We finally got to linking Marriott SPG accounts, show you how to order beer in other countries, report on a rumor about Amex coming back from the dead, look at awesome Earth pictures from space, learn of a baby with three parents, laugh at the sorry state of having to choose a President and theTBB Blog Buzz sizzles & more!
TBB Blog Mission: To Entertain. Educate. Inspire. In That Order!
There is always so much stuff to catch up to when you are gone for a while. When I go to Iran this blog may finally meet its end…More on this in the BLOG BUZZ section below…
Not much action in the miles & points world…I did finally take the time to link our SPG and Marriott accounts and it was a very smooth process. Now Gold in SPG and Marriott. I still have no plans to stay at a Marriott…Wondering what to do with now about 75k SPG points. Need about 5 nights in San Diego in early February for another conference. Ideas?
Breaking: AMEX is not dead! They plan to compete with the CSR card! At this time, it is getting pretty ridiculous handling all the premium cards, coordinating their benefits and literally swimming in travel credits! My preference will be to enhance, for real, the Amex Platinum card!
News Flash: I managed to burn $150 in AA gift cards for wife to fly from NYC, final cost was $16. And she is going there after burning 7,500 British Airways Avios and $5. Not free but we’ll take it lol.
Some deals are ending by the end of this month. Get some Virgin America miles (and extend the life of your Alaska Airlines miles when they take over) and some other goodies, in case you missed them!
Decent Hertz promo and 25 free points too via Mile Nerd.
If you are in danger of your Hilton HHonors points expiring, you can extend their life by opening yet another account that earns 100 free points.
Like many of you, I watched the debate. And the Onion nailed it, as usual: Poll: 89% of Debate Viewers Tuning in Solely to See Whether Roof Collapses. Laughing.So.Hard.
The first baby with three biological parents was born. I did a head fake when I read that. Speechless!
This short video BLEW me away. Never seen anything like it. What a masterpiece! Check it out, you are very welcome! Johanna Under the Ice.
Disable lot of Google’s activity tracking. The link is Snowden approved!
You know TBB is also about teaching educational, you know, real life skills. As in How to Order a Beer in 17 Countries.
Best images of Earth taken from space. I had a dream as a child I remember vividly to this day, me looking at Earth from the moon. Well, it looks like another shattered dream you guys.
Putting Big Things in Perspective. #mindblown By Kevin Wisbith
BLOG BUZZ
For advanced users only:
The regulatory environment the big banks operate in is getting a little more touchy lately. You know, the Wells Fargo developments and all. And guess who gets screwed? Us small bloggers with small readership and not enough sales to sustain even the banner type links we have. Big changes going forward. You will see many marginal bloggers quit or move to Boarding Area before they eventually quit. And you will also see cries for help “click me or I am done, pleeeease”. As I always said, help small bloggers survive. If not, Titans win!
Few other juicy notes from FinCon16:
There was a dude who apparently is a very big deal online, who said that you should spend a lot more time promoting your content than preparing it. Exsqueeze me? That just looks wrong to me…and then I look at my month to date Amazon earnings at $74.86 and I feel like crying lol. I guess I should spend more than 1% of my time on promoting my site (mostly 5 mins every morning to schedule some tweets for the day….and I still get crap about THAT!).
MMS: “We are mindful of what we blog” in response to a question in the conference if the hobby has become too popular. At that moment, Howiee was wondering how I could contain myself woohoo!
The panel was introduced with, please sit down, “the dream team”, “top award bloggers”, “awesome TPG”, “FM invented MS”, “amazing MMS blog”….I wanted right there in the intros to stand up and SCREAM “Are you effing serious???” and walk out but…held back as I promised to behave.
MMS: “love negative comments, they do the marketing for me!”. I swear he was looking my way…
So, I decided to visit Google Analytics after two years and I had the same reaction…WTF do all these numbers mean, this website is so chaotic is ridiculous, I ain’t got time for dat, need to prepare content! Content wins they say…okay, whatever.
