Doug Green's Advice

**Jeff Ball j*@usol.com**

The first thing I did after reading Doug's excellent view of the  
situation was include his new blog in my www.bloglines.com  list so I  
can catch every new entry he makes.  I am behind 24 entries,  
bloglines tells me.
I agree with everything Doug is saying, with one little caveat.  I  
have already approached my editor at the Detroit News with the idea  
of Nancy and I doing a gardening blog in their collection of about 20  
blogs, mostly politics and sports.  I would not expect to be paid a  
fee.  However, I would expect to get a percentage of the advertising  
they have on my blog.  While I have not had time to think this  
through, another possible source of funds are the links that can be  
included in a blog.  If I am talking about some neat new plants from  
Proven Winners and I include a link to their web site so people can  
locate the closest retailer, they might be willing to pay a modest  
fee for that link.  It's sort of like product placement in movies.   
If you have a car in a scene it can be a Ford, a Chevy, or a Camry;  
someone pays for the privilege.  If I write about lawn mowers in my  
blog I can include a photo of a Toro, a Bolens, or you get the idea.   
Right now, no company is going to agree, but as Doug says, things are  
changing.
Blogs are hard work.  I get five a week up and will be shooting for 7  
postings a week at least.  Writing the newspaper column and working  
on a new book to publish in www.lulu.com adds to the time that Nancy  
and I must spend in the gardens.  Old age is not for wimps.
The two women in Houston are taking turns which eases the load.   
Neither of them are garden writers by the way.
Interesting times.
Jeff Ball
jeffball@usol.com
810-724-8581
Check out my daily blog at www.gardeneryardener.blogspot.com
Check out my extensive web site at www.yardener.com

_______________________________________________
gardenwriters mailing list
gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/gardenwriters

GWL has searchable archives at:
http://www.hort.net/lists/gardenwriters

Send photos for GWL to gwlphotos@hort.net to be posted
at: http://www.hort.net/lists/gwlphotos

Post gardening questions/threads to
&quot;Gardenwriters on Gardening&quot; &lt;gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org&gt;

For GWL website and Wiki, go to
http://www.ibiblio.org/gardenwriters