» September 29, 2007 in
Notice: This idea has aleady evolved. Learn more hereThe more I think about making 45n5.com pro version the less I envision it as simply paying for more news or tips and the more I envision it as helping other people make money online through providing them great tools.
The goal would be to enable as many people as possible to make more money online, realistically, and of course help me make money online also. Wouldn't it be great to make a living helping people make money online? I think so too.
So as my idea evolves the more and more I'm thinking of a
I want to give people the opportunity to create communities around their blog like I'm doing with 45n5.com
Let me explain why you would want to be part of my yet unnamed network and why i consider the idea unique/great. This is also a picture of a blog network I would consider joining:
1. You Pay ME to be part of the network. Sounds crazy out of the gate, however you will realize the benefit of paying me to be in the network FAR outweighs anything you'll pay and is much less than you'd pay at other blog networks. (plus, good hosting is very expensive)
Most blog networks charge a percentage of EVERYTHING you ever make. The richer you get the richer they get. See how that's a bum deal already, for you anyway.
The price point is undecided but I'm thinking of charging in the range of $50 to $150 per month. In my opinion, You get lots of benefit for that money, let me continue.
2. I'll personally work with you as a "consultant" until you are making at least the monthly fee to be in the network. Once you are at the level where your monthly network fee is paid you are in all profit. Not hand holding, but we'll map out a gameplan and check in every now and then.
3. Custom Blog software. 45n5.com was custom coded by me! It is also turning into a social network platform! You won't be using wordpress, you will be blogging on this blog platform where you can much more easily build a community than using the platform from 2003 called wordpress (yuck).
4. Always updated software - You won't need to worry about doing updates etc. Just blog.
5. Spam management. Spam will be managed at the network level. We hate spam and want you blogging and not dealing with spam.
5. You keep the rights to the content. We don't want your content.
6. We pay the hosting bills.
7. We handle the technical stuff. You just blog.
8. You keep the domain name. You register the domain, we'll do the hosting. Again, I want YOU to be a success. We'll be successful in the process.
9. Top 100 list. Your own top 100 list for your niche. You approve the blogs, we'll host and update it.
10. Niche intelligence reporting. Let's just say that you will know what people are posting about and linking to most in a nice neat report.
Ok so that is just the tip of the iceberg and I hope you can see how valuable it will be to be part of the network.
Yes there will be some drawbacks, like you won't be able to install the flavor of the day plugin or modify your layout every week, plus pay a monthly fee, however the benefits should FAR AND AWAY outweigh anything else.
More is not always better!There will never be more than 10 blogs/networks added to the community at any given time to give those communities the best shot at success.
Also, there will only be ONE blog/community per topic. That's it. No overlapping bloggers competing or echoing each other's posts. We want to build authority sites for each of the communities in the network. (yes there is gray area so current network members can decide yes or no)
Finally!
That is my rough and evolving idea. It won't come to fruition for 2-3 months. But, I'm looking to see who is interested in joining the network and building a community of your own.
Serious Inquiries ONLY.
If you are interested in learning more as details become available, email me the following info
mark @ 45n5.com
1. What topic/niche would you want to write about and start.
2. How long have you already been involved in this topic/niche.
3. How much would you consider as a fair price to pay monthly for this network/services?
Thanks for Looking and look forward to chatting with you more ;-)
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blogstorm () says on September 29, 2007:
Sounds like a good idea. People will pay whatever gives them a positive ROI.45n5 () says on September 29, 2007:
thanks blogstorm. indeed positive roi is a top priority, but i hope EVERY blog community in the network is positive ROI so that isn't something really to base it off of ;-)In fact, I want to work with everyone personally until they get to positive roi. I reckon in that case it's just how quick we want to get there.
remember, I don't want each of these to be just any blog in their community, I want them to be THE blog in their community. so anything from $50 to $150 should be peanuts.
(especially when some people pay $50 or $77 per month just for plr articles, lol)
I'm considering doing the first group of blogs at a discount, to prove the networks value, and then charging full price from there.
