Welcome to My Blog Stop!, a freestyle home business and personal blog, curating advice, tips, and information for work at home professionals; and blogging about general subjects of interest, art, entertainment, views and opinions, society and culture, etc. This website complements and supplements multiple WAHM projects grouped together as Cmoneyspinner's Home Business Projects on Facebook. Thanks for visiting!
Despite the fact that Tumblr changed owners more than once and loyal users panicked each time. Despite the fact that David Karp, the creator of Tumblr, left the company at the end of 2017. It's 2018, a brand new year and Tumblr is still here and so far still true to its original mission, that is to be "a place to express yourself, discover yourself, and bond over the stuff you love. It's where your interests connect you with your people." Whew! That was some sweating huh?
Tumblr remains an excellent #blogging, #microblogging and #socialmedia platform. It's very flexible and has many features to make blogging and social sharing easy. It's free to create an account. Use it for #socialnetworking #professionalnetoworking #affiliatemarketing #blogging #microblogging #articlewriting #freelancewriting #workathome #homebusiness #business and as a complement to your blogs on Blogspot or other blogging platforms.
Find a wide range of general info: from #Art to Work at Home Tips ( #tipsandtricks #businessadvice #newbies #newbiebloggers ) to #SocietyandCulture (almost everything except porn and scary stuff like zombies. LOL.)
Everyone knows YouTube is for VLOGGERS. But can YouTube be used for BLOGGERS? That is to say, people do not create and upload videos, but they do write blog posts - can they publish a blog via the YouTube platform?
Several months ago I tested YouTube’s “Create a Post”
feature and got so busy with my other online projects that I totally
forgot it. But in October 2023, I revisited the feature. There are a
lot of PROs.
PROS:
If you like a particular video ~ even though you did not create n upload it ~ rather than leave a comment that might get
buried with all of the other commenters, when you click the Share
button, simply select “Create a Post” and then write your comments
or a detailed blog post.
You can add hashtags, to make it easier for people to find.
I am not a vlogger but you don’t need to be in order to use the “Create
a Post” feature. It’s perfect for bloggers. You can add an image
and then write content just like you do on a blog. Your blog posts
are published via the YouTube platform.
View two examples of how content is displayed when you reshare a
video about a topic you liked OR you added an image and wrote a blog
post.
NOTE: Of course, alternatively when you click the Share button you can share the YT video via Blogger (Blogspot) or Tumblr, and write a detailed blog post. But YouTube has a lot of traffic so why not publish blog posts on that platform as well?
What is your opinion? Do you think
it's a good idea to use YouTube for blogging?
This is
my first Blogger blog and it is likely visitors performing an organic
search via the search engines will land at this blog before they find
links to my other Blogger (Blogspot) blogs. The description for this
blog reads:
Welcome
to My Blog Stop!, a freestyle home business and personal blog,
curating advice, tips, and information for work at home
professionals; and blogging about general subjects of interest, art,
entertainment, views and opinions, society and culture, etc. This
website complements and supplements multiple WAHM projects grouped
together as Cmoneyspinner's Home Business Projects on Facebook.
Thanks for visiting!
The
post archives for My Blog Stop! date back to 2014 and a lot has happened
since then. That being the case, this post is to inform blog
visitors about my multiple WAHM projects and redirect them to my
other fun misadventures in the online world.
My
posts at this blog which mainly discussed blogging and writing and
other advice, tips and tricks for work-at-home professionals were
exported to a new blog called My
Blogging World.
2018
was a good year. 2019 was a better year, except for the month of
December. My
husband passed away. His heart finally gave out of him. I am
blessed to have been married for 4 decades. I carry on because I
know that's what he expects me to do.
So now
it's 2020 and we are in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most
people are staying at home and working at home. For me, there were
no adjustments to be made because I've been working from home since
2007.
My
newest project is publishing a newsletter: T_Fox's
Newsletter. (I'm working on coming up with a more catchy name.
That one sounds kind of drab, huh? LOL.)
There
is a super easy-to-use tool provided by Substack, Inc. You can
create an account free. You can set up your newsletter as a free
subscription or a paid subscription. I set my newsletter up as a
free subscription. My plan IF I get enough subscribers is to charge
a small monthly fee or an annual fee. This
is a long-term plan.
After
all, ever since ad blockers, it has been very difficult to trying to
monetize your websites and blogs. In addition, this health crisis
has totally changed the way everybody does business.
My
short-term plans include continuing with my work-at-home efforts
that are showing some profit. These projects include:
Janice Wald publishes MostlyBlogging.com, a blog which provides excellent tips and advice for the aspiring blogger and work-at-home professional. We met through a Facebook Group and she invited me to submit a guest post. Below is the link to my very first official guest post. Thank you, Ms. Wald, for making me feel like a … SUPERSTAR!! 🌟
"In a matchup of Blogger vs Tumblr, who wins?" Adding my "extras" to this very informative article published by BrandYourself.com, an online reputation management service.
