It’s been far too long since I’ve shared my favorite family finance posts of the week. Although I’ve been out of it, I’m proud to announce that going forward my links carry a little more weight with the Google Gods. My Family Finances has finally achieved page rank and it is a 5 and after only a mere 3 months!
Many are asking how I managed the achievement. Although I’m not sure that you all will be able to follow my footsteps, I certainly don’t mind sharing what I think was a winning strategy.
Creating New, Not Just Interesting, Content
Admittedly, a big portion of my success probably has to do with the fact that I’ve been writing for US News and World Report for the last few months. Most of my articles that are published are then republished with dofollow links at other news outlets like Yahoo News and Business Insider. Getting three or four quality news links a week carries some serious link juice with it. I understand that everyone will not be able to simply guest post for USNAWR, but there is no reason why any blogger couldn’t one day get an offer.
This might be my only blog right now and it may only have been up for 3 months, however, I’ve been blogging and writing online for nearly 4 years now. In that time, I’ve had a chance to meet some renowned online writers. Whenever I get a chance, I like to ask what the best kind of online content is to write. A former Daily Beast writer turned political blogger once told me:
“95 percent of online readers want to find new information and the other 5 percent want to read distinguished authors.”
There is no way I can out-write the opinion page of the NY Times. However, coming up with new information or a new angle on old information; that is easy. Through my years as a political writer, I lived by this maxim and found that in the end, it won readers over.
I’ve had my doubts about the “new information” strategy for the personal finance blogging. The most successful writers in the PF corner of the blogiverse add in all sorts of personal touches. Writers often stress the journey of finance. Sites that follow this formula have done amazingly well; JD Roth anyone?
However, I’ve stuck to my guns. My strategy has always and will continue to be to find personal finance information that no one is talking about and informing readers. I may not have the most read site, but I do believe that this focus helped me to get an opportunity to write for larger publications.
Networking with Yakezie
I don’t know how anyone operates in the personal finances blog category without joining Yakezie. The community is amazing. I can’t count the number of times the membership has helped me whether it is through promotion or simply giving me widget suggestions. Over the last few months, I’ve worked hard to guest post, interact and get to know as many fellow Yakezie bloggers as I can and it has had dramatic impacts on this blog.
Perhaps USNAWR is the main reason why I have such a high page rank, but it’s my Yakezie friends that make it all worth it. Without your help, friendship and patronage, I wouldn’t have a reason for writing this blog and page rank really wouldn’t matter.
Top Ten Family Finance Posts
Enough about me, it’s time to check in with all of you!
-
- See Debt Run is spending their time in the weeds. I’m talking about the method you use to budget, not lawn work. Although I hear it can make your house look great. I should try it sometime, but then I wouldn’t have any green in my lawn.
- Ever wonder how banks collect on that giant six figure mortgage of yours? The Free Financial Advisor spills the beans on collection procedures when you don’t pay your home loan.
- There are some people who love overpaying for all their purchases. Money Counselor shares their secret spending formula so that you can overpay on everything too!
- It takes a lot of green to get your family into a home and that means saving up. Where better to get saving tips than Master the Art of Saving?
- Sure. Many families get their health insurance through their employer, but what about families headed by an entrepreneur? Free From Broke gives an excellent overview of finding and providing health insurance as a small business.
- Step Away from the Mall has 13 Things to Teach Your Kids about Credit Cards. Sadly, SNL was not involved.
- You’ve heard time and time again that being on Facebook can hurt your future job prospects. Squirrelers investigates the dangers on not being on Facebook.
- To claim property damage or not to claim property damage. Finance Fox invokes the no-claims bonus and why you might want to protect it from making claims.
- Ten years ago, it was common knowledge that you had to invest in stocks. One major recession and massive fleecing of baby boomer retirement nest eggs, now stocks are too risky. Don’t Quit Your Day Job puts up a great argument for why it’s better to bet on stocks than guarantee a loss on safe assets.
- Your credit score is the most important part of the borrowing side of finance. It can help you get a loan and a better interest rate. But, it’s not calculated with voodoo magic. Money, Life and More dissects the scoring model behind your credit score.
