Spam Karma 2.3

Yesteday, has been released new version of good anti-spam plugin for wordpress.

At long last, Spam Karma 2.3 is here !
Download it here.

New in 2.3:

* Miscellaneous bug-fixes (UI, WP21 compatibility, compatibility with other plugins etc.)
* A few small changes in the modules (improving blacklisting module, disabling RBL for now).
* Important updates to Wordpress DB schema in order to try and improve its sluggish loading time (not directly an SK2 problem per se, but had to be done for SK2 to run fine).

Sorry this update took so long to come: basically SK2.2 worked well-enough for everybody and I am of the "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" school of development...
However, lately, a couple issues with WP prompted me to finally push a release out. More details on these changes for the technically-inclined will certainly follow on my blog.

A couple things in the meantime:

* While the amount of code changed isn't very big, I highly recommend installing this update: it should dramatically improve both WP and (therefore) SK2's CPU performances.
* Once you've copied all the files over the previous install of SK2, make sure you browse to the 'Manage SK2' page at least once so it can run the auto-update script.
* From now on, use this online form to contact me for any SK2-related issue (all previous support email addresses will be discontinued soon).
* Due to one really nasty bug in Apple Mail (no mistake on my end, I sweat), all the mails in my inbox for the past couple months have been deleted. If you contacted me in the past and I haven't replied yet, please send again (using this comment form). Sorry about that.
* The Documentation Wiki has been offline for a while now: I had to disable it, as spam(how ironic, I know) simply wasn't manageable and Mediawiki dearly lacks proper tools to deal with it. I am planning to run SK2's documentation on a basic WP install instead, but will still need to do the import from the old wiki manually (volunteers anyone?).
* Despite insistant rumors (and low release frequency, I must admit), I am NOT discontinuing SK2 development in any way in the near future (full story here).
* Brian 'ColdForged' Dupuis has been working on a very cool SK2 plugin using mod_security. I need to check up with him, but the customized version I am running here is doing wonders, reducing server load by weeding out repeat offenders at the server level. BTW, any volunteer do work on a version using ip_deny instead of mod_security ? I swear it's very little work...

In first look - new version working normaly.

Making Money Through Blogs

The Internet is the wonder of today’s world. Everyday one is discovering the wonders and powers of this new medium. Today, it is the Internet that makes the world go round, along with money.

Webster’s has defined a Blog as ‘a web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments and often hyperlinks provided by the writer’. US Dictionary Merriam-Webster’s has also declared that the word ‘blog’ is their ‘word of the year’ in their annual pronouncement of the Top 10 words of 2004.

Blogging has grown tremendously since its inception and has also thrown up many ways to ‘Earn Through Blogs’. Given below are some common income streams for bloggers:

Advertising programs – This is an ideal and common route for bloggers to generate income via contextual ad programs from Google – Adsense. There are several more like BlogAds, Intelli Txt and YesAdvertising. The list seems endless and is evergrowing.

RSS Advertising – Ongoing improvements to the ad programs exploring this option increases its popularity and makes it profitable.

Sponsorship – Direct advertising on blogs is growing daily. This is an exciting way for a manufacturer to establish a direct 2-way link with his customer and reap all the inherent advantages of this association. Sponsorship is also increasing on a post-by-post basis. Companies are paying bloggers to write on their products.

Affiliate Programs - There are thousands of affiliate programs, ranging from large to the very small that are generating income for bloggers. Amazon, Linkshare, Clickbank and Commission Junction are just a few examples of the larger affiliate programs being used.

Digital Assets – Advanced, tech savvy bloggers have been developing digital assets, in order to add revenue streams to their blogs and gain more support. E-books, tele-seminars, e-courses, on almost every subject are being run by bloggers. This income stream is growing daily.

