Comments on: Starting a Network of Simple City Guides for Backpackers http://www.nerdynomad.com/2008/10/28/starting-a-network-of-simple-city-guides-for-backpackers/ Backpacking around the world on my income from the internet. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:02:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Nerdy Nomad » An Idea for Partnering with People to Write City Guides http://www.nerdynomad.com/2008/10/28/starting-a-network-of-simple-city-guides-for-backpackers/#comment-35603 Nerdy Nomad » An Idea for Partnering with People to Write City Guides Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:31:37 +0000 http://www.nerdynomad.com/2008/10/28/starting-a-network-of-simple-city-guides-for-backpackers/#comment-35603 [...] I have about 50 domains coming up for renewal this month for various cities that I had planned to add to my ‘Stuck in …’ network of sites. I have since decided to scale back my ambitious plan to about 20 cities. I used Google’s keyword tool to find out which cities had the most searches for my target keyword terms and I was able to weed out some poor choices. I decided to focus my efforts on a handful of cities that I think will work best. [...] [...] I have about 50 domains coming up for renewal this month for various cities that I had planned to add to my ‘Stuck in …’ network of sites. I have since decided to scale back my ambitious plan to about 20 cities. I used Google’s keyword tool to find out which cities had the most searches for my target keyword terms and I was able to weed out some poor choices. I decided to focus my efforts on a handful of cities that I think will work best. [...]

]]> By: Beth Partin http://www.nerdynomad.com/2008/10/28/starting-a-network-of-simple-city-guides-for-backpackers/#comment-22575 Beth Partin Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:22:05 +0000 http://www.nerdynomad.com/2008/10/28/starting-a-network-of-simple-city-guides-for-backpackers/#comment-22575 Is Denver one of the cities you're considering? If so, I'd be interested in writing about it, since I already do. Is Denver one of the cities you’re considering? If so, I’d be interested in writing about it, since I already do.

]]> By: Nerdy Nomad » How to Go about Getting Content for Lots of Sites http://www.nerdynomad.com/2008/10/28/starting-a-network-of-simple-city-guides-for-backpackers/#comment-12802 Nerdy Nomad » How to Go about Getting Content for Lots of Sites Sun, 09 Nov 2008 15:24:44 +0000 http://www.nerdynomad.com/2008/10/28/starting-a-network-of-simple-city-guides-for-backpackers/#comment-12802 [...] As I wrote previously, I will be attempting to start a network of city guide sites and will be looking for people to write for me. It seems to me like there are three ways to go about getting content, each with their own advantages and disadvantages for both myself and the contributor. [...] [...] As I wrote previously, I will be attempting to start a network of city guide sites and will be looking for people to write for me. It seems to me like there are three ways to go about getting content, each with their own advantages and disadvantages for both myself and the contributor. [...]

]]> By: Craig http://www.nerdynomad.com/2008/10/28/starting-a-network-of-simple-city-guides-for-backpackers/#comment-12330 Craig Thu, 06 Nov 2008 06:55:56 +0000 http://www.nerdynomad.com/2008/10/28/starting-a-network-of-simple-city-guides-for-backpackers/#comment-12330 My main goal for the next 12 months is to switch my main income from in-place work to online work. I have several sites that have good traffic but I'm a poor marketer and fail to attract ad clicks. When I see your income figures I know I'm missing something. In any case, I could also be interested in a stuckin... domain or co-operative network. Flick me an email and we'll see if it can work. My main goal for the next 12 months is to switch my main income from in-place work to online work. I have several sites that have good traffic but I’m a poor marketer and fail to attract ad clicks. When I see your income figures I know I’m missing something.

In any case, I could also be interested in a stuckin… domain or co-operative network. Flick me an email and we’ll see if it can work.

