Popularity: 12% [?]

The other day I realized that my blog was not working the way it should have been working - the main page was gone.  Gone, gone, gone.  I thought maybe there was a glitch with a plugin, but I’d not been adding plugins and this was just freakin’ bizarre and so my mind went in 53 different directions on how to fix it.

I tried doing a post - and it didn’t show on the main page.

I went into my CPanel to do a check on the database - and guess what!  I had some nice corrupted files on hand.  So I did a repair and check it.  It showed “OK” but it wasn’t when I went back to check the site.  Then I started not getting my emails.  Now I’m wondering WTF?  So I went into my CPanel again and realized that I had run out of room on my account for space.  So I went and increased it and that seemed to cure the problem with the email but my site was still fubar-ed.  Damn it.

I then realized in my search of weekly backups that probably due to a space issue my backups quit coming in around the middle of November 2007.  I hadn’t been paying attention and it bit me in the ass.

So I went to HostGator - who were FABULOUS! (Thanks Carl!!) and they did a restore on the most recent backup - which I had to pay for.  Not a biggie since my site was borked.    So $15 later I’ve had my site restored.

The main page - still not showing.

So I did a complete wipe of the site - I’m thinking it’s in the tables of the database, I’ve done fix and restore with no success.  I had to bite the bullet and wipe everything and start again.

So I did it - and tried to do a restore on my own but it kept timing out.  So, I contacted HostGator again to see if they could take the backup and reinstall it for this blog.  OOOOH and it looks like it worked.

So what have I learned…

• It took about a week to get my site back up… and it’s still needing a little love in the plugins department - but I’ve got my posts and pages working again…whooohooo!
• Backup, Backup, Backup and keep tabs on the backups coming in.
• Sometimes backups don’t work and you better pray that your hosting company is on the ball with their backups and can help you out.
• I am greatly relieved that I have a rockin’ hosting company - huzzah! - HostGator!

Basically you can’t cover your butt enough with online sites.  You can have backups - but sometimes they don’t work and you’ve got to be hoping that your hosting company has it together enough to help you out.

I did and I’m so freakin’ happy I’ve not lost 3 years of bloggy blogging-ness!

*Deep Breath*

– on a sidenote: Thanks Stu for your comment the other day, the backup wiped it out - but I did get a chance to read it before things were restored

Popularity: 12% [?]

Whoa, where has time gone? I’m looking at my calendar in disbelief! It’s already the 22nd… I know when we get older time is suppose to go faster, but this month has disappeared. Hello… can I get the past 2 weeks back?? Or not… LOL. The past week has been mucho mucho stressful in my day-work-job thing. Let’s just say things are on the line and I’m sitting around having chest pain from the stress. Yes. It. Sucks. So I’ve been in scramble mode keeping my shit together and not going crazy.

But that’s just it, on the other hand my side project has taken off - it’s not super crazy busy, but it’s more than I’ve ever had before. This makes me so freakin’ happy.

I call this the ying/yang of my life. Always trying to balance it all out. So in the process of the chaos - I’ve been losing track of time and here I am. In the past few weeks, I’ve not really managed to do anything with my affiliate sites - BUT I have been putting pen to paper when the ideas strike. When I’m on the computer, rather than wasting time I’m writing it down to get back to it later. If I find things online and I don’t have my book with me I use Todoist.com - this is a handy site, that helps keep track of things. I like it because I can just pop links in there to see later, also to have an idea of what needs doing with my sites. It’s handy… it’s online… and I won’t go losing those notes. Very handy - if you’re looking for an online organizer/to-do list this might work for you. Did I mention - it’s free.

Another thing that has happened since I’ve been away from here is that jcCommerce has gone and done a very awesome thing with his Secure Delivery product. You can now offer an affiliate program on the products your selling. jcCommerce does a great job explaining what they’re doing - so I’ll point you over in that direction for more info.

I’ve been using Secure Delivery for a while now and I can very honestly say it’s great! I’m not just saying it - I really have used the product, and it works. I’ve had no complaints from people who use the download link/secure delivery way of getting their product.

The new affiliate program I think will really help me take my ebook that I’m offering to a new level. If people enjoy what they’ve read - I mean why not offer them a way to make their money back promoting something that they enjoy - and also it helps with my marketing. Since I have a very, very small budget - I’ve been wracking my brain trying to think of different ways to promote it. Since it’s such a tight niche too, it’s not like I can offer this to just anyone either. It’s a really hard call for marketing the ebook, but now I have a way to do it, where everyone wins. I like that idea.

So if you’re looking to sell things online - and maybe down the road you’d like to do an affiliate marketing deal with it, this might just be what you need.  Check it out and let me know what you think. I really like it, but I’d like to hear what you think too.

Other than that, the past couple of weeks have been crazy - not a lot to show for it, but I’m getting back on track. Did up a mini to-do list and I hope to get a lot more accomplished in the next week… *fingers crossed!*

Popularity: 9% [?]

Ok, this is a guilty pleasure of mine and I’ve not really shared this with what I read - I truly enjoy reading WickedFire.com  Jon has a way about him and today he showed up in true form taking a whack at John Chow, Shoemoney and Super Affiliate Mindset.

I have to admit - for the most part I agree with Jon.  Maybe I wouldn’t have said it the way he did, but I suppose he’s feeling far more passionate about it than lets say… me… at this moment.  But you know what, I think the industry does need a swift kick in the backside.  I am currently subscribed to each of their RSS feeds.  Honestly they don’t really offer anything to the affiliate marketer - even though they are to blog about it.  Well whatever - I have to say that I enjoy seeing what John Chow’s eating.  It’s a guilty pleasure of mine.  No, it has nothing to do with affiliate marketing.  But what the hell.  G-U-I-L-T-Y P-L-E-A-S-U-R-E… kind of like my addiction to the Real Housewives of Orange County… um, anyway!  I have to say that Jon makes some very valid points.

They do feed the addiction to those out there who are new (maybe not so new) that there is money to be made.  I personally am a bit tired of the paid reviews, but there is the occasional gem in there.  I guess I can’t totally bash them - they are (according to their stats) kicking ass in comparision to yours truly.  But I have to say and I say this whole-heartedly… they don’t share anything valuable.  No real personal experience on HOW they did it.  Or a glimmer of what is working for them… in any detail that I could get going with my own projects and use the info for bettering myself.

Not going to happen.

If you do want to take a peek at some real people talking about affiliate marketing and making money online stop by WickedFire.com - they sell a tough line, but that’s what I like about Jon.  He’s far from going to bash you with bullshit.  He’s going to bring it home. I do have to say this post made me chuckle.  I realize he’s right… and I’m not really sure what’s going to stop it… change it… make any difference.  Unless we might all unsubscribe… but are we?

Keep this in mind too - if something is working for these guys… or basically anyone on the ‘net in affiliate marketing… are they going to broadcast it?

Again, check it out - what do you think?

Popularity: 14% [?]

There’s just something about Night at the Roxbury that makes me laugh… this Pepsi commercial they ran (I think at the Superbowl) just made me laugh. Chris Kattan even makes an appearance. Love it!

… and now back to our regularly scheduled blog.

Popularity: 12% [?]