How to Change the Layout of Blogger Blog Website

Today is 06 July 2014, I modified my MeMovingToCanada site's layout to make it more professional and organized.

This will give a better impression and experience for my readers.

I like the combination of black and white for this website because I can put an ad like my FREE eBook and the Upcoming Post section with Red and Blue font colors of the text in it.

This emphasizes a lot more on the colored ads.  Readers will take notice of it once they start to read the content.

These are the things that I changed:

• Relocated the FREE eBook from the top right side bar to the left

• Transferred the the Google Adsense banner to the top of the post instead of the header.  This, I think will give my header a space so it can be noticed.  There are no more gaps between the navigation tabs and the post itself.

• The Upcoming Post also had gone upwards.  I think it might be good to position it this way to get the attention of the readers.

Have a closer look at the new website:

How Did I Changed the Layout?
This is easy to those who are using blogger, that is why I recommend Blogger to you.  In just two simple steps, you can change your layout quickly.

• Go to your Dashboard and click Layout
• Drag the Gadget to where you want it to be.

You're Done!

Please give me your comment about my move. This might increase the number of readers at my site and I'm hoping that I earn more money from adsense, get advetisers and enjoy a lot from blogging.

If you have some questions, please contact me at benalagnam@yahoo.com and also LIKE me at Facebook.

Blogging and Network Connection to Servers Explained

Now, you know that blogging is sharing any type of information in the internet.  The next thing that you need to know is how does a blog in the internet works? 

What really happens when you type in to the computer.  I know that most of you know the answer, but for the benefit of the doubt, I'll explain it further.

Technical Aspects of Internet

Sharing information in the internet is quite difficult if you don’t know about the basic of the internet  or network connection.  So, I’ll explain to you how do network and blogging works.  

Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks, where the information is stored in a building facility with lots of hard drives or storage in it, called the Server.  These hard drives have the same function with the computer's hard disk that you’re using right now, which stores information in a form called a data.  

But, these are two times or more powerful than yours.  It needs to handle a lot of data from other customers as well.

These data can be stored and retrieved anytime as long as you have a connection between your computer and the Server.  The people that serve your connection are called the Internet Service Providers (ISP). 

They install cables and satellites or any wireless communication device in order for it to connect your computer to the Server.   The ISP is the reason why you are paying your internet billing every month.

If you take out one of the two, either the Server or the ISP, from the system, then you will not have any internet connection.

How Message Transmits Through the Internet

Let’s say you are sending a tweet using the Twitter, once you write something at the tweet box and presses Enter, that information is stored as data.  

These data will be interpreted by the computer and will be sent through the Internet Service Provider line and to the Twitter Server. 

Twitter will then store this data in their server with your address or Twitter account in it.  After it is stored, Twitter will then send the information back to you through your ISP.  

This time, the message will appear at the Twitter tweets in order for you and your followers see your message.

What is the Recommended Server for Blogging?

Now, blogging is the same with this layout.  In the use, like you, to server connection, you need to connect with a Server and register an account, so you can make a storage for your blog website.  

Websites are handled by servers and there are lots of them in the internet.  Few common examples are Twitter, Facebook, Google, Yahoo others.

Your account in one of those mentioned is a data storage in their Server facilities.  When you access your account, you are then connected to that storage space in their Server.  Then you can open, retrieve, edit and save your data anytime with an internet connection.

For beginners, I recommend to use the Blogger.  These are the advantages for this Server.

• Blogger is owned by Google and you know who's this giant, right?
• It is definitely FREE 
• It takes care of your blog website well.
• You can change your URL address as easy as ABC.
• You can monetize, make money, in it immediately after having an account with Google Adsense.
• You can edit the face of your Website.
• Very convenient to use.

Check out my next post on to "How to Setup a Blog Website in Blogger?".

If you have any questions or comments about this post, feel free to write a comment below or email me at benalagnam @ yahoo.com

The Meaning of Make Future Income in Blogging

Few years ago, I was inspired with some internet bloggers showing their earnings from Google or other sponsors.  It was a longtime dream for me or even to other bloggers as well.

Since I had an existing blog, BenAlagnam.com, I opted to try this route.  Clueless but inspired, I researched through the internet on how to setup one.

Until I found the solutions and immediately updated my blog to a money making machine.  No, it's not what you think as a HUGE money making machine, but a money,  in cents, making machine.

Google Adsense is not the best way of making money online.  Soon you will find out why as I go along with Make Future Income.  It's only the start-up goal for beginners, like me.  This will keep a blog alive and the blogger's motivational level will be at high peak.

I know that you've seen a lot of ads like:

• How To Make Money Online with Big Returns
• How To Make 6-figures a Month Through Blogging
• How To Become Really Rich By Blogging
• etc...

