Can You Spare a Few Electrons?

Category: Personal

I love my job. Every day, I help people use computers and the Internet, answering their questions and pointing them to resources that will save them time, trouble, or money. I especially love it when readers become friends and people tell me that they're using what they've learned here to help others. It's very satisfying, but there is one favor I'd like to ask of you. Please read on...

A Quick Favor...

I quit my day job as a computer programmer at IBM back in 1997, and I've never regretted that decision. Not getting a paycheck can be scary, but the Internet has been good to me. It's always been my "business model" to provide free, high-quality content and attract sponsors with products and services that are relevant and useful to my readers. Somehow the bills get paid, and it works out to be a win-win situation.

If you are a long-time reader, perhaps you've noticed some underlying themes in my advice. If there's a free solution, I'll always mention that first. If there's a way to save money, avoid problems, or protect your privacy, I'll bring it to your attention. Awareness is key -- that's why I often write about backups, internet security, and free online services.

Tell a Friend!

The AskBob website and newsletter started in 2005, and for several years it grew quickly, as people found it by searching for help on Google. But in April 2011, a seismic event occurred in online publishing. Google changed the way they rank pages and present search results, and the result was that 80% of my incoming traffic disappeared overnight.

Since then it has sometimes been a struggle, but I've made some changes and looked for other ways to adapt to the new normal. But without a steady stream of visitors from Google and other search engines, word of mouth has proven to be the best way to reach new people.

About Those Electrons...

See Who is Bob Rankin? to learn about my background, how I got started with computers and the Internet, and the computer crime I committed when I was a teenager.

So that brings me to YOU, and my favor... I would so appreciate your help to continue the AskBob newsletter and website. If you like what you read here, and find it helpful, would you please tell a few friends about it?

Here's what I suggest: Email a couple of friends, tell them why you like AskBobRankin.com and encourage them to sign up for the newsletter. If you have a favorite AskBob article, send them the link. There's a newsletter signup form at the end of each article. It'll only cost you a minute and a few electrons. :-)

Thanks, and I hope you have a wonderful, healthy 2022! As always, your comments are welcome below.

 
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This article was posted by on 28 Feb 2022


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Most recent comments on "Can You Spare a Few Electrons?"

(See all 34 comments for this article.)

Posted by:

Bill C.
28 Feb 2022

Bob I'd like to send this whole page to my email list and Facebook "friends" but I'm a complete dweeb when it comes to my PC. Are there some simple ways I can do this?

Thanks


Posted by:

Ruth C
28 Feb 2022

Hi Bob, I promote and share your newsletter quite often. Your advice has been very helpful.

Especially the time you talked about image backups and Macrium Reflect. I installed the free software and created an image of my computer. Then a few months later my Windows crashed! But I was able to save my computer using my image backup. Thank you thank you thank you for all that you do!


Posted by:

Ron Mullard
28 Feb 2022

Firstly I would like to thankyou Bob for the help and advice you have given me at times I needed it. I enjoy the articles that you put out and though not all are applicable to me I find the relevant content useful and interesting. I will certainly try and spread the word for you.


Posted by:

J. K. Spence
28 Feb 2022

THANK YOU SO MUCH for your dedication Bob! I've been subscribed since the early "Net Tourbus" days and have recommended your newsletter to all my contacts regularly. Yes, the times have CHANGED, sadly. Might I suggest you post a donation link in each newsletter using PayPal or or other alternative. Also, the younger readers are more likely to donate some cryptos such as Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, Matic, Solana, Shibu INU, etc. if you post your wallet addresses. I would GLADLY donate some and I'm no yonngster, lol.


Posted by:

George L
28 Feb 2022

Thanks Bob for the years of assistance you have been to me since I retired. The information you provide has been invaluable in keeping up with the frequent changes in computer technology.


Posted by:

Jo
01 Mar 2022

You are my computer Guru. Keep up the good work!


Posted by:

Sean
01 Mar 2022

Bob,
Will do. Long time subscriber and I never miss a post. Your advice and info have been so valuable! Thanks for all you do. The bus has never stopped.


Posted by:

PhilB
01 Mar 2022

@J.K.Spence. Bob’s webpage has a ‘Buy me a Snickers’ link. You could even ‘buy Bob a Tesla’.
I, too, found Bob via the Tourbus. As I’m a hardcore Apple user, there’s been less useful stuff for me, but what has been useful has been invaluable. Thanks!


Posted by:

BaliRob
01 Mar 2022

You were not alone of course having you hard work being almost destroyed by Google.

Google is clearly operating on a 'who pays is listed first' basis. In some cases this means that the advertiser is the only company listed. This is a dangerous precedent especially where fake medical products are involved and one is unable to place warnings to advise other potential customers.


Posted by:

Ernest N. Wilcox Jr.
01 Mar 2022

Hi Bob,

I posted links to your website and the newsletter subscription page. I hope all of our efforts help increase your readership,

Ernie


Posted by:

Ed Montalvan
01 Mar 2022

I have been a subscriber to AskBobRankin.com for years now (and i have stopped counting. It has helped me a lot.
So what I did is I posted the invitation to my FB page. I hope my contacts will check it out ant tru it.


Posted by:

Steve
01 Mar 2022

Happy to help so I have forwarded the request on


Posted by:

Sidney
01 Mar 2022

Love your work Bob, and will continue to recommend your newsletter to others. Thank you!


Posted by:

Doron
01 Mar 2022

Thanks Bob for many years of enjoyable and helpful postings. You are still my best source for PC knowledge. I'll definitely give you a shout out whenever I can.


Posted by:

Jo
01 Mar 2022

I'm posting again, as I don't know what I'm doing! I'll keep following your advice. Love this site.


Posted by:

Charles W Tompkins
01 Mar 2022

I have used many of your suggestions and found them to be very helpful, also I have recommended your newsletter to a number of other people. Thanks so much and keep the good info comming.


Posted by:

Frances
01 Mar 2022

Bob, could you afford to advertise on Facebook occasionally?


Posted by:

Norman Rosen
01 Mar 2022

Your too late. I have already told people I know about Ask Bob....


Posted by:

Bob Rundquist
02 Mar 2022

I love that Bob researches things that I don't have time for.


Posted by:

Jonathan
03 Mar 2022

Granola bars must be a lot cheaper in the USA than they are here - AND they keep you 'regular'....

Thanks and enjoy!

Even my wife reads Bob AND can understand (well most) of it.

The trouble is that most people needing advice on computers that I know are lazy and just ask Jon who then looks things up on Bob.


There's more reader feedback... See all 34 comments for this article.

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