Thanks for the comment blogstorm ;-)
Steven () says on September 29, 2007:
No idea if anyone else brought this up but since yesterday (I didn't really check prior to that), your feed has been down. It fails to load in live feed (don't use a RSS reader). Just a heads up45n5 () says on September 29, 2007:
thanks a bunch steven. Unfortunately it's my crappy host, dreamhost, but I'm working on it.http://www.45n5.com/permalink/the-most-reliable-web-host.html
basically if they are down for even a minute when the feedburner bot stops by it messes up my feed until they stop back by. and dreamhost goes unresponsive a bunch
right now I'm leaning towards a vps solution at knownhost.com, but I'm still waiting on responses from a few more hosts.
thanks for the heads up though
BlogsTheme.com says on September 29, 2007
Sounds like an interesting idea. Good luck with it. Making a network of blogs, and also sharing your success with other people is a thing that will be great on a long term.
Steven () says on September 29, 2007:
No prob Mark. Might I suggest going to BlueHost. It's $6.95 a month and they're pretty reliable for the most part. I know you were looking for suggestions a few post back. I left a lengthy comment (or think I did), but I really do think they got what you are looking for in terms of shared servers. Let me know45n5 () says on September 29, 2007:
@steven - I saw the comment and appreciate it. The only thing with bluehost is, as you mentioned, I see more than a few reports of people complaining about "excessive CPU usage"really that is what I'm looking for is cpu ;-) and of course reliability. I can host files on amazon s3 very easy to bandwidth isn't a problem, I need me some cpu.
Thanks for the suggestion though and I should be switching in the next week.
aside: no domains in your profile? http://www.45n5.com/profile.php?who=Steven
redback () says on September 29, 2007:
I like your idea mark. With the thousands of how to make money online blogs popping up your hitting a more hands on niche that will help the person who doesn't have the time to keep up on all the details of monetizing their site and wants to spend more time blogging. I see a market for this. I wish I could have found a service like this a few years ago when I started. Michael says on September 29, 2007
Mark, if you're looking for a reliable host check out MediaTemple. Great host, great support, and if you get a surge of traffic, your account scales to handle it properly.
If you want to help a brother out, shoot me an email and I'll give you my affiliate link =P I don't want to spam your site by putting it in here.
Valentin says on September 30, 2007
Once that would the the way Mark from Georgetown would be available, I`ll be "hosted out".
The most important thing and what makes internet intersting is fact one may find whatever resources want for "fee-free". Building "communities" of paid members for the purpose to ... (each one write here purpose) is not new idea and also proved to not be the way. Because from start "I make money" and "you make money", in a long run, are oposite interests. Works for short term teachings. Big competition also, all gurus running out to grab "followers" ..
Yet for both long and short terms, outthere are alternative with no fees - linkedin, superschool (yet to be lounch, is in beta) and many others, including resources forums.
As for long run, are far more advantages to teach for free 100 people 'how to learn about how to do' than to teach 10,000 people 'how to do'.
WarriorBlog () says on September 30, 2007:
Thats quite an idea man- alway great to come up with new ideas. Probably need money to put it into action. Don't forget to sleep on it!However, I am happily selling affiliate product online...for now :-)
Rahen Mckiin says on September 30, 2007
comment removed by admin. comment was spam. 45n5.
Valentin says on September 30, 2007
@ Rahen Mckiin
wtf, why are you spaming this blog ? You so badly need a pr 5 linkback ? lol ..
45n5 () says on September 30, 2007:
@redback - thanks yeah I think it should go well also@Michael - I'd love to give you the commission but I didn't choose that host ;-( I'll be updating the blog with what I did later today.
@valentin - I do teach for free through this blog and email. Remember though that some people value their time more than their money and WANT to spend money for tools and guidance. I'm happy paying for things that bring me value.
@WarriorBlog - sleep on it? lol, the idea has been evolving in my head for a month or two. I want to start taking action on it now so I'm getting interest. Thanks for the advice though, there are many things I wish I would sleep on first ;-)
michaelmartine () says on September 30, 2007:
Wow, I'm impressed with your original thinking on this, Mark. I don't feel that I need such a service, myself, but everything about it looks good and workable to me. Maybe you should go to a dedicated server if you're gonna be doing this kind of thing.