The article writer starts off examining the traffic ranking as a measure of popularity among users and the difference between Tumblr and Blogger, i.e. the intended purpose for the platforms; and ends up by basically saying: “Eh! So what!” In other words, the results of a comparison of popularity and purpose yielded no significant lines in the sand to be drawn, in order for the two to challenge each other and say “I dare you to step over this line!”
Moving on from there, the writer decided to contrast and compare the sign-up process, the dashboard interface, and customization and basically I ended up thinking: “Eh! So what!” (O.o) * The BY article writer concluded that Tumblr is the victor. * My conclusion is that there is no need for a face-off. These two platforms can fit together like a hand in a glove. They're both winners! First, everything stated in the BY article is spot on. It's all true true true. (In my humble opinion and to the best of my knowledge.) Even though our conclusions are worded differently, in essence, we actually both agree.
I just want to add a few "finishing touches" to the contrasts and comparisons that were presented.
Blogger or Blogspot is not an original Google product (i.e. was not developed in-house) and Google clearly does not place a high priority on enhancing and improving it. But that's OK. Because I'm perfectly fine with the platform. I can work with it! So send prayers to the Google tech god and ask that this free and easy-to-use platform not be eliminated from the free set of webmaster tools offered to Google account holders. We have to pray. We know what happened to Google's attempts at creating a social networks before Google Plus. Blogspot is a great platform for newbie bloggers and for experienced bloggers who really know how to “whip it!” (i.e. make good use of it). I've seen some really beautiful blogs published using the Blogspot platform.
Some people may think the Tumblr platform was only started for people who love porn. LOL. I don't know what David Karp had in his mind but I will say that for whatever reason he utilized his creative genius, the final product is an inimitable blogging and microblogging platform that is awesome! Really! I have tried to find Tumblr alternatives and the platforms may come close, but they can not take the place of the original. Alas, Mr. Karp maintained a little bit of control when YAHOO acquired Tumblr but finally in 2017 Karp resigned and turned over the reins to the new management after the company was purchased by Verizon. I have been an active Tumblr user for several years, and even though the company has changed ownership, the platform itself has pretty much remained the same. It can be used for blogging (the same way most people use Blogspot) and for microblogging (the same way most people use Twitter) or both. It is super easy-to-use and there is a Tumblr Help Center, if you have questions. If bloggers cannot find answers, theTumblr Staff can be contacted. So in response to "In a matchup of Blogger vs Tumblr, who wins?", my answer is:
Janice Wald is an award-winning blogger and her areas of expertise are blogging and social media. I follow her blog and I follow her on social media. She is very active on social media and all around the web, and when I see her name, I have to peek! She's simply irresistible. ☺ Her blog, mostlyblogging.com, is loaded with guidance, advice, tips, and tricks, etc. Everything you need for successful blogging. While perusing the Quora Q&A website, I came across her response to a question - "Do You Blog Outside Quora?" - and that led me to the blog post below. (Treasure hunting is always good when you actually find treasure!) I was very interested in reading her review of Virily.com, as I joined this blogging community in June 2017. It's 2018. I'm still there. But I was just wondering if she knew something about the site that I didn't know! So many sites like Virily have come and gone in the blink of an eye! Happy to say that her blog post was very encouraging. Sharing the link to her post and for what it's worth, my additional "two cents" (below the post link). I think this site is a wonderful social blogging community and I would recommend it to anyone, but especially to newbie bloggers. If you're thinking of becoming a blogger and you need to start somewhere to gain experience, start with Virily. Sign up is FREE!
My “Two Cents” About Virily (and the other writing sites): I am currently a very satisfied blogger in the Virily community. Member since June 2017. I was very hesitant to join. Got talked into joining so many communities just like Virily, only to be disappointed. But Virily has been a pleasant surprise. But now I'm like: “Uummm? Should I stay or should I go?” (O.o) LOL. I've been psychologically conditioned by the other sites to expect the site to disappear! But you know what? Right now. It's kind of fun! And it is proving to be profitable. I think sites built using the revenue-sharing business model, i.e. that primarily rely on ad revenues to stay afloat, can survive. Two things are needed. Honest staff and loyal members. Both are absolutely necessary. Sad to say but my experience with other sites has been that the staff or management was not straight up! The members certainly didn't want the site to shut down! That was evident! By contrast, I have found the Virily site owners, staff and management, to be very involved with the daily administration of the site; they respond to their messages promptly; they keep members apprised of significant changes, and they're based in Estonia. ☺ I don't know if that has anything to do with it, but if the folks from Estonia are as nice as these people, that country is now on my Travel and Vaction bucket list. ☺☺ Regards the other sites mentioned, in addition to Virly?
Hubpages was recently acquired and is under new management. My HUBs are articles that are evergreen content and though the earning is slow, I do get paid.
