My Blog = My Life: The biggest factors holding bloggers back

In the history of the blogosphere, it was almost always considered wrong to monezite your blog. When a blogger did it, it was shocking. It was appalling. It was even considered selling out.

But then, a few years ago the entire monetization game changed. Blogs everywhere started finding ways to sell advertising on their posts, around their posts, above their posts, beside their posts, within their posts, and ______ their posts (choose any preposition). Big bloggers. Small bloggers. Bloggers in-between. Ads started showing up everywhere.
I also threw some ads up on Single Dad Laughing when I first started it. I mean, Google just made it so darn easy, how could I not? And guess what, I made a few cents. It was great.
But then, I realized something. The reason people pay to put ads on other people's blogs is because it works. It brings them leads. It builds their brand. It gives them more business. So... if it worked for them, was I ultimately shooting myself in the foot by giving away my best and most visual blog real estate in exchange for a few pennies here and there? What if I advertised myself and my blog in the same places?
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There are thousands of webpages and blogs telling you how you should blog, the vast majority of whom actually have no clue how to turn your blog into a big blog. Most of them have been started by people who, usually with good intentions, want to make a quick buck advertising, so they glom the content off of other blog building blogs, write quick generic blog posts, and hope for traffic. While there are a few very high quality, good sources out there, most of what you read on other "blog building" blogs must be taken with a grain of salt.

Now, I'm going to say something that might be hard to swallow. The truth to blogging is that there are no "rules." None. Zero. Zip. Nada.

But, here are a few of the ones going around, all of which you should immediately forget.

Rule #1. To make a blog big you have to come up with something completely different than any other blog.
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The very, very first thing that every blogger needs is a blog that looks good. I refer to amateur, quick template, easy setup type blogs as nerd blogs. Don't ask me why, I just always have. It has nothing to do with the people writing them, and everything to do with the blogs themselves.

To me, a true nerd is somebody who doesn't care what he looks like. He doesn't care what people think of him. He doesn't care that he's socially undesirable. He doesn't care that he wears outdated clothing. Nerd blogs are the same. They are blogs that took advantage of the quick and easy templates, have no special graphics, and when I arrive at those blogs, I don't think anything except, where's the X button on my browser.

Over the next several months, we'l be discussing (one item at a time), some of the many things you can do to make your blog look awesome. It doesn't matter if you use Blogger or WordPress or TypePad. It doesn't matter how much computer expertise you have (or don't have). It doesn't matter how much time you have. There's nothing you can't do to your own blog, and there are a bazillion little things you can do to make your blog look better. If you follow along, your blog will start looking superb.
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Today let's talk about Internet Trolls. Specifically, those people who, while hiding behind their magical curtains of anonymity, are _____________ (fill in the blank... jerks, bullies, douche bags). You know who I'm talking about. If you don't, buckle up because you will.

For some reason, the Internet makes a few people feel completely comfortable being colossal jerks to those around them. People take "courage" behind a keyboard where in real life they might be somebody else altogether.

To me, it's a lot like road rage. For some reason on the road, some people think it's okay to be rude, offer less than friendly gestures, or scream at others. Some go absolutely ballistic.

The other day I was driving a few miles from my home. Another car and I pulled up to the intersection simultaneously, and both of us started pulling into the intersection at the same time (it was my fault). The driver of the other car laid on the horn, started smashing his fists against the wheel, and flipped me off. It all happened in less than three seconds.

Then... we both realized it at the same time... We were friends. Neighbors. We talk to each other often. We... liked each other. He immediately melted into his seat, horrified. I shot him a friendly wave and a big smile. He melted even further and gave me a half-wave, half-smile in return. I could tell he was feeling really stupid about his outburst. I ushered him through, waved again, and that was that. I laughed for the next two minutes.
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