We headed downtown to the “Chateau” Granville last night for a meetup with some local Vancouver bloggers. Founded on October 8, 2002, The Vancouver Blogger Meetup Group has 220 members and has held 35 meetsup so far. The group is made up of people in Vancouver interested in blogging – from beginners to experts. They meet once a month, usually around the middle of the month.
I found out about the group from Gary at BlueFur Web Hosting and decided to check it out. Aside from everyone being a blogger, the people in the group doesn’t seem to have much in common. They range in age from 17 to 50 and come from different backgrounds. No one in the group made money by blogging.
I really didn’t know what kind of reaction the group would have towards me. I figure it would either be “OMG! You make money by blogging? How do you do it?” or “OMG! You make money by blogging? Shame on you!” Luckily, a few people in the group did know who I was.
The Worst Hamburger In The World
It may look OK in the photo but this is the worst hamburger in the world. The meat was dry and hard as a rock. The cook must have lost his taste buds because he put so much salt on it, you can call it a salt burger. The thing was pretty much inedible. Do not order the “Chateau” Burger at the “Chateau” Granville. The place is really a Best Westin.
Bad burgers aside, I had a good time networking with the bloggers at the meetup. Many of them expressed a high interest in blog monetization and traffic building. Any of them should be able to make money from blogging because they already have the first ingredient to making money by blogging, and that is they’re not blogging for money.
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{ 52 comments }
Looks like you had a great time
Looks a good burger 
Michael Dunlop
John said it was a salt burger, yuke!!!
John, I’m surprised you have not been to one of these meeting before as a special guest or something.
That’s way too many pickles!
My thought too. Blehhhhh….
That’s the worst looking burger I’ve seen in ages.
Yep, Looks like the Worst Burger to me!!!
Wanna see The Next Big Thing Online?
And whats the next big thing online?
I have seen it! It could be huge.
“Any of them should be able to make money from blogging because they already have the first ingredient to making money by blogging, and that is they’re not blogging for money. ”
Well said.
Not Blogging for money? Ohhhhh
My blog is starting with no ads. When I get huge amounts of traffic i may advertise.
You won’t advertise, you’ll publish ads
“Bad burgers aside, I had a good time networking with the bloggers at the meetup. Many of them expressed a high interest in blog monetization and traffic building. Any of them should be able to make money from blogging because they already have the first ingredient to making money by blogging, and that is they’re not blogging for money.”
Could not agree more.
All you “Money Making Quests” are doomed to fail because you’re blogging for money. Why should we care about you? Because you’re telling telling me about “Why he can’t live without Digg”? One of my guilty pleasures when I started blogging was a blog which was about a guy is on a quest to lose his virginity. Sorry, but that’s a hell of a lot more interesting than random nobodies blogging about making a million.
Are you drinking Mike’s Hard Lemonade?!
The place didn’t have any Smirnoff Ice!
Oh GOD!
Smirnoff
I LOVE Mike’s Lemonade
The burger looks cold. Fries are very skinny.
Other then that, it seems to be a interesting meeting. Attending these type of meetings are very good for networking. You may get some great ideas talking to others with similar profession.
I can just imagine your disgust with the burger. Haha, you weren’t to thrilled with the food from the Benihanna in Vegas either.
I have high standards when it comes to food.
Why do hamburgers have to be unhealthy?
The only healthy part of that meal are the raw vegetables, but they were probably sitting in a freezer for a long time which destroys their vitamins.
Is that why they put so many pickles on it?
I guess the cook felt the burger wasn’t salty enough.
Too much salt is often the reason food tastes bad. Especially popcorn
Yea popcorn is horrible with lots of salt, I can’t even stand fries with too much salt.
Ah, I would like to join a local blogger group, but I’m pretty sure none exist around here. Might as well start one then.
how do you stay so thin eating burgers and fries all the time? I would probably be 300 lbs if I ate out like that all the time
That meet up looks extremely socially awkward.
That’s because they all hate the burgers!
You are courageous John for showing up at such a meeting.
That looks like a bad burger.
Darn, I need to eat a burger like that too now.
Yukk I wouldn’t want one lol
John, What do you expect to gain from going to these meetings?
Just curious!
Thanks,
Jonathan
Nothing really. It’s just nice to meet new people.
i think it’s great that you are active with offline activities john. That meeting probably didn’t teach you much but still cool to see you try all sorts of things. and you moved around.
Hey John, I hope you paid less than $60 for that burger!
I am sure that burger cost less than $20.
but with the salt added, it might cost $30.
Now that’s funny, you are probably right
That burger looks very…strange
That cheese is really weird, methinks 
. Anyway, the purpose of the meeting wasn’t food, but meeting other people, so I suppose it was great. Wish I’d live somewhere in Canada / USA :-<
Seems like you had a horrible food experience John. Maybe you should be hosting the meetups in the future
-Mike
its the money making you picky on your foods
I thought everyone had at least the slightest idea how to try and monetize a site
Warning – image is bluntly human and may be disturbing to some.
I can’t stomach reading posts that talk about food being the worst in the world since I know for a fact that meal would have been the BEST in the world for 50% of earths population.
Let me tell you a little story and show you a picture. First the picture. http://jugalbandi.info/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/wanting_a_meal.jpg
Now the story: The picture was published in The New York Times in 1993. In 1994, Kevin Carter won a Pulitzer Prize for it. A few months later he committed suicide because of severe depression over what he saw.
Do not forget how lucky we are
The burger looks very dry from the bread to inside.
It looks like you had a “great” time!
Damn this hamburger looks soo bad..
And chips not better hehe.
John, I must say that it was a real pleasure meeting you at the Vancouver Blogger meetup. To be honest, I was a little skeptical of some of the claims you were making about your success in blogging ($27,000 a month from blogging?! What the heck is going on here!) I’ve had a look at what you do and I’m convinced you’re the real deal. Kudos to you for being such a down-to-earth guy who is both passionate about what he does and very successful at it. You’ve even inspired me to clean up my own blogging platform and begin a new and focused effort to bring in a regular readership. May your words and deeds inspire others to greater things!
well, i really enjoyed meeting you, too. VERY inspiring. in fact, i’ve been thinking about monetizing ever since thursday night. i hope to stay in touch and learn from you.
Well, I always read your blog John, and follow your suggest but I learned that “One can not believe everything they said the big guru”
.
Following you, I hosted my blog in bluefur using your promocode, averything fine during 6 month but now they decided cancel my account without give me the opportunity to find some solution.
They send me an e-mail thar literally said:
“Hello,
I have refunded the remainder of your payment for your account and cancelled your payment for future.
You have been provided your files so I suggest you find another host immediately.
This will be the last communication from our company in regards to this issue.
If you have any billing questions or comments please feel free to contact us.
Sincerely,
Billing Dept
BlueFur.com Canada Web Hosting”
In few words: Thanks for nothing and get out here!
The next time I’ll think a lot about your suggestion. je je, now my little and inofensive blog is off line and I am finding other reliable hosting.
(By the way, English is not my mother language, I’m speaker spanish).
ugh, i wont eat that