As part of my entry to the The Blogpreneur Contest, being run by Chitika I’m supposed to write a bit about the success of Obzokee.com. Where do I start? Here is the trouble I’m having with this… how does one measure success in the case of a blog? I’m sure the people at Chitika are probably looking for stories about how much money people like John Chow etc are making with their blogs, but what about the guy who’s doing it for other reasons?

My success so far as I see it with Obzokee.com.

- I get the daily pleasure of being able to speak about something I do (work from home) and at the same time help others who are either wanting to secure a job they can do from home or who are currently working out of their home offices. There are so many misconceptions and untruths when it comes to telecommuting, I see what I and the others who contribute being a guiding light in a world full of scams.

- Yes, I do make some money from the ads and affiliate links that are include amongst the posts and I’d be lying if I said I could care less if I make money or not. I’d like to be able to make enough money from this blog one day so I can dedicate more time to it and pay others who contribute. But at this point the $50 or so a month that’s generated is barely enough to pay the hosting charges etc Mind-you, 1 month ago income was ZERO, so there is progress when it come to financial gain.

- Satisfaction. Obzokee.com went over a year with barely any visitors and only 8 subscribers to the feed. Last month we did a redesign and things have really changed. With over 500 feed subscribers and in excess of 5700 visitors the past 30 days and over 14,000 page views, things are going in the right direction. We’re reaching more people on a daily basis and really connecting with them which would explain the increase in subscribers and increase in visitors.

- People are speaking up. One of the key elements as I see it to a successful blog, is when readers are leaving comments. Shows that they are connecting with what you’re saying and are not shy to give their opinion on the subject. One of the things I’ve noticed besides the comments that are now being left in response to posts, people are using the “contact” link on the blog. Slowly I’m being sort-after as an expert on the subject of the blog.

So is Obzokee.com successful? Without hesitation YES! It’s covering the expense of itself, subscribers and visitors are growing very fast, people are commenting on posts, people are seeking me out as an expert on telecommuting and as mentioned at the start, I get to speak about what I do. Does it get any better?

In closing I’d like to share these few words. If you blog… organize the content so it’s easy to follow, try and stick to the topic as much as you can, try your best to add a personal touch with pictures and life stories (readers like to know that you’re just like them), attract writers who also share your passion for the topic of the blog and invite them to share their experiences (means you’ll always have something to post even when you get writer’s block), ask and show readers how to take action (ask them to comment, ask them to subscribe to your blog’s feed), be sure to keep your blog updated or readers will loose interest very fast - there are hundreds or similar blogs just waiting for their attention and most of all… have fun.

Fingers Crossed - Let’s hope my entry gets chosen

Friends I need your help! I got an email from our daughter this morning about a serious fund raiser she’s involved with and she needs OUR help! Tehya is a very caring child and over the years she’s always tried to be involved in events that help others and we take a lot of pride in seeing her dedication to helping the less fortunate. Here is the email I got in my inbox…

I am currently involved in a Fundraiser at my High school to support the fight against HIV/AIDS projects in Africa. I, along with other students across High Schools in Canada are participating in an event called “Shut Up and Do Something!” on May 8th. We are working in partnership with the Canada Africa Partnership on Aids (CAPAIDS) which supports grassroots HIV/AIDS programs in numerous countries across Africa.

Please watch our information video at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=UcCXlH4rIfg

You can sponsor me through a secure online donation using your Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Diner credit card. It’s easy! Just click http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?SID=1812949 to get to my individual fundraising page.

After making an on-line donation, you will be emailed an electronic tax receipt.

If you would like to send a cash donation please respond to my email and I will arrange for your donation!

AIDS in Africa is a big problem - perhaps the biggest health crisis the world has ever seen. Every month, over 160,000 Africans die from AIDS. Although the numbers seem overwhelming, we can make a difference. That’s why I am participating in “Shut Up And Do Something!”.

To find out more about “Shut Up And Do Something!” you can visit our website at: www.shutupanddosomething.com

To find out more about CAPAIDS you can visit their website at: www.capaids.org

Thank you for supporting me and for making a difference!

Sincere thanks for your generosity,

Tehya De La Rosa

Yesterday Tehya canvassed our neighborhood getting pledges to support her “can’t talk day” at school. Basically she had to go the entire day at school today without speaking. Please show your support for Tehya and her goal to help the fight against HIV/AIDS projects in Africa by pledging your support on her individual page. You may notice that the page says that her goal is set at $10 and she’s already raised $20. But that was an error when she made the page, so please ignore it. There’s no cap and I’d really like to get your help in supporting her.

I’ll post another update the end of next week to report the final amount Tehya was able to raise (with your assistance).

Here again is the link to help: http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?SID=1812949 BTW, if you’re wondering, YES you do get an official tax receipt.

Over the last 9 years I’ve heard it all… Why doesn’t Glen get a real job? Do you have to work from home? Why don’t you get an office? You have no idea what a real job is! You have no clue what it is to work hard. Why does dad have to be here ALL THE TIME? Can he not find somewhere else to play with his computer? It’s almost sickening to hear (I mean really pay attention and listen) what people say and think about what you do. Funny thing is, it’s usually the people most close to you.

I think it was a recent CareerBuilder.com survey I was reading found..

What are people focusing on instead of their professional duties?

• Children — 22 percent
• Personal calls and surfing the Internet — 17 percent
• Vegging out: watching TV and/or sleeping — 15 percent
• Personal errands — 11 percent
• Housework — 9 percent

No wonder people think we scratch-ass all day

Yes, telecommuting or working out of your home will never get the credit it deserves, well not until more people are doing so. It’s assumed that it’s not real work and it shouldn’t be taken seriously! I try to put myself in my girls shoes and see things from their side of things… It must SUCK that your dad is there 24-7. I mean, you can’t sneak off, you can’t sneak friends over, you can’t do as you please as if he wasn’t home, you have to be quiet when he’s working.. don’t you dare scream or get the dog barking when he’s on the phone… well the list (in their mind) is probably long.

Tough luck… this is my job and I work very hard at it people. If you’re lucky you’ll be able to enjoy the work from home life one day