BenSpark
Today I’m interviewing my friend Kevin Metzger. Kevin and I recorded his first ever podast, and then we did it again, LOL. Kevin is a pretty amazing guy but I’ll let him tell you more about himself.
Kevin
I was tempted to take my about me page from my blog and put it here but I think I’ll try to be a bit more glib. First off I’m a father and family man. I’m proud of that and I feel very successful in life because of that. I work full time for a small company that does B2C delivery of packages under five pounds in under five days as a Business Systems Architect. I’m 35, I’m working on a book about dad’s by conducting the largest private survey of dads ever undertaken {I’m not 100% positive about that but I’m pretty sure}. I’m a blogger. I’m a podcaster, and new to the list, I’m going to be a speaker soon, which I guess means I’m also becoming a voice in the Daddy blogging community. I’m also one of the founding board member of a non-profit called Let’s Cure CP. This is an organization that was founded to fund research into cures for Cerebral Palsy. I also run, not well, not fast but I do run and I will be competing in the Thanks Giving Day 1/2 Marathon here in Atlanta.
BenSpark
You sound really busy and also very driven. So I wonder what you blog about. Could you tell us about your blogs?
Kevin
I have two main blogs that are currently active. The first blog is MySpellingSucks.cokm and TheDADvocateProject.com.
I started MySpellingSucks a little over a year ago to learn more about social media and blogging in general. I had done some blogging in the past but it wasn’t consistent. So I needed to pick a topic I felt I could write on regularly and since my spelling sucks I didn’t want to have to worry about editing because I also have ADD oh and my spelling sucks because I have dyslexia. Hmmm I know I love my kids and I’ve had a special challenge because my oldest daughter has Cerebral Palsy. Thus MySpellingSucks.com An unedited discussion of my ADD and Dyslexia and my Daughters CP.
I was blogging for under a month when I wrote the Article Seven Years. The article was submitted to my local community magazine and I was selected as the East Cobber Father of the year in 2009. That was really cool but it made me want to find all the other dad’s out there who were no different than me and were also Father of the year. The thought took a little while to formulate but the name DADvocate hit me on the way home from a trip to the Home Depot. The idea for The DADvocate Project was born. I would use the project to learn more about dads and highlight all the great dads out there. I didn’t realize it at the time but there is a significant lack of positive portrayal of dads in the media and I hope to help change that with this project. If you’re a dad and you want to get involved you can help by completing the survey.
BenSpark
I think you covered it a bit in the previous answer but why did you start blogging?
Kevin
Because I work on the edge of business and technology I wanted to understand the social media trend better. The blog was initially an outlet to do that. I have learned so much in the last year, it’s absolutely amazing. I also see how this work is lending to new opportunities both on my blogs and in work.
BenSpark
We didn’t talk to much about advertising but you did drop an inside joke about an affiliate link so I figure you do some monetization, so what is your stance on Disclosure?
Kevin
I assume you mean if an advertiser or business provides you a product and you review it. I’m the type of guy who believes it’s best to say what your doing and why your doing it. I hate all the folks out there that try and sell the snake oil about get rich quick and I see non disclosure as something akin to those folks. As a consumer I feel less manipulated if I know the guy got the product for free and is telling me what he thinks. I do assume two things though 1) I don’t think most people will give false reviews of a product especially if it stinks. I assume they would decline to do the review. 2) I know it’s possible that a person who received a product for free would value that product differently than someone who pays for it but that doesn’t discount his opinion.
BenSpark
Those are both some very good points. I’m a guy who gets free products to review and I make sure to say that I got the item for free. Disclosure is so key. With your great points above I bet you have some good tips for bloggers. Could you share a Blogging Tip with the world?
Kevin
hmmm… that’s tough as I don’t consider myself an expert but I do recommend Thesis and I’m seriously considering Scribe even though I know I don’t need it for my site I want to understand and learn SEO better.
BenSpark
I use Thesis on some blogs, like this one and I like it. I’m not sure that I’d use Scribe, I have so many posts that if I ran it on all them I’d crash the Internet. Lol. What do you wish you knew when you started blogging?
Kevin
Just How deep the Rabbit Hole Goes.
BenSpark
Since you monetize your blogs what are you favorite advertisers? Who would you want to work with?
Kevin
I’ve got some affiliate links on both blogs. The MySpellingSucks links poorly match my audience and probably need to be pulled down all together. The DADvocate just started with Affiliates and it’s received some free products. I’m very excited about that, I think I would really like to get Graco as a brand advertiser. Just Last week I interviewed a parent on the DADvocate Podcasts and he mentioned how he loves their products because they saved his child’s life. I currently advertise for three products on the site My Wired Style which helps parents understand their and there children’s personalities, Saddleback Leather, they make the best leather cases available today, and Melissa and Doug because they make so many of my kids toy’s.
