Affiliate Marketing As A Way to Monetize Your Blog

Online Income Diversification

by
608[?]
in Lifestyle on Jun 8th, 2012
18

Has your blog been penalized by Google for whatever reason?  Are you looking for another, more sustainable (and Google friendly) way to bump up your online income?

Affiliate Marketing Has A So So Reputation

You may want to consider affiliate marketing. Some think affiliate marketing sounds sleazy, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.  If you do it the right way it’s a great avenue to help solve your readers’ problems.  And it’s a legitimate advertising tactic for many mainstream businesses.  Within a few years, I predict it will be very difficult to find a business that doesn’t have affiliate marketing as part of their ad budget (or at least considered it).

But why should you care about affiliate marketing?  Because:

#1- it’s got huge potential to make you money and…

#2- if you choose your programs wisely, you can truly help solve your readers problems

So the next question is, how can you be successful at affiliate marketing in a crowded niche like personal finance?  It’s tough to get conversions if everyone out there is offering the same affiliate programs as you.  I’m sure many of you have tried a few of the popular ones like Mint or various brokerages and credit card offers.  But if everyone promotes them, how do you differentiate yourself?

Stand Out From The Crowd Read More

Blogging, Entrepreneurship
Lifestyle Archives »

A Cynic’s Argument For Why Facebook Stock Is A Buy

The IPO Quiet Period And An Exercise In Market Psychology

by
16600[?]
in Personal Finance on Jun 6th, 2012
21

In order to read this post, you’ve got to be a little cynical.  When it comes to investing in the largest casino in the world, it’s important to think about multiple variable outcomes and logical conclusions to keep your sanity.  For example, one can ask themself today with the markets up 1.5+%, “Who was the dummy panic selling last week?  Bernanke is testifying on the Hill on Thursday and is going to keep this money train alive!”

Thesis: Retail investors will do anything a perceived authority (media, bank, government) will tell them to do.  People will do whatever it takes to protect their reputation.  Therefore, retail investors will buy Facebook stock because the very banks who took the company public at $38 will defend the stock post quiet period.

The lead underwriters for Facebook’s IPO are: Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, and JP Morgan.  As lead underwriters, you are in charge of booking, billing, pricing, and allocating shares.  Your goal as lead underwriter is to raise as much money from the public as possible, while simultaneously allowing for investors to profit once the stock goes public.  The best IPO is arguably the one that goes up 5-10% after listing, and shows a steady increase over time.

If you price your IPO too low, the stock will surge, leaving money on the table and a potentially annoyed corporate CFO.  But who really cares that much since they’re all rich now.  If you price the IPO too high, like underwriters have with Facebook, you will see the share price drop like a lead balloon.

Despite what seemed like endless demand at the time of pricing, underwriters for the Facebook IPO botched the deal.  Dropping 33% to $25.60 a share from $38 in just three weeks is unheard of, especially for a deal this size.  Institutional and retail investors alike, ran away like mice fleeing a sinking ship.  Something must be done!

QUIET PERIOD MEANS SHUT THE HELL UP! Read More

Investments
Personal Finance Archives »

Look Beyond Short Term Profits For Long Term Gains

Stubbornness Will Not Make You Rich

by
16600[?]
in Personal Finance on Jun 4th, 2012
30

One of the discussions that came up with my real estate agent and I is the commission rate.  At first, he wanted 6% until I told him point blankly, “No way in hell you silly goose!”  We ultimately agreed on 5%, which is split 2.5% to him and 2.5% to the agent who represents the buyers.

5% is still a ridiculous commission rate to charge for selling something so expensive in my opinion.  A $2 million dollar house does not require $90,000 more effort to sell than a $200,000 house.  In fact, selling a $200,000 house might require more effort given the demographic of the buyer!

Instead, there should be a flat fee based on several tiers.  Perhaps $5,000 for houses up to $300,000, and $1,000 more for every $100,000 in house value i.e. $1,000,000 house costs $12,000 to sell, and not $50,000!  Sounds pretty logical and fair don’t you think?

At any rate, I begrudgingly signed the selling agreement with my real estate agent for 5%.  He said his company isn’t allowed to go less than 5%, but he agrees to refund me back X amount of his commissions if sold.  The effective commission cost to me will be closer to 4%, a more digestible amount.

STILL NOT TOO HAPPY ABOUT HIS LACK OF VISION Read More

Real Estate
Personal Finance Archives »

The Power Of Small Gestures

When Giving A Little Goes A Long Way

by
16600[?]
in Personal Finance on May 31st, 2012
27

I began texting my friend while still in the air that I’d soon be touching down.  My flight was 30 minutes late I felt bad if my buddy was waiting.  I mentioned to check flightview.com to track my flight’s status before driving out to Oakland airport, but I’m sure he forgot all about it.

Low and behold, Steve didn’t check flightview.com and actually arrived 15 minutes early, with his wife!  I rushed off the airplane and ran through baggage claim to meet him curbside.  I kept thinking about how many times he had to circle around the airport given the security guards would always wave cars through if they sat too long.

