Paid Blogging Market Review

The market for paid blog posts received a lot of attention lately. Services like PayPerPost created an innovative, albeit sometimes polemic, business model to connect advertisers with bloggers. Advertisers gain publicity, traffic and improve their search engine rankings. Bloggers, on the other hand, receive an extra opportunity to generate revenue from their website.

Personally I am still evaluating whether advertisers should buy posts or reviews directly from bloggers (in fact I refused to publish sponsored posts a couple of times already) but some of the companies offering paid blog posts do have a legit advertising model behind them. Below I will cover the main paid blogging services, check it out:

SponsoredReviews.com: As you can notice from the sidebar SponsoredReviews is a sponsor of this blog (although this is not a paid post). The reason why I accepted the company as a sponsor is pretty simple, I do believe that their business model is credible. SponsoredReviews, in fact, require full disclosures and they accept both positive and negative reviews. Another advantage of SponsoredReviews comes from the fact that they allow bloggers and advertisers to negotiate the price directly, reducing the transaction fees.

ReviewMe: ReviewMe is one of latest entries to the market, and apparently it is performing really well. According to their website: “We like to keep the guidelines loose, so bloggers can write in a way that makes sense for their unique niche and audience. We do require that all reviews are at least 200 words long, and that the review post is disclosed as being sponsored in some fashion”. The main difference of ReviewMe is that they automatically calculate the review prices based on a couple of parameters (pagerank, traffic, etc.).

PayPerPost: The company deserves the credit for making the pay per post model popular across the blogosphere. Unfortunately it received a lot of negative feedback when it launched its services without requiring bloggers to publish disclosures. Lately PayPerPost has been redesigning its offering though, including some interesting features like a “Top Earners” section where you can see who is making real money with the service. PayPerPost also has a lot of venture capital backing it up.

Blogvertise: Probably one of the first companies to employ the pay per post business model. If you search across the Internet you will find both positive and negative feedback about their service. They do have a vast array of advertising options, but some of the requirements are problematic (they require 3 outgoing links to advertisers, for instance). People also have complained about receiving late payments.

Rumored Nokia Lumia EOS Spotted in the Wild

The mythical Nokia Lumia EOS smartphone that’s been rumored with a 41-megapixel PureView camera sensor similar to that of theNokia 808 has been spotted in the wild. According to a report on WMPU, one of the publication’s readers has spotted the device out in the opened and the details were confirmed by another source.

No images of the devices were leaked or captured, but if the report is accurate, we now know a little bit more about the Lumia EOS.

According to the source, the device will not be using the new metal construction that’s employed on the new Lumia 925 flagship. Instead, Nokia will use a polycarbonate construction.

The device is made of polycarbonate, and is about as thick as the Nokia Lumia 920 in the middle, but is highly tapered at both ends, giving the impression of a much slimmer device.

The lens housing is round in shape and does not protrude much. The flash is Xenon, and the flash and lens are both smaller than the Nokia 808 Pureview. Next to the flash is a small red LED which may be a focus assist light.

If this information is accurate, it looks like Nokia has made considerable strides with the device. The thickness of the Nokia 808 was because the sensor is so big that it required that area, forcing Nokia to add a camera hump on the back.

The red LED auto-focus assist light seems rather odd as Nokia has moved to a white LED auto-focus assist light on both the Lumia 928 and the Nokia 808, both phones have Xenon flash capabilities as well. The smaller Xenon flash may be a bit of a disappointment. Though the flash on the Nokia 808 PureView is bright and powerful, the smaller Xenon flash on the Lumia 928 appears more muted and isn’t quite as good at illuminating a scene as that on the 808.

Why Transitional Doctypes are Better for WordPress Blogs

Have you ever heard the saying, “You should dress for the job you want, not for the one you have?” Obviously the point of this familiar line is that you need to prepare yourself and present yourself for the future that you want.

In a way, this saying should apply to your blog as well. Of course we’re not talking about a suit and tie, but rather the appearance of your blog that visitors are presented with the moment they arrive. This first impression can help readers to see you as the successful blogger you aim to be, or it can set you back if they see an unattractive look.

Dressing appropriately for a job shows that you are aware of your appearance, that you take your job seriously, and that you’re intending to go places. If you were starting a new job and your goal was to eventually be an executive of the company, you wouldn’t show up to work in jeans and a t-shirt. In order for others to see you for who you want to be, you have to present yourself as if you’re already there.

