Now Open for Official Entries!
Since announcing the Surviving the Blog Reality Contest a few weeks ago, the response has been phenomenal! The word is getting out, sponsors are contributing and bloggers of varying levels of experience are expressing their interest to join.
There’s still plenty of time before the September 23rd deadline, however, I’ve already received a few official entries from bloggers who have already completed all of the requirements and are now a part of the growing pool that I will make my final selections from.
To date, I’ve received official entries from:
There are others who are in the process of fulfilling the entry requirements and I expect this list to grow quickly.
$600+ in Cash!
Thanks to generous sponsors, in addition to taking ownership of the winning blog, the winner will also take home some cash! The Grand Prize Cash total is over $600! And this figure is also expected to grow – this doesn’t even include any other amazing prizes that sponsors will be contributing at the end and throughout this contest.
Cool Prizes Include:
- Genesis Pro Package – The Genesis frame work, plus all of the premium themes! This awesome gift comes to you straight from Brian Clark of CopyBlogger.
- A year of free web hosting from Brian Hollis of BlogInteract.
- Blogging Action Plan ebook by Jane Sheeba.
- BlogEngage RSS Submission Service from Brian.
- Blokube Pro Account from Devesh.
- CommentLuv Premium Plugin NEW!
- Duct Tape SEO ebooks by James Hussey NEW!
A huge thank you goes out to Hector Cuevas for creating the awesome banner for this contest!
Yes, that amazing “Survivor” themed graphic was created by the talented Hector Cuevas, who’s known for his awesome podcasts and blog marketing tips.
Submit Your Entry Now
So if you’ve been toying with the idea of entering, perhaps now is the time to solidify this thing and submit your entry. Please review the guidelines to ensure you’ve met all the requirements.
What to Expect
I’ve had some people ask me questions about the next steps and how this is all supposed to work, so let me take moment to explain this further. This is NOT A GUEST POSTING CONTEST. This is a reality contest where real teams of bloggers will start a blog from scratch. After the 10 contestants are selected from among all of the entrants, the contest will begin officially on Monday, Oct. 10, 2011 and will run for 10 weeks.
- Each team will have to work together to come up with a domain name (I will provide the hosting space and domain registration fees), choose a niche or group of closely related topics (see off-limit niche list), install WordPress, choose a theme (Genesis child theme) or create an original design, install plugins and develop a posting schedule.
- Teams will be expected to post at least once every week day, however, depending on the challenge, this number may increase.
- Each week a new challenge will be presented to the teams and at the end of the week, the losing team will vote on a team member that must leave. In the event that there’s a tie, or a dispute, the WBB writing team will intervene and make a decision.
Weekly progress updates will be posted on WeBlogBetter and other designated sites. Followers will get to read about the challenges, the struggles and successes that have occurred throughout the week. You’ll get to hear about what worked and what didn’t and in the process learn some new strategies for improving your own blog.
Challenges will be similar to challenges that bloggers face in real life. During the course of each challenge, teams will receive a bit of training in effective strategies and will be expected to perform a task or set of tasks, based on that training. In the process, the team that completes the tasks successfully will build a successful blog that could eventually bring in new sources of income and opportunities.
So how much time should a contestant expect to devote to this contest?
Blogging and related social media tasks can be time consuming, especially in the beginning stages of a blog – but working together as a team in the beginning should alleviate the strain that a typical individual blogger might experience. It’s important that team members divide the tasks and decide on who will do what early on in the contest.
An organized approach is best, and contestants should be willing to devote at least an hour or two each weekday for writing posts and promoting them. Each team member should expect to write at least 1-2 posts per week in the beginning phases of this competition.
As the contest progresses and team members are voted off, of course, things will have to shift and adjustments will need to be made.
Off-Limit Niche List
Okay, to make this an interesting contest, I’m sorry, but there are just some niches that have been overrun. So rather than flooding the blogosphere with more noise, I’d like the bloggers to get creative and find ways to stand out.
So when selecting a niche, teams will NOT be allowed to choose the following niche topics:
- Blogging about blogging
- Social media tips
- Make Money Online tips
- Affiliate or Internet marketing tips
- Weight Loss tips
(I may add to this list as time goes on – Feel free to chime in the comments sections about tired topics that you’d like to see banned from this contest.)
Topics must be Safe for Work, bloggers must use images that are also safe for work when publishing. No content aggregation or content farming will be allowed. All posts must be original creations by the team members.
Community Participation
This contest is supposed to be fun and interactive! There will be points in the contest when the WeBlogBetter community of readers will be asked to vote or provide feedback about a challenge, a team member or other aspect of the contest. Please comment on and share the update posts and plan to visit the contest blogs often.
I hope that in the process, this contest will increase blogging knowledge and help bloggers develop new strategies that will improve their blogs. I also hope that this depart from the usual guest posting contest will open the door for new kinds of interesting and interactive blogging contests everywhere and will imprint the WeBlogBetter name in the minds of bloggers throughout the blogosphere for years to come.
Okay, so this is just one of many updates to come about the Surviving the Blog Contest. Please share your comments, your questions or concerns in the comments section. Help me create the contest experience of a life time!
