The Store To End All Stores, or: 100 Birds With One Stone

I am a librarian.  I love questions.  Lucky me, because last week, I got these questions and more:

• How can I get more people to read my blog?
• How does WordPress work?  Can you teach me?
• What are the next 10 books I should read?
• How do I know which kettlebell to buy?
• How do I put on muscle?
• What web host do you use?

Glad you asked! I love to get these emails from readers, but there is no denying that answering them thoughtfully takes time.  And when I can’t make time to answer them thoroughly, there are two options:

1. don’t answer them

2. answer them half-heartedly in a rush

Those options both suck.  So today The Store opens. The Store is my attempt to answer many of these questions in one place so that I can refer people there when they ask questions.

What’s in the store?

It’s going to be a work in progress, but for now, there are four categories which represent the questions I get the most:

• Resources for bloggers (I know a lot of you have blogs.  This should give some direction if you’re looking for it)
• Strength Books
• Grip tools, gadgets, and resources
• Kettlebells and how to buy them

I have plans to add another bookstore of non-strength-related books.  I will also be selling T-shirts soon, and you will have a chance to pick the designs, or design them yourselves.

As I find new strength equipment that I like, I’ll add it to the store.  As I read new books that I think are helpful, I’ll add them.  If I find new things that help bloggers, I will add them.

If I fall out of love with anything, I’ll get rid of it, because I don’t want one penny for products I don’t like.

Money, non-salesmanship, affiliate links

When you click on the links in The Store and buy stuff, sometimes I’ll get a few bucks.  Those are called affiliate links. The commissions are usually pretty small, but help balance out the amount of time I spend blogging.  This keeps Janette from getting too annoyed and I can say, “Oh no it’s not just a hobby!  See!”

But not all of the links are affiliate links. Some of them are there because they’re valuable resources, even though they don’t have affiliate programs I can sign up for.

If you wonder which links are affiliate links, try this: hover over the link with your cursor and look down at the bar at the bottom of the screen.  That’s how you can see the link that you will arrive at if you click.  If the link is REALLY LONG AND UGLY, then it’s probably an affiliate link.

For instance, here’s my Todoodlist affiliate link: https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?ii=97967&c=ib&aff=81820

Lovely, yes?  And if you’re still unsure, feel free to ask me.  I’ll point the affiliate links out.  I’ll even tell you the amount of the commissions I’ll get when someone buys something.

There are “cloaking” programs which I could use to “disguise” affiliate links, but I’m not going to use them.  Why not?  Because I don’t want to and I’m not embarrassed by anything I’ll be selling.  Why disguise things that I think are worthwhile?

Nah.

The only items in The Store are things that I have used, am using, and love unequivocally.  You’re here because you want to be better in some way.  Good for you!  I can recommend these products without reservations, and I believe they will make you better in some way.

So that’s it!  If you have suggestions for categories or items that you’d like to see in The Store, I’d love to hear them.  If it makes sense for me to try them and I like them, I’ll certainly add them.

And, if you’re still having trouble finding your way to THE STORE THE STORE THE STORE, I’ve also got it way up there in the menu bar at the top of the screen.

Come on in.  Stay awhile:)  BUY ONE OF EVERYTHING! I’ll use the proceeds to buy plane tickets and come bend nails at your next birthday party.

Josh

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Tagged as: products