Interview with Victor Salazar – Metallman

BenSpark

Yesterday’s interview with DragonBlogger went so well I decided that I would continue the series and interview another member of the “I’m Not A Famous Blogger” IZEA Insider Crew. I’ll let my guest tell the readers a little about himself.

Metallman

About myself, hmmm…. Well, first off, my name is Victor Salazar, born and raised in Los Angeles, CA and my online moniker is Metallman. A name that has stuck with me since high school, in part because of my love for music. I’m a huge metal fan and my favorite bands include Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, and Iron Maiden. I also like classical music so that usually throws people off. I play guitar and am fairly good at it. I’m a happily married guy and a father of 3 (soon to be 4!) I’m pretty laid back and can get along with practically anyone. I work as a Sr. Credit Analyst, for a well known designer, which is great since I’m good with numbers.

BenSpark

Those are some great interests and I am a fan of Metallica as well, I love playing One on guitar hero but that is the extent of my musical ability. Tell us about your blogs

Metallman

My blog, Metallman’s Reverie, is basically my extended thoughts. Pretty random and usually all over the place. A post will usually contain an idea or thought that occurred to me while shopping, watching a movie, playing a game, hanging out with my family, or whatever.

BenSpark

I’ve read some of your blog lately, like the style and the flow. Looks like you have been at it for a while and have amassed a pretty good following. Why did you start blogging?

Metallman

I started blogging to get my thoughts down on “paper”. I have these conversations with people and I sometimes wished that a recorder was there to capture the moment. When I write a post, It’s as if I’m having a conversation with myself. I’ll write about what makes me laugh or my feelings towards a particular subject. I’ve been told that I have this unique writing style that is “me” and I would love to look back on my thoughts and ideas many years from now.

BenSpark

I am feeling that from your words. I started my blog as a way for family and friends to keep in touch with me and where I traveled. Eventually it evolved into something more and something I’ve been able to make some money from. Do you monetize your blog? What are some companies besides IZEA that you work with?

Metallman

I do monetize my blog. Being a family man, a little extra income goes a long way in the form of family entertainment. As I mentioned before, I do have sponsored posts on my blog but I try to keep them to items or ideas that I see myself using or incorporating. I also have a few Adbrite ads that run on my site that is an after thought, actually. I don’t really pay much attention to those since it’s more of a “set it and forget” type advertiser. I am also a member of PayPerPost V4 but am in the small percentage of those that have not had an opportunity presented.

BenSpark

Every other day I’m seeing people flipping out over IZEA (and citing things back to 2006 which are not longer relevant) but IZEA is the company that has the strictest Code of Ethics. What is your stance on Disclosure?

Metallman

I believe that disclosure is extremely important to a blogger and reader. You want your views and ideas to be transparent. You want to advise your readers that you do sponsored posts or if there will be some adult content in your site. If the reader feels deceived by the blogger, that disconnect can hinder your blog and your reputation. Besides, why would you hide anything? Be upfront about it and write from your heart without having to watch your words or ideas. I know that Google PR is a touchy subject to some but if you’re writing for ideas and thoughts, and monetary value is along for the ride, PR would not mean as much to you as say, a blogger who is looking to monetize their blog first and foremost.

BenSpark

Write from your heart, words to live by. You’re pretty active on SocialSpark, you really put your heart into it too. Sp, what is your favorite feature of SocialSpark?

Metallman

SocialSpark is great. The fact that I can receive an Email to advise that I qualify for a sponsored post is great. I also love the fact that I am notified when the price of CPC opportunities has changed. It’s a great way to go through the CPC opps that you are displaying and decide on whether you want to change your CPC opps, depending on the new price.

BenSpark

I like those features as well. I like it better when the CPC prices go UP. Since you use SocialSpark a lot you would know what works and what doesn’t. You told me what does work so tell me what should be improved on SocialSpark?

