Blog Tech Guy

As I previously mentioned it was coming you should have expected it, but today Blog Mastermind re-opens it’s doors.

In addition to the previous excellent 32 minute Conversion Blogging video that takes you inside his Internet business, Yaro Starak has just released two further videos called How I Make Money Blogging (22 minutes) and Show Me The Money (17 minutes).

Even if you’re not planning on joining, the two Conversion Blogging and How To Make Money Blogging free videos are really worth watching to give you insight into how a blog can become a major source of income for you. There is very little that Yaro doesn’t share with you about his journey and how he makes money online, so from just watching these videos you can learn a lot about what might work best for you. The Show Me The Money video is just proof of how Yaro earns his money, so if you need convincing, take a look.

As most of you know, I am a graduate of Blog Mastermind myself, and that is why I have faith in it and why I promote it. It is the only blogging course I promote, so please let me know any questions you have about it and I would be happy to try to answer them for you.

Blogging is just writing, right? Well partly yes and mostly no. Clients and email subscribers will know that I recommend and promote Yaro Starak’s Blog Mastermind course. Not only because I get some affiliate commission (which I do if you sign up using my link) but also as a graduate of the Blog Mastermind course myself I know the value of what it can teach you. Even if you don’t use my affiliate link I strongly urge you to take a look at the course and see if it’s the right fit for you. Does it fit with your long term blogging plans? The constraints on your time? Your budget?

For those who don’t know, Yaro Starak, is a well-respected blogger and blog trainer who generates a steady $10,000 to $20,000 each and every month.

As part of the re-opening of Blog Mastermind he has released a free video that takes you inside his Internet business, which is based on just one blog.

I’ve watched first video, which is 32 minutes long (grab a drink) and it really is worth your time. The marketing spiel lives up to the content this time, as the video talks about:

- Why blogs are the only Web 2.0 marketing tool you will ever need
- Exactly how Yaro uses his blog to build a MASSIVE email list
- How just a blog can turn you into the No. 1 authority in your market
- What methods Yaro uses to translate his blog into a steady cash-flow stream
- How you can replicate Yaro’s methods using just one blog and get started in minutes

Plus you can sign up for another free video on Income Generation, and access to the excellent free Blog Profits Blueprint PDF report. Even if you simply watch these free videos and read the free report I think you’ll learn a lot. If you’ve got some spare time, why not take a look now.

Just a quick note to those of you wanting to upgrade to Wordpress 2.6. From my testing and reading there are a few issues with some popular plugins not working.

The first is the Google Analytics plugin. You will need to install the latest version, then on the Google Analytics option page you will need to click Reset all settings at the bottom, and then re-enter your UA number and select the options you require. If you use the robots meta plugin and RSS Footer plugin from the same author you will need to do a similar thing.

Secondly the Unique Blog Designs Block Ad plugin does not currently work. A fix will be available very shortly so just hang on a few days if you use this plugin and want to upgrade.

Third, another popular plugin, Popularity Contest, has issues. A fix can be found here.

Look here for a further list of plugins that don’t work with Wordpress 2.6.

Please let me know if you would like to upgrade and have any of these plugins installed.

It’s out and so far during testing I’m impressed. However I will be testing it some more before recommending to all my clients. A quick video below shows you some of the new features.

I love using email to communicate. It makes things instantaneous without being intrusive. It keeps a written record of what has been said, and is easily organized.

I especially love using Gmail, it’s archiving, labeling and search features make it easy to use and easy to find anything that has every been discussed. It even allows you to manage multiple accounts within the same interface.

However a couple of recent “incidents” have led me to question whether it’s always best at times.

Firstly someone contacted me, and I replied promptly as always. Then, after a couple of days I a got another message, the same as the first - always a sign the recipient hasn’t received my email. Checking my reply was sent, and I resent it from a different email address in case my domain was being blocked. Then, again a couple of days later, I received a comment on my blog complaining about my lack of replies. Having no other way to contact the sender other than email, I was actually happy they had left the message! It was quickly sorted out, the emails had been filtered into the recipients spam/junk folder automatically, and they hadn’t checked. All was fine in the end, but things had been delayed a week.

Secondly another client sent me an email for some further work. And then sent me another, and yet didn’t receive a reply. She then sent me an email from my contact form which alarmed me, as she had been worried about why I hadn’t replied. Of course I hadn’t received the emails, but why? The answer rests in Gmail’s virus scanner. All the emails that had been sent had contained a .php attachment. Gmail does not allow executable files or scripts to be sent in email, however the details are a little sketchy. .exe’s are blocked and so are password protected zip files. .php files are not mentioned though seem to be blocked, but not when they’re zipped. There is obviously no notification when an email is blocked (otherwise you would get lots and lots of notifications from spam bots), so I hadn’t known anything is wrong.

Gmail launched in 2004 and is still classed as a BETA - i.e not complete software. Perhaps this shows why?

ACTIONS: My contact form now includes a telephone number / Skype box in case someone wants to provide an alternative contact method. I also check my own spam folder regularly.

So, if I don’t reply to you, send me an email from my contact form with a phone number and explain the problem. I look forward to speaking to you soon!