Plenty of great questions for the first Questions + Answers Round up. Thanks to everyone for participating. So lets see who asked what! And if anyone was able to stump me on any of their questions!
Chetan
Ben,
If you really don’t feel this as a self promoting comment.. Can you share how would you try to find advertisers for a startup website, where new websites can be launched for some $$ ?
I am asking about http://www.thewwwblog.com/submit-startup
If you could explain that in a well detailed manner, please do so.
Well the first thing I would do is explore your niche via keyword discovery tools, google trends and see what kind of traffic potential you have. The next step is to have a great advertising page that drives home the points to the audience you are targeting. I try to aim for blogs roughly the same size or smaller as generally they are looking to network and if you have a good pitch for them you will start to fill your advertisements regularly.
This being said sometimes variables out of your control will play a part in whether your scoring those beloved advertisements or are sitting pretty with a smile.
My recommendations is to reevaluate your current advertising policies even the prices after you see what similarly sized blogs are asking and giving in return. Then put a difference that is marginal in your advertising. Put yourself out there and do a commenting campaign or advertising of your own. By drawing in new visitors you will increase the odds of your success.
Essentially mix it up and try something new until you find what works for you. Those that never fail have never tried anything new!
Moneybites
Do follow or no follow, that is the question 
It is indeed the question. I have struggled with this myself and have considered carefully both sides of the argument. I am still looking for trends in sites that are dofollow, and it seems some of these do very well basically because they are only giving out as much or less link juice than they are getting. If PR is not an issue then dofollow. But if it wasn’t then maybe bloggers would not be struggling with this.
For now nofollow comments w/ top commentators, maybe very soon follow on and top commentators with captcha verification.
Rajaie
1. Why do you have an image of a squirrel in your 468×60 ad?
That’s Forrests ad’ for his recent promotion that is really outstanding for the price. I think the squirrel is impressed. :p
2. How do you decide on what term you would like to rank for if your blog covers more than one area, eg. make money online, internet marketing, etc. ?
This is a tough question especially for say a blog like mine that both keywords are difficult to rank for. The answer is it’s easy to win the longtail. Slowly work towards your other keyword goals with a good plan and you should be ok, but starting with the hardest keywords I do not recommend.
3. Do you agree with the idea that anything can be achieved if you set your mind to it? Or do you think that sometimes certain people are just luckier than others?
I believe before success can truly be achieved you must open your mind to every possibility, adapt along the way and you should be good to go. And surely a little luck never hurt anyone, but to rely on it is probably not the greatest idea ever.
4. Are you subscribed to my blog, if not, why?
Yea I am! Have been since you appeared on Blog Premiere. 
Carl – BeABetterBlogger.com
Ben, What do you think makes us blog? A strong attraction is money I’m guessing. Although what reasons deep down do you blog for? Striving for comfort? The feeling of providing help for people? To have a presence on the web?
I’d love to know yours and other bloggers individual motivations for blogging. It’s interesting to see,
All the best Ben,
Carl 
Honestly many people have many different motivations for blogging. I know this is not a big surprise, but some blog to network and build new friendships, others purely for fame and even to make money.
I blog because I am one of those types of people that has to be busy with something pretty much all the time, whether its my latest car project, my next post, or the next sales call for my hotel. I am forever busy and I like it like that. After a trip to the hospital earlier this year I decided that weight loss and more activity were on the bill for me and that spending 40 hours or so a week sitting in front of my desktop at home gaming were not helping my situation.
This being said I enjoy the creative process, the networking and knowing I help people further their own projects. Seeing my picture from time to time on various blogs surely doesn’t hurt and keeps me motivated to be the best I can be. The monetary aspect is strictly a tertiary one for me. My blog and online projects pay for themself with some left over for new projects and promotions so really I am not in it to get rich, and I seriously belive if I was the next problogger that I would still work full time in the hotel industry its just how I am always busy.
Static
Ben, I run quite a bit of blogs simultaneously. Therefore, promoting all of them can be quite a hassle. What do you feel might be the most effective method in promoting them all?
Sometimes their is no easy way to get a job done, just roll up those sleeves and start shoveling. I would plan to spend the same amount of time on each blog for promotion as you do for content creation, while this seems overwhelming if you work a schedule you will not be pressed to get things done. You will quickly notice as your schedule becomes more regular that it becomes easier and the blogs will even start to take off a bit more.
axioblogger
Ben, I see site hoppin widget on your blog. How has site hoppin helped you?
