My brother Paul and I started Make Wealth History in April 2007. Over the next couple of weeks I’m going to be taking stock, reviewing things and little, and giving the site a re-design. I’d like to highlight more of our three years’ worth of content, and we’ll be considering a new layout with more of a magazine feel. I’m also planning some summary pages that introduce the key problems we’re addressing, and that explore the solutions.
But it’s your site too. As we look at how to improve and take things forward, what would you like to see? Any obvious features we’re missing, or new services you’d like us to offer?
The Earthbound Report 
Why don’t u consider monetizing your blog? Get an independent domain and sing up with Adsense?
I could do, and it would probably generate a fair bit. I’ve always resisted it because I write so much about consumerism, and it would lose integrity somehow.
Maybe you already covered this and can point me in the right direction, but in the last few days I realized that I’m keeping my money in a bank and have no idea what their practices are in terms of investing. Is there such a thing as a socially responsible savings/checking account? I just realized that I don’t know what I’m supporting when I choose where to do my banking and feel a certain responsibility in how the bank uses my money… Are there alternatives?
Melissa King
Simply Flaw-thentic
NY, NY
I’ve covered that a little, http://makewealthhistory.org/2008/01/25/who-does-your-money-work-for/
and what can happen with your money if it goes in the wrong places
http://makewealthhistory.org/2007/06/19/divest-for-darfur/
There’s also a comparison of ethical banks, but that’s only going to be relevant in the UK. http://makewealthhistory.org/2009/01/06/which-is-the-most-ethical-bank/
I’m sure there are equivalent ethical banks in the US too. Failing that, keeping your money in a smaller bank and investing it in your own area is the best policy. It means its more likely to be supporting local business and job creation, rather than playing in the stock markets.
Jeremy,
That conflict can be avoided if you put up affiliate links to socially responsible companies (MFIs, donor agencies, etc.) or only allow public service messages to appear on AdSense (although I’m not quite sure how it’s done).
That’s true in theory, although I’ve been involved in websites in the past that have tried to keep a socially responsible ads policy and failed. The systems are all automated, and we ended up advertising all kinds of greenwashed products and services.
I don’t need the money, so I’ll hold off advertising for now. I may post them in the future, but I’ll keep it to individual requests rather than a service like adsense.
I suppose one has different priorities when blogging to make a living (like me). I don’t see any harm in sharing a long term plan of mine with you, surely it could help you too: consider making an e-book of particular posts and give it away for free (or sell it). You already have the content you need, just throw in some extras, alter the formatting, and voila! The benefit to your readers is a handy and focused source of information…
Now that’s an idea that is on my radar – although quite when I’ll have time to do it is another thing.
You could find someone to do it for you…it’s very rewarding in the end, as I’ve heard from some pro bloggers…