Bloggapedia Blog
When Kate's blog submission Ladies in the Red: For the Broke and the Beautiful crossed our virtual desk we were intrigued and wanted to learn more. As it turns out, Kate, and her story is pretty intriguing all the way around - a mix of down to earth financial advice and information with great personality and a big dose of humility, this girl has seen financial ruin (is still in the midst of it actually) and lives to tell, and teach, about the process of crawling back out.
We asked Kate a few questions, read further to get the rest of the scoop on her story:
What happened in your life that made you want to start this blog?
I'm 29 (next month) and have experienced both business and personal bankruptcy (the personal caused by the business). I was in the disposable industrial clothing business (i.e. adult nappies). Following a government embargo on clothing from China, who supplied our orders, my company crashed spectactularly along with every every penny we'd invested into it (or it was spectacular to us - like watching a huge firework as it hits your house) and I lost everything I've ever owned. There was a positive note in this however, at least I didn't have to feign interest in the absorbancy and fit of adult nappies anymore. Every cloud...
What about that experience made you want to get typing so publicly?
I began blogging about my experience because I quickly realised on becoming bankrupt that there was very little support out there for women going through what is still quite a taboo subject for many people. I didn't want to hear about how my life was "over" and I'd "never get myself back on feet again" as so many people wanted to tell me, but wanted something upbeat and positive. Something that focused on moving on and moving up instead of wallowing in the misery of bankruptcy. I couldn't find what I wanted so I tried to create it myself, and Ladies in the Red: For the Broke and the Beautiful was introduced to the world in March of this year...well, I say 'the world' but I know for a fact that the initial regular reading 'community' was made up only of my mum and my Aunty Annie.
What's now? What's next?
I'm out of bankruptcy at the end of next month, just as I turn the grand old age of 29, and the blog is getting more readers every week (I think I might be up to double figures now!). This Lady in the Red will hopefully be a Lady in the Pink in the future. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
In the information age, blogging brings with it it's own brand of celebrity and it can be just as tough to score a quick interview with a top blogger as a top actor. With bank accounts rolling and egos flying the bloggers who remain accessible, cream of the crop though they may be, are the ones who are more surely destined to even greater heights.
Maybe it's their ability to maintain both an online and a friendly offline persona, maybe - like in the case of Darren Rowse - they're just plain nice.
Darren, a native Australian, is perhaps the ProBlogger of all time, having started his blogging as a hobby while working triple time at three paying jobs in 2002. Fast forward just five years and Darren is now earning approximately $10,000+ per month from his collection of blogs. That's some cool cash for a guy who first hit the 'publish' button thinking it would be a 'bit of fun.'
Darren is now well known as the brains behind possibly the single most popular and well respected blog-information sites on the net: ProBlogger.net. He took the time out of his schedule to share the basics on his career as the ProBlogger, his currently favored addon, and his thoughts on why blogging has been and will continue to be such an awesome media format.
If you could have any title in The Blogosphere for the position you currently occupy, what would it be?
Just 'blogger' would do. I'm not a big one for fancy titles. I get 'the problogger' a lot and while I guess it's descriptive in that I do blog as my profession I'm a little uncomfortable with it as it can be interpreted in a different way - ie in that I'm somehow more professional than others - something I highly doubt.
Please tell us a little bit about your current blog project:
I have a few blog projects but the one I'm spending more and more time on these days is b5media - a new media network. We began it in 2005 with 14 blogs and a handful of bloggers but have managed to build it into a network of around 200 blogs with 100 bloggers.
My role there is to head up the blogger training program (a challenge as we have bloggers of all experience levels writing on hundreds of topics).
What was your first blog (or post) and when? Why/how did you start it?
My first blog was about spirituality, culture and emerging church (new ways of doing church). I started it because I was involved in a team starting a new church and I wanted a place to think out loud and record the journey.
Do you monetize your blog? If so, are you willing to share how much you make each month from you blog?