Honestly for me its a package deal with EC they seem to go hand in hand. I promote these to people just starting out to get those first few visitors. Many will preach to you about high bounce rates and what not, but when your starting out it is not about that at all, but more so about getting eyes on the page, if your content is unique and desirable they will check it out and stick around eventually. When I was a power dropper on EC I found many of the blogs that I am subscribed to and visit regularly just like that.
So to answer your question directly it helped get this blog off the ground by putting me in front of more eyes!
Blogging Millionaire
Interesting questions you all have. How did you choose a webdesign?
Honestly when I started out this was a problem that plagued me I settled on the original lightbreaker theme because I liked the dark coloring, and it was still easy to read. From there it evolved slowly into what you see today with is a culminating effort on my part and Forrest’s as well. I envisioned what I wanted and let the original layout dictate how I worked within its sphere.
In the end I think I made a good choice as this theme has served me well for all the functions I have wanted to include for my readers.
Ryan Lineker
What’s the secret about getting subscribers?
The first secret is quality content. I have posted daily or averaged a post daily since I launched, many put me down because of this but it was originally done to get out content in a manner that people would have options when visiting since I was just starting out. Quality and Honest Content are by far the most important, but not the only secrets the next part is promotion, and this is a bit of an art you will learn more and more about as your blog ages and you network.
I recommend spending equal time on both content creation and blog promotion. Remember Content is king, and quality back links are queen. This is an oversimplification of it the grand scheme, but will keep you on track when your starting out.
Nick Throlson
Non Affiliate Question but who are you voting for in the 08 election I know obama is for alot of new things in technology & that will really help us affiliate marketers or do you think mccain would be better for us affiliate managers lol ?
I knew someone would end up asking me this. Normally I keep this type of stuff to myself for obvious reasons, but since I have revealed how I feel over on shoemoney’s blog I guess I can let it out here as well.
Obama 100%
Melvin
You are a hotel manager right? Why do you still do all these online stuffs? I mean, as far as I know, hotel jobs are lucrative and it doesnt require a lot of time and effort unlike in blogging and internet marketing where it’s very risky do invest…
Yes they are lucrative and yes they require a lot of time and effort, but as I have eluded to in an earlier answer to another question I have to be busy doing something. I like to constantly be learning and expanding my sphere of knowledge past where I am now constantly growing and discovering new things. So I do both cause I am crazy? Maybe but its fun as hell!
egk
If you could start all over what would you do differently (if anything) with Big Ben Patton’s Place?
Starting sooner! It seems I am a graduate of the blogging trials by fire club and I waited almost a month before I put this place up and decided to run with it. When you start off you can not be hassled about what a lot of folks say, or around the three month mark you will be crashing and burning. Just do it!
Keith James Lock
My friend asked me this the other day and my answer was a long drawn out one, so perhaps it’ll make a good blog post…
How can a new blogger start out and not look like a fly-by-night and perhaps even stand out a bit from the crowd?
Easy honest and quality content that is unique. If your copying everyone else’s style then you will be outed quickly as a wannabee-fly-by-niter.
First thing I told him was to stay out of the MMO niche! haha just playin
And honestly yea stay out, instead focus a bit harder and declare yourself something more than just a mmo blog. Their are plenty of ways to do that, but as soon as you label yourself an mmo the bar is raised to the JohnChow level and if you not able to make the cut you get pigeonholed.
Cool contest, I could use some HostGator action
Hmmm. Maybe!
Adam – Creadiv
How much has Entrecard actually helped?
I have been considering putting it on my site but I think it is not very aesthetically pleasing and would rather keep my site looking good. That is unless you think it is really beneficial.
Adam
EC has brought be a loyal base of subscribers with feedback from people that are in many different niches. It has brought be the ability to find many other blogs and authors in the same situation as myself and get to know their solutions to the trials of attempting to be a success here in the blogosphere. I support the project even though it does blast my bounce rate, but you know what their are many many more stats for a blog that are much more important and tell more about your site.
I wish people were not driven by a few mmo blogs that said its crap and don’t use it, it is a really good tool, and if your not trying to sell your site for $20k at the moment don’t worry about the bounce get those fresh eyes coming in and it will mean more for those of us with real goals in mind past the three month blogger lifespan. As a matter of fact I challenge everyone who reads this to sign up for and use entrecard and then tell me why they wouldn’t!
JK Swopes
Okay…okay, what is the single most important aspect to online success. Is it a life situation, and did your hospitalization have anything to do with where you are and the success you’ve achieved.
and as an extra credit question, why you don’t visit my blog?
For me? The most important aspect to online success is my unwaivering attitude about it all. I will not fail. Period. Even when I launched this blog many told me I was a fool and wasting my time. Some still tell me that, and you know what my unwavering attitude that I will succeed on my own terms means that I will carve my niche from white hot steel with my bare hands if needed. I will succeed.
I wish I could say that is all it takes, but its not you also have to be networked and moving forward with everything. Have an attitude that you will do things your own way always no matter what and then seek out others with the same mindset. My old football coach always told us your going to smell like whatever you hang out with, so make sure your surrounding yourself with the right elements for success. This with the ability to take in change and adapt means you can not be kept down for long.
My week in the ICU changed a lot of things in my life, how I cared for myself, made my mortality perfectly clear and re-instilled into me the will to be successful now instead of later. This being said I still get lazy but you can bet your tail that shortly there after I am having a talk with myself motivating me to acheive my goals, after all no matter what you believe in this world you have one shot to do whatever it is your aiming for so don’t wait! Just do it!!!
Joe I visit your blog daily and comment almost as much! Its a conspiracy I tell you!
Whew That Was Fun
That wraps up our first Q+A. I really enjoyed answering everyone’s questions and look forward to our next q+a session. As promised the question I thought was best would win the year of host gator swamp pack hosting.
But I am going to modify that and take a poll that I will leave open for a few days, Who do you think had the best question? The winner will be awarded the prize later this week! So vote now.
I would suggest thinking about your blog as a media – you own the power of the press.
Then look at what you are buying already and approach them to advertise. As a customer, you already have power. They will feel they have to be polite and listen. I have always found selling to people I buy from to be easy.
Jim Estills last blog post..The Law of Focus
Hey Ben…I think the poll is broke..I see some php errors
Well I should have said comment to vote O.o what php errors are you getting, send me a ss if you dont mind to webmaster@benjaminpatton.com I just updated to 2.6.2 you may have caught it mid update hopefully.
Yeah they are gone, they were just under the star ratings…it’s all good now.
Keith James Locks last blog post..Luv For My Readers And Other Bloggers #1
Good stuff Ben, great answers and great questions. I think rastaman had the best question and deserves the hosting!
Seriously though, there were some good questions, I’ve never thought of using EC or sitehoppin, I don’t really know how the work.
JK Swopess last blog post..IMwithJoe.com Monthly Update
In response to static’s question….
You could setup a small network for all of your blogs if you feel comfortable in people knowing that you are connected between them all. You could then focus a little bit more on promoting your network and let people decide which site they like the best.
Nice post Ben, I always enjoy reading blog Q&A’s because it gives you a chance to really get to know the blogger and how they think.
great q and a session… I guess everyone deserves to have that hosting.
Melvins last blog post..The Huge Value Of Testing Stuffs
I vote for myself, just kidding
I honestly think you should pick the best question Ben.
Rajaie AlKoranis last blog post..Why You Should Never Cancel a StumbleUpon Discovery
Hmm good answer Ben, makes some sense..
Btw i too think you should be selecting the best question as its you who know which question was interesting and deserves to have a good answer helpful to others along with the questioner.
Chetans last blog post..Google terms do not claim ownership of your content – Chrome
Ben,
Thanks for answering my question about EC, I am going to have to try it out because I could use some new visitors. I just wish that the EC box could look a little nicer than it does.
Adam
Adam – Creadivs last blog post..Oh what a tangled web we weave. On the Internet.
I think it took a lot of time for you Ben.
You answered all the questions with lot of patience.
I have seen this section in many blogs but I never saw any person answer this in a detailed manner.
Thanks for the answer, need to get working on it now
Ryan Linekers last blog post..My 20 Favourite Plugins
Good list of questions and answers.
I have seen your blog around quite a bit so I decided to come and check it out and have a look. I really like it. So I subscribed to your feed.
Ill be a regular commentor soon
I’m waiting for the next round of Questions and Answers. I have a few burning questions now.
Ganeshs last blog post..Increase Your Subscriber Count like Crazy – Hold a Contest
I have a question that is extremely related to my career plan. I will ask t in the next session of the questions and answers which is related to affiliate marketing.
Thank you. Very interesting article.