A newbie all over again as I start my mainstream endeavor
 

I already have WP multi site installed but thought it was best that I didn't use it for mainstream since its IP resolves to adult and if someone enters a subdomain that doesn't exist they get the root porn blog of this multi site setup.

So I just finished installing WP multi site on an IP that I don't use for adult.

I think I'm going to try doing a kayaking blog first (still need to pick a domain for it) but wanted something very general for the multi site install default blog that people get if they put in a non existing subdomain so I did an install on stopbuygo.com. Later on I'll decide what to do with this blog.

I guess the next thing to do is start a kayaking blog and then after I make some posts start signing up with some affiliate programs.

Everyone that kayaks could use Tanning Products from http://www.tancash.com/ :)

Maybe it's because I'm viewing it on my phone but it isn't really clear what it is that an affilate would actually be selling. I guess by their domain they sell tanning supplies. Kayakers actually want sun block products and clothing that blocks the sun.

I believe you're right - they are selling products that promote tanning - but most without blocking it. In my mind, I keep thinking of 'tanning products' as sunblock or suntan lotion - but this is a little different.

Good idea Cleo - I was also going to do a diary type thread similar to this on my next project - keep updating

once you get into mainstream then you see how much has not even been mined yet

I'm going to keep on posting as I make progress but it is going to be slow going as I'm finishing my adult stuff first each day as that is what pays my bills.

Like today, had planned on doing more with it but it's 5:30 in the afternoon and I still have hours of adult work to do.

I need either longer days or to give up sleeping.

I did a theme. I guess that is a start. lol

I was going to do a kayaking blog right away but I've decided to instead work on this domain and to make this kind of a convenience store. I don't really expect to make any money with this domain. It's more for a learning experience.

That's a nice looking theme Cleo. If it doesn't do everything you need it to do, there are a ton of plugins for wordpress. If you need something, it's almost a given someone has one written for the job. :)

Actualy one of the things I want to use the blog for is to find out what kind of plugins are useful for mainstream stuff.

If this was an adult blog I'd just just fill up the content part with pics pointing to paysites.

I guess I could put pics of products that I'd write about but is there something better? Maybe somekind of plugin made for doing a storefront?

I have never used these and just found them by doing a google search for "wordpress storefront plugins" http://getshopped.org/ or http://www.instinct.co.nz/e-commerce/

Well after staring at the blog template that I did trying to think of WTF to do with it I've decided to instead get my feet wet doing a Southeast Florida Snorkeling Blog.

So for the only thing done is the About page but I should have it pretty much done in less than a week.

I'm planning on adding blog posts as I do snorkels and already have about 5 posts with content shot.

Besides having product links in my posts and banners in the sidebar I'm doing pages like this unfinished Camera Page on different stuff that I use for snorkeling.

So far I only know of Amazon affiliate products but looking to spot other affiliate programs as I surf for snorkeling products.

Google's connectcommerce.com has a lot of stores, cj.com is still around as well.

This has been a learning experience.

I first built StopBuyGo.com and realized that an online convenience store was probably not a great idea so never did anything with it beyond making a theme for it.

Then I did a snorkeling blog which turned out to be a decent idea although it never made any money.

Doing just a snorkeling blog was too limiting and people around me kept on telling me to also do a kayaking blog.

So now I've setup a blog where I can easily add category sections that each has its own theme and imported incorporated snorkeling blog into it.

Trying to find sponsors is a real challenge. For now I've got a bunch of Amazon stuff in there but it's more of a place holder than anything. I've looked through Atrinsica and Commission Junction but I'm not seeing sponsors with the kind of things that I think might sell.

Hoping after it's up for a few months and I've got more link trades going I can sell some ad spots.

I get good results by writing posts on an actual product (even it all/some/most of it is fabricated :))

Also - when using banners... Doing the old "Buy Now" or "Order now" trick seems to get me good results... but only above the content... I never had much luck anywhere else on the page