45n5 () says on September 30, 2007:
Thanks much Micheal. Actual I'm going to a VPS or virtual private server which I'm learning is very much like a dedicated server except I can pay the lower cost now and go dedicated when the resources need it with little to no effort on my part. I'll update my thoughts on hosting in the next post ;-)blogsformoney () says on September 30, 2007:
A very interesting idea. I look forward to hearing how it progresses :-)Redback () says on September 30, 2007:
Mark,One thing to keep in mind with a VPS is security. I have to read up on this more but the advantages of a pure dedicated server should outway the cost difference. Shared servers have been notorious for root kit installs and other vulnerabilities. It only takes one intrusion for you to have your source code compromised and a dulicate 45n5 site pop up over in China. I feel the few extra bucks for a dedicated server are well worth not having anyone else sharing your resources.
I actually caused a shared server to have serious problems a few years ago when I coded an avatar upload script to one of my sites and didn't protect it from exe uploads. We traced the intrusion to a town in China where they uploaded a rootkit using a avatar.jpg.exe script. My entire script and database was compromised and they also placed a PayPal phishing site on the server.
Jeff
45n5 () says on September 30, 2007:
@redback, thanks for the heads up, however why is it more safer to be dedicated than vps? I know of many stories of people on dedicated boxes getting hacked also.I certainly don't want my source code shipped across china though so I will be cautious and ask about these concerns when i move forward. At the moment I'm only going to be running some basic widgets so i will read up about security on VPS before moving forward, thanks.
45n5 () says on September 30, 2007:
@redback - also I'm using cpanel to manage the vps, so far it's been pretty idiot proof.Redback () says on September 30, 2007:
Agreed, i use Cpanel also. Concerning your comment about the vulnerabilities of a dedicated server. I agree that a ded is just as vulnerable, but what I was trying to say is that you will not have to worry about another programmer on the shared server opening up new holes that will effect the entire server, like I did on a shared server a few years ago. Good php validation can stop most attacks, but this is a whole topic on its own. Unfortunately developers like us must put up with these low lifes.
45n5 () says on September 30, 2007:
i see. I get more conscious about php validation every day however a new one to me is optimizing scripts, making sure I don't hit a db more than I need to, etc.Matt Jones says on September 30, 2007
Nice idea Mark. You seem to be becoming more and more of a community builder. I don't see myself as needing the service, but you are a hard worker and I would trust you with my money to get my moneys worth if I did.
45n5 () says on September 30, 2007:
thanks for the kind words matt. Yeah, google can't take a community away from me, that's I'm moving in that direction ;-)meilbeck () says on September 30, 2007:
yeah this is a great idea Mark. You always seem to impress me with the ideas you come up with. I think your very knowledgeable and would definitely be a great person to work with. Million$Dig - Free to Join says on September 30, 2007
Mark, great idea. I am still wondering why are you going for a VPS? I don't like VPS. I once had a VPS for only three weeks and then I dumped it. It is too slow. Too much overhead. I already lease two Windows 2003 servers. One from 1and1 and another from ev1servers (now the Planet). It is always the CPU that will come to bite you. I have learnt that in my 10 years of web experience and another five years prior to that in BB Systems and the Usenet. Anyway intereted in joining your network. You are a straight shooter and I enjoy your postings.
45n5 () says on September 30, 2007:
@milliondig - I am only starting and learning on a vps, as I grow and learn I can move up. I'm a newbie to any hosting beyond shared so I don't want to get in over my head right out of the gate.Glad you enjoyed the blog and glad you took the time to comment ;-) Welcome to 45n5.com
koen () says on October 1, 2007:
Would love it ... if I had the money ;)I think I can learn from your marketing strategies and be able to use your tips 'n tricks and stuff.
45n5 () says on October 1, 2007:
@koen - if you are really serious shoot me an email. I've had more than a few people say the money was the only thing stopping them. Because of this I'm also thinking of offering a traditional revenue split, which means it costs you nothing to join however you give up a cut of your profits.The idea is still evolving but for anybody seriously interested drop me an email, don't let a little bit of money stop you from starting an awesome community around a topic you are interested/passionate about.
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