Technorati

Other marketing strategies include using blogging services such ast Technorati, this post is the post to enrol this blog into technorati.
Technorati Profile

This post will serve to update my technorati profile.

Real Estate Directory

The BaldyDog, LLC network of sites is growing. We are gaining knowleged and adding sites to include directories, stores, and blogs. Our newest sites include:

• http://realtyreferenceonline.com/ which is a real estate niche directory.
• http://www.medicaldirectoryonline.com/ which is a medical niche directory.
• http://mymesotheliomablog.wordpress.com/ a mesothelioma blog

In addition to these, each directory will also have a blog associated with it that will be used to write site reviews for the featured directory submissions. These however are still in development, but links will be posted for them at the appropriate time.

Pixelheadonline.com

The original idea for pixelheadonline came originated around the time of the post Network of Sites: Body Billboards Business Plan , were I talked about the idea of a site that has my head on it and sells pixel advertising on jpg of my head. This site is the beginning of this idea.
First, we are starting with a generic directory. We are starting with an animated gif of my head. Lizzie did a great job of it. Some ideas I have for the gif are to have it go from young to old or just rotate silly faces after each rotation.
Currently, we are working on getting the directory built, then submitting links to it. We also need to change the submission format. I was thinking about 4 submission methods. Free, express, reciprocal, and featured.
The prices would start out really low, but would have incremental increases as the submissions increase.
With the Featured I am thinking of in addition to having a sponsored listing, also giving a site review in the pixelheadonline blog.

Mushroom Soil

Mushroom soil has long been an item that I had thought about selling on online. I had thought that selling it by the bag would be a good venture to get into. It is a great way to add nutrients to a garden or to top dress a large area. It can even be used as mulch. Its richness requires that it be mixed with regular topsoil so that it does not burn the plant roots. I purchased three buckets and put one on my small 10'x 10' garden, and the results were spectacular. Lizzies' mom who I made the garden for, was thrilled with the results, and asked if I had done anything else to the garden. I have also had one request for a bucket next year. The farmer that I get it from showed me some oversized beets that his wife had grown. Along with that, she has some spectacular flowers.
I would like to do a test auction on ebay to see if there is a market for mushroom soil. I have seen several sites that sell it online, but I believe they sell it at wholesale, and not pacakaged for the regular consumer.

Mushroom Soil Business Details:

• Supply of mushroom soil- this may not be a problem, scarcity means the cost of the soil should be higher, but how much will a gardener pay for mushroom soil?
• Cost of shipping- this will be very costly, and could add drastically to the price. Could just sell locally and require pick up.
• Packaging- trash bags and a scale the easiest, but least professional. Buckets would be great, but the cost of packaging is very high. Sealed bags require the investing of a bag sealer. Could outsource this part of the process, along with shipping(find someone to drop ship it-the supplier)

Networking- related sites that would be able to network with include but not limited to:

• http://farmerjohn.wordpress.com/
• http://firstman2006.wordpress.com/
• Free directories
• gardening blogs
• ehousehub.com

Next step:

Run an Ebay auction.

Affiliate Programs to Develop a Network of Sites.

I had bought calling cards online long ago from a site that I found in the depths of Google, but it was not Cloncom. I had never really compared different sites or their rates. I suspect they are all pretty much the same, with the different options that are availble such as the number of minutes per card, per minute charges, conection fees or no connection fees..etc. Many of the calling card companies also have affiliate programs. I had had an affiliate membership, of which I never earned a dime, but did purchase a number of cards...must not have made the monthly quota you need inorder to get a check.
Most recently though, I have been looking at Cloncom, who is reportedly the largest seller of International Phone Cards on the Internet. This could very well be possible, since Cloncom does have an affiliate program and quite an extensive network of sites, which is one of my goals...hence the blog title.
An affiliate program is a pretty cool thing if you think about it. You have a product and you get other people to sell your stuff by giving them a commision. Which if you think about it, that is what a sales person does, works for commissions. Just an affiliate program is way of getting large numbers of people to sell your cards. Generally affiliates can earn more money by selling more products. The programs have a set type of structure, many of which can resemble a pyramid scheme(which are illegal). The pay structure is where the similiarities end. In my opinion, I love affilate programs, and believe if you want to sell your product affiliate programs are a great way to go for all those involved.

Business Idea | VWbusblog.com

Lizzie had an idea while driving to North Carolina (See Lizzy Bean Blog for the trip weblog. Lizzie's idea was to have a blog for VW buses that we find on line. We then travel the US in search of them, to check them out. Perhaps one day we would actually find one to buy. Of course, we would also need a place to keep it and to work on it. We both owned VW's and know they do take a little work to keep running.
So this blog would be an extension of LizzieBean.com (to come soon).

Body Billboards Business Plan

Body billboards is a growing means of advertising that the average person can partake. This includes:

• tattoos both permanent and temporary
• Body ornamentation(jewelry)
• Clothing (tshirts,bandannas, pants, jackets, hats)

The Plan

1. Website -simple to start pictures of four sides of head to start with website urls on each of four surfaces. Front, back and sides.
2. eBay auction -auction dutch auction with starting price of 250, winning bidder will get choice of sides. No adult sites allowed. Will have tattoo for 30 days with option to extend advertisement.

Would like to be able to advertise on the four spots of my head through out the summer months. A spot would be for 30 day intervals. Could also include my travel intenerary in the auction much like an ebay family auction that I have bookmarked.

The head advertisement would only be short-term marketing strategy to get the site name out there, but would need to push that into the background as a non-emphasized service. I am sure the initial novelty of this type of advertisement if it has not worn off already, will wane in popularity.

Ehousehub.com

Well Lizzie is hard at work with our newest project which is a type of Home improvement portal. This is a site in progress which will be a place for ideas and advice. Along with the http://www.ehousehub.com , there is a home improvement niche directory that was attached, but have since gotten its own domain, http://www.ehomeimprovementdirectory.com/. We did this because we want to submit it to directories, but often times when submitting in a directory, you can not submit subdomains...so ehousehub.com/directory/ would not be acceptable in quite a few directories.
Lizzie has submitted the directory to a few sites. Tried to submit the HUb to a few quality directories, but apparently, it does not have enough original content. Will have to work on that.
Also had another idea...Lizzie should make a whole network of LizzieBean blogs to include her travel blog. hmmm
I think the next blog we come up with should be a weight gain site. LizzieBean may very well be her own portal.

how shall we create a portal

Created this blog, as an ongoing thing so we can keep track of our ideas and get others to add to it. Has something to do with the mastermind philosophy. Although I guess this is a public forum.