I've been on ProgressiveU for over 2 years. That means I've been around for a site update or two. Now I think I've come up with another facet to improve the site and everything it stands for.
Over in the Forums in the Ideas/Suggestions thread I posted my idea for a ProgressiveU podcast. For those of you unfamiliar with the term "podcast", Wikipedia defines it as, "a series of audio or video digital media files which are distributed over the Internet by syndicated download, through Web feeds, to portable media players and personal computers."
The format of the show would include interviews with fellow bloggers, blogging tips, book talks, and soon interviews with authors and other people of progressive merit. I've started assembling contact information for people like Laurie Halse Anderson (author of Speak, among other books), Mark Sanborn (author of The Fred Factor), as well as organizations like The National Alliance to End Homelessness and the Young Adult Library Association.
During my podcasting research, I found this on the iTunes Podcasting FAQ:
"Can I earn money by linking to the iTunes Store?
Yes. You can earn a commission on sales of songs, movies, tv shows and audiobooks purchased by customers who linked to the iTunes Store from your web site — even when your link leads to a free podcast. When you sign up as an iTunes Affiliate, you are given an affiliate tag to embed in your web links. When users click on these links, a session variable is set in their iTunes client application, and anything they purchase in the next 24 hours is credited to your affiliate account. The iTunes Affiliate program is available in select countries."
So ProgressiveU can actually earn something from this. Interesting, huh?
To those I've already contacted: I've PM'd you with the requirements for the interview. I'm conducting these interviews through Skype,which is a free download. I record with another program. All my interviewee needs is a microphone and speakers (or preferably some headphones so we can avoid feedback). They need to let me know what their Skype username is. Then I need to know when they are available and what timezone they live in, because it might get awfully confusing if someone doesn't specify that they live in California, because I'm on Eastern Standard Time.
I mention all this because I don't want to PM someone and have them think I'm a stalker or something. I would understand some apprehension on someone else's part if they get a mysterious PM in their inbox, so I just wanted to clarify this now.
Got an idea to add? Feel free to comment below or PM me. I'm open to any and all suggestions you may have, or any help you want to volunteer.
UPDATE: As of March 17, 2009.
-Check out the logo for the podcast! I'll update this again when the podcast is official and on iTunes.
UPDATE: March 29, 2009
Extra, Extra, Read all about it...or even better, listen to it! Below you'll find a two ways I've posted the podcast. I'm testing some stuff and it seems it's finally working.
First podcast recorded and edited and musicified! Check it out on this page first.
This is a Yahoo player that might...just might...work.
This is a flash player of some sort:
I know, I have to get around to downloading Skype, and getting some headphones, but I am really excited! Its neat to see your ideas coming to fruition.
I am learning about how to make money on the web. It has become a bit of an obsession, since I lost my main job. Good info about Itunes, I hadn't heard of that one yet.
I was thinking too about making ProU more lucrative by implementing some of these tricks, which really do seem to be very easy. I am in the early learning stages though.
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"I know, I have to get around to downloading Skype, and getting some headphones, but I am really excited! Its neat to see your ideas coming to fruition."
Skype shouldn't be too much of a pain to download. Then again if you have dial-up, I have no idea what it might be like. At home I have really slow dial-up and it's just aggravating.
I mention headphones because sometimes without 'em, there'll be an echo and I want to avoid that. I don't want to force you to buy them or anything, so even if you have those earbud earphones--that's fine. As long as you can hear. Or you could borrow a pair from someone...?
"I was thinking too about making ProU more lucrative by implementing some of these tricks, which really do seem to be very easy. I am in the early learning stages though."
What were you thinking of? Similar idea?
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I need some more input from y'all here in this forum topic: A ProgressiveU Radio Show/Podcast
I think this is an idea that can improve the ProgressiveU community.
I am just learning about some tricks to increase traffic to a website of any sort, and pay-per-click types of things.
There is something called Site Build It that seems very interesting. It costs $400/ year, but does everything from HTML stuff to search engine optimization and it tracks hits. It takes of marketing, all kinds of things normally reserved to "teckies," like what Fanaile Essence does. I've read some good reviews by what seem to be credible sources.
They also offer some free classes. I have dozens of ideas of what kind of site I want to build, but I am learning about the "how-to" stuff right now.
http://affiliates.sitesell.com/
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You can track page hits and whatnot through Google Analytics, which is completely free...
~C
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of a profitable website.
I am not looking for free services. i am looking for people who will pay me to link them into my site.
Tracking and traffic only reflect a potential for income for those who choose to take advantage of my service.
the more traffic I have, the more valuable a link on my site is, and the more i will be paid to host other sites.
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Google Analytics is, from what I've seen, is the golden standard right now for tracking. Some other trackers are manipulative, in that they only track and rank the websites that have their link on it.
I do understand what you want. We've been doing this for some time with Google (and prior to that, another, less accurate software package). I'm just giving you a bit of advice.
~C
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It already has a good set up. Obviously, it hosts certain sites and runs ads. It has good traffic, but its not making any money.
I think the secret is marketing. Site Build It says it does it for you. I don't know yet for sure, but I think I am going to try it. If it works, I'll let you know.
I can't remember that guy who was inserting all kinds of links in our blogs, and fallon said it brought in something like $400 in a few days? that is part of what SBI does, which is probably not that hard, but its just one way to make money from a site.
Anyway, I'll keep you posted as I go. I know GoogleAdSearch is the easiest and most basic way to start, but I don't want to bother with learning each and every aspect / opportunity separately. I'd rather get a package that has mined the net for all the tricks.
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Part of the reason we haven't made money historically is because we simply weren't interested in it. We had a few sponsors, and that was enough. We didn't want the site cluttered with ads. Now, that has changed, and we're working on ways to keep the site as we like it while still bringing in that revenue. That's where our difficulty lies.
~C
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and I have known sites that have chosen to be more lucrative, which suffered some because people got irritated with all the ads on the sites. It is a balancing act. Its nice that ProU isn't littered with ads, pop-ups and annoying flashing banners, but if that's what it takes to keep it going, and keep scholarships going, I think its okay.
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Although I really do like the layout of the site and the amount of white space is--to use a highfalutin phrase-- "aesthetically pleasing", but I'd rather a more cluttered site that can fund its scholarship as opposed to a "pretty" site that might struggle to get those needed funds.
And it wouldn't have to be very crowed or overrun with ads. It would only need relevant ads. Ads that interest people mostly in the demographic of 17-20-somethings. Something that can also interest older bloggers as well. I don't know how many times I've seen the ad for the University of Phoenix or San Mateo, but I'm not interested in them because I'm in school already.
Getting a good demographic reading of who's on the site and what interests lie in that overall demographic might help. I'm thinking something like "Netflix" would be more interesting than most. That's a random example, as I'm sure ads that are dealing with education or progress would more likely be used. Why not ads for more schools? Services for students? Sites where students get discounts?
I admit I don't know marketing and profit enough to understand all of this. I don't know if ProgU finds its sponsors or its sponsors find it. I just think maybe relevant ads would help out a bit.