Site: Prune Juice Media
Founder: Matt E. Stevens
Site Personality: We help you flush through the “crap” in politics using sarcasm and humor.
Since: 2010
Why did you choose this subject?
When President Obama was a candidate in 2008, I knew that I had to somehow get involved in the national political conversation. By early 2010, I started my website to begin talking about issues of the day in an honest way that real people could relate to and understand.
Is the site profitable?
Yes. I get a small, but growing, financial return on my website.
Can you give advice to new bloggers wishing to generate income from their blogs?
Remember that people will not want to invest their hard-earned money in ads on your blog if the content is not top-notch and it doesn’t attract a good readership. You should also research ad networks centered around the topic of choice for your site, including the readership and participation requirements. Look into Google Ads and how you can get started with their program.
How many readers do you get to your blog per day?
In the past seven weeks, I have ranged anywhere from 500 to 1,500 viewers per day. Events such as Election 2010, the death of Elizabeth Edwards, and the repeal of the military’s ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy have been some of the recent draws for the site.
How do you link to other bloggers and get the word out to others that you have a blog?
I started by sending emails to bloggers whose sites I read or with whom I wanted to build relationships. Also, I have sent tweets to various people and media outlets to introduce myself and Prune Juice Media. I know a few bloggers personally or have friends that know them, so connections were made in person as well.
Do you consider yourself a journalist?
Yes… I know this is a touchy subject for people because they feel that some bloggers are slanderous and underhanded. I do not see myself in that light. In fact, I currently serve as a freelancer for Politic365, an online newsmagazine geared to African American voters and issues. I know how to research the facts, ask the right questions, and even write in AP style to make a story worth reading… In less than a year, I have interviewed state and federal legislators, covered a major rally in Washington, D.C., and even spoken with White House officials about the impact of their legislation on the African American community.
Some of your favorite bloggers are …
Miss Jia; That Grape Juice; New Left Media (political video bloggers); Jack & Jill Politics; afrobella; The Fresh Xpress; The PCP Blog; A Day In The Life; Crooks & Liars; Mock Paper Scissors; Concrete Loop; and Foolocracy.
Name a blogging tool that you can’t live without?
SocialOomph has made getting information to my Twitter followers so much easier. I am able to schedule tweets, send reminders, promote the site, and retweet some of my best posts whenever I want to.