Blog Network Opportunities or Blogging for Others – The growing popularity of Blog Networks has increased the income earning avenues through blogging. Bloggers are now writing for and with others. Obtaining a contract with a big network may be difficult. However, there are a plethora of small networks that are always in need of new bloggers willing to join and pay using a variety of payment models. There are obvious advantages to blogging for an established network. They handle most of the functions such as set up / admin / SEO and promotions. Bloggers now take on network blogs as additional avenues of income and combine that with writing for themselves on their blog sites.

Business Blog Writing Opportunities – Blogging today is being used by all kinds of industries and people. Large businesses today are starting blogs. Many of them even have internal staff take on blogging duties as part of their regular duties.

Non Blogging Writing Opportunities – Bloggers now write for non-blogging mediums too. They are constantly being approached to write for newspapers, magazines and other non-blog websites. Bloggers are even becoming published authors.

Donations and Fundraising – Established bloggers use their blog sites to raise funds for a cause they believe in.

Merchandising – Blogging and Blog sites are being popularized through merchandise like T-shirts and caps. Large blog sites with a cult following are generating huge money via this route.

Build Your Blog!

Want to have your own blog?
In this material you will learn step by step how to make a blog.

I will present you 3 solutions for building a blog:
1. using Blogger.com
2. using WordPress
3. using Joomla

1. Using Blogger.com (www.blogger.com)

Blogger.com was launched in August 1999 by Evan Williams and Meg Hourihan (Pyra Labs) and purchased by Google in February 2003.
Blogger.com is one of the most popular solutions for blogging.

To use Blogger.com you must make an account on the site. This is easy, simply fill a short online form with your email address, name, username and password.

You will get access to dashboard, the place from where you create blogs and manage them. Click create a new blog and choose a blog title (must be unique) and a blog address. I suggest putting your keywords in the blog title and address.

After that just choose a template that you like and you have your blog.

Blogger strengths:
• Is free
• Open source
• Easy to use
• Don’ t need a domain name or a web host
Blogger weakness is that you can loose the information from your blog. So keep every post on your hard disk.

Example of blogs build with Blogger: http://affiliatesecretsrevealed.blogspot.com, a blog about affiliate marketing and http://funnygiftideas.blogspot.com a blog about funny gifts.

2. Using WordPress (www.wordpress.org)

WordPress is publishing software with a focus on easy of use, speed and a great user experience.
WordPress is a powerful personal publishing platform, and it comes with a great set of features designed to make your experience as a publisher on the Internet as easy, pleasant and appealing as possible.

For using WordPress you must have a domain name and hosting.
To find a good web hosting service visit www.web-hosting-advisor.info.
If your hosting service has the cpanel application installing WordPress is very easy: just go to cpanel, Fantastico, WordPress, and click install. Just follow the info on the screen.

If you don’t have cpanel don’t worry, download the install kit from http://wordpress.org/download. You can find WordPress online manual on http://codex.wordpress.org/Main_Page.
Read the manual and follow the instruction, installation is simple.

WordPress strengths:
• Is free
• Easy to use
• Powerful
Weakness WordPress demands minimal computer knowledge.

Example of blogs build with WordPres: www.plasmatelevisionadvice.info a blog about plasma television advice, tips, shopping guide and www.gadgets-club.com a blog for gadget fans.

3. Using Joomla (www.joomla.org)

Joomla is a free, open source portal solution.
With Joomla you can build a portal and a blog.
Joomla is recommended for a person who wants more than a blog.

You must have a domain name and hosting to be able to install Joomla.
Installing Joomla is very easy: just download the install kit from http://forge.joomla.org/sf/frs/do/viewRelease/projects.joomla/frs.joomla_1_0.1_0_12, upload it on your server and click install.
Follow the on screen instructions you and will do fine.

Joomla strengths:
• Is free
• Open source
• Easy to install
• Builds an entire website, not just a blog
Weakness of Joomla in the complexity. It may take a while to learn how to use it.

Example of blogs build with Joomla: http://www.giftideasblog.net a blog that presents cool gift ideas and http://www.killdeal.info/content/blogsection a blog about hot offers and kill deals.

Now it is up to you to choose the solution that fits you best.