Posts Tagged ‘publisher spotlight’
DearBlankPleaseBlank.com was started by Jared Wunsch and Hans Johnson as a hobby while the two were still in undergraduate school. What it has grown into is a collection of websites that also includes IWasteSoMuchTime.com, AttackoftheCute.com, and GrouchyRabbit.com. Collectively they see almost 45 million pageviews per month!
Lijit sat down with Jared Wunsch to find out some of his tricks of the trade. Read on to see what he has to say…
Q: What was your original goal for DearBlankPleaseBlank.com?
A: We were just two kids in college who liked technology and wanted to create stuff online for fun. We took an “if you build it they will come” philosophy and because we didn’t build the site to make money, we designed it exactly how we wanted to without an ad-focused layout in mind. I think that’s part of why we’ve been able to build such an audience… because they see that we’re truly authentic.
Q: You started DearBlankPleaseBlank.com less than two years ago, and have now grown into four sites with a pretty impressive readership! How were you able to grow your traffic so quickly?
A: We listen to our readers. We spend a lot of time on our sites… learning who our users are, what their demographic is, and the kind of content they want to engage with. We get to know our users by actively participating in the conversation, providing comments, and taking feedback into account. We also try to keep things current based on what’s going on in the world. All of this has allowed us to build a pretty strong community that keeps coming back for more.
How to turn your hobby into a business: lessons learned from Lijit publisher Kurt Kohlstedt
Sep 13th
Longtime Lijit publisher Kurt Kohlstedt is the Founder and Executive Editor of Webist Publishing and Misnamed Media. His collection of sites include WebUrbanist, WebEcoist, Dornob, and Gajitz – which each have their own theme relating to creative, innovative, and sustainable art, architecture, and design.
Kurt is the quintessential mid-size Lijit publisher who has used online advertising to successfully transition his hobby into a business. Read on to learn how Kurt got his start and how he built his business using analytics and online advertising.
How did you get your start in the world of online publishing?
I was finishing my graduate degree in architecture and slowly began to realize that I was equally interested (if not more) in writing about design as I was in becoming an architecture professional. It was at that point I decided to give online publishing a shot as a full-time career. I built an audience by testing out various topics and found a nice balance between what I liked to write about and what people liked to read. I launched my first site, WebUrbanist, in the middle of 2007.
Tags: ads, Lijit Advertising Services, Lijit publishers, lijit stats, publisher spotlight, publishers | View Comments
Just a few short years ago we watched as the publishing industry moved from print to online. It was a rough couple years for everyone involved. Publishing shops went out of business and few writers made the successful transition online.
Meet Dave Taylor, the brains behind AskDaveTaylor.com, one of the most well-respected general technology sites on the web. With over 2 million monthly pageviews, Dave Taylor is a one-man shop who calls his office “anything with ‘café’ on the door.”
Read on to find out how Dave made the transition from print to online, and how he turned his Q&A site into a super successful, sustainable business.
What prompted you to start AskDaveTaylor.com?
I have a tech writing background and have written 20 books over the course of my career. People would email me tech questions but the same questions kept popping up. I was spending too much time answering email so in 2003 I built an online forum where I would post an article and people could respond with questions and comments. The process was much more fun, interactive and rewarding.
At that time I was also consulting to help pay the bills. My 2006 New Year’s resolution was to change my business model and start selling my knowledge instead of my time. I spent a year going to Internet conferences and soaking up as much information as I could. From there things just took off.
I began posting more and more introductory level tech stuff and the site turned into a resource for people to learn about the basics – what’s out there, how to use it, and how to troubleshoot.
You’ve built AskDaveTaylor.com into quite a business. How did you grow your readership to over 50,000 people a day?
SEO is a huge focus for me. I’ve read the entire Google Webmaster Toolkit and spend a lot of time on keywords – writing keyword-rich copy, using keyword-rich titles, and including keywords in images and photos. I take referring keyword data and use those words in article titles so that people can find what they’re looking for. Keyword density is also important so I use proper nouns whenever possible (e.g. “iPad”) instead of general terms (e.g. “it”). I try to coincide my articles with tech news so, for example, I’ll write an article on the hot new iPad app when it’s announced in the app store.
I built the readership and then learned how to monetize my site. I’m extremely happy with the progress I’ve made these last few years.
