematically.

  • AdSense
    AdSense allows bloggers to display up to three content-specific "ad units" (boxes that can hold up to four ads each) per page. Free to join.
  • BlogAds
    BlogAds lets you join its database free and set your own ad prices.
  • PayPerPost
    Write posts on your blog and get paid. Your blog must be at least 90 days old and active. Ranking on technorati and Alexa plays a role in how much you will get paid (but not always). You are limited to 2 posts per day. The way the system works puts small blog owners somewhat at disadvantage, as there is huge competition among bloggers.
  • Smorty
    Similar to PayPerPost, but without the 90-day age requirement. No limitation on how many posts per day can be created, but opportunities are nonetheless almost as scarce as with PayPerPost.
  • Blogitvit
    Likewise, create posts on demand and get paid. Bloggers have a higher degree of control over content. Bloggers that have a WordPress blog on their own domain name and must have been around for at least 30 days.
  • ShareASale
    Reputable affiliate distribution program. More than 2000 merchants. There is no charge for Affiliates. There is a charge for Merchants.
  • SponsoredReviews
    With SponsoredReviews, you set your own price. Depending on the size of your readership and the quality of your blog posts, you can earn anywhere from $10 to $1000 per review. If you are a major site, you might be able to get even more.
  • Suite101
    Suite101 is an online magazine for independent journalism and expert advice. This network has over 1900 freelance writers. Apply if you are a freelance writer, non-fiction author, journalism student or knowledge junkies who can publish 10 articles every 3 months.
  • ReviewMe
    Write reviews for cash. Prices range from $60 to $250 and more per review. A typical review is expected to be quite long, roughly 2000 words.
  • AcademicExperts
    Write reviews at $7 per 275 words.
  • SurveySavvy 
    You are paid a flat rate for every survey you complete. Each survey takes between 5 - 15 minutes to complete and the pay is $2. They send you an email every time there is a new available survey.
  • Greenfield Online
    Get paid to share your opinions and participate in easy online surveys. There is a qualification process. Paid surveys are about $4 each. Non-paid surveys get you some benefits as well.
  • SurveyMonster
    Make some extra cash in your spare time doing free paid online surveys. No limit to how many surveys you can take in a day. They also have other programs that you can participate in like paid to read emails, etc. Many surveys here pay $10 each.
  • TikTikCash
    This one is just like Survey Monster but it has more ways you can earn money, such as by playing games. Each survey pays between .35 cents and $4.00. Surveys are really short. Earn about $2 for every person you refer. You get a free $5 just for registering.
  • Panda Research
    Receive Cash for Survey offers, coupons, discounts, Gifts, Rewards and giveaways, targeted to your specific needs based on how you answer our survey. The type and amount of incentive vary from $5 - $35 or more and are based on the type and size of survey and offer, the respondent profile required by the contract. No fees at all. 
  • Text Links Ad
    You will be selling small text ads on your site, split the revenue with them 50-50, deposit earnings directly into your PayPal account.
  • Kontera
    Place contextual links in your posts. Those are the mouse-over boxes with a snapshot overview of the link. They look really nice and not intrusive.
  • Vizu Answers
    Post a poll on your site and earn money every time someone answers. Idea similar to AdSense.
  • Blurb - free self-publishing book software
    Create a professional looking book in a matter of hours. Blurb offers free software that lets you transform your content into a professional looking book in a matter of hours. Pay from $12 to $30 for soft or hardcover printing.
  • There are other companies that help people self-publish. Lulu.com lets people publish books, print on demand and set their own price, but the company takes a commission on books sold (and so does Blurb). Xlibris is more of a traditional publisher in that it charges a fee, pays royalties and provides copyediting and marketing services. Similarly,iUniverse charges fees, pays royalties and offers editing and distribution services. Apple's iPhoto service lets people turn their photos into a book, but it is much more expensive than Blurb and less flexible. Most publishers charge fees and take commission, but there are some that don't. Joffee Publishing does not charge any fees, and it was recommended to us by one of their users. Also, SharedBooklets you convert your online content into a book on demand.
  • Helium
    Write articles and get paid. Best rated articles generate most money.
  • SpiderMetrix
    Complete surveys, earn points, cash points.
  • My Essays
    You can charge up to $25 per essay being a free member, you can charge more than that if you are a paid member.
  • GAF
    GAF is a way to get your freelance services out to the world, there is everything from forum posting to coding, you are sure to find something that suits your talents.
  • Wise Orb
    Write articles for people to read, when they read them you earn. Account are automatically paid out when they reach $100, but you can request smaller payouts.
  • Elance
    Create profile and bid on projects by category (web design, writing, translation, software development, etc). Membership fees apply. Three levels of memberships are available: $8 per months, $80 per month, and $120 per month. We used the services of Elance as a buyer on many occasions and are quite happy with them. Their business processes are very smooth, it costs nothing to post a project and invite service providers to bid on it. Free downloads of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and rights transfer agreements (for content, logo and other graphics) are available. Each service provider is rated by previous customers, so read customer reviews carefully before settling on the final bidder.
  • Guru
    Post your profile free of charge and bid on projects. Deduct 10% for project fees. Purchase membership from $100-200 per year and deduct 5% on project fees.
  • Ifreelancer.com
    Free membership.
  • Ifreelance.com
    Post your profile and bid on projects. Gold Membership is $7.00 per month.
  • Writers.MeetUp
    Join one of the existing groups or create a new one. A good networking and marketing tool.
  • CopyEscape.com
    Type an URL to see if your content has been used elsewhere. Note that you need to check individual pages one by one.
  • PayPal
    Place a donation button, if you feel it is appropriate for your blog.
  • ClickBank
    ClickBank is the Internet's largest digital marketplace, where thousands of the web's most popular products are sold every day. Become an affiliate and resell digital products. Setup is free, fast and you'll have instant access to over 10,000 products with commissions as high as 75%.
  • Work from home
    Extensive list of work-from-home opportunities.
  • LinkShare
  • Commission Junction

