I just realized that, although I've had the SocialSpark widget in my Makin' the Bacon sidebar and I've frequently posted about SocialSpark over on my Roxiticus Desperate Housewives blog since I joined on April 8th, I haven't really given you the complete lowdown here on SocialSpark... kind of a combination of social networking (a la Blog Catalog or MyBlogLog or Zimbio, to name a few) and PayPerPost. Since then, I have really been enjoying the SocialSpark experience and, most importantly, I have made much more money from SocialSpark and PayPerPost than any of the other paid blogging services covered here at Makin' the Bacon...about 400 bucks over 3 months for SocialSpark, and another $500 since March on PayPerPost. While I have frequently joked at Roxiticus Desperate Housewives that I have "no friends" (if you're looking at MySpace or Friendster or Facebook), I have made all kinds of blogging friends at SocialSpark (closing in on 4,000 as I post today, but still less than half of the members), not to mention "faving" familiar faces from BlogExplosion like Mariuca, Tricia and Lady Java. Matt (Michigan Rafter) finally signed up last weekend. Check out SocialSpark by clicking the picture or one of the text links in this post, then swing by my profile and give my profile and my blog a PROP! I'll do the same for you.
Now is the time! There are lots and lots of new opportunities available for verified blogs. So get yourself over to SocialSpark and start the process! Or take a moment and read the steps I have outlined below.
To combat the problems other paid post services have had with Google PageRank, SocialSpark has a solid code of ethics:
- 100% Audit-able In-Post Disclosure
- 100% Transparency
- 100% Real Opinions
- 100% Search Engine Friendly
So joining SocialSpark and starting to post paid opportunities shouldn't cause Google to spank your blog....but if they do, IZEA, the owners of Social Spark, have created a new ranking system called RealRank to save the day. See my badge smiling at you from the sidebar??!! Go ahead, click on it and get a RealRank of your very own.
Now, let me take you through the steps for joining and getting to know Social Spark:
FIRST: Click any of my SocialSpark screenshots or text links in this post to sign up.
SECOND: Create your SocialSpark Blogger profile (I also have a SocialSpark Advertiser profile, but we'll get to that later). First, you'll choose a profile display name. This name should represent you as a Blogger, no matter how many blogs you have, but you can change it later if you decide your name no longer suits you. My name is Roxiticus Desperate Housewives since that's really my identity as well as my most popular blog. Then you'll fill in some basic demographic stuff, which you have the option of keeping private. After you enter the basics, it's time to upload an Avatar (of course, you'll see that my large avatar is Bree, but due to a funny cropping issue with SocialSpark, in my small square avatar only a glimpse of red hair shows up...just a little tease for all of my friends).
THIRD: It's time to register your blogs. You can add as many blogs as you have, even if they don't qualify for paid post opportunities. I have four blogs up on Social Spark (Roxiticus Desperate Housewives, Roxiticus Best Blogs, Makin' the Bacon Online, and Bay Head New Jersey Blog), but only Roxiticus Desperate Housewives qualified right away. I worked hard on developing content for my Bay Head Blog, and Customer Love just recently verified it for paid opportunities. Later, after you've met SocialSpark's criteria for your blog, there's a button you can hit to re-submit your blog for verification.
That's it...you're ready to go explore SocialSpark! Once you join, I'll send you a message asking you to be my friend, you'll say yes, and then you can click on that little glimpse of red hair square to hop over to my profile and give me a PROP! Leave me a comment on my profile, and I'll scurry right on over to your new profile to check out your blog(s) and give you a PROP!
Look for me out there and....Happy Sparking!
