Start of PointsTutor.com
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 52
Start of PointsTutor.com
Hello Everyone,
I'm a fellow points lover and have started my blog PointsTutor.com. While I did start this blog a year ago, I unfortunately lost quite a bit of my blog when I migrated it to a new host and thus I am relaunching my site.
My aim of the blog is to teach others about the points game and how to achieve travel for free or pennies on the dollar and also learn more about the subject myself. I'll focus on what credit cards and tactics I think are best for earning the most amount of points for the average joe. I'll also write about my own success and travels using points. While I will recommend credit cards, I promise I will not pimp them out like other bloggers do (I don't have any affiliate links for that matter either).
So please check out my site PointsTutor.com and let me know what you think! Any suggestions or comments are warmly welcomed. If anyone has a request for a certain post by all means please ask.
(If self promotion is not allowed in this section, by all means please delete this post and I apologize in advance.)
I'm a fellow points lover and have started my blog PointsTutor.com. While I did start this blog a year ago, I unfortunately lost quite a bit of my blog when I migrated it to a new host and thus I am relaunching my site.
My aim of the blog is to teach others about the points game and how to achieve travel for free or pennies on the dollar and also learn more about the subject myself. I'll focus on what credit cards and tactics I think are best for earning the most amount of points for the average joe. I'll also write about my own success and travels using points. While I will recommend credit cards, I promise I will not pimp them out like other bloggers do (I don't have any affiliate links for that matter either).
So please check out my site PointsTutor.com and let me know what you think! Any suggestions or comments are warmly welcomed. If anyone has a request for a certain post by all means please ask.
(If self promotion is not allowed in this section, by all means please delete this post and I apologize in advance.)
#2
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Shanghai
Programs: BAEC (Gold), PC (Plat), HH (Gold), MR (Gold)
Posts: 2,729
Hey, Pimpy McPimperson - I read your blog for all of 30 seconds before you suggested I support you by applying for an SPG and Sapphire cards. Scarlet Pimpernel....
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 52
I'm sorry you were put off by my request to use my personal referrals for these credit cards. I merely have a hope that everyone in the points community refers each other as much as possible to earn everyone the most amount of points. I'll gladly update my post to reflect that. You are more than welcome post your own referrals in the comments section if you'd like for the SPG Amex and CSP cards.
#4
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Programs: Airline Free Agent, Fairmont Lifetime Platinum, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 3,041
what?
Do you realize you are the 1,345,576th (or fairly close) doing this?
You should read the "new blogger checklist" a blog reader left as a comment some time ago.
http://travelbloggerbuzz.com/two-mus...ger-checklist/
I applaud your effort but, respectfully, I think your efforts can be most effectively used elsewhere.
Good luck!
You should read the "new blogger checklist" a blog reader left as a comment some time ago.
http://travelbloggerbuzz.com/two-mus...ger-checklist/
I applaud your effort but, respectfully, I think your efforts can be most effectively used elsewhere.
Good luck!
#5
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: ATL
Programs: All of Them
Posts: 511
Making a new points website in 2016 is rough; I'd recommend submitting your stuff to established folks to see if they'll take you on as a contributor - if your heart is set on writing.
For your site - if the photos aren't yours, you need to credit it after getting permission to use it. You can also pay for a subscription to sites like Shutterstock to use stock photos.
For your site - if the photos aren't yours, you need to credit it after getting permission to use it. You can also pay for a subscription to sites like Shutterstock to use stock photos.
#8
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, mid-tier with pretty much everyone else
Posts: 873
Best of luck with the venture. It's a crowded space, so find your voice, write well, and put your readers first. It's a crazy segment of the internet but I've had a lot of fun over the past 3.5 years writing my blog.
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 52
Thank you for everyones advice thus far! I understand there are many other blogs out there and that's completely fine with me. No matter what you do in life, there will always be competition. If people like my writing and the topics I cover, I believe they'll start following me along with the other "big" guys. If I don't get a solid following, that's fine with me as well and all I hope is that I at least converted a few people to start collecting points.
As for the images, I will certainly start naming the owners of them. I was under the assumption if I name the hotel in the same post that that should be fine.
In terms of creating traffic, I plan to utilize social media, comment on fellow bloggers blogs, become more active and not be such a lurker on FT, and hopefully guest write on others blogs. If anyone has any other suggestions, by all means please do share.
As for the images, I will certainly start naming the owners of them. I was under the assumption if I name the hotel in the same post that that should be fine.
In terms of creating traffic, I plan to utilize social media, comment on fellow bloggers blogs, become more active and not be such a lurker on FT, and hopefully guest write on others blogs. If anyone has any other suggestions, by all means please do share.
#10
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: SFO
Posts: 3,881
This. Reverse image searching showed me you used images from W Hotels, Alaska Airlines, and Jumeirah Hotels without attribution and (I imagine) without permission. This is a quick way to end up on the wrong side of some nasty emails from legal departments. Some skip the emails entirely and just send you an invoice. (I may or may not be part of the second camp...)
Images are intellectual property. Iff you used my photos without permission (I sell photos on Getty), I would send you a letter and a invoice.
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Just naming the original source is not always sufficient to meet the requirements of copyright. If you posted photos I took - even with a link to my site - and I discovered it you'd find yourself on the receiving end of an invoice and legal take-down notice.
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 26,871
Realistically, if you're writing about Emirates and you use an official Emirates picture then you're fine. This has never caused me any major concern. It is 90% certain these pictures are available for download from their media sites anyway.
The only issue I had ever had was where I accidentally used a plane photo which was from Wikipedia and I was asked to add a credit, which I did.
The only issue I had ever had was where I accidentally used a plane photo which was from Wikipedia and I was asked to add a credit, which I did.
#13
Moderator: Hilton Honors forums
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Marietta, Georgia, United States
Posts: 24,997
All it takes is a simple e-mail message which includes the link to your weblog and a request for permission — as well as the topic of the article in which you intend to use it.
I speak from experience: I have never yet had a request for permission to use a photograph denied; and in fact I have been thanked for asking.
#14
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,184
More about HT and fair use of images is here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/exter...-you-copy.html
#15
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Somewhere above the Mason-Dixon
Programs: DL Ham Samich
Posts: 1,661
Not off to a great start...
Can't imagine how much copywrite infringement you have engaged in if this is your first time getting scolded and you've had the blog for a year.
Might be wise to hire an attorney
Can't imagine how much copywrite infringement you have engaged in if this is your first time getting scolded and you've had the blog for a year.
Might be wise to hire an attorney