Metallman

I believe that the community should be worked on. There are many bloggers out there that many are not exposed as they should be. I don’t know how to remedy that, but I would look at the community and figure out a way where bloggers can interact with each other more than with just messaging. I would also look at the inactivity of some bloggers and weed them out of the system. Maybe by checking the feed of the blogs? If there are no new posts within a 2 month period or so, maybe an Email or some sort of notification can be sent to advise the blogger that their blog is in danger of being removed from the SocialSpark network. This will give bloggers a chance to revisit their blog to update it or be advised that their blog no longer qualifies to take part in SocialSpark.

BenSpark

I agree that some pruning should take place. Numbers are great but quality is what will attract better advertisers. You’ve been blogging for a while, what is the Ultimate Goal for a blogger, in your opinion?

Metallman

The ultimate goal for a blogger is to be #1. =oP You have to aim high and shoot for the stars. Wherever you may fall, completely depends on how well you manage and promote your site. I want to be #1 blog site in the world. Will it happen? Probably not, but you know what? I’m content with whatever readers I have, whether that be 1 or million, because that is more friends that I have now than what I had before I started blogging.

BenSpark

Meeting new people and making friends is a great benefit to this gig. I have met so many wonderful people online and off because of my blog. I find that I get too caught up in things and don’t have enough time to visit everyone as often as I’d like. Maybe have to work on my time management skills. What is the first thing you do when you fire up your browser?

Metallman

I check out SocialSpark, actually. I don’t receive Email messages when I receive a new message from a blogger in my SocialSpark inbox. I will be notified of new opportunities, but never when a friend drops by to say hello. I try not to let messages linger in my inbox so I make sure to respond the moment I get a chance.

BenSpark

If you could spend one year blogging about a particular thing what would it be and why? How would you keep it fresh?

Metallman

This one is easy. Sports! I’m a huge fan of football and basketball so I am sure that I can keep it going for a full year. Even though the summer months are considered down time for those sports, there are always trade rumors and deals that are being made for the upcoming season so the content will always be new and fresh.

BenSpark

Sports is certainly something I have little knowledge about. I’m not the go to guy for sports for sure. But I do like to blog and I bet learning to understand sports and appreciate them would be a good topic to blog about for a year, or that would make a great blog post. What is your best blog post ever?

Metallman

I would have to say that the blog post that I did last year for the my little one has a special place in my heart. I think that the poem that I wrote for her really hit home in a way that I will always remember. And that fact that it brought my wife to tears also helps in cementing the post as one of my top favorites. Oh yeah, and that fact that she’s sitting in front of a Slayer flag is pretty cool. =oD

BenSpark

Wow, two guys in a row who write poetry. I’m beginning to think that that activity shouldn’t have fallen by the wayside for me. That is amazing. Victor, what is amazing about you?

Metallman

I am me. And what I mean by that is that I have my own sense of style. I care not what others think of me, though I do try to be respectful of others. I love the idea of “to each their own” since that sums up the fact that everyone is different and no two people can be the same.

BenSpark

Now for some random questions. Favorite pizza topping?

Metallman

Mmmm…. Pepperoni and bell peppers…. Aaarrrrggghhhhh….

BenSpark

Pirates or Ninjas?

Metallman

Oh man, ninjas all the way! Stealth is definitely the way to go! I plan on being a ninja one day. lol My wife already got me a sword so I’m what, about half ways there?

BenSpark

What one thing would be improved by adding Bacon to it?

Metallman

Nothing. Bacon are fat strips of death to me. I cannot stand bacon.

BenSpark

I guess you’re not getting any of my Choco-Nutty-Baconstastic Cookies. Do you have any favorite podcasts?

Metallman

I’m not cool enough to listen to podcasts. I know that they’re around but I have not been exposed to them enough to be hooked to them.

BenSpark

I’d like to thank Metallman for his great interview and I encourage everyone to visit him at his blogs as well as on SocialSpark at http://socialspark.com/bloggers/metallman.

Tagged as: BenSpark, BenSpark.com, Blogger, Blogging Poet, Family, Guitar, Heavy Metal, Humor, I'm Not A Famous Blogger, Interview, Interview with Metallman, Interview with Victor Salazar, Iron Maiden, IZEA, IZEA Insider, Kids, Metallica, Personal, Poetry, Slayer