Go with the Flow: The Top Blogs

Take a look at some of the top blogs in your niche, and then look at some that get very little traffic and have few readers. You’re almost guaranteed to see some major differences. Sure, the more successful blogs may be able to spend more money on their appearance, but that’s not likely to be the most significant difference. In fact, with all of the blog themes available and resources for learning how to customize your own blog theme, money really doesn’t need to be a factor.

Now, take an objective look at your own blog. Does its appearance belong in the category of a successful blog or an unsuccessful blog?

If you could improve the appearance how would it affect your level of success? Obviously, blog success is far more dependent on content than on design and appearance, but the visitor’s first impression is more likely to be based on the attractiveness of your blog. Just like your ability to perform a job is determined by other factors than your appearance, but a sloppy presentation will kill your chances.

If your goal is to be among the top blogs in your niche, looking like you belong is a great start. Visitors are likely to immediately classify you according to your look. Yes, you can overcome a bad first impression with great content, but why not take advantage of the first impression? An attractive, professional-looking blog design will give you the look of a blog that’s on its way to success, and visitors are more likely to want to be a part of that.

The top blogs almost always have a very clean, professional look. The design of the blog should enhance the content, not distract the visitor’s attention away from it. Even the advertisements on successful blogs are chosen and placed strategically.

Free themes with no customization are rarely used by top tier blogs. Having a unique look is crucial to standing out to new visitors. The design doesn’t need to jump out and grab visitors; in fact, most good blog designs are subtly stylish. But it helps if your visitors are not seeing hundreds of other blogs with the same theme.

If a visitor arrives at a new blog for the first time and their initial impression is “amateur,” that blogger will have a hard time convincing the visitor that the blog itself is high quality.

So, what factors can help a blogger to create a great first impression? As most of us know by now, flashy ads that distract attention are an unwelcome sight for most readers. Harsh color combinations are also rarely used by successful blogs. Choose your ads and color combinations wisely when choosing a design.

Images and Theme Customization

Images can also be important, although many blogs don’t even need the use of photos to accomplish a good look. If you’re looking for free stock photos, trystock.xchng, FreePhotosBank, or FreeImages.co.uk. There are also a number of places to get very affordable, quality stock photos including Stock Xpert,iStockPhoto, and Big Stock Photo.

If you’re using a free theme (particularly WordPress users), try learning about themes from the WordPress Codex and forums. You’ll find plenty of information and help for making changes to a free theme. In many cases even small changes will help to make your blog more distinct.

If you’re not interested in doing the coding yourself, you may be able to find help for less money than you may expect by checking places like Craigslist andElance. These services may cost you a little bit now, but how much will a new look help you in your journey to being a more successful blogger?

Take a look at your blog and see how you might be able to “dress it” for the level of success that you want to achieve. Focus on providing a clean look that that tells your readers you’re serious about your appearance and you’re ready to take your blog to the next level.

Not just anyone can be an executive at a large company. Likewise, not just anyone can be a successful blogger in a crowded market. Give yourself the appearance of success and you’ll be one step closer to achieving it.

Google: Users are Still Tech’s Largest Security Flaw

Members of Google’s security team believe that the company’s biggest security challenges still revolve around users themselves.

That’s according to statements made by two of Google’s security experts and documented byCNET at Google I/O this past week. Eran Feigenbaum, the director of security for Google Apps, believes that users can help Google protect their accounts by enabling two-step authentication for their accounts.

“You should turn on two-step verification, make sure [the browser] is up to date, and make sure your password recovery options are set.”

Two-step authentication requires users to add a smartphone number and an additional email account as a way for the company to verify that it’s really them trying to access their account instead of a user who might have malicious intent. Google is able to do this by using these accounts to send a one-time verification code when someone attempts to log into an account that hasn’t yet been used by that account on Google’s services.

Dell XPS 13 Review: Editor’s Choice Windows 8 Ultrabook

Dell took everything we loved about the Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook and improved on it for 2013, which means it remains one of the best Ultrabooks on the market, even as it competes with Ultrabook convertibles and a new generation of MacBook Air notebooks.The Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook is now available with a 1080P Full HD display, new processors and more storage, wrapped up in the same sleek package we saw last year, and at competitive prices.

Because the Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook is one of the best Windows 8 ultrabooks available, we gave it a Notebooks.com Editor’s Choice Award.

The updated Dell XPS 13 isn’t a perfect Ultrabook, but thanks to the high-resolution display, an improved trackpad and great looking design, it should be at the top of the list for any Windows 8 notebook shopper with a budget over $1,000.

