I Need Discipline

Posted: 26 Feb 2012 04:13 PM PST

If you are new to blogging and have been doing your research into how to build a successful blog, then you have most likely already encountered one or both of these: WordPress and Blogger. Which platform is best suited to you? In this article I am going to make a comparison between the two (actually three) platforms and distinguish WordPress.com from WordPress.org, so you can get the basics on blogging.

Blogger

Blogger is a free, intuitive, and easy to use Google platform, that allows you to create a blog without spending too much time figuring out how it works. This Google service features a template designer created to simply edit the layouts, fonts and colors of your blog without much knowledge of HTML or CSS and allows you to add a variety of gadgets which can be arranged with the use of a drag-and-drop interface. As it is a Google product it can be easily integrated with many other Google services such as Google Talk, YouTube, Feed burner and Friend Connect; all of these ad-free.

Unfortunately, where resides most of the beauty of Google’s Blogger is also where its weaknesses come to light. First of all, there are not many templates to choose from. The default commenting system can be pretty bad (although solvable by switching to Disqus or Intense Debate) and you can only create a maximum of 10 static pages. In the end, Blogger is simple yet effective: it is limited, yes, but it is easy and by monetising it you can make a little profit for yourself.

WordPress.com

As you may have noticed, WordPress can be found on .com and .org. WordPress.com is different to its .org sister in that it is an Open source software, and has been designed for those who are looking to create a blog with minimum effort. No need to worry about hosting or customisation if they aren’t priority.

Whilst the WordPress.com platform offers a lot more than blogger, there is a downside. It’s not possible at this stage to customise the PHP Source code on your blog. Now if you really require the functionality, there is an upgrade you can purchase that lets you edit the CSS. Further downfalls are the inability to install plugins, javascript or upload your own customised themes. You may also be prone to unwelcome Google advertising.

WordPress.Org

WordPress.org is definitely the way to go if you require full control over your site or blog. You will pay a minimal amount for hosting, but its worth it to keep your blog running well. The beauty of wordpress.org is its flexibilty. There are hundreds of themes to chose from, most of them set up with all the funtionality you need to optimise your blog or site for the search engines. The .org version also offers thousands of addons and plugins, making the design stage interesting and fun, especially for those with little experience. Whilst you will never see unwelcome advertising here, you can, if you choose, decide to monetise your blog yourself. This can make for a handy income if done cleverly. The only advice I have here is back up your files regularly.

Now that you know the basics of each platform, you can hopefully choose the one that suits you best and start your blog or website with confidence. Blogging can be fun but it can also take up a lot of your time, make it easier for yourself and use the platform that can give you what you need.

Matt Beswick runs a web design agency in London, his list of clients includes a new upmarket steak restuarant chain.

How to Make Extra Money

Posted: 26 Feb 2012 04:07 PM PST

People have a lot of advice when it comes to making money. Some go for the “make $900 in a day” ads and others buy shares from the dodgy guy living under the bridge (don’t do it Dan!). I made a different choice after trying and failing and, after quite a few attempts, I started leaning toward the idea of working with stocks and shares.

The thing that I did learn from all of my money making schemes is that there are some guidelines you should follow, and hopefully my advice will save you from wasted time and unnecessary hardships.

Strengths and Weaknesses

If you want to make some money you shouldn’t make the mistakes I did. Do some great soul searching to determine what your weak points and strong points are. Doesn’t sound like much but this exercise will help you determine whether you are likely to succeed at making extra cash on the side or not.

When you know your strong and weak points you will be able to narrow down the type of job or opportunity you should invest in.

Research

Before starting with your side business or money making scheme, be sure to read and do some research. You should know what you are getting yourself into and what will be expected from you. Take classes if you need to gain extra skills and practice every turn you get to improve what you want to do.

Enjoy it!

I have seen people and myself lose interest after a few days of throwing themselves into their project to make more money. That’s why steps one and two are so important – to determine if you are going to enjoy the work you will be going into.

Time Management

The last tip I want to give is that you need to sit down and schedule when you will be working on this project. You’ll get out what you put into your project but don’t burn yourself out, make some time for yourself to relax and set aside time for friends and family. Nobody wants to be rich and have no friends in the end – real friends anyway.

As for me, I went through my trials and tribulations to get to where I am today. You don’t get rich quick unless you design a social media giant and sell it for millions, marry Donald trump or win the lotto. Put your back into it and you’ll be surprised how successful you will become, oh and rich!

Ruan Smit is an experienced content writer who enjoys explaining how to create mt4 demo account and also how the real metatrader 4 works for people interested in online forex trading.