We bring you a guide to Eastern Europe with miles and points, check out some airport art, muse about blog future, visit Croatia’s Daksa island, learn the best time to do everything, your personal finance fix of the day and this one is fantastic and so much more!
TBB Blog Mission: To Entertain. Educate. Inspire. In That Order!
A quick Sunday post for you…It always starts out like this and then hours go by…and then I look at no clicks and say WTF man, why keep doing this to yourself? 🙂
It is hard to understand what goes into a serious (as in REGULAR posting of good content) blog. Other bloggers certainly know what I am talking about. Oren’s Money Saver muses about the future of his blog. I smiled at this excerpt: “Visions of titans in the air. Â Certainly not worth the time investment as a job but it I could justify some of the hours because in the future I could earn even more. Â As I moved towards a model of even fewer posts, less and less money came in. Â That’s normal but it also gives you less motivation to post.” [bold font for emphasis is mine]. I think he nails that, seeing no clicks is so deflating is hard to comprehend and, frankly, it just blows after a while. Then, he posts five reasons why he keeps blogging and I pretty much agree with them too. Especially #5, maybe I need a therapist to help me do it once and for all hehe:
- I’ve met a lot of amazing people through this blog.  Many of them I interact with throughout the day and  I’m still meeting great people.  It’s probably worth it just for that.
- To help. It’s nice to provide useful information. Â Unfortunately it seems that it is harder and harder for me to continue posting great and unique content.
- I learn a ton from readers and researching for posts.
- It’s nice to feel important, I have to admit that. Â
- It’s hard to give up.  I’ve been blogging since 2011.  That’s not something you give up easily, but  I’m not sure I would start a blog today if I didn’t already have one.
And just about now some hater is typing a comment bitching about my whining. If a blog has no haters it is likely because nobody cares or knows that it exists…so, you know, this comes with da internet.
I post a lot about this whining stuff to educate aspiring bloggers that they have NO idea what they are getting into! To be a Titan requires TOTAL effort and FULL devotion to the craft. And in all likelihood you probably just do not have the talent for it. If you do have it, you will not have the stamina or something will happen on the ground to prevent you from achieving Titanhood. There are very high costs to become a Titan, it may even wreck your life! Think pro athletes. As in you think you may have been good enough to make your high school football team but for you to be drafted in the NFL…it’s just not going to happen. You are likely better off to devote your time in a real marketable skill or keep enhancing your professional skills in your present career.
Finally, the future of the miles/points blogging niche is just not that bright with the continued industry consolidation, plethora of blogs rehashing the same stuff, the killing of elite flyer status, fees galore, awards’ continued devaluations beatings, rampant killing of MS deals, and continued bank restrictions with no end in sight. You have been warned. You are welcome.
Phuck, here I have done it again….I need to control myself. Please stop me 🙂
Travel is Free is alive! Good post finally…Drew’s Guide to Eastern Europe with Miles and Points.
When I want to look at something beautiful I look at my wife. If she is not around, I look at the latest most inspiring travel photos over at Matador Network. The one from Colombia in this edition is amazing! And the first one is, gulp, from the Maldives.
Visiting Croatia’s Island of Ghosts: Day trip to Daksa. Another outstanding post by The Bohemian Blog. There was a brutal execution here after World War II and nobody visits! Hey, it’s for sale for only $1.7 million. Maybe TPG can buy it and fly us all in for a private party with the company jet hehe.
MUST read personal finance post of the day: Take a Simple Idea and Take it Seriously Absolutely brilliant post! I see so much complex crap in my regular job that is designed to separate you from your money. Perhaps this is why some colleagues tease me for specializing on clients after they got burned by some horrible shit (which sounded great at the time, they always do!) they were sold! I repeat. Drop everything and read this post! Now. You are welcome.
The best time to do everything. If I could only stop drinking coffee starting at 6 am in my local Panera…
And I leave you with this…Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
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Woo gold happy Sunday!
Congrats!
I’m going to pass on the gold to take time to address the “Blogger’s Blues” issue.
So the lack of clicks has you down? Well, think back to when you started this blog. Did you say to yourself ‘Self, if I could get 10 people a day to buy $100 each on Amazon, my blog would be a success’. I’m pretty sure the answer to that one is no.