There is no touch screen option and Dell still doesn’t offer an SD card reader, but if we held out our search for the perfect notebook we’d never find one.

Pros 1080P HD display Nearly as small as 11-inch notebooks, with a 13-inch display Real 8+ hour battery life Great design and construction

Cons No touch screen option Touchpad is improved, but not perfect No SD card reader

The Dell XPS 13 is a Notebooks.com Editor’s Choice winner.

Watch our Dell XPS 13 review video to see how the XPS 13 compares to the MacBook Air in size and how much of a difference the XPS 13′s new 1080P HD display makes.Dell XPS 13 Video Review

Who is the Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook for?

Razer DeathAdder 2013

5. Razer DeathAdder 2013

Packing a 6400dpi 4G Optical sensor to deliver superior speed and response, the latest incarnation of the DeathAdder is primed for FPS gamers looking for increased levels of accuracy. The same slick and comfortable design is kept this time adding rubber side grips to make it ideal sessions that go long into the night. Razer Synapse 2.0 software support also means you can download game profiles and firmware updates with minimal fuss.

Price: £64.99 | Razer

HTC One Android 4.2 Update Release Pegged at 2-3 Weeks

The HTC One is still toiling away on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean but that may not last for much longer as a notorious insider has pegged the HTC One Android 4.2 Jelly Bean update as potentially heading out in two to three weeks time.

When the HTC One arrived back in April, it arrived with not only Sense 5 on board but also Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, an older version of Google’s Android software that is one step below the current software, Android 4.2. Android 4.1 Jelly Bean has been out since July of last year, Android 4.2 since November, so it’s no surprise that HTC One owners have been waiting, many impatiently, for the update to arrive.

The HTC One Android 4.2 update could come soon.

Thus far, HTC hasn’t given any hints as to when the update might be rolling out but thanks to a notorious HTC insider, we do have some unofficial information that points to a release as potentially taking place in the not-so-distant future.

Ubisoft: Assassin's Creed 4 won't outsell predecessor

Ubisoft has tempered the release of a new trailer forAssassin's Creed 4: Black Flag with the revelation that it doesn't expect the game to sell as well as Assassin's Creed 3.

The former game, set during the American Revolution in the 18th century has just shipped 12.5 million units but the French publisher doesn't expect the same performance from its sequel.

"To come back to Assassin's Creed IV, in our numbers we have…we expect less than last year," said CEO Yves Guillemot during an investor conference this week.

"We are actually pushing to achieve more than last year because we think the pirate segment is a great segment that can generate a lot more on a worldwide basis than what was achieved last year," Guillemot added.

"But we wanted to be prudent on our expectations so that it can probably be a bonus if it comes."

Cautious words from the studio considering Assassin's Creed is one of gaming's biggest franchises - even without original designer Patrice Désilets who wasrecently fired by Ubisoft all over again.

The new installment is set in 1775 and deals with piracy in the Caribbean. There will be three cities: Havana, Kingston and Nassau with 50 locations and a mix of land and sea-based stealth piracy shenanigans.

Regardless of Ubisoft's cautious approach, we're still pretty excited about the much-anticipated new game that's slated to appear in shops on November 1st for PC, Xbox 360, PS3 and WiiU.

Check out the new trailer below for a taste of what Black Flag has to offer.

10 Most Beautiful Blog Designs

Even if you are not a web designer you will probably find inspiration on this list. Glen Wolsey gathered together the “Top 10 Most Beautiful Blog Designs”, and below you will find 3 of my favorite themes on the list:

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Top 10 Mistakes in Web Design

The Useit website has a very interesting collection of yearly “Top 10 Mistakes in Web Design” lists. According to the site the lists include “the ten most egregious offenses against users, (…) web design disasters and HTML horrors”. The lists are organized by year, and below you will find the latest update, check it out because most of (if not all) the points apply to blogs:

1. Bad Search: overly literal search engines reduce usability in that they’re unable to handle typos, plurals, hyphens, and other variants of the query terms. Such search engines are particularly difficult for elderly users, but they hurt everybody.

2. PDF Files for Online Reading: users hate coming across a PDF file while browsing, because it breaks their flow. Even simple things like printing or saving documents are difficult because standard browser commands don’t work.

3. Not Changing the Color of Visited Links: a good grasp of past navigation helps you understand your current location, since it’s the culmination of your journey. Knowing your past and present locations in turn makes it easier to decide where to go next. Links are a key factor in this navigation process.