]]> By: Kirsty http://www.nerdynomad.com/2008/10/28/starting-a-network-of-simple-city-guides-for-backpackers/#comment-11489 Kirsty Thu, 30 Oct 2008 18:51:50 +0000 http://www.nerdynomad.com/2008/10/28/starting-a-network-of-simple-city-guides-for-backpackers/#comment-11489 That would be great if you could Matt! So what would appeal to you more as compensation for articles of about 1000 words each... payment of about $10 to $15 per piece, the offer of a permanent link (or deep link) to a site of yours, or putting the code for three Adsense blocks on the page for each article to stay permanently? What about the rest of you... which would appeal to you the most? Would anyone else out there be interested in contributing? I've got most major cities outside the US covered. That would be great if you could Matt! So what would appeal to you more as compensation for articles of about 1000 words each… payment of about $10 to $15 per piece, the offer of a permanent link (or deep link) to a site of yours, or putting the code for three Adsense blocks on the page for each article to stay permanently?

What about the rest of you… which would appeal to you the most?

Would anyone else out there be interested in contributing? I’ve got most major cities outside the US covered.

]]> By: Nomadic Matt http://www.nerdynomad.com/2008/10/28/starting-a-network-of-simple-city-guides-for-backpackers/#comment-11475 Nomadic Matt Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:45:08 +0000 http://www.nerdynomad.com/2008/10/28/starting-a-network-of-simple-city-guides-for-backpackers/#comment-11475 well, I will write your bangkok pieces if that helps! well, I will write your bangkok pieces if that helps!

]]> By: Kirsty http://www.nerdynomad.com/2008/10/28/starting-a-network-of-simple-city-guides-for-backpackers/#comment-11474 Kirsty Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:37:55 +0000 http://www.nerdynomad.com/2008/10/28/starting-a-network-of-simple-city-guides-for-backpackers/#comment-11474 Nice idea Philip... I hadn't even thought of that. I'm not sure, starting out, that their Google ads would makes any money at all, that's the only problem. I don't want to seem like I'm promising people money only to see them discouraged because the site doesn't do anything for six months or longer. But then again, if I were to pay a flat rate for an article like $15, once things get going it's reasonable to think that their Adsense blocks will eventually earn more than that. Maybe. I don't think not being in the city is a big problem except for getting photos. With the type of sites they are, I don't need continued interest from the writers. I only need them to get their articles on there and then forget about them and I then I'll do my best to get the site to the top of the SERPs. Mike I thought of that shortly after I registered all of the domains! Oops. I might try that out though as an experiment at some point though. I have a hunch that subdomain keywords don't do as well as having the keyword in the domain bit but it's just another one of those unsubstantiated hunches of mine, so who knows. Neale finding writers hasn't ever been a problem. Craigslist is good, Gumtree works for some places and Couchsurfing too. Plus, if I go down the Adsense route, I'll probably end up hitting up people who run blogs for their cities. Nice idea Philip… I hadn’t even thought of that. I’m not sure, starting out, that their Google ads would makes any money at all, that’s the only problem. I don’t want to seem like I’m promising people money only to see them discouraged because the site doesn’t do anything for six months or longer. But then again, if I were to pay a flat rate for an article like $15, once things get going it’s reasonable to think that their Adsense blocks will eventually earn more than that. Maybe.

I don’t think not being in the city is a big problem except for getting photos. With the type of sites they are, I don’t need continued interest from the writers. I only need them to get their articles on there and then forget about them and I then I’ll do my best to get the site to the top of the SERPs.

Mike I thought of that shortly after I registered all of the domains! Oops. I might try that out though as an experiment at some point though. I have a hunch that subdomain keywords don’t do as well as having the keyword in the domain bit but it’s just another one of those unsubstantiated hunches of mine, so who knows.

Neale finding writers hasn’t ever been a problem. Craigslist is good, Gumtree works for some places and Couchsurfing too. Plus, if I go down the Adsense route, I’ll probably end up hitting up people who run blogs for their cities.