There will be some changes in the credit card links. Compliance related. Not fun. Like I said…time is short. It’s not like you guys don’t know what you are doing while the Titans are allowed to unleash sales carpet bombing to their readers that makes Aleppo look like a walk in the park…
Still no CSR is showing up in son’s account… #sosad.
Running on fumes…When I come back from Iran it will be near the 4th year anniversary and could be the ideal time to take this blogging thing down to a once a week rant, thank you for the awesome ride so far. I know, I know. I do this a lot…but one day i will doeeeeeet! 🙂
And I leave you with this…
Please help bloggers you appreciate & make a positive difference in your life by spreading the word about their blogs, emailing and commenting and using their few $ links, thank you!
Check out my updated blog lists: Blogs I Love, Blogs I Like, Blogs To Ignore
TBB
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Well……
Well, well
Where is Brenton? What a slacker! 🙂
Present.
Yes, credit card links are changing soon, and not for the better (for bloggers, at least). Personally, I do not care if lose CC links at all. I have written about credit cards for years and watched the affiliate programs expand and shrink over time with various clients. I have watched them build out loads of content only to lose their links after a few months. One client I write credit card content for has an entire team just to keep up with compliance, and even then, it’s almost impossible.
I have always cautioned people against relying on credit card income for this reason. It’s a bad business model, always has been. It’s like you’re building a house of cards. There are better and easier ways to make money.
Yeah…it is getting absurd out there for sure. It’s either going full sell out mode like the Titan bloggers or survive on crumbs while fearing each day it may be your last…
I need to figure out what I want 🙂
I must always put clients/readers first and the economics of this online world are not, in my (limited) experience, conducive to that. May be different if someone was at it at full time AND had the stamina to blog to death to create a big sized reader base.
From all the speakers in FinCon…I liked the Financial Samurai dude who said he will only promote products via affiliate links he uses and loves himself, that was refreshing…
It’s complicated and can get really touchy. I thank the Lord that this is not my primary income. Heck, cards have been silenced and we are now back to earning $1.43 per day doing this lol.
Not sure where I am going with this….All I know is I do my thing here and I am enjoying myself. As long as I enjoy it and could bring value to my readers…the chips will fall…somewhere.
All is good. Health above all!
I notice something: ever since you attended the conference, your comments about quitting the blog, lack of money, etc. has increased.
Why did you attend that anyway? Surely you knew going in that you would be bombarded with stories about how those titans got rich…
I hope you are not envious of their “success”. They are successful in the same ways that Donald Trump is successful: marketing, “business sense”, and self-centeredness. In my eyes, you are above that.
@Holly, Sorry NOT a fan of your work…..@Buzz, Looks like it is time for “Ramsey” to take a sabbatical from TBB……………………….until we all meet in the future at Bluecats House for the 2017 PDX DO (also to be known as MY DINNER WITH ANDRE / BUZZ)
Ramsey…to infinity and beyond/ and also to clean up the dog shat in the yard before the gardener comes (the crowd cheers as they realize this dope Ramsey is finally hanging up his laptop )
Hey @Ramsey. LOL that you think I care. That’s really, really funny.
When I get that mega buyout offer Ramsey, I will sponsor a TBB Bash at PDX in high class joint! We can continue with drinks at Bluecat’s house then lol.
“To Infinity and Beyond” Buzzzzzzzzz it up! Not to be confused with newb it up 🙂
Drinks or, if the wife and kid are out, other completely-legal-in-my-state substances!
If you accept my buyout offer—$6.45–we can make this party happen!
@bluecat: You are right, good observation. Like the Titan Gary, I blog about things that interest me…without the never ending plastic sale pumping that is lol.
Last one I attended was back in 2013. That was my first experience in the wider world of blogging (not just FTU type events) and I learned a lot about WordPress….Actually, I moved to WordPress right after that conference I believe. I love learning new things, always did. This time I focused on networking more. Remember, I know many in this space from my day job who are trying to weave blogging into their day operations. It’s just been fascinating to watch it all unfold and now with several years under my belt I have a different perspective on things.