It says up top that TBB was set-up and continues to entertain, educate and inspire, in that order. If that’s true, then the only intellectually honest way to measure it is by how it’s doing at that. Do Amazon clicks in any way measure any of that? Hell, no!
Whatever one thinks of TBB, from huge fan to troll, everyone admits TBB is unique. No, they don’t write entire posts on that, but as I cruise around to various sites, I often run into passing references like “except Travel Blogger Buzz” or “….even George says…..”. Don’t kid yourself, TBB is like Mars-maybe it doesn’t seem too bright in the sky soemtimes, but get rid of it and the missing gravity pull will mean everything else starts drifting into the hot hell of the sun.
Measuring TBBs success or enjoyment to produce by Amazon clicks or ratings would be as bad as someone thinking that they are doing important work because the checks keep coming in.
Maybe to get the juices flowing we could pull the curtains back from time to time on the “Ignore” guys. How about a thought question a week. Here are a couple of candidates:
1. Do you think blogs like View From the Wing that encourage disrespect for government authority contribute to today’s anti-government, anti-police headlines and political chaos?
2. Over on One Mile at a Time, Ford was just approved for 2 Delta Amex cards. I was wondering what he put down on the apps for occupation and income.
Finally, how about a sit down interview with Drew (and Carrie, who is interesting in her own right). Probing questions-how did he get so good at taking program details apart? What caused the 6 month haitus? What will it take to get him back, if anything will? I’m guessing that one may be a two way interview and TBBs role in all that might surprise us.
The answer to the first question is of course an emphatic No!
Fact: When I check once a day the actual clicks and see nothing is…deflating. When I see just one earning pennies I am…okay because at least ONE reader took the time to ACT to support a blog he/she enjoys reading. So, when this does not happen I assume it is NOT happening with many other quality minded blogs. And that causes owners of such blogs to…run out of gas! And then Titans win…And THAT amigo is what is happening all around in this niche of blogosphere.
I would LOVE it if someone here posted “Hey TBB, I took the time today to support one blog on your good lists”…before they too quit. Now, thinking so differently when there is even one tiny click vs none is messed up…You have to be insane/messed up to keep up something for so long with so meager actual click support. I can do this because I do not need the money…it’s not like I am here whoring CSP links. Some dinners with Mrs. TBB so she can tolerate me doing this would be kind of nice once in a while…Remember, a lot of my whining is directed to educate individuals who may be thinking of starting a blog….definitely not worth it! Unless they are crazy!
The mission of the blog is ALWAYS in focus!
“Unique”. Thanks.
1. Do you think blogs like View From the Wing that encourage disrespect for government authority contribute to today’s anti-government, anti-police headlines and political chaos?
Yes.
2. Over on One Mile at a Time, Ford was just approved for 2 Delta Amex cards. I was wondering what he put down on the apps for occupation and income.
Travel Expert?
Can’t hold the snark back…
I would love to do that interview of Drew and Carrie. But I doubt they share the same sentiment. But I would venture to bet that TIF would have kept going strong if it got more ACTUAL click support, it is about time alternatives and motivation! They probably are busy working on something else that has a more lucrative motivation scheme than not enough clicks of people who enjoy your blog but do not take the next step…
Unless they want to #hint
In Question #1 arent you more likely to feel that way because you were raised in Greece? I always laugh when some of our English “Hobby” friends chime in on political things as well. Coming from those crazy lefty countries has planted some not so ‘Murican ideas from an early age that from time to time still come out. Kind of crazy to move to America and want things more like they were in the homeland. Kind of like moving from Chicago to somewhere in Texas, then voting for all the same crap you did in Illinois.
Interesting comment. I lived there until I was 17. But I really grew up and matured (some disagree about this lol) here in the US. No doubt some things were ingrained in my psyche for sure, we are all products of our childhood! One such aspect is my attitude towards gun control…for that one, count me in with the Europeans!
On the other hand, they pay a steep price for all the social aspects of their economy and it is catching up to them finally. America is unique. That feeling of “if you work hard you can achieve anything you want”, the entrepreneurial drive implanted in you by just living here…is unmatched! You certainly don’t get that in Greece, which is now killing and driving away all remaining entrepreneurs.