]]> By: Mike http://www.nerdynomad.com/2008/10/28/starting-a-network-of-simple-city-guides-for-backpackers/#comment-11450 Mike Thu, 30 Oct 2008 07:54:43 +0000 http://www.nerdynomad.com/2008/10/28/starting-a-network-of-simple-city-guides-for-backpackers/#comment-11450 Do you think it would be better to register one domain like cityguides.com and having each city a sub-domain? Set up some kind of structure and then you could easily replicate it for all major cities and employ editors on a revenue sharing basis to produce content for that city. Do you think it would be better to register one domain like cityguides.com and having each city a sub-domain?

Set up some kind of structure and then you could easily replicate it for all major cities and employ editors on a revenue sharing basis to produce content for that city.

]]> By: Working Nomad http://www.nerdynomad.com/2008/10/28/starting-a-network-of-simple-city-guides-for-backpackers/#comment-11372 Working Nomad Wed, 29 Oct 2008 05:55:26 +0000 http://www.nerdynomad.com/2008/10/28/starting-a-network-of-simple-city-guides-for-backpackers/#comment-11372 I second Philip's suggestion... Many moons ago I was going to make a website about living in barcelona when I considered staying their for a period of time... I advertised and got a tremendous response, I made it clear in the ad that each contributor would make money from their content added to the site and if they did not have adsense they could use my account and I would set up a seperate channel for them and automatically send off weekly stats and pay them with paypal. Anyway I never stayed in BCN long enough and the point I am making is I think this would work far better if you were in the same city as the writers, otherwise I can see people losing interest with 5c daily clicks and initial small gains... this might not be the case if you supporting them and sharing ideas in person. I second Philip’s suggestion…

Many moons ago I was going to make a website about living in barcelona when I considered staying their for a period of time…

I advertised and got a tremendous response, I made it clear in the ad that each contributor would make money from their content added to the site and if they did not have adsense they could use my account and I would set up a seperate channel for them and automatically send off weekly stats and pay them with paypal.

Anyway I never stayed in BCN long enough and the point I am making is I think this would work far better if you were in the same city as the writers, otherwise I can see people losing interest with 5c daily clicks and initial small gains…

this might not be the case if you supporting them and sharing ideas in person.

]]> By: Neale http://www.nerdynomad.com/2008/10/28/starting-a-network-of-simple-city-guides-for-backpackers/#comment-11358 Neale Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:56:24 +0000 http://www.nerdynomad.com/2008/10/28/starting-a-network-of-simple-city-guides-for-backpackers/#comment-11358 Not sure where i readit but the best I have heard to date is using craigslist if you need local articles will cost you a bit more but worth it. Not sure where i readit but the best I have heard to date is using craigslist if you need local articles will cost you a bit more but worth it.

]]> By: Philip Brewer http://www.nerdynomad.com/2008/10/28/starting-a-network-of-simple-city-guides-for-backpackers/#comment-11337 Philip Brewer Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:24:02 +0000 http://www.nerdynomad.com/2008/10/28/starting-a-network-of-simple-city-guides-for-backpackers/#comment-11337 Here's option that eliminates the need to come up with cash to pay the writers in advance: Put their Google Adsense ads on the pages they write. If their page draws a lot of traffic, they make a tidy sum. Otherwise they make a pittance. Either way, whatever traffic they generate comes to your site and their content serves your customers. This is essentially the model that Wise Bread has been following (although they're planning to change it). I think Vagabondish has been doing something of the same sort of thing. One bonus is that you don't have to work out a mechanism to pay them--Google does that for you. The whole thing depends on the writers having Google Adsense accounts, but many of the writers you'd be considering probably already do, and such accounts are free and easy to set up. Here’s option that eliminates the need to come up with cash to pay the writers in advance: Put their Google Adsense ads on the pages they write. If their page draws a lot of traffic, they make a tidy sum. Otherwise they make a pittance. Either way, whatever traffic they generate comes to your site and their content serves your customers.

This is essentially the model that Wise Bread has been following (although they’re planning to change it). I think Vagabondish has been doing something of the same sort of thing. One bonus is that you don’t have to work out a mechanism to pay them–Google does that for you.

The whole thing depends on the writers having Google Adsense accounts, but many of the writers you’d be considering probably already do, and such accounts are free and easy to set up.

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