Featured Blogs
'Lady in the Red' blogs her way back from bankruptcy
Category:
Featured Blogs
,
Interviews
When Kate's blog submission Ladies in the Red: For the Broke and the Beautiful crossed our virtual desk we were intrigued and wanted to learn more. As it turns out, Kate, and her story is pretty intriguing all the way around - a mix of down to earth financial advice and information with great personality and a big dose of humility, this girl has seen financial ruin (is still in the midst of it actually) and lives to tell, and teach, about the process of crawling back out.We asked Kate a few questions, read further to get the rest of the scoop on her story:
What happened in your life that made you want to start this blog?
I'm 29 (next month) and have experienced both business and personal bankruptcy (the personal caused by the business). I was in the disposable industrial clothing business (i.e. adult nappies). Following a government embargo on clothing from China, who supplied our orders, my company crashed spectactularly along with every every penny we'd invested into it (or it was spectacular to us - like watching a huge firework as it hits your house) and I lost everything I've ever owned. There was a positive note in this however, at least I didn't have to feign interest in the absorbancy and fit of adult nappies anymore. Every cloud...
What about that experience made you want to get typing so publicly?
I began blogging about my experience because I quickly realised on becoming bankrupt that there was very little support out there for women going through what is still quite a taboo subject for many people. I didn't want to hear about how my life was "over" and I'd "never get myself back on feet again" as so many people wanted to tell me, but wanted something upbeat and positive. Something that focused on moving on and moving up instead of wallowing in the misery of bankruptcy. I couldn't find what I wanted so I tried to create it myself, and Ladies in the Red: For the Broke and the Beautiful was introduced to the world in March of this year...well, I say 'the world' but I know for a fact that the initial regular reading 'community' was made up only of my mum and my Aunty Annie.
What's now? What's next?
I'm out of bankruptcy at the end of next month, just as I turn the grand old age of 29, and the blog is getting more readers every week (I think I might be up to double figures now!). This Lady in the Red will hopefully be a Lady in the Pink in the future. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
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Interview with Darren Rowse: ProBlogger.net
In the information age, blogging brings with it it's own brand of celebrity and it can be just as tough to score a quick interview with a top blogger as a top actor. With bank accounts rolling and egos flying the bloggers who remain accessible, cream of the crop though they may be, are the ones who are more surely destined to even greater heights.Maybe it's their ability to maintain both an online and a friendly offline persona, maybe - like in the case of Darren Rowse - they're just plain nice.
Darren, a native Australian, is perhaps the ProBlogger of all time, having started his blogging as a hobby while working triple time at three paying jobs in 2002. Fast forward just five years and Darren is now earning approximately $10,000+ per month from his collection of blogs. That's some cool cash for a guy who first hit the 'publish' button thinking it would be a 'bit of fun.'
Darren is now well known as the brains behind possibly the single most popular and well respected blog-information sites on the net: ProBlogger.net. He took the time out of his schedule to share the basics on his career as the ProBlogger, his currently favored addon, and his thoughts on why blogging has been and will continue to be such an awesome media format.
If you could have any title in The Blogosphere for the position you currently occupy, what would it be?
Just 'blogger' would do. I'm not a big one for fancy titles. I get 'the problogger' a lot and while I guess it's descriptive in that I do blog as my profession I'm a little uncomfortable with it as it can be interpreted in a different way - ie in that I'm somehow more professional than others - something I highly doubt.
Please tell us a little bit about your current blog project:
I have a few blog projects but the one I'm spending more and more time on these days is b5media - a new media network. We began it in 2005 with 14 blogs and a handful of bloggers but have managed to build it into a network of around 200 blogs with 100 bloggers.
My role there is to head up the blogger training program (a challenge as we have bloggers of all experience levels writing on hundreds of topics).
What was your first blog (or post) and when? Why/how did you start it?
My first blog was about spirituality, culture and emerging church (new ways of doing church). I started it because I was involved in a team starting a new church and I wanted a place to think out loud and record the journey.
Do you monetize your blog? If so, are you willing to share how much you make each month from you blog?
I have a number of my own personal blogs and I do monetize almost all of them. I don't share my exact earnings any more but have previously shared that my blogs earn in excess of six figures a year. So on a monthly basis they do earn me more than $10,000 USD quite comfortably.
How much traffic does your blog generate weekly?
How much traffic does your blog generate weekly?
Across all of my own personal blogs - its somewhere in the vicinity of 30,000 to 50,000 unique visitors a day. That doesn't include RSS readership which is around that level again.