With so much experience in online publishing, what advice do you have for other publishers who are trying to build their site into a business?
When you’re in online publishing, there’s so much data about your site but the analytics are only as useful as the time you spend looking at them. Take, for instance, one of my favorite stats: what are people searching for and not finding on your site? I use that information to develop content that my readers want.
Something else I’ve learned is the importance of staying focused. Develop specific, targeted content on a topic or two versus broad content covering a lot of topics. People will come back once you become their trusted source for information.
Also, stick to a regular publishing schedule and produce the best content you can. I often queue up articles in advance and stagger them to ensure a constant stream of information. Write the way you speak and weave everything into stories to better engage your audience. I even read out loud to see if my articles sound conversational enough!
Lastly, don’t sell yourself. People don’t want to hear a sales pitch, they want to learn about people and interesting topics that relate to them. Be as transparent as you can because that’s how you gain trust and keep readers coming back for more.
How has Lijit helped you in the world of online publishing?
I’ve been using the Lijit search tool for over 3 years and I love that it’s the one thing I never have to pay attention to. Because I’m a one-man shop, I’m constantly trying new things to optimize my site. I’m lucky to have a large enough readership where I can test something and know if it’s working or not within 48 hours.
Lijit gives me the information I need to craft the content that people want. I know what articles people are clicking on and can write follow up articles to keep people on-site and reduce bounce rates… data like that is pure gold.
Mr. Castleberry
I fancy myself a stylish gent to a certain extent. I dress for the occasion meaning I don’t wear t-shirts to black-tie affairs nor do I don tuxedos at beach parties (though few and far between here in Colorado). At any rate, as dapper as I would like to consider myself, it pales in comparison when I peruse the pages of Unabashedly Prep, the brainchild of one Mr. F. E. Castleberry. As the url suggest, the site is an homage the prep look and lifestyle, featuring high-quality photographs of various looks that illicit positive and negative comments. But when you put yourself out there as Castleberry does and be, well, unabashed, as he is about his style, you have to learn to to take the good with the bad… and how to look good doing it.
Without further ado, on behalf of Lijit and myself, a Q&A with F. E. Castleberry:
What initially got you into the world of blogging, etc.?
My previous career as a wedding photographer essentially required that I blog as part of a business strategy to remain relevant.
Your site is definitely geared towards the style-side of life. What got you into fashion?
My mom essentially. Not that my style is anything close to that of my mom’s, but she had her own voice. I picked that up from her at a very young age.
Name a few of your style icons and why:
Sid Mashburn, Ralph Lauren, Michael Bastian, Mark McNairy…they all do the Classic American thing so well yet each put their own twist on it. There are key elements of preppiness in each of their bodies of work.
How do you generate revenue, if you do, off of Unabashedly Prep?
Selling advertising.
Dapper
What are you most proud of both in life and with U.P.?
In life, it would have to be learning to listen to my heart, pursuing what I’m passionate about. With Unabashedly Prep, I am most proud of the tight content curation around the prep aesthetic.
What has been your biggest challenge?
My biggest challenge has been the transition from my wedding photography career to what I’m currently doing now with Unabashedly Prep. Transition can be uncomfortable but is often necessary.
What is the most interesting thing you have learned?
That I actually enjoy writing…and that no one else on earth loves me more than my mom. She is my number one supporter.
The comments on the site can, at times, be a little brash. How do you deal with that and find the motivation to keep going?
I moderate comments in a fashion that keeps the responses on the subject matter. Anything personal I just let roll off my back. You get a pretty thick skin very quickly putting yourself out there for everyone. What drives you has to come from within…it can’t come from a place of seeking the approval of others.
What else besides running U.P. do you like doing? What keeps the lights on?
Spending time with my two sons (introducing them to the fine arts), experiencing live music, playing soccer, photography, and traveling.
What recommendations do you have for other publishers/bloggers/etc?
You get out of your blog what you put into it.
How has Lijit helped you become a more successful publisher?
Lijit has enhanced my readers’ experience when it comes to searching for specific content while presenting them with other relevant content/publishers.
Tags: publisher spotlight | View Comments
Oftentimes, I’m sitting in the office and someone from our Publisher Services team bursts out laughing on a whim. Come to find out, it’s because they’re looking at one of the funniest sites in our network… and trust me, there are a lot of them! It’s Cake Wrecks – an entire site devoted to “when professional cakes go horribly, hilariously wrong.” We sat down with them recently to find out what makes them tick.
