Solar Dragons LLC

Today was a long one. I fooled around with the XML or XHTML code in the Blogger template. I submitted all the blogs to Dmoz.org and Yahoo. The Adsense has already scanned the blogs and are displaying the correct information. I’m wondering how many times I have to mention a certain thing (like XML or XHTML) in order for ads with those program languages to pop up. Adsense automatically keeps track of the hits my blog gets and clicks to each ad. I also went to Wikipedia.org and tried to submit something for Solar Dragons. They won’t let you promote a company. So I had to search out specific topics and put my blogs in there.

24

This blog is for the show ’24’. Google’s blog informed me about TV blogs. They said that your clicks on the blog will dip off when the show is doing reruns but things pick back up during the regular season. Well ‘24’ starts in January, so I started it now to have content ready by January.

Four Star Ball

This blog is for Dragon Ball Z. Even though the series is over, it is still a popular search item through Google. I figured since I’ve seen all the episodes, obsessed about all the characters and know generally everything about it, might as well blog about it. I think this blog is in my favor as well. While searching for various blogs for DBZ, I noticed that people’s attention to their blogs fell off when the season ended on Toonami. That was over a year ago. So I figure I might as well capitalize on that.

My Vs System Life

I haven’t found too many blogs for this tcg/ccg. I know a lot of forums that discuss the game. They of course have their own ad system on them. In my signatures I have my blog for when I play the game, how well I do, what new deck ideas I have, etc. Since the game is based off comic heroes, I noticed the ads are usually for comics and comic related items, not tcg/ccg sites. I’ll have to word things different.

Force Eye View

This one is about Star Wars. I’ve seen the movies more times than I can count. All my family watches Star Wars and can relate to it. I know the extended universe through different novels and video games I’ve read and played. When searching out Star Wars blogs, they fall under the same syndrome as DBZ did. After Episode 3, the blogs trail off. One blog had the Google ads just how I want them. I tinkered with the code for house to no avail.

Two Cards a Day

This is another Vs system blog giving my personal thoughts to two cards every day, Monday through Friday. I’m going to start the blog on Monday but I have already started writing content for it. Once again, I have my blog in my signature on various forums. I think this blog is better because of the specific nature to say ‘Vs System’ a lot in it. The ads get the idea and people are more likely to click on one.

I learned a lot from writing these blogs: Not to be too wordy on the blogs. Anything more than 3 paragraphs is too much. Have a point, say it and close funny if possible.

I have to go to the Grande Prairie Library tomorrow. Here’s hoping something good will come out of it.

I spent the whole day trying to crack the code for Blogger. I had to go line by line, change something, and then click preview to see what happened. I should get an XML book to help figure this stuff out. I’m picking it up fast for someone that doesn’t know XML. The Google Adsense code was easy to work with. I finally have my blogs up. I guess they are the way I want. I can always change the templates but that erases the Adsense code. Of course I’d have to put it back in and then Google would have to come and rescan the pages…

On second thought, is Google revisiting my sight several times a month really that bad? At any rate, I don’t want to waste precious time changing templates when I need to be working on content.

Speaking of content, I saw Vince yesterday. We talked about some changes he wants to his site and to the logo. We also talked about the Google Adsense and that he needs to get his blog started.

Jared called me today while I was working on the XML code. He told me about a library that wants to redesign a section of their website. We also talked about getting some comics started. I have entire universes in my head just waiting to get out. I told him if I did jump on board, I’d just write, not draw. He was cool with that. I also told him about where to go for grants and the small business administration that helps people out with new businesses.

So I called the library and talked to a lady about everything. We talked about how the site looks too lame and she wants to spruce it up for the proper age group. She wants to meet Friday and talk about it. I had some really good ideas about the site off the bat but we’ll get into detail on Friday.

I decreased the amount of blogs I had at first. I think I was biting off more than I could chew. Tomorrow I’ll fool with the code some more, do Vince’s corrections and start writing the content for the blogs.

The past few days I was locked out of my Blogger account. Google bought out Blogger and is telling everyone to move their accounts over to Google for better protection and all that. I thought I had moved the accounts over and something happened to them. So I spent a good portion of last week trying to figure out what was going on. I went to a lot of forums that were saying don’t switch. Google however is saying that everyone will switch whether they want to or not. So I figured out what the problem was and logged back in. So for now, I’m not switching.

I was exploring the world of Google Adsense while I was at it. I think that I can use blogs to make money like everyone else. So I started several blogs and got a Google Adsense account. I finally figured out how to edit the templates and what happens? Blogger is on the fritz. I spent all day yesterday organizing all the blogs, got the Adsense account and what happens? Blogger hiccups. Big time.

I saw Joel Saturday and gave him some business cards. He works for a company that is around auto dealerships a lot. He was telling me that they always want websites and to give him some business cards. Not a problem now. I’m going to make sure that I keep some on me at all times.

I think I’m really upset by how much I learned about Adsense and the testimonials I’ve read. I’m rearing to go so it can be something else to put under my hat and them this happens. Geez.

I apologize for not writing last night a la Doogie Howser. It was late and I was tired. At any rate, I went to RMC yesterday. Finally got something accomplished there! The advisor was in business and understood everything I’m trying to do for Solar Dragons. She is going to suggest I be one of the success stories in the Newsletter they send out to various companies. She was also telling me about all the people that call her who are lawyers and accountants that want a website. She would usually transfer them to someone else. Now she’ll just tell them to call me. In addition to that, RMC has a database that alumni and students are in. They have a file with their resume and career goals in it. In turn, we get access to all the jobs that RMC has on file. Sweet! I can just go through, select the ones I want to call and see if their company needs a website. She gave me all this stuff to read as well, about small businesses in America, in Chicago, etc.

On the train their and back, I rode with Vince because he had to go downtown. We were bouncing a lot of ideas around. Talked about classified ads for our area, pro bloggers and stuff. I thought about the blogging a lot. I started several new blogs that I will most likely write in starting Monday. I’m going to get in contact with Google about putting ads on the sites and see how things go from there.

My wife’s uncle died and the funeral is today, so that respectably cut into my time for work.

I got another heads up about Carl calling for SEO. We’ll see. Peoples checks were bouncing before I left. I don’t see that changing anytime soon, so I cant trust any amount of money he might throw my way for the simple fact that he might not pay. If I work, I better get paid. Period. If I cant trust you to pay me, why are we even talking about it, you know?

I got another heads up that can save me a ton of money. I found out about going online and filling out the forms with the government to get my business license. That was a good looking out since some other people were charging 500$ to do it. Since I am going to be saving all that money, I think I should just pay for a Press Release and go from there.

I remember different shows where the people write in their journal before they go to bed. On ‘Run’s House’ , Doogie Howser and all that jazz, they write after the day is up. So thats what I’m going to do.

I hit craigslist like I said before. I have to go to RMC tomorrow. I still have to find out what’s going on with the press release for my site. I thought this is what would happen. You try to get a deal on a product, in this case, free is a pretty good deal, but the product takes forever to get here. Becky’s friend may be really good for Press Releases but whats the point if they never get out. Roughly 2 weeks have gone by without a Press Release. I could have just coughed up the loot and got it done. I debating if thats what I’m going to do. I think I’ll see what RMC is going to tell me and then figure some things out from there.

I talked to Vince about his site. We are going to Joel’s reception in about a month and want all our stuff in order regarding the website, logos and business cards. So when we go down to Bloomington IN, we can dish cards out. Joel’s father in law is Derek Franklin, so I hope I can meet him and get a couple of heads up about the online business. I’m sure he has a lot to say after all the books he’s written about the web design field.