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Aaron Roberts
Washington, DC
Systems Consultant
Information Technology
Fans (10)
Groups (3)

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Aaron Roberts Please fill in the blank: "The moment I [blank] is when I saw an uptick in the number of readers to my blog." It could be something that either got you instant exposure or was responsible for a gradual yet steady increase in readership. My concern is that a year from now I don't want to think if only I had done [blank] a year ago I'd be in a better place with my blog. In short is my lack of followers due to the fact that I'm new and need more time or because I'm not doing [blank].

113 weeks ago

Aaron Roberts: Very thoughtful of you to go into this much detail in sharing your blogging experience! Not only helpful bet really interesting! And like a great ...MoreVery thoughtful of you to go into this much detail in sharing your blogging experience! Not only helpful bet really interesting! And like a great novel in a sequence you left me hanging! What happeded next? Did you make money by advertising to more than pay for server/bandwidth? Did you lose interest or are you still running it? Good stuff!
113 weeks ago
paulmacp: To pay for it and to put a few dollars in my own pocket, I charged for advertising space; banner add placement. I also was also paid (the FCC has ...MoreTo pay for it and to put a few dollars in my own pocket, I charged for advertising space; banner add placement. I also was also paid (the FCC has now made this illegal without disclosure) to endorse and mention products (beer and liqueur) on my blog. I was also provided with free digital equipment (the FCC has also made this illegal without disclosure), that I endorsed. At the time, I never disclosed what I was being paid by anyone. Although the banner adds people may have assumed.

My blogging niche was “older guys participating in the nightlife predominantly ruled by 20ty nothing women”. My blog posts had a voice of a “national geographic narrative of the mating rituals of 30ty something men”. I took pictures, and wrote blog entries. I spoke often about how to find and exploit “woman who had self esteem or daddy issues”. The attitude was “if they are going to do something they are going to regret… why not let that regret be you or me?”. So every week from Wednesday, through Sunday, for 5 years, I went out, took pictures and wrote about my observations of the bar life (http://paulmacp.com/2010/03/some-information-about-me-paulmacp#web). A few pictures can be seen here (http://paulmacp.com/photoblog/browse/ -- when I closed the blog I had well over 3,500 pictures online). My blog was PG-13, I never used profanity or had anything that you would not see in Maxim magazine (NO NUDITY!). That was even my tag line, “welcome to my life, my own version of Maxim magazine”. Although I had a very large warning on the site, the advice given within is not intended to help anyone find every lasting love. My largest demographic was happily married men ages 35 – 45 who lived vicariously through me. The other large demographic was service personnel from Iraq and Afghanistan. I was very vocal in my support of the troops and stance against the war in Iraq, but for the war in Afghanistan… one of my mantra’s on the blog… love the Soldier, hate the War.

I even had a Facebook group of indirect fans called “Men whose wives will not let them hang out with epauly”.

One photo essay I did was to get 100 people (mostly hot women) to hold a sign that said … I support the troops, or we support the troops depending if it was a solo or group shot. I sent a copy of that album to my brother’s unit serving in Iraq (http://paulmacp.com/2010/03/off-topic-why-my-brother-has-trouble-talking...). That photo essay got mentioned on the news (print, TV and magazines). Although I did it for my brother, I got a great deal of exposure for that.

Why did I close it? To be honest I turned 40ty and did not want that site to be my enduring digital legacy. It was fun, but that time in my life was over. I stepped away from the internet (other than on Facebook) for a little over a year. January 1st 2010, I started to plot my return, and here I am with http://paulmacp.com . I launched that site March 1st with a very different focus than epauly.com had. I am still figuring it all out, but that is more or less the theme of my new blog; Social Media and Personal Branding.

113 weeks ago
 
elizabeth How does one who has a job on the internet at home make themselves work a productive day and not make themselves get distracted by things going on at home and/or the limitles internet world. What goes through my mind I don"t think untypical. So what if I spend 30 minutes to an hour looking up worthless info on t internet? 30 minutes turns into 2 hrs and 2 hrs turns into all day? what is wrong w me and how do i get past my tendancy to get easily distracted and my procrastination habits?

113 weeks ago from Productivity & Time-Management

Amy Curley: Just joined and have to say that this same exact issue is haunting me right now...pretty soon my distractions are 2 hours+. Thought I may be ...MoreJust joined and have to say that this same exact issue is haunting me right now...pretty soon my distractions are 2 hours+. Thought I may be getting lazy in my work, but I think the main issue for me is that my work is self-paced, deadlines are soft, and nobody really hold me accountable. I have to hold myself accountable! Get going! See results! Wake up with a mission, and (maybe) load a software that can babysit me. :) Thanks to all of you, I feel that I am not the only one out there! We all have to overcome our brains and stay on task- be thankful that we have flexible jobs and even have a job at all these days. Now I'm getting back to work.
113 weeks ago
Alison Rayner: I think it's great that we can openly talk about the fact that when we work at home it can be a challenge to stay focused. In a traditional ...MoreI think it's great that we can openly talk about the fact that when we work at home it can be a challenge to stay focused. In a traditional workplace there is a lot of pressure from expectations to stay focused and "work" and that if we're not focused we're not productive. I know from myself that I put a lot of pressure on myself to be focused when I'm working at home and the reality is that I too fall prey to distractions of all varieties. I really enjoy the tips & tools that people have been posting. I've checked out a number of them & I think they will really make a difference in my life & productivity. My favs so far: Tungle.me & TeuxDeux. : ) Thanks!
113 weeks ago
 
Stacyann Forrester Does anyone know if there are any copywrite issues when using images from the web on your blog?