Steve gave me a fist pump when I saw him and I apologized for being late.  “No worries Sam!” he said as he popped open the trunk of his completely beat up 1994 Honda Civic that stunk of old socks.  When we reached my house at 11:15pm I thanked him by giving him $40 dollars I told him I’d give him earlier.  A taxi ride would have cost about $65 and I’d probably have to wait in line for 5-10 minutes for one as well.

Steve graciously accepted the cash.  I would have insisted otherwise since Steve is underemployed and works odd jobs on the side.  I don’t think Steve makes much more than $1,500 a month, which is extremely tight for someone living in San Francisco.  It’s a win-win situation as I’d much rather give my money to a friend than to a stranger.

SOMETHING FELT OFF Read More

Personal Finance Archives »

Why Are There Jobless Veterans And How Can We Help?

Support Our Troops At Home

by
16600[?]
in Personal Finance on May 28th, 2012
13

If our veterans fight for us overseas, why do they have to still fight for themselves at home?  I ask myself this every time I hear about an unemployed veteran, and so should our respective government officials.

The bright side is that the jobless rate for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans has fallen to 7.6%, below the overall US unemployment rate of 8%, and roughly 5% points below the 12.5% rate for veterans a year ago.

But still, a 7.6% unemployment rate is an absolute FAILURE by our government to take care of our troops back home.

GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES TO HELP OUR TROOPS Read More

Personal Finance Archives »

How To Choose The Right Real Estate Agent / REALTOR®

Testing The Real Estate Market

by
16600[?]
in Personal Finance on May 24th, 2012
35

For the right price, everything is for sale. So when my Realtor friend pitched to put my home on the market given the lack of inventory, low interest rates, pent-up demand, and Google/Facebook/Zynga/Apple/LinkedIn money, I said, “Sure why not!”  It’s estimated that Facebook’s IPO could increase the value of Bay Area property by some $1 billion dollars over the next several years.

I have a single family home in San Francisco that could very well be suitable for a young internet executive couple looking to start a family.  I told my real estate agent that if I don’t get X amount, I’m not selling, and he agreed.  It’s important to manage his expectations, since he’s the one who’s going to be spending all the time staging, marketing, photographing, and showing.

The real estate market is still booming in 2017 and maybe it’s time.

SELLING WHEN YOU DON’T NEED TO SELL FEELS GOOD Read More

Real Estate
Personal Finance Archives »

Social Security Benefits For Early Retirees

Maximum Social Security Benefits

by
16600[?]
in Personal Finance on May 21st, 2012
21

I recently signed up for My Social Security where anybody can track their Social Security benefits online.  Even though I don’t count on Social Security in my passive income calculations, I still expect SS benefits to be there for all working Americans who contributed to the system.  There would be a civil war if Congress decided one day to stop paying Social Security benefits!

After signing up for My Social Security, I could see the same paper statement form they mail to all of us, but now in PDF form.  Here’s what my benefits say:

* $2,566 a month in benefits at full retirement age of 67

* $3,182 a month in benefits at retirement age of 70

* $1,803 a month in benefits at retirement age of 62

* $1,917 a month for my child or spouse if I die today.

* $2,533 a month in disability benefits if disabled right now!  This is probably the biggest surprise.  What’s really stopping someone from taking a leap of faith if they have health insurance and disability benefits to back them up?

Not enough to live entirely on, but better than mud in the face.  In fact, I just realized this is the maximum Social Security benefits one can receive after checking with a couple other friends who all have more or less the same figures.

The caveat emptor written in the Social Security statement is: “At your current earnings rate, if you were to work until age………”  In other words, what if I can’t continue earning what I’m earning now? Furthermore, what if I want to no longer work and just live off passive income for the rest of my life?  What benefits will early retirees get?

SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS FOR EARLY RETIREES Read More

Retirement Planning
Personal Finance Archives »

The Fourth Yakezie Writing Contest For Education

1H2012 Yakezie Writing Contest

by
16600[?]
in Writing Contest on May 16th, 2012
23

Dear Contestants and Contributors,

We’re excited to once again launch another edition of the Yakezie Writing Contest!  The YWC’s goal is to award money to deserving contestants who will use the funds to further their education.  The money can go towards tuition, books, application fees, and other costs which make furthering one’s education cumbersome at times.

Although you cannot touch education, we believe education is critical to success.  It’s often hard to see the value of that which we cannot see, but we can promise that education is fundamental in getting a job in a field you like, building a business, and giving you the optionality to do more!

As a community of bloggers, every week we put thoughts to words for the world to see.  Sometimes we write about a fear that debilitates our every move.  Other times, we seek advice on which fork to take.  Often we share with readers our own experiences so you will be better prepared when your turn comes.  Through these words, we’ve made friends and found support in areas we thought never existed.  Communication is wonderful, and we hope you can share your wonder with us.

At the Yakezie Network’s very core is the culture of giving back, and we cannot be more honored to support educational endeavors through this process.  Recently, I had the privilege of working with a FS Online Services client and would like to commit $500 of the earnings towards the YWC.  The Yakezie Network as a whole will be raising more than $1,000 in educational money for at least three winning contestants in a $500, $300, and $200 ratio.  Depending on contributions, we’d like to award two more contestants $100 each for a total of five winners.

THE VOTING PROCESS Read More

Writing Contest Archives »
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