I am certainly NOT envious of their success…It just kills me sometimes when they are perceived as “experts” on this stuff when by the time they were out of diapers I had miles in 7 figures 🙂 Incredible marketers in a sea of newbies who are expertly sold to. Do I want their commercial success? I would love to, if some blogger says no they are a Communist! Will I do what they did to get there? Hell NO, I would rather do an ISIS like job on myself! Do some bloggers get there AND keep their integrity and not pump taking orders from their masters? Yes…but VERY few and doing it full time and working way too hard (all this look at me, working from home, smile, click, instagram post…is a facade for the most part)…
Anyways, Doctor of Credit is on its way…Unbelievable stamina in that kid 🙂
Not sure where I was going….it’s lunch time, I am hungry.
@TBB Financial Samurai “Sam” is awesome! I believe him 100 percent when he says that, too. He has been around a long time and built a nice business model. He obviously knows what he’s doing and I respect him a lot.
I think part of the problem with “blogging” in general is how it has changed. People once blogged because they love to write. Nowadays, it’s more of a “side hustle” than anything else. There’s nothing wrong with blogging for profit, of course, but it does create a lot of fuzzy area for bloggers when it comes to right vs. wrong.
Anyway, CC affiliates becoming harder may end up being a good thing. If they take affiliate links away from smaller blogs, that probably means they intend to tighten up compliance on those who are left. That’s just a guess.
I always enjoyed reading Sam…but at some point, he got way into real estate stuff, not my interest at all. And it looks like he was set up before he took the time to build his blog…I am not there yet, still have two kids to get through college (need just 2 years left to secure their education).
Never had issues with blogging for profit! Always had issues with the fuzzy areas and putting profits first before the interests of the readers. And I admit I can get way into this stuff sometimes 🙂
With my limited experience dealing with “compliance” from these companies…OMG…what a pain! I think they are turning on the screws to consolidate with the few and the biggest….which is probably not a good solution for smaller bloggers who are talented writers and contribute to this space in a meaningful way…
Anyways, fascinating to see it all unfold….especially from my perspective of a 20 year veteran of the hobby….which has turned into a big business by the big commercial blogs…I could go on, but lunch calls!
@Holly I don’t care that you don’t care….so there…..I ACTUALLY TRIED TO BE AS NICE ABOUT MY FEELINGS FOR YOUR WORK AS I COULD BE, I ACTUALLY PHUCKING HATE YOUR BS INANE ARTICLES (I always think to myself when reading them what a dumbass expert this broad thinks she is……………………………………….ps maybe you should care what people think of your work/credibility/ honesty/motivation and accuracy…for what and where you write. It is CRAP!….Seeing your picture and comments here at TBB made me throw up my breakfast…….I make a fool of myself here on purpose, what is your excuse.
9.28.2016 THE DAY TBB JUMPED THE SHARK (who is next visitor, Gleff?)
Buzz you are nice guy, no a great guy, I love you, do not encourage her, you are losing what is left of your credibility…….I know, I know I lost mine years ago.
Holly do not forget to post with back links to your horrible site…..shows why you are here.
OK My time is done here at TBB! Holly you have made that decision easy for me. This time I am SERIOUS, goodbye everyone!
Lordy!
Also, where can I get a rakish dew rag like in your photo?
Ramsey, you put the idea in my head, so I visited the site!
Found this tagline: “Stop spending, start living”. And here’s the good part: It has a TM (trademark identifier) next to it!
@Ramsey: Come on man, are you okay? What gets me is that some “fans” see comments like this and then they jump in here (or in FT) raving about how an angry nest is over at TBB. Which is unfortunate.
