Surviving the Blog Reality Blog Contest: Out Rank; Out Shine

Can you Survive the Blog? 

That very first day when I logged into my cpanel and installed WordPress, I had no idea what kinds of struggles lay ahead of me.

I isolated myself so that I could devote my full attention to writing and getting my content out there.  As I transported my mind to some deserted island, only periodically did I notice the laughter of my children as they played outside while I hacked away at the keyboard.

Days would pass this way, yet at each day’s end it felt as if I was only scratching the surface.

Before I knew it, I was operating in survival mode, only leaving the computer to eat, sleep and you know what…  All extra-curricular activities had ceased.  No watching TV, no talking to friends on the phone, no hanging out, no wasting precious moments at the amusement park or the zoo…  Nada!

I locked myself away, determined to survive this blogging thing.  I was determined to not only survive but to thrive on this lonely island.

I experienced some great successes fairly quickly, but I also realized that there were more efficient ways I could’ve been doing things.

One day, while out, exploring and gathering materials, I stumbled upon other islanders who were willing to help.  I discovered that I was not alone!

Slowly, I began building an alliance with bloggers like Tia, Evelyn, Linda, Rebecca, Brankica, Hajra, Jane and Melanie.  We combined our efforts to help each other and were able to accomplish so much more as a team.

I’d watched the reality show, I knew how powerful alliances could be – yet, so many of us bloggers fail to tap into that power.  As a team, we were able to multiply our promotional and content producing efforts, it made building a blog less stressful – and less lonely!

I realized that blogging was not a deserted island after all – it’s full of amazing people who are willing to let you stand on their shoulders so that you can reach the next level in hopes that you will reach down and pull them up once you get there.  That’s been my experience!

So to celebrate blogging alliances everywhere, I decided to host, the first of its kind: an exciting reality-based competition called “Surviving the Blog.” 

This contest will be like no other in the blogosphere.  I will recruit two teams of 5 bloggers.  Each team will be confronted with the difficult task of building a successful blog together.  They will receive training and will face many blogging challenges together.

This contest will run for about 10 weeks. At the end of each week, one team will outrank the other and the losing team will have to vote off one of their precious team mates, reducing their team’s effectiveness and reach.

By the end of the “Surviving the Blog” competition only one successful blogger will remain.

One blogger will take home the Grand Prize:  winning blog and some amazing prizes, including cash!  A runner-up will get the remaining blog and some prizes – additional prizes may also be given throughout the contest for winning various challenges.  Check out the latest update:  Prizes & What to Expect.

Many will enter this contest, but only 10 will be selected for the teams.    

So, how do you get in on this amazing contest?

Starting September 5, 2011, I will begin accepting entries for potential contestants.  The deadline for entries will be September 23rd, 11:59 p.m. EST.   Selections will be announced on October 3rd, and the official Surviving The Blog contest will begin on Monday, October 10^th.

If you’d like a chance to be considered for one of the 2 teams, here are the guidelines:

1.  Write a “Why WeBlogBetter Should Choose Me” blog post for your blog that announces this contest, your intent to enter, and reasons why we should choose you over others.  Be sure to include ALL sponsors banners and links.  (See code below).  This sponsor list will continue to grow and it’s your responsibility to make sure you have the latest updates.

Note:  Owning a blog is not a requirement for entry, however, to enter, you’ll still need to write the required blog post – you can do that by guest posting on another blog or by starting a free one at WordPress.com, Blogger, Google Sites, or even on Squidoo.

2.  Tweet this post on Twitter at least 7 times spaced out no less than an hour apart. Be sure to mention @WeBlogBetter so that I can verify that you’ve done this.

3.  Share this post on various social networking sites.

4.  Subscribe to the WBB Email List, if you haven’t already

5.  Follow these WBB Team Member blogs:  PositiveSpin, LiveYourLove, HajraKveches!, SoloMomPreneur, FindAllAnswers.com

6.  Send an Email to: SurvivingtheBlog@WeBlogBetter.com with the subject: “Intent to Enter” that includes the following required pieces:

• Link to your “Why WeBlogBetter should Choose Me” blog post
• The Twitter ID that you used to tweet this post
• Evidence that you’ve shared this post on other social networks (screenshots, links, your profile, etc.)
• The email you used to subscribe to the WBB Email List.
• A Short bio of yourself that includes details that will make you stand out from the crowd.
• A 250×250 or bigger photo of yourself (Must be appropriate and Safe For Work).

Are you brave enough to rise to the challenge?

Don’t want to be a contestant, but still want to participate?

Remember, since all potential contestants will be required to link to ALL sponsors, this is an awesome to gain lots of backlinks and strengthen your SEO.

So, if you’d like to sponsor this amazing contest, right now we are accepting sponsorship at the following levels:

$50 Basic  Level - Get a link with the anchor text of your choice included – Lowest Placement

$100 – Silver Level - Get a 125×125 banner w/Link – Bottom Placement

$150 – Gold Level - Get a large 300×250 banner w/Link – Middle placement

$200+ – Platinum Level - Get a large 300×250 Banner w/Link – Top Placement (Top dollar gets top placement).  Plus get your ad displayed in the rotating banner for 6 months (right sidebar of WeblogBetter and the 2 Competing Blogs)

For more information, or if you have questions, send them to: SurvivingtheBlog@WeBlogBetter.com with the subject: Surviving the Blog Sponsorship.