It’s not black and white. Conservatives and liberals, at the end of the day, want the best for the country and the people. I am really disturbed by the extreme partisanship displayed by both parties. And I really despise the intrusion of religion crap all over our lives…Oh, the separation of church and state is something that also makes USA unique, that was brilliant!
Thanks for the interesting observation.
If Oren was doing 130k views per month that should have got him $1k of Adsense revenue if the ads were laid out properly. Enough to keep him plugging away.
Adsense kicked me out because a “fan” click bombed me…to stop me from becoming a good Titan 🙂
Raffles – It’s possible that I have a poor layout on ads but my highest month on adsense was $250ish. Referral links (mostly eBay) provided far more income than adsense. No complaints on adsense either.
As Sam posted above, TBB has a place in the blogosphere. Three years ago I jumped into the miles and points game. I was drawn into the “free” info provided by OMAAT, VFTW and TPG. I felt the need to give back for the free info and used one of the links. I got an “oh shucks, thanks for the support.”
As I matured in the miles/points game, I started questioning how these Titans supported their travels, lifestyles and blogging by not really working. I stumbled across TBB and a few smaller blogs. The truth about the conversions was an enlightenment. Since then, I’ve been so cynical of most bloggers. I still regret using the one affiliate link since it contributed to the Titan.
I see TBB more like Jupiter. It keeps the Titans, the re-hashers and plagiarizes in check. TBB content and links are always interesting. I try to help by using the Amazon link. I haven’t been helpful with the CC links since there always seems to be a better deal from the banks than through affiliate links.
Tom R:
Thanks a lot.
TBB now owns Jupiter too 🙂
One CSP click (it’s the same offer) pays double or more of a month’s Amazon revenue here. Thank God many/most of the my cc links are the best offers. Therefore the link to Mile Nerd’s page or offer to email me.
The cc $$ in this little niche so out guns everything else….and you see the results everywhere in the blogosphere!
I still think my masterpiece post was this one:
http://travelbloggerbuzz.com/travel-milespoints-blogosphere-has-turned-into-a-giant-credit-card-pumpization-scheme/
I am with France in the Euro 2016 Final, beat up prima dona Cristiano Ronaldo!
I personally make an effort to use your cc links, but that’s only 1-2 cards every 3 months that you have the best offer on the cards I want. I also push for any friends applying to use your links.
I don’t really stop Amazon, or I’d use your links there. I’m busy buying 6-$250 Lowe’s gift cards at office depot on my Ink so that I can buy a new W/D through TCB.
I think your blog has a place and I try to support your efforts ahead of any other blogger. More than anything I appreciate your interaction in the comments.
If only I could apply for another csp I’d be all over that. My next round will be an amex everyday to maintain my MRs, an IHG, and maybe even the $500 bonus I keep being targeted for on the business spark card.
Brenton:
Thank you!
Drawing a blank at the moment, que es W/D?
I was hoping Josh would show up in the comments beating me up, it’s always fun!
Oh yeah, the Amex Everyday is a keeper! Another report about the csp avoiding the 5/25 with a private banking relationship. Oh yeah, got that $500 Spark offer twice already….may not turn it down the third time! I need to get son the CSP after he returns from Hong Kong.
I am so bummed about France losing today!
Washer/Dryer. The pending divorce means I get to buy a lot of things I already own. But think of all those points…
Oh yeah, washer/dryer…it was bothering me all night, thanks.
Sorry about the divorce. I gotta admit that getting married is easy, STAYING married is one of the hardest things ever in life! Good luck with it!
We love you Buzz!
What’s the latest on putting a donation button here ? I know I’ve brought it up a few times and there is some good reason but I don’t remember what it is.
Trying to figure out about Hong Kong accommodations.
Factors are:
Price
Location
Goodness of the place — how important is nice lobby to hang out in?
Can cook or at least have fridge in room? Saves $ and eat healthier.
Trying to decide.
And the room itself of course, including view.
That is a lot of criteria man…The view will cost you. Look into airbnb if u want that cooking feeling but why? There is so much good food everywhere you go in this place. And it can be cheap too.
George, I just applied and got approved for Arrival Plus via your link
Thank you I see it now. Much appreciated. Oh, and you were FIRST this month…actually in like 3 weeks!