Sites the Featured My Family Finances
- Don’t Quit Your Day Job: The DQYDJ Weekender
- Finance Fox: Finance Fox Weekend Recap
- Canadian PF Happy Hour at Canadian Personal Finance
- Carn. of Financial Camaraderie at Money Counselor
- Carnival of MoneyPros at Finance Product Reviews
- Carnival of Retirement at Debt Black Hole
- Carnival of Financial Planning at Money Reasons
- Wealth Artisan’s FinCarn at Wealth Artisan
- Y & T’s Weekend Ramblings at Young and Thrifty
- Yakezie Carnival at See Debt Run
- Funny About Money: Workman Waltz: Blue Danube Dance
- Carnival of Retirement at Life Insurance by Jeff
- Wealth Artisan’s FinCarn at Wealth Artisan
- Carnival of MoneyPros at Making Sense Of Cents
- Totally Money Carnival at James Petzke: Graduating with a Surplus
- Y & T’s Weekend Ramblings at Young and Thrifty
- Yakezie Carnival at Kylie Ofiu
- Carn. of Financial Camaraderie at The University of Money
- Carnival of Financial Planning at Broke Professionals
I ended up with a PR 4 after my first update likely from a guest post I wrote at BudgetsAreSexy that got republished on MSN and Business Insider. Thanks for including me this week!
Hmmm. Do you know if J Money usually accepts guest posts? Maybe that should be my next article?
Thanks for sharing John, and all I can say is I’m in awe!
You nailed it with the “new” factor, John. I’ll be very honest–I hate reading a lot of what many people have to write, either because it isn’t anything that hasn’t been said before, or they say it the same exact boring way. I mean, how many times can one person read the top 10 wastes of money (which by the way is totally subjective and not authoritative at all), or 1000 ways to this or that. At the very least, people should try to take a different approach to a topic, or even write from an opposing stance just to shine a different light on the subject matter.
I agree with Eric. These days I bounce off many of my favorite blogs because it is just the same ol’ thing. I have been trying to add more meat to my post and it seems to be paying off. I’ll let you know in a few months if it continues that way.
I agree, too. New approaches to old content or hell, even new content, is the way to go. I’d be remiss if I didn’t admit that I occasionally dismiss the advice, though. It’s something to work on for sure. I love Yakezie, too. And congrats on being featured in so many big places!
It’s not easy to be new everyday. Especially when you aren’t new to writing. I’ve found it takes a lot of thinking everyday, but it’s well worth it.
One thing that I try to remember to do is simply google and research the topic before writing my idea. Often, I find extras that make my articles a cut above the copy.
All in place, except for the USN&WR and Yahoo links!
Thanks for the include, John. Remember we’ve got to toss up a collaboration at some point!
All in good time PK. I’m surprised you haven’t made a break for greener pastures yet.
Yes. I definitely need to refocus on the collaboration. Thanks for the reminder.
Congrats on your PR 5. I’ve been at a three for quite some time.
Three is nothing to sneeze at. I’ve had many blogs in the past never leave 2.
Thanks for the shout out John!
I’m just glad to be reading new SAFTM again. Welcome back!
You’ve got a PR 5 because you’re a good writer who consistently cranks out relevant, useful information in a way that makes it interesting to read. That simple! Yes, the other mentioned points helped, I’m sure, but there are a lot of pages that have mentions from bigger sites that didn’t get a 5, John! Keep up the great work, and we’ll be joining you soon (unless you jump even more next time…lol)
Also, thanks for linking Jeff’s post! Always appreciated. Being down in the weeds is dirty work, but I see the light…and the greener pasture is in our future. You see it? It’s soooo close! 🙂
Thank you so much for your encouragement. Sometimes it’s hard to tell if your content really sells or you are just good at networking. I really appreciate your comments.
My own family is far from the end of the weeds. One day; we’ll get there though.
Solid.
My site just got to a page rank of 4 since launching it in January. I’m pretty stoked, but 5 seems so elusive. Maybe there’s hope for me yet! Thanks for the tips, this was really informative.
Congrats on hitting 4. I’ve found that perseverance is the most important thing. Keep plugging away at your blog and you’ll get there.
PR 5! Awesome. I do think there’s a little different bent to personal finance stories, although when you can write a different approach, as you often do, readers (including me!) will follow.
Personal finances stories is definitely something I haven’t caught the knack of yet.
PR 5 is excellent. Congrats! I’m still trying to get back into my old routine after a blog-cation.