Blog Funds

Isn’t a rarity nowadays. More and more bloggers have joined ad programs and affiliate programs such as Google Adsense, Amazon Associates, Video Ads (only US) and others out there. I know bloggers who’ve managed to survive via some of these methods but I would like to ask the readers opinion on this. Therefore I’ve set up a simple poll here for all to vote. I’ll run this poll till the end of June. It’d be helpful and beneficial to all if you would kindly ask others to vote on this too. Thanks.

*note:
The options available are mainly targeting Malaysian audiences. And for those who’ve not read my blog before, Disguised Google Adsense meant:

..usage in a manner of disguising it as part of an entry. Preying on click mistakes done by visitors.

Amazon Affiliate

Or Amazon Associates is their very own affiliation program for promoting their products as well as the company. I came about this while surfing another weblog and was actually quite impressed. I can’t compare the impact of this against Adsense since Google has monopolized the online ad campaigns from my opinion.

However, here are my reasons why I might find Amazon Associates better than Adsense:

• Amazon Associates come with an image of the book.
• People always look at books then the price.
• Focused content blogs are like books.
• Don’t have to disguise the ad in an entry.
• Amazon pays by cheque, direct account or gift certificates.

I know a lot of you might not agree with me on how Amazon works better, but would your conscience ever bug you that you’re prying money from the mistakes of your fellow visitors when implementing Adsense? Yes, I know sometimes you can’t be honest in gaining funds but I’d prefer being honest than quiet.

There are different ways of enticing your readers into clicking ads by their own will. For my Amazon ads, I’d maybe title it “My Recommendations” or “Amazon Interests”. To me, that’s promoting as well as trying to be honest whilst gaining funds from my readers. If you’re interested in becoming an Amazon Associate, find out HERE.

In the end, me as a single blogger won’t make a difference in the blogosphere but I’d rather keep on doing good than spoil myself being bad in the future.

Am I a Web Designer?

Or a website designer? As I questioned myself this, I went, “yeah..being a web designer has a different meaning to it?” It’s because a web designer could mean someone who designs/develop something for the web. Still don’t get it? Well, the web which is also known as the Internet has many things that can be designed for it. A website, a CMS, a search engine and others.

When I asked myself again, am I really a web designer? It just hit me, I don’t design/develop applications for online use. So how can I be considered a web designer in real life? My job scope most likely falls into the criteria of a website designer because I design websites that work for the web. Hope everyone could follow me on this.

Now, a web designer as I interpreted above could actual be leaning towards a developer. A person who codes and develops applications for the web. So in other words, a developer is the person designing for the web by producing useful applications for it. A website isn’t qualified as an application because it’s more like a showcase.

What are your views on this?

Mike Moran

Is a freelance illustrator and I think cartoonist at heart. His list of clients range from American Express to Barnes and Noble and others. Now, I’ve most credited nicely designed websites. Well, I have to admit that Mike’s website isn’t the best in terms of design you can find. Not too mention the usage of tables is just yuck!

However, he’s definetely made up for most part of it in his profile page. His intuitive usage of image replacement and his illustrations has simply put a smile on my face and even a laugh of how a simple an idea could’ve been made to entertain me.

And so, I just had to recommend his website right here. Who knows? Maybe in future I might need an illustrator of his talent and style later. Visit his profile page, HERE and don’t forgot to view his illustrations. Cheers.

The Standards

Was once a goal every developer or designer looked in achieving. I remember when I heard about standards, myself and everyone I knew coding in CSS were trying so hard to validate their XHTML. But nowadays, there are discussions of its importance and necessity.

Not all clients know about standards, even usability. Or maybe they do, but they only think of it subconciously. Well, times are changing online and since Forty Media took over The Weekly Standards website from orginally owned B. Adam Howell, they only have one goal with the website.

..we are likely to be featuring some sites that would be considered “not attractive enough” to be featured..

..explores the process of developing a large, well-publicized website using CSS, XHTML, and table-free design, despite all the very real constraints (corporate politics, lack of understanding, tight budgets, etc.) under which these development teams find themselves..

Rather than featuring blogs, personal sites, design portfolios, etc., we’re going to focus on major organizations who have designed (or redesigned) using web standards. We’re going to go behind the scenes and find out how they pulled it off.

Their first review article on the revamp of AT&T is excellent. They even managed to ask CSS Vault creator, Paul Scrivens to talk about his views of the website. And it was good because he was really upfront about it.

Alright, enough of me babbling away. You can visit The Weekly Standards website, HERE. And the website of Benjamin Adam Howell, HERE.