YOUTUBE.COM

YOUTUBE.COM IS AN INTERNET SUCCESS. IT'S A WEBSITE WHERE AMATURES POST VIDEOS THAT THEY HAVE CREATED THEMSELVES. THE POSTING IS FREE, AND THE VIDEOS ARE A LOT LONGER THAN THE CLIPS THAT AMY POSTS ON HER BLOG. THERE IS NO CHARGE TO GO AND CHECK OUT THESE VIDEOS. THE SITE RECEIVES A MILLION HITS A MONTH. THE ECONOMICS OF THE SITE ARE SOMEWHAT OF A MYSTERY, BECAUSE THE ADVERTISING ON THE SITE COULDN'T POSSIBLY PAY FOR THE BAND WIDTH INVOLVED FOR A MILLION HITS A MONTH.

ADVERTISING, OF COURSE, IS WHAT DRIVES THE INTERNET TODAY. IN BLOGGING WHEN A READER OF THE BLOG CLICKS ON AN ADVERTISEMENT, THE OWNER OF THAT BLOG IS PAID. SOME COMPANY'S PAY FOR THE CLICK, AND SOME PAY IF AN ORDER IS MADE TO BUY A PRODUCT. TAKE FOR EXAMPLE, ANGELFIRE, WHICH HOSTS OUR WEBSITE, WE ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE THE WEBSITE WITH NO MORE THAN 20MB OF CONTENT, AND WE ARE LIMITED TO BAND WIDTH, FOR FREE. THE OWNERS OF THE SITE ARE MAKING A PROFIT ON THE ADVERTISING CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON EVERY PAGE OF OUR PHOTO ALBUM. ANOTHER EXAMPLE, IN MY REALM OF INTEREST, WHICH IS RV'ERS THAT WRITE BLOGS, THERE IS ONE AUTHOR THAT CAMPS AND NEVER PAYS. HE SPENDS EVERY NIGHT BOONDOCKING. HIS BLOG IS VERY POPULAR AND RECEIVES 1700 - 2100 HITS DAILY, AND HIS MONTHLY INCOME IS $900.

INTERESTING, ISN'T IT? WHAT ABOUT OUR ATTEMPT AT BLOGGING? THE "HAPPY CAMPERS" BLOG RECEIVES ABOUT 12 - 18 HITS A DAY, AND OUR ADVERTISING INCOME FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER WAS $1.42 :-) I GUESS WE WON'T RETIRE AS AUTHORS, BUT WE HAVE BEEN SURPRISED THAT WE HAVE BEEN KEEPING UP WITH THIS HOBBY FOR EIGHT MONTHS NOW. IT'S A FUN WAY TO KEEP OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS UPDATED ON OUR DAILY LIFE, INSTEAD OF E-MAILING.

BACK TO THE THE SUBJECT OF YOUTUBE, THE FOLLOWING EXAMPLE WAS SENT TO US BY AUNT KATHY IN GREEN BAY. I THOUGHT BEFORE THE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS YOU'D ENJOY THIS VIDEO.