BenSpark
What is the Ultimate Goal for a blogger, in your opinion?
Kevin
Oh I think every blogger probably has their own goals but I’m certain that no one blogs who believes they have noting to say or contribute. After all blogging is changing the world by adding to the social conversation.
BenSpark
What is the first thing you do when you fire up your browser?
Kevin
This should inspire me to update my start tabs but since I’m answering these questions at 1:30 AM I’m not going down that side task. My personal computer start up tabs go to iGoogle, email, facebook, and each of my blogs and all there admin pages. I also immediately log into Hootsuite to check for any current messages. I wish they would make an application that allowed you to open to different set’s of home pages but I guess I could really use Google bookmarks for that hmmm…
BenSpark
Wow, you open up way more tabs than I do and I thought I opened many. You’re already blogging but if you could spend one year blogging about a particular thing what would it be and why? How would you keep it fresh?
Kevin
Honestly I have a few topics if I was doing something on top of what I was already doing.
1) Cooking – This one is easy to keep fresh new recipes, new cooking styles – I’d theme it learning to cook healthy but delicious.
2) Landscape – I have a beautiful wooded property with a nice back yard. I unfortunately don’t know jack or have the money to keep this lot up the way it needs to be kept up to be beautiful. I would love to learn how to make the lot perfect. I have the vision I just need the education, money and sponsorship. I think it would be a blast to blog about this and do interviews with the folks at Home depot. I figure there are projects inside the house that could probably get done too with this type of blog just to mix it up a bit.
3) Saltwater fish tank – Love them and there is just so much that can go into an aquarium blog. Do it daily for 1 year and you would end up with a beautiful tank or maybe 3.
4) I will learn to blow glass before I kick the bucket. I can’t tell you why, because I don’t know but this is on my bucket list as something I’ve always wanted to do. I think blown glass artwork is beautiful and i want to create it.
BenSpark
Those are some spectacular ideas. In the time that you have been blogging you must have some great posts what is your best blog post ever?
Kevin
I have to say Seven. It’s gotten the most hits and really kicked off a number of opportunities for me.
BenSpark
Time for the Speed Round: Pirates or Ninjas?
Kevin
I would always have said ninjas in the past but I’m feeling Pirates. Yeah I defenitily feeling the Pirates. My look at forty looks good.
BenSpark
Favorite Movie? TV Show? Book?
Kevin
Matrix, It was Lost and now that Lost if over I refuse to get into another TV show. I An Not Weird My daughter wrote it.
BenSpark
Do you play Facebook games?
Kevin
No. I got into mafia for about 4 days.
BenSpark
Favorite Blogs?
Kevin
This list is long and distinguished like my blog:)
Dadblogs:
http://www.dadrevolution.com
http://www.dadomatic.com
http://www.dadcentric.com
http://www.dad-blogs.com
http://www.clarkkentslunchbox.com
http://www.sahdinlansing.com
http://www.evolutionofdad.com
http://www.dadlabs.com
http://www.whyisdaddycrying.com
http://www.daddarocks.com
http://www.mochadad.com
http://www.techydad.com
http://www.dadofdivas.com
http://www.sahdpdx.com
http://www.benspark.com
http://www.lukeIamyourfather.com
http://www.cutemonster.com
Honestly the list probably goes on and on. I’m sure I missed some but this list is a good start. I encourage everyone to get out and find more.
Social Media blogs
http://www.sethgodin.com
http://www.chrisbrogan.com
http://www.copyblogger.com
BenSpark
Favorite Podcasts?
Kevin
I’m not necessarily a huge podcast listener because I can’t think and listen at the same time so I only get to listen to a few. I do try to listen to GeekDads and CastOfDads but beyond that I only listen the DADvocate podcasts.
BenSpark
How does someone connect with you online?
Kevin
Contact forms on The DADvocate Project.
Twitter @metzgerbusiness or @TheDADvocate
Facebook Facebook.com/metzgerbusiness
I can also be found on Linked in, YouTube and Vimeo but if you want to connect try one of the other more direct methods first.
BenSpark
Kevin, thanks so much for talking with me. I really like the Dadvocate Project and also wanted to let you know that I really enjoyed the book that your daughter wrote. I’ve got to read that on video soon. You know how behind I am, sorry man. Thanks again.
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