Oh, the excitement...!
There’s no feeling like the first time you receive that strange looking envelope in the mail from Google containing an Adsense check.
I remember the first time it showed up I almost threw the thing in the garbage because it had no explicit mention of Google or any branding what so ever – I opened it up and there was a check for a few hundred dollars. I was pretty shocked!
I received another one yesterday and it just brought me back to that first time and it reminded me to never forget how fortunate I really am in my ability to make a living doing what I love to do!
Receiving one of these checks was one of those significant “moments” where I first realized that I could do this and that if I really dug in I could probably make it. My goal, at that time, was to simply continue to create great content that reached a wide audience and yet remained exceptionally practical – I felt this combination was going to be my ticket to success (as far as I could tell).
That was 4 years ago. It’s been a long road since then and although I’ve learned a lot I’m not even close to being “there” yet!
What have been some of your most significant moments when it comes your journey with blogging? Would love to hear about them!
Some of my most significant moments with blogging have come quite recently with some freelance projects. I’ve been helping some local businesses re-create their online presence and I’ve been using some of your underlying techniques for personal branding. It feels good to help others in an area that I have a lot of interest in. It is also fun because every job I take, I learn something. They push me to think outside the box when it comes to using wordpress in a different way. Excited about the future! My freelance jobs even paid for my new iPad!
that’s awesome! congrats!
i know, seriously!
whoa……….. ipad freelancing FTW!
Yup. Since I don’t have kids yet… that’s where my freelance money gets to go.
hahaha!
I don’t think I’ve had a truly significant moment yet. I’m only a couple months into blogging and I’m still surprised anyone wants to hear me babble on. I’m starting to understand the whole “find your voice” thing but I’m definitely still looking for it. I’m just excited for what’s to come and hopefully it’ll include a significant moment or two.
brad,
have you seen my personas post? where are you on that?
http://tentblogger.com/blogging-personas/
Isn’t it strange how something that is significant for one person can be ordinary for someone else? For me one significant moment came last Friday with the marking of 2 months of daily blogging. I’ve had blogs before but never a daily venture. So the two month mark is significant purely because it’s a personal achievement. To mark the day my post was one about feedback and I asked my community to let me know what they think of the blog so far which was super encouraging!!
rich,
congrats on 2 months!!!!!
Hahaha, i remember getting one of them for my first time
One of my most significant achievements was returning back to blogging after nearly dropping it, a big deal to me. I’ve seen so many people crash and burn around me, so it was amazing to get back up and return to blogging, and still be going strong
peter,
that is so telling as so many people quit and never come back.!
So far my most significant moments have been the community that has been growing up around my blog. There are men and women out there that are interested in what I am saying and are even adding to the conversation.
It is really amazing to me.
I think another big moment has been my first $1 from amazon affiliates. I have gotten a handful of amazon clicks but no buys. A few weeks ago someone bought some stuff on Amazon and it shows I have a little more than a dollars worth of earning. That was a moment that meant more to me than I thought it would. I realize that I might be able to make money doing this.
yeah! that’s awesome. the first dollar is everything… build momentum now!
I am awaiting a one today. DHL will deliver it this afternoon…
haha!
Congratulations John!
I can’t see any adsense on your site? is this from another web property?
yeah. from google RSS feeds ONLY. I don’t use it (yet) for anything else.
You are getting a check from clicks on your Google RSS feed? Are you allowed to say what your Page CTR or Page RPM is for your feed? Do you have any tips for increasing the CTR and RPM in the feed?
My Page RPM for feeds is so low, I tried to drop my feed ads yesterday. I didn’t think they were worth it. The only reason I didn’t drop them was because I couldn’t figure out how… ha ha! But if you are getting a check from Google for your Feed ads, I must be doing something wrong.
i believe i’m not allowed to publicly share those values, per google’s TOS.
DOH!
I just checked your feed in my reader. No google ads to be seen.
my other blogs.
I recall mine from my movie site that I run. It was a pretty large one also. I dug for data on where to place it, how to arrange them, what sizes etc.
It payed off, but it comes with a price for sure.
Ads aren’t my thing but there comes a point that I think they are needed on a site. Just do them well is all we can ask. Or AdBlock here we come!
adblock… boo!
First comment, affiliate sale, and subscriber. Would love to eventually get the Google Adsense check. In time…in time!
in time, for sure!
My first significant moment in my young blogger career was when I won a copy of Standard Theme, on Michael Hyatt’s site! That was a double-fist pump day
… since then I’ve followed your advice to focus on content… writing writing writing… and now I’m praying for something BIG so I can attempt the 3-second handstand in celebration. Thanks for your inspiration John!!
whoa! that’s awesome.
sure thing chris!
My most significant moment was when I was checking web mentions of my site and found a woman pursuing her doctorate sited my blog in her dissertation published online. I was wowed that ruminations from a woman living in a town of population 1,000 had impacted another person studying for her doctorate so much she thought mine worthy of mention. It proved once again that we never know who is watching us, but someone always is; and that we have a Christian responsibility to show Jesus to the world in everything we do.
whoa! that’s pretty neat! i don’t think anyone’s ever cited my blog in their dissertation…. yikes!
My most significant moment was when I (without meaning any harm) mentioned that I didn’t like a particular popular blog. That blogger tweeted about me and sent a whole bunch of traffic to my site, generating some irritated comments. I learned (the hard way) to always be positive. The other cool thing is that the blogger and I had a nice exchange in the comments, apologized to each other and moved on. That moment made me realize that words are powerful and that they are to be used wisely and not flippantly. “Think before you hit publish” is wise advice. Wise indeed.
not sure you have to be always positive… but fair. i try to be fair and if they have issues…. eh. what can you do?
Right, I agree with that. Fair is a better word for sure.
i say “fair” but i typically want to be mean.
I’ve enjoyed being mentioned by some leaders in my field. That’s nice to be recognized by folks with big followings. But I think I’ll like that check an awful lot too!
hehe. being recognized is a great feeling for sure!
My most significant moment to date has to be reflecting back on last month (my first official month on Standard Theme). It was a great month and I’m pumped about the community that is building!
awesome! it’s been working out for you?
My most significant moment thus far has been EARNING MY FIRST $$$ AS AN AFFILIATE for the Standard Theme! My goal was to make at least $1 this year from my blog, and I have already surpassed that!
kellen,
congrats! that’s awesome!
got my first Google check this week! $109. Of course I’ve been blogging since 2002 so I don’t want to calculate that hourly rate.
haha! congrats. that’s awesome. it’s just begun…….
My most significant moment in blogging came when I got “let go” from a job for a blog post i had written. It still makes me gun shy when my cursor hovers over the “Publish” button.
WOW!
really? have you written about that?
Yes, but not on my blog. Ha ha. Here is the link:
http://blog.beliefnet.com/omeoflittlefaith/2011/02/conversions-from-senior-pastor.html
wow!
I hope I will receive a Google Check soon as well… Proud of you John!
thanks mikes!
Started my website 7 months ago and got my first comment a few weeks ago – I was SO happy!! And the commenter even tweeted my post (so first tweet ever too!) #WINNING!
wow! you are on a roll!
Wonderfull it might be. Yet to get that.
Thanks
Visit my recent post :
http://manidipa-kitchen.blogspot.in/2012/05/satyamev-jayate-revolution-in-its-way.html
sure thing santanu!
I’m still waiting for my first Google check, but I have raised over $6500 for an upcoming trip to Guatemala where I’ll be able to build a house with funds raised through my blogging community. It took a leap of faith to ask and to boldly set such a high goal, but it has been worth it!
looks good , am waiting for mine