What gave you the idea of Cake Wrecks?
The first cake I ever posted on Cake Wrecks, the “cake that started it all,” was actually the inspiration for the whole blog. I friend e-mailed it to me, and a little light bulb went on. I never expected anyone other than a few friends to read it though; Cake Wrecks was supposed to be purely for my “own” amusement. The fact that people soon began finding it and enjoying it and telling their friends about it was simply shocking to me. Good, of course, but shocking!
What is your business model?
Uh… well, to be honest, I don’t think we really have one. The site got so popular that we ran a few ads. Through a lot of research and trial and error, we now work with a lot of great ad providers like Lijit. Everything with Cake Wrecks has been a lot of trial and error, from the site design to the amount of content we post. Mostly I just focus on making the blog as funny and easy to navigate as possible. That’s my only real concern.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Maintaining the daily posting, without a doubt. I set a goal to post every day over two years ago and stuck to it even when John (my husband) was near death in the hospital “on the Cake Wrecks book tour.” Not to toot my own horn, but THAT took serious dedication – and it was one of the worst days of my life. Eventually I started taking some Saturdays off, although about half the time we’ll still post something then, too. Maintaining that pace and consistency has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Like anyone, some days I just don’t feel very funny. Pushing through those times never gets any easier, but the response from the fans makes it worthwhile.
What is the most interesting thing you have learned?
Hmm… well, since I’d never done anything like this before, I’d say most of what I’ve learned has been about the online dynamic. The fact that people online are cruel, and quick to judge, and bore easily. I suppose if you’re cynical you could say ALL people are like that, online or off, but online people can hide behind their screens and say the most outrageous things to you. So I’ve learned that people are surprisingly cruel, and often for no reason. But then again, I’ve also learned that people can be unbelievably kind. When John was in the ER in that hospital, we were stranded in Dallas, Texas for nearly a week. The outpouring of support and offers of help – everything from laundry service to meals – from Cake Wrecks readers was simply staggering. I learned then that a goofy cake blog can actually foster a kind of community. If you’d told me that two years ago, I never would have believed you.
Any recommendations for other publishers?
From the feedback I get from my own readers, I believe that consistent posting and a certain level of transparency – allowing your personality to shine through, no matter what the subject is – are both key. Maintaining your passion is also a must, if only so you don’t burn out and lose the will to blog!
How has Lijit helped you become a better publisher?
To be honest, the Lijit search tool has been a real life-saver for me. The Google search we were using hadn’t worked on Cake Wrecks for almost a year, and we had no way to fix it. Not being about to find old posts that I needed to reference was extremely frustrating. Having such a clean interface now… that works!… is one of those things I’ll never take for granted again.
You may know Molly Erdman from those awesome Sonic commercials or her involvement in the Second City Comedy Troup, but it wasn’t until recently that I found out, thanks 100% to my mom (yes, I am unabashed about that), that Ms. Erdman is the mind behind CatalogLiving.net.
The site, an ode to the absurdity of mail-order catalog presentations, follows the lives of Gary and Elaine, their children and their friends, as they try to cope with why there are so many lemons in that bowl and Gary misunderstanding what Elaine meant by “putting the chairs anywhere.”
Get to know more about Molly Erdman… Continue Reading »
Ouch.
This past weekend, I had the pleasure of visiting sin city itself, Las Vegas, for the first time in my young life. However, I wasn’t there to blow through my life savings ala Clark Griswold in “National Lampoon’s Vegas Vacation,” or to tie the knot with the, uh, “exotic dancer” I met just hours prior. No, my intentions were elsewhere. My eyes and ear and rental car were pointed about 25 miles north of the Vegas strip to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It was there, among the gloriously desolated desert I was to witness a one-of-a-kind car racing event: After Dark – Round 5 of the Formula Drift series of competition.
