Blog Comments

Looks good, but looks like it's only for PCs. I'm using Mac.

Check this out -> [url=http://www.stardock.com/products/fences/]Fences - Your tool for a clean desktop[/url]

It helps organize your desktop. I don't use it on my home PC, but I use it on the 2 in the office and the laptop. Free version, well worth it. I didn't buy the paid version because the free one does everything I need.

No just an excel spreadsheet that I enter things into

Hey Kev, what are you using to do your accounts? Anything special?

Business on auto pilot sounds almost so sweet as passive income. I love it this approach! I this this is how it should works ;-)

I take the opportunity... Can I ask for advice?? I try to find a competent writers for my poker sites but this is really hard task (to be clear my sites are not english). Usually if someone know the topic his writing skills are far below the level I expect. On the second hand, If someone is not enough close to poker he usually don't feel this flow and his articlea are not interesting...

So, how did you find your perfect writes? Any advice for me? Thanks a lot!!

If you wanted to give someone a rev share split how do you manage to keep track of that? I guess it would make sense if you had one or two writers and they got x% of the site. Keeping track of who signed up what players from what articles and the revenue those players contributed each month seems difficult but maybe their is an awesome system for it that I am unaware of.

Overall this model makes a ton of sense as it's the only way to really incentivize top notch content.

Love the idea of paying based on winning picks.

I just offered a copywriter friend of mine a percentage of site income to write for me.

Like I asked him, "if you write an article that ends up making $200/month, would you rather I pay you $20 one time or $20/month for the next year?"

I've always hated the pay-per-word model. IMO, you get less quality and wordier content.
I'd always rather pay someone for performance if possible.

With a performance model, you give them an incentive to write well-researched, unique content that actually gets traffic. Or with KevinMcC's model, you give them an incentive to do their research instead of just picking a random team.

I too am a big fan of basecamp.

It's actually great you put this in writing. The whole beauty of the business we're in is the freedom that comes with it. Once the budget is there you should focus more on leaving the ground work to others and apply yourself towards expansion and conquering new grounds. I find myself working 14 hour days every once in a while on stuff I could easily educate others to do as well; Managing writers, placing content, link building, studying competition.

A priceless collaboration tool for me is Project management software, online collaboration: Basecamp. I'm moving to another location soon and intend to setup an office with a bunch of low paid interns to do exactly these tasks. Going for office hours for a while to see how it suits me and see if it will allow me to expand more rapidly.

So is the pay for performance model only suitable for sports picks then? I"m just wondering how you do it Graeme - and whether it could be transferred over to the casino/poker market.

Is it a case of them getting more if they get their pick right? Or do you have stuff set up in Analytics to track conversions/depositors from a given article?

Your not just paying for content/research you're paying for expertise. If they regularly are getting the picks wrong it impacts negatively on the credibility/trust of the site so an incentive model is awesome.

Sounds like a very awesome deal then!

It's not harsh on the writers at all. They get $xx for the article if the pick is wrong and a higher amount if their pick is correct.

Isn't pay per performance harsh on the writers though? At the end of the day you're not just paying for winning tips but you're paying for all the content/research they've done.

Do you have a gtd minimum amount you pay your writers?

LOVE the pay-per-performance model. I've always found incentive writing the best model - my writers don't get a flat payment - only a percentage if the article makes money - which can be lucrative - and it always encourages them to write better. It stops people writing just for the sake of writing.

With it on autopilot, just be sure to have a good setup in terms of edit history etc. Last thing you want is a writer editing his picks on Tuesday and saying "Look I went 15-0" :)

really like the idea of pay on performance for picks content. would imagine it would be tough getting good content in this niche, though this model ensures you're only paying for good quality stuff.

so true, i whish i could say i am on that point now - but thats also my target. nice post

I'll give it a shot. I've done some Facebook and Plenty of Fish banners and ads. I also like media buys if you can find a high traffic site.

Kev - yes, although there's Bing too. And FB etc. It's very easy to get approved not sure where you heard it wasn't - they are always looking for new people. I might even have a $100 free code around here I'll have a look and if so ship it to you over FB later.

The account shutdown for good part can happen yeah - but as long as you don't break any rules you should be fine. And the account shutdown talk mostly forms around Adsense, not AdWords.

Actually re-reading this I think you may be confusing AdWords with Adsense. AdSense program can be a bit difficult to sign up with. I'm talking about buying ads - AdWords.

For NYC...get to the Seaport and buy 1/2 price tickets to see any show in Broadway.

Also, take a water taxi (the one with commentating (big yellow thing)) around the Harbour (it is like a 1 hour tour for $25 I think.

Empire State Building = nothing special.

Have pizza - lots of it - best late at night after getting drunk after a show.

Take a cab ride and a subway ride just because.

Walk in central park.

Walk through Harlem - seriously - it is an experience (and you won't get mugged!)....

That's about all. Have fun!