Top 25 Web 2.0 sites

Complete list of Top 25 Web 2.0 sites (updated real time)

Marketing Blogs

 

 Free Polls & Surveys

Blog Directory

Cool Web 2.0 Apps

  • http://clipmarks.com/ - you can clip the best parts of web pages
  • http://www.simplifythis.com/  - online invoicing
  • http://www.blinksale.com  - easy online client invoicing, integrated with Basecamp
  • http://www.basecamphq.com/index  - project management app
  • http://www.facebook.com  - social networking platform
  • http://www.viddler.com  - a web application that lets you upload, enhance, and share digital video quickly and easily inside your web browser.
  • http://www.popuri.us  - check your website statistics on Alexa, Google, Technorati - all at once, very neat!
  • http://www.domainlogbook.com  - similar idea to popuri.us, domainlogbook lets you track your domain statistics and performance
  • http://www.ejschart.com  - holy beauty! Javascript Charting application that uses AJAX to create zoomable, clickable, navigable charts.
  • http://synapselife.com/  - collection of 5 sweet and useful apps: People, Calendar, Lists & Ledger, Favorites and Feeds. Account sign ups are free and all the applications are accessible from any mobile device or cell phone.
  • http://www.senduit.com/  - upload your file, send a link to share with others, set expiration time.
  • http://www.slimtimer.com  - easy time tracking and reporting, liberation from time sheets.
  • http://www.snap.com/about/shots.php - appends sleek-looking previews to your links on mouse-over (used on this page). Totally free.
  • http://www.openlaszlo.org/ - an open source platform for creating zero-install web applications with the user interface capabilities of desktop client software. OpenLaszlo programs are written in XML and JavaScript and transparently compiled to Flash and, with OpenLaszlo 4, DHTML. The OpenLaszlo APIs provide animation, layout, data binding, server communication, and declarative UI.  
  • http://www.tripwiser.com - cool trip planning and itinerary building site for U.S. and Canadian travel, AJAX-powered, drag-and-drop scheduling, user-generated shared reviews, expert opinions, interactive online encyclopaedia, online reservations. 
  • http://wikkidapps.com/ - best reviews of cool Web 2.0 apps. 
  • http://mashable.com/ - thorough reviews of social networking sites and tools
  • http://www.webscriptlab.com/ - Ajax loading GIF generator

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