About Kiesha Easley
Looked like an interesting contest and I missed it.
This is a great value for your contestants to have the services.
Jeanine Roman recently posted..Gout Tips
Great job. I have enjoyed and benefited very much. I must apply it. I hope such post more and more.Thanks to author.
DBR recently posted..Free Phylogenetic Network Security Software For Network Security
Twitter: Janis167
says:
It looks very exciting but is there any catch? :P
Aivars recently posted..Nav naudas žogam..
Of course there’s a catch.
Lots of hard work and you have to be able to follow directions. (I’m tired just from filling out that application to be an entrant!)
:)
Holly Jahangiri recently posted..Can I Survive the Surviving the Blog Contest?
Holly, I know that’s right! It WAS intense. I’m so glad I had Evernote to track my progress.
Plus I had the advantage of jumping onboard way before the deadline. I did a bit each day until everything was done.
I’m glad you decided not to do the Simon Cowell thing on the sidelines. It would be swell to see you “doing YOUR thing” as a contestant!
Good Luck!
Cheers,
Mitch
Mitchell Allen recently posted..The Tribe the Jungle and the Terrifying Idea
I LOVE the off-limits niche list! Can we add “social media” and all forms of metablogging to the list?
Holly Jahangiri recently posted..Can I Survive the Surviving the Blog Contest?
I would like to recommend you some prizes for those too who will not get selected. Like you choose a team of 10 members, You go for an another contest which will roar give the best reviews on those two blogs. I can discuss idea in personal. I have a great idea..!
Karan Lugani recently posted..See How Easily You Can Target Keywords for Adsense
It’s a great contest.I wish I can participate in.I’ m looking forwarding to the competitors represent.
Hi, Keisha!
Sounds awesome, but I never had any luck so far with it, nor the necessary time. However, I know for a few persons that might be interested in it, and I will make sure they get this info!
I will spread the word!Let the party begin!
Kristina L. recently posted..Killer Dana Coupon Code
It looks really tempting, but i am sure of my our experience to enter such a serious competition and I still some more experience and observance. Good luck to all of you!
It’s seems very challenging, but I’m sure it will be a rewarding experience. After all, there’s a lot of goodies, so I guess it’s not a bad idea to participate in it.
Michelle Antonette recently posted..Best Accounting Software
Reality blogging…I love it!
I won’t be participating because I am taking a coaching class right now but I’ll be following those who do join and especially the 10 that move forward and set up blogs.
What they learn in the process will be very interesting…
This was an awesome idea by the way ;)
Kathy
Kathy Dobson recently posted..Mission Impossible!
Sounds cool I look forward to seeing how this goes!
A Web Designer recently posted..My top 3 SEO strategies and how I implement them
I wanna participate too :)
Larissa recently posted..How to get rid of scars
Stunning original contest! But… what`s the catch?
Prize for nothing.
Kiesha, this is a thrilling update! I know from your previous contests that you sure can generate buzz. Thanks for linking to my profile and for sharing the expectations.
This project definitely enlivens the Fall Entertainment Lineup – have you contacted the networks? Oprah might like to spice up her offerings :)
Cheers,
Mitch
Mitchell Allen recently posted..The Tribe the Jungle and the Terrifying Idea
Twitter: DanielleMcGaw
says:
I have a questions. You said, “contestants should be willing to devote at least an hour or two each weekday for writing posts and promoting them” – does that mean an hour or two a day per team or per contestant?
Danielle McGaw recently posted..Tiny House Living – Is It For You?
Twitter: weblogbetter
says:
Hi Danielle,
That should be per contestant. I’m estimating an hour to write plus promotional activities – more or less depending on the challenge.
Let me know if you have more questions.
Twitter: DanielleMcGaw
says:
Well, that decides it for me. I’m doing Corbett’s Million Dollar Blog Project and I can’t do both. I will definitely follow along though with bated breath. I love reality television so this will be fun to watch. :)
Danielle McGaw recently posted..Multiple Streams of Income Make It Easier to Live Without a Job
Twitter: bbrian017
says:
Hi Kiesha ,
if it’s something you’re interested in I would like to offer all your contestants free blog engage accounts and rss services until the contest is completed! I know it’s not much but I think it could provide some value with regards to creating backlinks and generating some traffic to their own blogs.
We can also post about the contest again on our blog with all the great prizes and as you know we will keep the sidebar banner up until the contest is completed! I would also like to offer the winner of your contest one free years or our Gold Membership Services. This is a great value for your contestants to have the services.
Let me know your thoughts and best of luck to everyone joining.
bbrian017 recently posted..The Blog Engage Weekly Top User for September 9th 2011 is…
Twitter: completeNiche
says:
We can also post about the contest again on our Complete Niche Blogs with all the great prizes and as you know we will keep the sidebar banner up until the contest is completed!
PLR Niche Blogs recently posted..Lastest Plr Sites News
Twitter: ivinviljoen
says:
Hello Keisha. I’m SUPER exited You’ll have my entry on Monday.
Ivin recently posted..How to Make Your SERP Listings More Attractive to Searchers