114 weeks ago from Blogging Ideas

Anesha Choice: Ok now I have a question, I have a fashion blog and I take pics from online shopping sites showing where to purchase the items along with the ...MoreOk now I have a question, I have a fashion blog and I take pics from online shopping sites showing where to purchase the items along with the pictures I put the website next to it. Is that ok?
112 weeks ago
paulmacp: @Anesha, you are ok ONLY if the originating site gives explicit permission somewhere within their fine print.

Easy thing to do is just ask the ...More
@Anesha, you are ok ONLY if the originating site gives explicit permission somewhere within their fine print.

Easy thing to do is just ask the webmaster of the site. Yes or No?

112 weeks ago
 
JenG Where do you get the pictures for your blog? I know I need more visuals, but don't want to have to take all my own photos (and for my topic, I think it would be hard). I'm envious of the stuff I see on other blogs, so I think I must be missing something easy!

114 weeks ago

Aaron Roberts: I've been taking screenshots from videos then saving them as jpg files. I just posted in Stacy's question about copyright and images (she's in my ...MoreI've been taking screenshots from videos then saving them as jpg files. I just posted in Stacy's question about copyright and images (she's in my fan list) asking if that's ok. You might want to read that. That thread has tons of information and links you might find helpful.
114 weeks ago
paulmacp: From my understanding that is considered derived work and you still need the original copyright holders permission.

Thinking of how a musician ...More
From my understanding that is considered derived work and you still need the original copyright holders permission.

Thinking of how a musician who samples a song to create a new song still requires the original musicians approval.

114 weeks ago
 
Stanley Lee I'm currently in the process of increasing the traffic to my blog. While I have been starting to use Twitter and stocking up multiple blog entries that are ready to be published, what would be your recommendations to improving my blog? What do you think about my blog's theme, readability, photos, content quality, and consistency so far? I am also commenting other blogs that I'm interested in as much as I can. My blog's link is http://bit.ly/dn1bFW. Thanks.

115 weeks ago from Blogging Ideas

John Mattucci: Hey Stan, some immediate changes you could make to improve your website would be to create some hierarchy with your text. The font size of the ...MoreHey Stan, some immediate changes you could make to improve your website would be to create some hierarchy with your text. The font size of the blog article headlines are very close to your paragraph text size. Consider increasing its font size and changing it to a bright colour even (something that suits your theme).

Another immediate change to create some visual interest is replacing your solid background with a graphically interesting one. Check out this cool tutorial for what I'm talking about http://bit.ly/EegO1

115 weeks ago
Stanley Lee: I really appreciate all your comments. I would likely see someone locally and pay the money for improving it (hence it's not really slowing me ...MoreI really appreciate all your comments. I would likely see someone locally and pay the money for improving it (hence it's not really slowing me down, more so on how overwhelmed I am with other things), but I would also learn how to improve some of the things mentioned first as a learning experience. I still couldn't think of a better about page than what I have right now, even though I do see your points about its vagueness and lack of attractiveness.
115 weeks ago
 
Jason H. Parker I'm in the process of starting a blog as I write this. I've blogged before, but never seriously enough to feel 100% confident in the process. What has helped you create, start, and maintain your blog? Your help is appreciated.

117 weeks ago from Blogging Ideas

Penelope Trunk: The best way to get yourself to blog is to keep the bar low at first. Just post anything. Don't worry about traffic, or topic, or genius. Just get ...MoreThe best way to get yourself to blog is to keep the bar low at first. Just post anything. Don't worry about traffic, or topic, or genius. Just get something up there. Invariably, no one is reading anyway, right? The more you post the more confidence you get, and then you can give yourself the advice you're looking for now :)
117 weeks ago
Mehul Kar: The best way to blog is to get involved in real life. After that, it gets ridiculously easy and natural to want to share/reflect on experiences. ...MoreThe best way to blog is to get involved in real life. After that, it gets ridiculously easy and natural to want to share/reflect on experiences. easy to let yourself get lost in the blogging and forget what drives it though...
-a newb blogger.

117 weeks ago
 
Ryan Paugh Any thoughts on Tiger's speech? What do you think the future holds for him? http://bit.ly/b31KPS

117 weeks ago from Golf, Fit Freaks and Women in Sports1 more

Aaron Roberts: I think Tiger Woods will be fine. He just has to get adjusted to life without a squeeky clean image and accept being human, and his fans will ...MoreI think Tiger Woods will be fine. He just has to get adjusted to life without a squeeky clean image and accept being human, and his fans will accept that also. Some of the greatest folk heroes are ones who messed up and bounced back once they got back.
117 weeks ago
Ryan Paugh: Aaron, I hope that you are right. Just looks at Robert Downey, Jr. His career as an actor has never been more vibrant. Tiger has done some pretty ...MoreAaron, I hope that you are right. Just looks at Robert Downey, Jr. His career as an actor has never been more vibrant. Tiger has done some pretty heinous things, but I still respect him as a pro athlete and hope he can change his life and eventually bounce back.
117 weeks ago
 
Keely Myres Hey all, I started this new fitness project to get myself as close to my old gymnast body as I can. I'm blogging about it as I go and I'd love to hear your tips and opinions! http://www.theexgymnastbody.wordpress.com. Thanks!

124 weeks ago from Fit Freaks

Scott Asai: @ Tim, I appreciate your suggestion. I am going to check it out!
118 weeks ago
Aaron Roberts: Love your blog! Best of luck!!
118 weeks ago

Groups (3)

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Fans (10)

paulmacp
Annabel Candy
Scott Rossow
de Pace
Scott Asai
Eric King
Neeraj Bhushan
linda
Anesha Choice
Ryan Paugh

Following (10)

paulmacp
Stacyann  Forrester
Scott Asai
Matthew Everett
Raven Moore
Elisa Doucette
Annabel Candy
Susan Johnston
Meg Roberts
JenG