Start of PointsTutor.com
Apr 11, 2016 | 6:50 am
#16
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: PBI | Formerly CLT, LHR & AMS (with just a bit of PSP)
Programs: Proud AA CK Spouse, AA Plat, HH Diamond, BonVoy Titanium, Caesars7* (comp), Wynn Black, HR Icon
Posts: 8,208
IMHO, this is a huge (personal) issue. You have 14 posts (as I write this reply) on FlyerTalk. Why have you NOT been engaged with the FlyerTalk community?
Why even start a site before becoming engaged and "giving back?"
Hey, I am far from perfect (actually, pretty flawed); but I very highly value the many questions (and private messages) I have answered on FlyerTalk for quite a few years. I have always felt, it's the least I can do; since I have received so much "free" knowledge.
It's much more than just "saying" you will be involved! Do it!!
Why even start a site before becoming engaged and "giving back?"
Hey, I am far from perfect (actually, pretty flawed); but I very highly value the many questions (and private messages) I have answered on FlyerTalk for quite a few years. I have always felt, it's the least I can do; since I have received so much "free" knowledge.
It's much more than just "saying" you will be involved! Do it!!
Apr 12, 2016 | 10:07 am
#17
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,677
It looks like on of your first series is on traveling to the Maldives using miles/points. So many of the bigger name points & miles bloggers have already worn out that destination with repeated posts, trip reports, and advice on the Maldives. No one will come to an upstart blog to figure out how to afford travel to the Maldives when there is more than enough info out there already from established sites. I'd suggest looking for some "fresher" destinations or topics...which won't be easy in the P&M blog realm.
Also the headline for the first part of your Maldives series is "How to travel to the Maldives for free". It isn't actually all free, so stick to a headline that is attractive but still honest.
Good luck!
Also the headline for the first part of your Maldives series is "How to travel to the Maldives for free". It isn't actually all free, so stick to a headline that is attractive but still honest.
Good luck!
Apr 12, 2016 | 4:01 pm
#18
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: BOS
Programs: UAL Premier Gold, HHonors Gold, B6 Mosaic
Posts: 139
It looks like on of your first series is on traveling to the Maldives using miles/points. So many of the bigger name points & miles bloggers have already worn out that destination with repeated posts, trip reports, and advice on the Maldives. No one will come to an upstart blog to figure out how to afford travel to the Maldives when there is more than enough info out there already from established sites. I'd suggest looking for some "fresher" destinations or topics...which won't be easy in the P&M blog realm.
Years ago I launched a small blogging venture (nothing remotely miles and points related, and maybe calling it a "venture" is generous), so I sympathize - but for Pete's sake, don't give the blogosphere another "Maldives on points" post.
Your niche is not specific enough. Aim for a demographic or community of travelers, or focus on a type of travel, but it's got to be broader than just "helping the average joe", etc. - TPG, OMAAT, and all the rest have been doing that for years.
Hope it works out for you! Best of luck.
Apr 15, 2016 | 10:37 pm
#22
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: East Coast
Posts: 4
I'll skip the copyright talk as others have already but a few things I noticed......
1. Your twitter should be ONLY about your blog, don't post about the masters, people follow you for travel/points talk not golf. And learn to shorten your urls it will save you space and make your tweets look better.
2. About Me page is not really about you..well it is...vaguely. None of the pics work (at least for me, could very well be my picky comcrap connection) but your about me page needs to be more engaging. I'll give you an example if I was in your shoes......
Course its a lot easier to write when it isn't nearly 1am and exhausted but you get the idea here.
1. Your twitter should be ONLY about your blog, don't post about the masters, people follow you for travel/points talk not golf. And learn to shorten your urls it will save you space and make your tweets look better.
2. About Me page is not really about you..well it is...vaguely. None of the pics work (at least for me, could very well be my picky comcrap connection) but your about me page needs to be more engaging. I'll give you an example if I was in your shoes......
Hi My name is Nick, I live with my fiancee, cat and dog in *insert state or area here*. I'm *insert age here* and absolutely love traveling on a dime, the thrill of going around the world cheap is one of my favorite things to do. I started getting into accruing massive amounts of points and mileage in *insert year here* .
It all started when *insert cliff notes story of how you got into it*
I hope you enjoy my blog and if you want please follow me on social media.
It all started when *insert cliff notes story of how you got into it*
I hope you enjoy my blog and if you want please follow me on social media.
Apr 16, 2016 | 11:13 am
#23
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
As for the personality of the twitter account, a very subjective decision. And I disagree with your assertion that it should be one-dimensional rather than having personality/character to it as crafted by the author.
Apr 16, 2016 | 11:15 am
#24
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: PBI | Formerly CLT, LHR & AMS (with just a bit of PSP)
Programs: Proud AA CK Spouse, AA Plat, HH Diamond, BonVoy Titanium, Caesars7* (comp), Wynn Black, HR Icon
Posts: 8,208
In my experience, not automatically in some "dashboard" systems like Hootsuite. Though, there is a very easy link shortening interface in the composition box.
Apr 16, 2016 | 12:02 pm
#25
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
AFAIK Twitter now manages link shortening, regardless of the client/API interface, using t.co links. What is displayed in the UI is not necessarily what the underlying URL in the tweet is.
Apr 16, 2016 | 12:12 pm
#26
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: PBI | Formerly CLT, LHR & AMS (with just a bit of PSP)
Programs: Proud AA CK Spouse, AA Plat, HH Diamond, BonVoy Titanium, Caesars7* (comp), Wynn Black, HR Icon
Posts: 8,208
I've been using Hootsuite for more than a year now. Regardless of the URL I paste in the composition box it is shortened on the server-side and consumes ~25 characters of the tweet. See attached showing 117 characters remaining with the URL for this thread pasted in.
AFAIK Twitter now manages link shortening, regardless of the client/API interface, using t.co links. What is displayed in the UI is not necessarily what the underlying URL in the tweet is.
AFAIK Twitter now manages link shortening, regardless of the client/API interface, using t.co links. What is displayed in the UI is not necessarily what the underlying URL in the tweet is.
Apr 16, 2016 | 2:58 pm
#27
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
This is true. But I guess I always considered ~25 characters to be too long; when you can have the same URL around ~16 characters. Perhaps, I am hashtag obsessed or always want the fewest characters for a link (in a tweet). (i.e. I want more characters for things other than links...)
Apr 16, 2016 | 7:36 pm
#28
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: East Coast
Posts: 4
URLs are auto-shortened and are a common length, regardless of what you paste in the compose box; that's not an issue at all.
As for the personality of the twitter account, a very subjective decision. And I disagree with your assertion that it should be one-dimensional rather than having personality/character to it as crafted by the author.
As for the personality of the twitter account, a very subjective decision. And I disagree with your assertion that it should be one-dimensional rather than having personality/character to it as crafted by the author.
I can agree with it not being one dimensional, I guess I'd just one of those keep business with business and personal with personal.