These amazing Sponsors have already joined:

Platinum Level:

Twitter Marketing by JohnPaulAguiar.com

Ileane – Blogging Tips

Thesis Skins by ThesisAwesome.com

Learn How to blog at FamousBloggers.net

WordPress SEO

Brian Clark – CopyBlogger.com

 Hector Cuevas – Blog Marketing Tips

Jane Sheeba – Successful Blogging

Bryan – Host with Support

Brian – Blog Engage

Devesh – Blokube

Ana Hoffman – Internet Marketing Tools

Andy Bailey – CommentLuv

Gold Level:

Marcko – The Traffic Blogger

Silver Level:

Mike Jackness – Best Online Storage

Basic Level:

Aidy – Writing

David Leonhardt – Blog Writer

FansBridge.com – How to Market on Facebook

Sonny – Best WordPress Themes

Jacob Share – Group Writing Projects

John Border – Learn how to invest

Customer Paradigm – Magento Developer

Wilderness Aware Rafting – Colorado White Water Rafting

Thanks goes out to these generous sponsors who are making this contest possible!

Shall I save you a spot?

 
<h2>Platinum Level:</h2>
<p align="center"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/banner-300x250.gif" />
<a href="http://www.twitterdummy.net">Twitter Marketing</a> by JohnPaulAguiar.com</p>
<p align="center"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6998" title="Basic BlogTips Banner grey 300x250" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Basic-BlogTips-Banner-grey-300x2501.png" alt="" width="300" height="250" />Ileane – <a href="http://basicblogtips.com/">Blogging Tips</a></p>
<p align="center"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7079" title="thesisawesome_300_250" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/thesisawesome_300_250.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="250" /><a title="Thesis Skins" href="http://www.thesisawesome.com/">Thesis Skins</a>by ThesisAwesome.com</p>
<p align="center"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7078" title="famousbloggers_300_250" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/famousbloggers_300_250.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="250" />Learn <a title="How to Blog" href="http://www.famousbloggers.net/">How to blog</a>at FamousBloggers.net</p>
<p align="center"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/duct-tape-seo-250.jpg" alt="Duct tape SEO" /><a href=" http://ducttapeseo.net">WordPress SEO</a></p>
<p align="center"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6999" title="copyblogger-logo-white1" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/copyblogger-logo-white11.png" alt="" width="300" height="77" />Brian Clark – <a href="http://copyblogger.com/">CopyBlogger.com</a></p>
<p align="center"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7001" title="blog-banner1" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/blog-banner11.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="154" /> Hector Cuevas – <a href="http://www.hectorjcuevas.com/">Blog Marketing Tips</a></p>
<p align="center"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7002" title="BAP-maroon-250x250" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/BAP-maroon-250x2501.png" alt="" width="300" height="250" /></p>
<p align="center">Jane Sheeba – <a href="http://www.probloggingsuccess.com">Successful Blogging</a></p>
<p align="center"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7003" title="Host With Support" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Host-With-Support2.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="250" />Bryan – <a href="http://hostwithsupport.com/">Host with Support</a></p>
<p align="center"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7005" title="logo1" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/logo11.png" alt="" width="300" height="115" />Brian – <a href="http://blogengage.com/">Blog Engage</a></p>
<p align="center"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://www.blokube.com/templates/blokube/images/Blokube-3.png" alt="" width="305" height="62" /></p>
<p align="center">Devesh - <a href="http://blokube.com">Blokube</a></p>
<p align="center"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7069" title="traffic generation cafe" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/traffic-generation-cafe.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="74" />Ana Hoffman - <a href="http://www.trafficgenerationcafe.com/internet-marketing-tools/">Internet Marketing Tools</a></p>
<p align="center"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7090" title="commentluv-banner-300x150" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/commentluv-banner-300x150.gif" alt="" width="300" height="150" />Andy Bailey - <a href="http://www.commentluv.com">CommentLuv</a></p>
 
<h2>Gold Level:</h2>
<p align="center"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7006" title="trafficblogger" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/trafficblogger2.png" alt="" width="300" height="92" />Marcko – <a href="http://www.thetrafficblogger.com/">The Traffic Blogger</a></p>
 
<h2>Silver Level:</h2>
<p align="center"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7077" title="best-online-storage" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/best-online-storage.gif" alt="" width="125" height="125" />Mike Jackness - Best Online Storage</p>
 
<h2>Basic Level:</h2>
<p align="center">Aidy – <a href="http://aidyreviews.net">Writing</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> David Leonhardt - <a href="http://www.seo-writer.com/freelance/blog-writer.html">Blog Writer</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">FansBridge.com - <a href="http://www.fansbridge.com">How to Market on Facebook</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Sonny - <a href="http://samplewebsites.org">Best WordPress Themes</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Jacob Share - <a href="http://groupwritingprojects.com/">Group Writing Projects</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">John Border - <a href="http://stockmarketbasics.info/">Learn how to invest</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Customer Paradigm - <a href="http://www.customerparadigm.com/index/620/Magento-Developer.php">Magento Developer</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Wilderness Aware Rafting - <a href="http://www.inaraft.com"> Colorado White Water Rafting </a></p>