The most common question that people email me, is how I got into blogging. As life usually is, the answer is complicated.
My blogging roots can really be traced to a night in June of 2005. Around 4:00 am on June 11th, I awoke to smoke in my apartment and then screams. The apartment next to mine was engulfed in fire. By the time the fire department was able to control the fire, my apartment was completely destroyed. Since I am a complete idiot 
(and had just switched to Geico to save money on my car insurance, voiding my “package deal” that included renter’s insurance), I had no insurance. DOHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
Luckily for me, my family, friends, and co-workers had my back and helped me get back on my feet (and then some). Still, I was motivated to quickly replenish my savings. As a result, I started researching different ways to make money online. After browsing through countless scams, I found a couple of GPT sites (Get Paid To) that seemed legit and I skeptically gave them a try. I started doing research studies, completing offers, and referring other people to these sites and I actually started making some money. No, I wasn’t getting rich, but it was nice to earn some extra money (To see how much money I made, and what programs I used, check out my Current Earnings page .
Now to really make money with these GPT programs, you have to be able to refer others. I was able to do this by putting my affiliate link on multiple message boards on Myspace and other sites. Eventually, GPT programs began to ban members who basically spammed message boards like I was doing, so I was forced to find another way to get referrals. Creating crappy websites on domains like freewebs is how I accomplished this task.
While benchmarking how other top GPT performers were making their money, I discovered the power of blogs in 2008. Although I was intrigued by how these bloggers were able to generate referrals and make money with advertisements, it seemed like blogging would eat up too much of my time. But the blogging gods apparently wanted me to start writing, so they caused me to end a six year old relationship:) Consequently, I now had a lot of free time on my hands and was out of excuses.
Even though I always enjoyed writing, I was not sure if I would last more than 10 posts. But stupid ideas for posts seemed to keep entering my head.
And the rest is blogging history. . .
Hooray for stupid blogging ideas!
That is a great story. Sorry to hear about the fire but it looks like it has turned out ok.
So sad to hear your story but u being back with good background quite fine…
So sad to hear your story but u being back with good background quite fine…
Wow, the amount that I saw on your current earning page look so interesting….
Regards,
My Children N Me
This is really excellent and unusual story. Internet offers many ways to earn money, but here there is a lot frauds. Your story left a strong impression on me and it gave me the will and power to try and I do this job.
Great earning income, you have many list of money maker, thanks.
Sucks that you lost your apartment but everything happens for a reason! Great way to be making easy money!
Very interesting story on how you started. I think bloggin is a way of life, cause on the money side, I don´t believe you can make enough to quit your job. Thanks for the article
Yours is definitely what I call a great ‘war story’. How despite some difficulties you decided to take up blogging as a way of life. Well done and thanks for sharing.
Very interesting. Strangely enough I had 4 livejournals before I deleted them. Blogging is okay but at times a bit boring.