Any tips or hints for other bloggers on how to make their own blogs more popular?
Any tips or hints for other bloggers on how to make their own blogs more popular?
Connect with other blogs, sites and forums that are on similar and related topics. These other sites already have readership that is interested in the topics you write about so if you can find ways to participate in them in ways that are not spammy and that add value to those sites then you can often find new readers.
What are your top five weekly blog reads and what information/angle do you look to each one for?
What are your top five weekly blog reads and what information/angle do you look to each one for?
I follow hundreds of blogs and rarely find the same one consistently producing the 'wow' content. ie every day is different and I wouldn't want to pick just a few out.
What I look for in a blog is useful content that will enhance my life somehow.
Has blogging affected your personal/family life in any way?
Has blogging affected your personal/family life in any way?
Sure thing - it's paid for the house that we bought a couple of years back and puts food on our table every day. It's also allowed us to travel and meet some of the most interesting people from around the world. Blogging's been very good to us as a family.
What are the biggest problems/challenges inherent to weblogs? How do you address that problem on your own blog?
What are the biggest problems/challenges inherent to weblogs? How do you address that problem on your own blog?
Comment Spam comes to mind - however with tools like Akismet most of that can be filtered automatically.
Perhaps the most concerning thing for me is the very very small minority of bloggers who use the tools in manipulative and dishonest ways. I've come across a number of circumstances in the last year where bloggers have been responsible for some fairly terrible acts that have hurt people.
I'm not sure that this is something that I can 'solve' but I am pleased to see that in most of these circumstances the blogging community has rallied and self regulated and moderated itself to deal with the situations.
What new blogging tool, toy, accessory, widget, addon, or whatnot do you recommend and why?
There are a lot of good tools out there. I like 103bees for it's 'questions' feature and have been using that a bit lately. I wrote how here.
What new blogging tool, toy, accessory, widget, addon, or whatnot do you recommend and why?
There are a lot of good tools out there. I like 103bees for it's 'questions' feature and have been using that a bit lately. I wrote how here.
Why do you believe blogging is so essential and important?
One of my early dreams for blogs was that they could be used to give marginalized people a voice - this is now happening in many instances. I guess I'd like to see this continue and would one day like to be a part of a project that does this in a more coordinated manner.
The two things that really attracted me to blogging was that it gave people a voice was all about conversation and community. Together these two aspects are a powerful force.
---
To learn more about Darren, his past and current projects, and glean a bit of the wit and wisdom this very modest blogging guru has to offer visit ProBlogger.net.
One of my early dreams for blogs was that they could be used to give marginalized people a voice - this is now happening in many instances. I guess I'd like to see this continue and would one day like to be a part of a project that does this in a more coordinated manner.
The two things that really attracted me to blogging was that it gave people a voice was all about conversation and community. Together these two aspects are a powerful force.
---
To learn more about Darren, his past and current projects, and glean a bit of the wit and wisdom this very modest blogging guru has to offer visit ProBlogger.net.
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Say what you mean, mean what you say
Category:
Featured Blogs
It's no secret, bloggers are an opinionated bunch. It's in their very nature to develop and articulate opinion - right wing, left wing, no wings at all....from expressions of social norm to complete anarchy - the bloggers at Bloggapedia are no exception. The great thing about blogs is the author can not only opine to his or her heart's content but visitors can contribute to the conversation, whether they agree or disagree, via the comments feature.
Here are just a few of the most opinionated bloggers listed in our directory, check them out, comment - keep those conversations going:
Bookslut Blog: a sometimes sweet, sometimes salty blog for those who love to read.
Opinionated Bastard: The name speaks for itself, don't you think?
Skippy the Bush Kangaroo: Everyone loves a good politics discussion with a marsupial...
Velvet Hammer: A girl with a velvet hammer and some "ironic surrealism."
Plastic: "Recycling the web in real time."
SistersTalk: Gay blogging on pop culture, politics, current events, sexuality, and The L Word.
PoliBlog: A professor, a dad, one opinionated man.
Virushead: An academic, a mom, one opinionated lady.
And hey, this is the short list, if you think your blog should be listed along with this post as one of Bloggapedia's most opinionated, please feel free to leave a comment with your URL!