All of these are true, BUT,  a lot of time, effort, and money are  poured into the system.  This is not an easy-build-easy-money system.  This is a system that a newbie cannot do with limited knowledge on the concept of blogging, marketing and coding.

To tell you more about money in blogging, it's not what you think like money just grows from trees and your blogs.  It involves:

• Networking, 
• Consistent blog posting, 
• Interacting with readers/followers, 
• More on research.   

I am fortunate that God gave me the ability to withstand long hours of research in the net.  It doesn't tire me easily.  They said that it's unhealthy to stare at your computer for long hours, but HEY! I love doing it.

Before I go blind or die, I'd rather had build a lot of empires than having a healthy life but not doing something.

Now, let me get you to the point here and give you an idea on what I meant for Make Future Income.  But first,  I'll show you my evidence.

Ben Alagnam's Google Adsense Earning

To protect my privacy, which other bloggers do most, I blurred out my name and some important details in it.

The important things here is that USD101.41 written on the cheque.  That is what I'm talking about Make Future Income.  This is not my first cheque and I'm positive that I'll be getting more of it in the future and maybe some sponsorship as well.

My time is not dedicated on this blogs because I'm busy working in Singapore.  I blog only if I liked to, there's no pressure in it.

About and hour or two, I just give few posts about important information that happened to me that day or week and leave my post in the internet for my readers to read.

Then the magical thing happens, I get few cents for it without doing hard selling and marketing at my side.  I popped few posts at my Facebook and Twitter account and that's it.

But, of course, there are other techniques to do it, but I tell you, it's not that difficult.  This will take you around a total of 6 hours a week doing it.

Follow me along the way and I'll discuss it slowly one by one.  Blogging is forever anyway.

_______________________________________________
If you like my comment or have some questions, please contact me at benalagnam@yahoo.com.
For stories about a life of a foreign worker in Singapore, visit my site at BenAlagnam.com
If you want to apply for a Permanent Residence, the Federal Skilled Worker in Canada, visit my MeMovingToCanada blog.

Blog and Blogging Explained

Let me start on how the word blog originated and was termed as blog or blogging.

There was this man, named John Barger, who coined the word "weblog".  Weblog is the term when you log distinct entries of data at the World Wide Web or what is now commonly known as the internet.  It was later shortened to the word "blog".

Basically, blogging is a form of sharing an information in the internet.  It can be in the form of videos, written words, audios or images.

Blog can easily be created by an individual, called a blogger. As long as there is an internet connection and a blog website, blogging exists.  I'll explain this further as we go along...

How Man Started Blogging?
Before you can start your blog, you need to know the history behind it.  This will give you a wide idea about the world of blogging and that's the time when you can start and tweak blogs at your own.

To start with, this will be a good example that I can share about how man started the concept about blogging.  Although it was not called as blogging back then, we can safely say that it was the evolution of man's blogging.

Let's go back to the primitive time where computer does not exist and even fire was still yet to be discovered.

Primitive people tend to tell stories through songs and dances.  The most important thing they did was to carve on the walls of rocks in caves, or anywhere they can make their carver dig in.

They scribble and draw symbols of animals, plants and basically all that they see everyday.

As time goes by, the one who carved on the walls had died or migrated to other places, yet he left his masterpieces on the walls and new settlers can now see it.

When paper was discovered, man writes letters or draws images on it.  These papers can be posted on the walls with a photo of a man and a written word "MOST WANTED" ads so others may see what's the newest public enemy number one or as simple as job postings.

Then, man invented the television wherein a certain group of people, called the media, creates news about anything that happened recently so others can watch it everyday at their picture tubes.

In this modern era, internet is now present and the carvings, paper and television can now be created or viewed through a screen.  The best invention in this century is that these media can be saved as data, can be retrieved and viewed at the other side of the globe.

When men carve on walls, write on paper, and creates media on televisions, they are sharing an information of something.  It can be visions seen yesterday, at present or the future.  This is how man started the concept of blogging.

What Are the Examples of Blogs?
As what I explained above, Blogs can be in the form of videos, images, audios or words.  All of these types can also be combined in a single blog.