Tried InfoBarrel and Snipsly. Had no success. Do not make your decision based on my experience.
Started with Daily Two Cents when they started and have experienced the changes with this platform. I would recommend joining, although some of my friends did not like it. To each his own. My experience has been good.
Seekyt was great but when the site changed owners, I deleted my content and left. Wish them success though. The site looks lovely.
Virily's publishing module is not just for blogging. You can create quizzes, polls, lists; shared embedded content and videos, as well as write. It is a very lively social community. It's like Facebook, only you can earn extra income for most of your social activity. Just check their FAQ for details. Below are links to some of my posts, supplied as examples to give you an idea of content that is considered acceptable.
Ah well! It's been a year and it's time to revise my revision of my first impression AGAIN! Hey! My first impression was right and I'm sticking to it! Sure the site owners made changes. But they haven't SHUT DOWN! They get an A+++ in my book just for hanging in there! They also get my sincerest thanks because they didn't delete my blog or ask me politely to move on. That is extremely gracious of them. Don't you think so? Currently publishing two blogs via their platform (My Pain, Your Gain and My Shopping Channel) (post feed below); still being allowed to participate in the Google Ad Sense revenue-share plan; and also being allowed to use affiliate referral links and keep 100% of the earned commissions. Also, ever once in a while, they let me share my opinion. ❤
Three years ago during the first week
of the month of April 2014, I was just starting up this blog.
Don't laugh
at me, laugh with me. 🤣
If you view my post ~ MyFirst Blog Post at My Blog Stop! Welcome! ~ you will see that
out of all of my attempts at publishing blogs, only one blog is still
standing as of 2017. Yep yep. All of my Tumblr microblogs took a tumble and went by
the wayside. 😞
If at first you don't succeed … cry
cry cry … and then try try try … again!!
♦
Created a brand new Tumblr account and
started up two microblogs: FoxNet2017 and FoodWays2017. Sharing two
sample posts below.
♦ Kept my membership with the Blogjob
(BJ) community and continued to share advice for newbie bloggers via
My Pain, Your Gain.
Since the BJ community allows more than
one blog, created a second blog for affiliate marketing purposes and
called it My Shopping Channel.
♦ Still maintaining my Google Plus
business page (or brand account), "Home Business Works"; and Google granted
me a custom URL for the page (in place of the numerical ID).
“Express your unique style with a brand new set of Blogger themes. From simple and sleek to fun and funky, there’s a fully customizable theme designed to fit your. Plus, they’re all built to look great on phones, computers and tablets and to load quickly. Check them out: https://goo.gl/vEPpd3 “
Websites, blogging (and vlogging) are an integral part of the Internet landscape. People who were “old school” who did not even want to build websites for their businesses realized that websites are just like an advertisement in the Yellow Pages. So they took the time to create a web page because it was just good business sense.
Remember the Yellow Pages? It was a huge phone directory where you could find names, addresses and phone numbers of businesses. It was a big thick book that everybody used. These days, even the Yellow Pages has a website! You can’t fight progress! ?
Business history trivia: Did you know that the “Walking Fingers” was never trademarked.
Back on point. No sooner than the business person accepts that they need a website, they usually also understand that the next step to complement and supplement their site and to enhance their online reputation and presence on the web, getting the word out to others, is to add on a blog. Why? Well because the “experts” say that the blog shows potential clients or customers that you’re good at what you do since you know how to write about it and can provide tips and advice.
For many businesses and personal bloggers, Blogger or Blogspot, the official Google platform is the preferred publishing platform. If you are a newbie blogger and you are the DIY type (Do It Yourself), Blogspot is a good platform because it provides free templates or themes, gadgets or widgets, allows affiliate advertising, allows Google Ad Sense or Ad Sense alternatives, and the Blogger Team regularly supplies “how to” tips and tricks via its blog or social media accounts.
I have been using the Blogger or Blogspot platform for my home business projects for over 5 years. No doubt the free template I use has been around much longer than that.
On March 20, 2017, the Blogger Team announced that Blogspot has brand new themes.
Whew! What a relief!
It’s a relief that Google is not abandoning its free blogging platform. For a while there was a story being circulated – unofficially – that owning and maintaining this platform did not make good business sense, it was not profitable, and Google might discontinue it.
What? Glad these rumors have not become reality. I’m not an expert but how I see it: ‘If Google can’t offer a free publishing platform for businesses and wanna be bloggers, what kind of example is that for a tech giant to set for others in the technology world. Really!”
So I spent several hours testing and trying out this new set of blog themes. These new templates are wonderful but …
But in the end, my decision was to stick with the Ethereal theme. It suits my purposes. Would I recommend them to other aspiring bloggers? Yes.
Do you have a blog?
Which blogging platform do you use?
Which theme or template did you choose?
* * Content first published as LiteracyBase.com on March 22, 2017