I have no problems with any blogger. TBB reviews blogs. Actually, I have a problem with two bloggers…one reads me every day and comments here (and drive my Alexa rankings he only checks through the roof!) and the other likes to block and threaten to sue people. I speak with the others, no problem. Not going to invite them over for Thanksgiving…Heck, MMS told me he loves me (in a way when he said he LOVES negative comments lol).
In other news, I scored 4 free tickets to the Accountant BEFORE it opens woohoo!
Hey Ramsey,
I am actually commenting here because I met George at this conference and was stopping by to say hi.
Just so you know, I started writing in 2011 to escape my terrible job and the chronic back pain I endured after two spinal fusions. After a year, I was able to quit my job to write full-time and haven’t had any chronic back pain since.
I have a ton of fans, but a ton of haters as well. It’s probably about 50/50, honestly. But I’m fine with it. I have already made more than $200,000 this year, and all without pain and from the comfort of my own home.
I thank God every day that I have never listened to the angry “Randys” of the world.
I remember a veteran blogger telling me when I started “If you have no haters, you do not exist”. I think…he was right!
Congrats on the award.
I had no idea the freelancing market was so huge, wow. I am hiring two awesome interns to investigate who ghost writes all the articles at MMS and other Titans…and break it open here!
I would not state how much money I make online. I never figured out why others do “income/expense reporting” type blog posts or brag how they do so many things about charity…I would never do that. If anyone is interested they can ask me in person. But lay it all out here, nope. Unless I want to make fun of myself about the resounding commercial success of my blog, woohoo.
Ramsey had a bad day, it happens to all of us. He is a real gentleman and hilarious, he ‘ll be the first I go to to share the mega buyout check I get…soon. I am holding out for THREE figures woohoo!
I share income reports for two reasons – first, we have a big “make money” readership on our blog. Those people like to read about how people make money online.
Second, I have a freelance writing course. I share my income as social proof that I am actually making a living writing and blogging.
I agree – it doesn’t make sense for everyone. It kinda makes me cringe, actually, but my husband is the one who drives our online business decisions. I hate promoting myself, too. He is the one who makes me. Overall, I’m glad he does…even if it makes me uncomfortable at times.
Don’t worry; I’m not mad at Ramsey. I’m sure he’s a nice guy. It’s easy to judge people on the internet. Trust me I hate plenty of people on the internet – even people I don’t know! =) It’s inevitable.
Ramsey sure is channeling his inner trump today, huh?
Good riddance, ¡Adios Ramsey!
IS THIS INGY OR HER HUSBAND?
Pres. Macri just signed a bill that refund VAT taxes for hotel stays for those using a foreign credit card in Argentina. Similar policies exist in neighboring countries. May save a bit.
I miss Cristina…#notreally
OH PHUCK NOOOOOOOOO….
10th grader at my daughter’s high school died suddenly…I just opened the email sent this morning. Counselors present.
On my way to pick her up…I can not imagine the pain her parents are going through…
Time out…
…And we interrupt the above entertaining nonsense with this message:
Life is way too short. Go hug someone you love. Do it now!
~EOM~
Better than your “NON ENTERTAINING stories/nonsense no one cares about, or even know what the hell your wring about, Adios!
Hey YOU TIT’S MCGEE….Love the handle lol
I’m here for quality. MMS has no quality but probably makes money but I don’t give a damn and don’t read it. Holly says I make so much money comfortably but the articles she writes are of no quality to me so I don’t give a damn and don’t read it. I despise of Hollywood culture, McMansions, Debts and quantity. All that is noise. I fly Economy and MMS flies first class. But I have something else. Peace of mind, trust in myself, no need to sell, and a good job that keeps my brains working and I rest after work. I say blog less and keep quality going. In the end, nothing better than flying to remote places where we unplug. Holly and MMS cannot unplug because they must be marketing :-0
Well said and a sentiment I agree with.
Appreciate the kind words….
When it gets too much….and I can’t keep up the quality you have come to expect…do I wing it or do I fold? I am not good in winging it because, you know, I like quality #catch22