There are tons of blogs out there and it comes with different styles and types, I'll name a few:

• Video blogs - this form of blogging is through visual.  Readers or viewers can view the blog by watching it.  A great example of this is my driving skills in YouTube.  You can view lots of videos out there made of random topics by random people.   
• Audio blogs- this blog is audible, which means you can listen to it.  It can be in the form of music, narrations and commentaries.  This is commonly known as PodCast.  One example is the RadioLab. You can listen to it.
• Words blogs - a common type of blog where everything you see are all words or with limited amount of images or videos.  An example of this kind of blog are my blogs and few others, such as:
• BenAlagnam.com - there were few images or videos in it.  It's an 80% word blog.
• MeMovingToCanada- you can also seldom see images or videos in it.  It's just words with colors.
• Twitter - A micro blog that consists of only 140 characters.
• MakeFutureIncome - a blog that is about blogging by using characters to form words.  
• Image blogs - consists of contents that are expressed through the use of images.  A perfect example of this is the I Love Photo Blogs.  This is usually made by bloggers who are photographers and also people who loves to share their photos online, called the photo bloggers.

The next example that I will show you is quite surprising.  You are probably using it right now and you might not know that it is a form of blogging.  It is an example of a blog where all media are combined.  

• Combined media blogs - it consists of videos, audios, words, and images in one platform.  A perfect example of this type is FACEBOOK.  Subscribers can post any type of media, comment and like anything on the platform.  These people are posting something on their walls, so it's a form of blogging.  Surprised??? You should be...

There are many types of blogs as you can see at my examples.  Then you wonder how to start one or what are the topics to start with?

No problem...

The next posts will be more interesting.  This is the time when you can change your mindset to a different perspective, it would be for blogging.

You can follow my blog and I'll explain more of it until you can make your own and earn additional money.  Eventually, this will become your future business and achieve your goal to Make Future Income.

If you have questions about this blog, you can leave your comment below or email me at benalagnam@yahoo.com. 

What Happened to My Travel Networking Business

On my previous blog, I had discussed about a travel business.  I will give you the update and tell you more about my story on how my travel business went. But first...

I just came home from work.  As usual, I can hear children and teenagers playing basketball and shouting because just outside my window is a basketball court and a playground.  The voices and the sound of dribbling is fun to my ears and I like it. - Ben

What is a Travel Networking Business?
The business that I'm in to was a travel business.  A travel business with a networking business model or should I say a pyramid scheme.  If you are not familiar with a pyramid scheme, it goes like this...

A person recruits or invite another person, 2nd person, to join and buy a product.  The customer, the 2nd person, will be the downline of the 1st person and will be placed at his lower right side.  Then when a third person joins who was recruited by the 1st, then he will be at his left side.  So goes for the 2nd person and the 3rd once they invited persons down their line.  It forms a pyramid.

The product is about travel.  Once you join the "team", you can have discounts on holidays, which the company offers and the air ticket bookings as well.  You can have your own website where you can book your ticket or someone's ticket, which you also earn a dollar per booking.

The perks and the offers are really great, no doubt.  If you compare to other holiday offers, this is cheaper. 

You will attend a scheduled conference with the trainers and the highest earners but with a cost.

What Are The Advantages as a Member?
Aside from having benefits as stated above,
1. You can also learn how to sell, especially how to convince people just to watch a video presentation of the co-founder.

2. The team will teach you how to talk to the phone with friends or strangers and having them convinced to meet with you in a place and watch the video presentation.

3. You can learn the art of networking and how not to be shy in front of strangers.

4.  Working hard will earn you more.


Are There Disadvantages?
Sure, if there are advantages, there will also be disadvantages.

1.  The team is always on the move, every after office work, to visit the new clients and to present the networking videos, the product and convincing them to join.

At this type of selling, I find it too difficult and time consuming.  It will consume 4 hours of my time and if someone signs up, lucky if it's from my invite, I can just earn $20 per person. 

It is difficult for me to convince people this way because of the nature of the marketing.  We go from house to house and it reminds of me of an electrolux man, a door to door salesman.

We go home at 1:00am, everyday!  This is totally not for me.

2.  Yes it's true that the holiday vacations are cheaper, but this is a scheduled holiday.  You can not choose anytime you want.  This is not for me.

3.  The airline booking is cheaper as compared with the normal booking at the airline booking itself.  But the airlines they offer are the expensive ones.  I only take budget airlines when I go back home.  It is much cheaper and I still can go home by air.  This is not for me.

This is Not For Me
I was holding the membership for 4 months while paying the monthly fee.  This is one of my regrettable investment in my life. 

The joy of leaving the company and informing my upline that I'm quiting is great!  Of course, at their minds, I'm a quitter! 

Lessons Learned
I was convinced by my friend to join the team in just 4 hours and I paid through my credit card. 

I should have thought of it overnight and haven't brought my credit card with me.

Do not join a group or a business without discussing it with some experienced person or checking the whole legitimacy of the business. 

Tell that someone who recruited or invited you that you have to think about it for 2 days.  If he or she still persists, don't bother to join the group or ask them more questions until you're totally convinced and think of it for 2 days...

Please check my post about why I started this blog to know more about me and my blog.  Don't forget to subscribe.