Previous Think Big Coworking Member Launches Web Hosting Site with Nonprofit Twist

It wasn’t too long ago that Chris Puglisi was burning the midnight oil in our Think Big Coworking space developing Mellow Militia and Tiki Toss 3D.  But because of Mellow Militia’s explosive growth in the past year, Chris and his team moved to Santa Barbara, California to further grow the mobile app development service.  But just because Chris isn’t coworking at Think Big anyone doesn’t mean he has stopped ideating.

As a matter of fact, Chris is acting as a solopreneur on his most recent business venture--Sites4Souls.com.  Sites4Souls.com is a web hosting company that gives back to nonprofits at the same time.  When companies host their websites on the Sites4Souls platform, 20% of the hosting fee goes to the nonprofit of their choice. 

According to Chris, web hosting is a necessary evil for everyone--from bloggers to artists to entrepreneurs and small business owners.  But Chris is taking the “evil” out of web hosting by providing a platform that is friendly, easy to use, and generous.

“I have always worked a lot with nonprofits, especially on the animal side,” explains Chris Puglisi, who has more adopted dogs than he can count on one hand. “A lot of small businesses cut out the donation portion of their budgets.  It’s the first thing to strike through.  With Sites4Souls, people have the opportunity to use something more personalized and give back at the same time.  It just feels good.

Sites4Souls recently launched in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles.  Chris plans to also launch the product in Kansas City, where his entrepreneurial roots are planted the deepest. 

Sites4Souls.com primarily utilizes a Wordpress platform for its web hosting service.  This provides an easy way for nontechnical people to personalize their websites and pages.  Sites4Souls is not limited to Wordpress, though.  As a matter of fact, almost any web application can be used with Sites4Souls.com (Wordpress just so happens to be the easiest, plus it powers 1 out of every 6 websites). 

Sites4Soulds is currently available in two different packages: a $10/month package and a $20/month package.  Both options come with instant activation and technical support. 

“When you do the math, it adds up really fast,” says Chris. “Sites4Souls has no limits for how much a company can raise.  We are looking to align with as many nonprofits as possible.  Companies can use this as a fundraising tool and we will be there for guidance and support.”

Learn more about Sites4Souls.com and explore the different ways you can give back to your local community!  We will keep you posted when Chris heads over to Kansas City launch the KC version. 

Blogging for Bucks: How Your Startup's Blog Can Bring in Cash

WRITTEN BY ALLISON WAY, SENIOR COPYWRITER & CHIEF EDITOR

Blogging brings in a lot of benefit.  Not only do blogs direct potential customers to a startup’s site, but they can also help sell a product, inform readers about a service, or act as a megaphone for thoughts and opinions. 

But did you know that blogging can bring in the bucks too?

It’s true.  If done effectively, blogging can generate extra cash for your startup.  And when you’re first starting out, any money is better than no money at all!

Many startups may already have an established blog (but if you don’t, be sure to read this article before you get started: The Blog Brawl: 10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Enter the Blogosphere).  Blogs can be easily set up through sites like Blogger, Wordpress or even Joomla. 

Once your blog has been created, generating interesting and consistent content is key.  When you write about topics that people are interested in reading, more users will visit your blog.  And when more users visit your blog, you have more potential customers in your market.  With patience, a blog can bring in thousands and thousands of viewers a month (or even a week!)—and that’s a lot of potential new customers. 

Once your blog has built a strong readership and is well-received by the public, it may be time to look into generating blog bucks.  But how?

1.  Blog Ads

Blogs can make money through the display of advertisements.  Many bloggers use Google AdSense, a service that pays based on how many readers have clicked on a blog’s advertisements (and it’s free!).  Other bloggers use CPM-driven tools that pay by the total number of impressions the advertisements receive.  For this, a startup can use ContextWeb, AdClickMedia, Adbrite or Adify. 

If you’re interested in taking your blog advertisements a step further, look into BlogAds.  BlogAds hook bloggers up with would-be advertisers and levies a commission in return for ad placements. 

The biggest concern that most startups have about advertising on a blog is that the advertisements will not match up with the blog’s theme or topic.  But tools such as AdSense account—the service pinpoints certain words in the blog so that the content matches the advertisements. 

2.  Direct Ad Sales

Selling space directly to advertisers can be a challenge, but it is possible!  With a highly-accredited blog, many advertisers may want to “buy” space on your blog, much like a newspaper or magazine.  Find services and products that tie into your niche market in order to place direct ad sales on your blog.

3.  Affiliate Programs

Blogs can serve as a conduit between readers and online sites that offer goods and services.  One of the best affiliate programs out there today comes from Amazon.com (Amazon Associates on Blogger).

When a blog mentions or reviews a book, it can link to the Amazon.com page so that readers can buy the book with a few clicks of the mouse.  When people find the book on your blog and then purchase them from Amazon.com, you get paid!

Other companies with great blogging affiliate programs include FlexOffers, LinkConnector, Commission Junction, Shareasale, E-Junkie, LinkShare, ING Direct, Ebates, Perkstreet Financial, Mint.com and Sharebuilder.

4.  Inbound Marketing

Many blogs exist just so that users can shout their opinions and thoughts to the world.  But what about using your blog to generate business?  That’s what inbound marketing is all about.

A startup can expand blog thoughts and opinions by talking about how a particular service or product can create solution or solve a problem.  By providing a call-to-action at the bottom of the blog, readers may feel a sense of urgency to look at your website or call your new startup.  Use effective search engine optimization, link building and keywording to bring more people to your blog—you never know; this could produce more customers! 

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