One more thing, just for the record: our providing featured blog post links to the above blogs does not in any way imply affiliation or agreement with any one particular opinion or viewpoint. In fact, we appreciate them all simply because that's the whole point of a little thing called 'freedom of speech.' That's why you'll find over 6,300 blogs (and counting) in our directory - each and every one of a divergent viewpoint.
Here are just a few of the most opinionated bloggers listed in our directory, check them out, comment - keep those conversations going:
Bookslut Blog: a sometimes sweet, sometimes salty blog for those who love to read.
Opinionated Bastard: The name speaks for itself, don't you think?
Skippy the Bush Kangaroo: Everyone loves a good politics discussion with a marsupial...
Velvet Hammer: A girl with a velvet hammer and some "ironic surrealism."
Plastic: "Recycling the web in real time."
SistersTalk: Gay blogging on pop culture, politics, current events, sexuality, and The L Word.
PoliBlog: A professor, a dad, one opinionated man.
Virushead: An academic, a mom, one opinionated lady.
And hey, this is the short list, if you think your blog should be listed along with this post as one of Bloggapedia's most opinionated, please feel free to leave a comment with your URL!
One more thing, just for the record: our providing featured blog post links to the above blogs does not in any way imply affiliation or agreement with any one particular opinion or viewpoint. In fact, we appreciate them all simply because that's the whole point of a little thing called 'freedom of speech.' That's why you'll find over 6,300 blogs (and counting) in our directory - each and every one of a divergent viewpoint.
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Grace Reading Series Blog showcases great women writers
Category:
Featured Blogs
We get alot of great listing for blogs focusing on specific locations or events. A sort of what's-going-on-where for the entire planet!
This week we bring you the blog at Grace Reading Series - a New York based author series run by Girly author and editor of This Is Not Chick Lit, Elizabeth Merrick.
According to Elizabeth, Grace was created in 2005 "in order to celebrate the abundance of amazing women writers of literary prose who are in a blooming, golden artistic moment that isn't getting enough attention."
The Grace Reading Series offers a regular show at NYC locae Mo Pitkin's and of course the blog which keeps it's readers up-to-date on upcoming events and includes weekly book recommendations as well as a smattering of Elizabeth's own perspectives as a woman literary writer.
This week we bring you the blog at Grace Reading Series - a New York based author series run by Girly author and editor of This Is Not Chick Lit, Elizabeth Merrick.
According to Elizabeth, Grace was created in 2005 "in order to celebrate the abundance of amazing women writers of literary prose who are in a blooming, golden artistic moment that isn't getting enough attention."
The Grace Reading Series offers a regular show at NYC locae Mo Pitkin's and of course the blog which keeps it's readers up-to-date on upcoming events and includes weekly book recommendations as well as a smattering of Elizabeth's own perspectives as a woman literary writer.
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Cute and Strange? Fabulously, yes!
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Featured Blogs
We love, love, love this blog: Flying People
Cute, simple, urban design + a flair for finding the weird and wonderful = your very own online personal shopper to help you discover gift ideas for those ethereal, funky people in your life who inspire you above and beyond the drab department store counter toward true gift-giving greatness.
Featured notions on the blog this week include: Fornarina's collaboration with darling designer Tokidoki, French Rabbit boxed wines (who'd have guessed such a thing could be stylish?! But it is, oh it is!), darling Poshpigs piggybanks, and the works of Chino Aoshima among other things.
Granted, this isn't your usual shopping list fare - allow Flying People to introduce you to something, or someone new. And if you don't know what Fornarina is, who Chino is, or what a Poshpig is - all the more reason to check it out.
Cute, simple, urban design + a flair for finding the weird and wonderful = your very own online personal shopper to help you discover gift ideas for those ethereal, funky people in your life who inspire you above and beyond the drab department store counter toward true gift-giving greatness.
Featured notions on the blog this week include: Fornarina's collaboration with darling designer Tokidoki, French Rabbit boxed wines (who'd have guessed such a thing could be stylish?! But it is, oh it is!), darling Poshpigs piggybanks, and the works of Chino Aoshima among other things.
Granted, this isn't your usual shopping list fare - allow Flying People to introduce you to something, or someone new. And if you don't know what Fornarina is, who Chino is, or what a Poshpig is - all the more reason to check it out.