What’s drifting, you ask? Well if you haven’t seen the second installment of the Fast and the Furious, here’s a little background direct from Wikipedia:
Drifting refers to a driving technique and to a motorsport where the driver intentionally over steers, causing loss of traction in the rear wheels through turns, while maintaining vehicle control and a high exit speed. A car is drifting when the rear slip angle is greater than the front slip angle prior to the corne apex, and the front wheels are pointing in the opposite direction to the turn (e.g. car is turning left, wheels are pointed right or vice versa), and the driver is controlling these factors. As a motor sport, professional drifting competitions are held worldwide.
Hope that clears things up. At any rate, my purpose was to watch these immensely beefed-up cars careen around cones at exponentially high speeds, shooting clouds of tire smoke into the 112 degree desert sky and showering spectators in bits of rubber. Aside from the tents of the various event sponsors, including MotorMavens.com, on of Lijit’s premier publishers, there was little I could do to escape the heat. Read: I was a sweaty mess close to 100% of the time. But what a perfect catalyst to help make said bits of tire stick to my skin, no?
So long, tires.
The event was anything but lackluster. I had the chance to meet the drivers, including Rhys Millen (of the Rod Millen family), Chris Forsberg, Tyler McQuarrie, who took home the gold, and the riotous, Mad Mike Whiddett driving the beastly Mazda RX-8 sponsored by Team Need For Speed and closely tied to a personal favorite site of mine, Speedhunters.com. Further than the drives, I had the pleasure to actually meet, face-to-face, with the heads of Team Need for Speed/Speedhunters and their acclaimed videographer, Will Roegge and photographer, Linhbergh. And isn’t it always better to put a face to a name? I got to do just that, too, when I shook the hand of Antonio, one of the masterminds behind the aforementioned, Motor Mavens.
Hopping from tent to tent, checking out the latest products from leaders in the industry, pounding NOS energy drinks (probably downed close to 4 gallons in two days), handing out Lijit shirts, collecting loads of free swag, I didn’t stop moving from the times the gates opened at 4PM until they closed at around 1:30AM each of the two days. Although I only got to check out the casino in the Golden Nugget, the hotel I called home for the weekend, I am not a big gambler and that side of Vegas wasn’t alluring to me. I did pull the lever on one $1 slot machine. Then I called it a day.
The flags flying high over the Motor Mavens booth.
A rollercoaster weekend of networking, burning rubber, 112 dry heat, over-air conditioned rooms, carnival-style food, meeting some of the best and brightest in the drifting world, rental car radio and my phone dying when I really, REALLY didn’t need it to saw me returning to Denver exhausted, slightly more broke, two lungs filled with tire smoke, and feeling accomplished. Will I be back next year? Heck yes! Will I be trying to attend more local Colorado-based automotive events? YOu better believe it. So, if you see me, feel free to say hey. I may even have a bag of shirts with me if you are lucky.
Tags: industry, Lijit publishers, publisher spotlight | View Comments
Ryan Sawyer manages two main websites, wrapcandy.com and BabyAnimalz.com, in addition to a number of other sites like his personal site, ryansawyer.com. Wrapcandy sells software for creating personalized candy wrappers and party favors. There’s some really cool stuff you can do using wrapcandy so check them out if you’re looking to get a little creative! BabyAnimalz provides light-hearted photos and commentary on baby animals and there’s no better place to go for a little cheering up.
Lijit sat down with Ryan, Lijit publisher extraordinaire, to learn some of his tricks of the trade.
Lijit likes hamburgers and BBQ gatherings. See, we’ve even blogged about it before with one of our favorite publishers, I Can Has Cheezburger and the rest of the epic sites in their Cheezburger network.
With that being said, you can imagine our surprise when we discovered May 28th is National Hamburger Day. That’s right, a day to celebrate the juicy goodness of a hamburger.
It seems that over the past few years, there has been an explosion of crafty folks who have started blogging and sharing their expertise (whether it’s stamping, scrapbooking, painting or general craftiness) in the online space. We’re happy to have seen many of those crafting bloggers sign up with Lijit and are continually amazed at their skills. One that we couldn’t let slip by without further focus is Kelly.
Kelly writes a blog called, appropriately enough, Kreations by Kelly that documents her many crafting experiences. Although she’s become slightly famous for her sock monkey creations, she also makes bracelets, quilts, children’s clothing and best of all, beer koozies. But in addition to being talented in the arts, she’s also a smart cookie. I mean, she’s using Lijit on her blog, after all. Let’s see how blogging has helped Kelly to spread the word of her creations.