Comments on: Camera Phone Blog gets a New Editor

By: Darren Rowse

Darren Rowse — Wed, 12 Oct 2005 13:33:28 +0000

I’m not sure we’ll be talking about this publically in any detail Mike. Will let you know if we do though.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 12 Oct 2005 12:48:44 +0000

Would be interested to know how you organize compensation. Salary or percentage of earnings etc.

By: Adam

Adam — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 09:34:10 +0000

BJ, I think you are doing a great job. I write on a couple of blogs for other people and always find my postings on them coming second to writing on my own handful of blogs. The commitment you must have to put in the number of quality postings that you have been doing on the Camera Phone Blog is admirable.
On another note, I’ve been running my mobile phones website as a clumsy HTML site for around 2 and a half years and after seeing how good yours looks I’ve decided this week to scrap the old site and move to a blog format with Wordpress. Just hope I can keep on top of posting to it every day.

By: BJ

BJ — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 21:41:22 +0000

I just thought I’d chime in here and add to something that was brought up initially in the comments – Darren definitely isn’t a micro-manager. I’m used to working on my own, and it’s been nice to know that he seems comfortable with my blogging. When I’ve needed a nudge in the right direction, I get emails that carefully point me there without stepping on my toes. :)

But at the same time, I know he’s there and available, just in case, and that’s been good too. I suspect, Darren, that you won’t have any trouble bringing more bloggers onto your LivingRoom blogs, because you’re very easy to work with.

By: Darren Rowse

Darren Rowse — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 13:23:25 +0000

I hear what you’re saying – but I don’t know that most people who read this blog will have any issues with it. Most readers hear know that I have 20 blogs – that I work on multiple projects and a variety of business interests including b5.

I’ll keep i in mind of course.

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 12:55:27 +0000

I am fully in agreement with you. But I’m not talking about those groups of people. I’m talking about your potential blog network writers who may find you here and read what you say.

They may not know you, and they might have those kinds of reactions upon reading that you are operating outside of your own network. And please don’t think that I am at all a detractor. I think this blog is fantastic and has helped me tremendously in getting started and I think b5 is also great for those who will join it with the right attitude and bring their “A” game to the party. I am just pointing out that you might need to be careful what sorts of things you post here relative to your own blog business because while you may still actually BE a free agent in some ways, you are also part of the network. The two are very very much related and I would hate for you to be sabotaging your network in any way by turning people off here. I hope that makes sense.

By: Darren Rowse

Darren Rowse — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 12:03:57 +0000

I suspect that very few of our network’s readers would have any idea of who is behind our blog as owners – what other blogs they have – and many of them would have little understanding that what they are reading is a blog in and of itself.

I doubt it would have much impact whether they see my other blogs as part of it or not.

Another factor – the b5 network already has a cell phone blog – two might be overkill.

In terms of whether I’m behind b5 totally or not – I don’t think anyone who knows me or reads this blog would doubt my committment to it with the time, thought and effort we’ve put into the thing.

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 12:02:44 +0000

Oh, and BTW, those minimalls DO pay pretty well. I got my first click from one yesterday. And yeah, it was only one, but it did pay well for being only one click. Hopefully, several more clicks will be forthcoming. LOL

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 11:58:00 +0000

I suppose that makes a certain amount of sense, but… speaking strictly as the devil’s advocate, it also could give the impression that you aren’t 100% behind b5. I’m sure that’s not the actual case, and I am sure that you have your reasons. But the first thought I had was “hey, why isn’t that part of b5?” I don’t see any reason why you and the other partners in b5 couldn’t work out a part of your own corporate agreement which deals with bringing your own blogs under the b5 umbrella. I think to the general public, in terms of brand strength and confidence, that would send a very strong message. If your own blogs aren’t part of the network, I think the network loses a bit of its cache.

By: Darren Rowse

Darren Rowse — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 11:47:23 +0000

Andy’s right. Some of our pre-existing blogs might come in on b5 at some point – but just because we have started a new business together doesn’t mean all our existing ones need to merge.

I guess its about diversification of incomes. As I always argue here – it’s not smart to have all your eggs in the one basket. My other blogs will definately support the b5 blogs via links and cross promotion from time to time – but they don’t need to become one with each other.

There are other more complicated reasons of course also – but this is at the crux of it.

By: Andy Merrett

Andy Merrett — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 11:07:44 +0000

All the founders of b5media have their own existing projects and I think it’s good that some things are still separate.

Also, though the owners could bend the rules, existing blogs don’t get added to b5media – it’s for new blogs. Some of Darren’s blogs have been running for a long time.

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 10:27:49 +0000

I’m curious, why didn’t you just make it part of b5? Seems like you’ve got what you think is a good system for managing bloggers who are working on blogs that you own already. Why create a different system just because it’s a blog that you started yourself? I think that may create more headaches for you.

By: Andy Merrett

Andy Merrett — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 07:51:33 +0000

Yes it can be tough to hand on something, even voluntarily. It will be an interesting experience for you both, but I’m sure very beneficial.

Do you feel like paying me for one of your other blogs, although I’m not writing on it I am still getting the trackback spam emails from it ;)

Jealous, moi?

Blue with envy – hehe.

By: Chris Owen

Chris Owen — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 06:42:48 +0000

ooh stuart is a man who knows the issues that can make small business operators struggle!!

but i’m convinced you won’t micro-managing poor BJ.

Congrats to both you and BJ, Darrem

By: ME Strauss

ME Strauss — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 06:42:03 +0000

You are so right to take it slow. Get one going right. Make sure you’ve worked out the process and the communication things. It’s so human nature to think we can run right through those steps and it trips us up every time that we do.

Congratulations on the free time you’re finding for you.

By: Stuart

Stuart — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 05:56:14 +0000

Congratulations Darren – it’s great to see you moving ahead like this.

The biggest test is going to come in the next week or two – will you really be able to delegate or will you be always going back to look over BJ’s shoulder … just to be sure? :)