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Blogs that make you go, Hmmmm....
Category:
Featured Blogs
We get alot of great submissions to the Bloggapedia directory and every once in a while are so inspired by their originality, their silliness, their creativity, their sheer inventiveness, their just-plain-strangeness that we've got to share them with you.
Today, it is our sincere pleasure to introduce you to:
The official blog of FSM Australia - The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
No, really.
The church, Wikipedia explains in a long and detailed description, is "a parody relition [sic] founded in 2005 by physics graduate Bobby Henderson to protest the decision by the Kansas State Board of Education to require the teaching of intelligent design as an alternative to biological evolution"
Also available for your reading pleasure is, The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster which lists The Eight "I'd Really Rather You Didn'ts" including tenet number one:
"I'd Really Rather You Didn't Act Like a Sanctimonious Holier-Than-Thou Ass When Describing My Noodly Goodness. If Some People Don't Believe In Me, That's Okay. Really, I'm Not That Vain. Besides, This Isn't About Them So Don't Change The Subject."
and tenet number seven,
"I'd Really Rather You Didn't Go Around Telling People I Talk To You. You're Not That Interesting. Get Over Yourself. And I Told You To Love Your Fellow Man, Can't You Take A Hint?"
Check out the official, and very funny, blog authored by the head-Pastafarians themselves (Pastor Len Guini and Pastor Al Dente) here.
Want to know how to get your blog mentioned here?
When you submit your blog to the Bloggapedia Directory, write a creative, accurate, description - max 250 characters, so keep it short and sweet! If we take notice, we may give you a write up.
Today, it is our sincere pleasure to introduce you to:
The official blog of FSM Australia - The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
No, really.
The church, Wikipedia explains in a long and detailed description, is "a parody relition [sic] founded in 2005 by physics graduate Bobby Henderson to protest the decision by the Kansas State Board of Education to require the teaching of intelligent design as an alternative to biological evolution"
Also available for your reading pleasure is, The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster which lists The Eight "I'd Really Rather You Didn'ts" including tenet number one:
"I'd Really Rather You Didn't Act Like a Sanctimonious Holier-Than-Thou Ass When Describing My Noodly Goodness. If Some People Don't Believe In Me, That's Okay. Really, I'm Not That Vain. Besides, This Isn't About Them So Don't Change The Subject."
and tenet number seven,
"I'd Really Rather You Didn't Go Around Telling People I Talk To You. You're Not That Interesting. Get Over Yourself. And I Told You To Love Your Fellow Man, Can't You Take A Hint?"
Check out the official, and very funny, blog authored by the head-Pastafarians themselves (Pastor Len Guini and Pastor Al Dente) here.
Want to know how to get your blog mentioned here?
When you submit your blog to the Bloggapedia Directory, write a creative, accurate, description - max 250 characters, so keep it short and sweet! If we take notice, we may give you a write up.
Bookmark this post:
Featured Blogs!
Category:
Featured Blogs
We've decided its time to start showing some love to some of our most fabulous blogs, selected for their unusual content, beautiful images, extraordinary writing or any of the other things that make for a great blog.
Check out these incredible photoblogs:
For railroad and photography enthusiasts, out of rails - A gorgeous collection of railway photography from José Chambel Cardoso (Lisboa, Portugal) and José Manuel Antunes (Moscavide, Portugal).
From Christi Nielsen, a personally and socially introspective dieter turned self-portrait artist, I'm Just About To Get Skinny.
And the very eclectic Toronto-based Luminescent.
If you've got a great blog you'd like to see featured, and you're listed in Bloggapedia's directory, let us know about it here.
Check out these incredible photoblogs:
For railroad and photography enthusiasts, out of rails - A gorgeous collection of railway photography from José Chambel Cardoso (Lisboa, Portugal) and José Manuel Antunes (Moscavide, Portugal).
From Christi Nielsen, a personally and socially introspective dieter turned self-portrait artist, I'm Just About To Get Skinny.
And the very eclectic Toronto-based Luminescent.
If you've got a great blog you'd like to see featured, and you're listed in Bloggapedia's directory, let us know about it here.
Bookmark this post:
