I have a couple thoughts. These are just my experiences/thoughts and probably won’t mimic everyone else’s but shit…this is also my blog. It’s not meant to.

1. Even if you don’t THINK it’s worth blogging about (or even if you don’t FEEL like it), blog it out anyway. I can’t begin to tell you the # of times that I saw a topic being posted around the blogosphere and I said “Ah, I’m not blogging on it. Everybody else already did.” But then I get asked a million times WHY I didn’t or I get asked what my thoughts were on that particular issue. It ends up being a big topic of discussion, which of course translates to blog hits/views which in turn = money.

2. Don’t take it too personal when folks steal your shit without offering you credit, a hello, or even a nice “fuck you.” Truth is, you can’t fight everyone all the time and if you do, you’re going to spend more money and time than it’s worth. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen many of my thoughts (in PARAGRAPH form) on someone else’s blog. I’ve also noticed bloggers who use words/phrases that were clearly from my own made up vocabulary (and we ALL have words that we just make up and use…so don’t judge me). I stopped getting mad about that shit. I may very well call you out about it. But as far as raising 12 shades of hell about it, I refuse. It just lets me know that they fail at nouns, verbs and anything else used to form a sentence. It’ll show soon enough.

3. People buy traffic. Don’t look for that shit here. I’d rather have my traffic built organically (as Amy G. put it). I remember several months ago, I brought this concept to the attention of another blogger and she gave me her thoughts on it. And it immediately “clicked” with me why everything she said made sense. At the end of the day, when you buy traffic, sure it may be reflected in your numbers. But you don’t have a loyal fanbase of readers…and FYI, that’s what a lot of advertisers look at too. Lots of traffic but nobody knows your name? Imagine that. Do what you will, though.

4. Please continue to know your worth.

5. I know that most people’s objective in life is to be friendly but here’s some real spit for you….stop linking people who aren’t even paying YOU and your blog any attention. Linking on blogs does absolutely nothing for you if that (bigger) blogger isn’t linking back to you also. Let me put this another way….Lets say that Jane Doe is a big, Black blogger in the blogging world. And every other day, you’re linking her blog on yours but there’s never any reciprocity. I promise you, you will NOT come up on the first page (or even the second or third) of google b/c you were kind enough to link them. I know that sounds hateful but whatever. In the process of trying to make your blog grow, link up with those that actually want to link up or pay attention to you. Sorry but if you can’t even answer my tweet, then I know you’re not going to answer a damn email about linking up. This includes ME! I have a rule about adding people to my blogroll and one of them is that you have to be an active blogger for over a year. Statistically speaking (and I don’t know where the stats come from; I just said it b/c it sounds smart), most bloggers realize just how HARD entertainment blogging is and don’t last for more than a few months. I don’t want to have to constantly go through my blog, removing dead links. I also do NOT link blogs that have .wordpress or .blogspot. in their name. You’re not google-able anyway; buy a domain.

6. Blogging is so dog eat dog. People are so two faced and phony that I’ve made a very sound decision to stick to myself and the handful of bloggers who have shown me CONSISTENT love from day one. This includes Pop Culture Fix, Freshalina, Amy Grindhouse, Gossip on This, Media Outrage, Miss Dimplez, Brook Lynne, Luvvie, Danj, etc. I could go on and on but I’m tired of typing. These are people that (along with my faithful readers) constantly encourage me, have offered me help when/if I needed it and didn’t act shady as their associations changed. The one thing I am happy about is remaining true to myself. If someone ever says that I tried to “change” in such a way that they felt disregarded, they obviously didn’t take the time to get to know me. (If I left you off this list, charge it to my head and not the heart. I’m sleepy and trying to blog for tomorrow PLUS work on the 2nd blog)

7. People always want something for nothing.

8. Ad Groups is still one of the shittiest ad networks to involve yourself with. If you don’t believe me and want to take a chance, feel free. It’s sad that Black people build something big but use shady/bullshit practices to run it.

9. You still don’t have to kiss ass to exist.

10. It’s hard work.

And that is all…for now.