Interview with Marhgil Macuha A Top Pinoy ProBlogger of 2007
Marhgil Macuha runs Macuha.com and a lot of other more blogs. He is known for his wit, ingenuity and blogging power. Marhgil is considered as one of the Top Pinoy ProBloggers of 2007 compiled by Basapa.
Enough of the introductions, let’s get into Marhgil’s head! 
Marhgil Macuha: First of all, thank you for interviewing me. 
Now, to answer your questions.
Back in 2005, I’m not sure on which blog I’ve first saw those Adsense ads. I just got curious I’m seeing those ads everywhere, so I googled it and landed on Google Adsense sign-up page. I didn’t even know back then that it is a pay-per-click program. Since I just love blogging, so, I just put those Adsense codes on my old blog and continued blogging. They were not optimized. I just told myself that if it gives me money, then, good, if it doesn’t, I have nothing to lose.
For a couple of months having those ads on my blog, I just earned an average of $1 per month, telling myself that at least I’ll get my first Google check after 100 months. Hehehe. I even thought back then that Google Adsense is not true. Until I’ve read this news article from USAToday about Google’s hidden payroll. That article opened my eyes. There is really money to be made out of Google Adsense thru my blog. So, I researched. Found Yugatech’s blog. Found Macalua’s SEO contest. And the rest is history.
Marhgil Macuha: Yup. I have several blogs. Most of them, I set up when I was just learning to make money from blogs, trying to earn from free articles but to no avail. Maybe due to duplicate content penalty. birthdayguide.blogspot.com and wantusawa.blogspot.com to name some of my flop blogs My text messages blog still gives me the highest income, 60% of my Adsense income come from it.
Marhgil Macuha: Per month, I think, I’m earning an average of $600+ in all blogs and all money making programs combined. Most of my income come from Google Adsense, followed by Widgetbucks, Kontera, and Adbrite. So far, affiliate programs don’t work me. I don’t know. I still haven’t discover the trick on how to make more money on it. That’s why I just stick to PPC.
Marhgil Macuha: On MSN, my blog hit the first page on the keywords after 2 weeks. Just got lucky, I think. But on Google, it took me more than a year before I conquered the first page. I did not invest any money for promotion. Blog hopping did the trick.
Hopping from blog to blog (especially blogs of teenagers), I just left a comment on their tagboards telling them I have lots of text messages on my blog. Bloggers finding it valuable link to it automatically on their blogs, not even asking for a link exchange. When it’s already popular, I don’t need to blog hop anymore. Links come naturally and search engines deliver the visitors everyday.
Marhgil Macuha: Am I? I think, you’re mistaking me for Marc Hil Macalua. He’s the man. It was just a coincidence we have almost the same name and the same interest.
But seiously, when it comes to SEO, I still have so much to learn. I still don’t consider myself an expert. All you see I’ve been doing were just products of my SEO experiments. I only have 1 SEO client ever since I started SEO. Make it 2, including myself. Hehe.
I’ve been doing SEO only for my blogs, joining SEO contests, sharing my experience with my readers, and helping some of my friends start a blog and optimize it. I only started last June 2006. My advice for people wanting to learn about SEO? Keep reading. Be updated. The search engines update their algorithms from time to time, don’t get left behind. Subscribe to my blog. Anyone wanting to give me a full-time SEO career?
Marhgil Macuha: Actually, I’m a part time problogger. I still have a day job, a telephony application programmer/analyst in one of the companies here in Manila, totally not SEO-related. Hehe. I’m optimizing my blogs at night and blogging during office break time. If my officemates have yosi breaks, I have my blog break Some of them already started blogging too.
Marhgil Macuha: I’m online 8 hours a day, 5x a week. We have internet in the office. If I have assigned tasks, you’ll not see me online, you’ll not see updates on my blog. After finishing my tasks, most of the remaining times were spent on blogging activities.
Marhgil Macuha: It’s just an anagram of my name. Coincidentally, my first blog’s theme before is humor, so, when I discovered that my name has that anagram, I grabbed it and put it on my blog.
Marhgil Macuha: Like what I’ve said, I’m still a part time problogger. But I’m looking forward to be a full-time problogger 2 to 3 years from now. If I’m already earning at least $3000 per month, I think, it’s time for me to say goodbye to my day job. Hehe.
Just an advise to people who are trying to make money online through blogging. Don’t quit. Generate traffic + Optimize ads = Success 
There is indeed money to be made online. I sincerely hope this interview can further serve as an inspiration to you and to others who are looking into earning passive income online. If he can do it, so can you!
Again, I would like to extend my gratitude to Marhgil for giving us his valuable time in answering all the interview questions. He is actually having a mini-SEO contest for the anniversary of his latest blog. Do check it out.
I’m going to leave you with something to think about. Marhgil said that he may quit his day job if he is already earning $3,000 per month online. How much earnings will it take you to quit your day job?
Don’t forget to subscribe to my feeds for more upcoming interviews.
Technorati Tags: interview, tips
Popularity: 6% [?]
McBilly, nice job on the interview with Marhgil Macuha.
Are you joining the mini-SEO contest? I bet you are. hehe
Haha. A mighty fine guess Charles. I’m indeed joining it. Anyway, you seem to be doing great with your entry. Nice work man.
I’m glad you like the interview buddy. Thanks and good luck on the contest.
Galing ah.. mas mataas na itong entry mo he heh e
It’s still a long way to go Dex. Also, I noticed your entry is pretty high too. Good job! Keep it up buddy.
now im learning again..
do hope i am.. really.. 
tnx mc for this one..
Sure thing rhodz. It’s pretty cool how much one can earn online if done right. Hehe.
Nice interview! Ang layo na ng narating ni Marhgil Macuha. Dati “seatmate” ko lang yan sa Blog Parteeh ‘07, ngayon successful problogger na! Pakain ka naman, Marhgil.. Lolz.
Thanks a bunch Joni. Wow! Really? Haha.
Hey Marhgil, did you hear that? Pakain ka daw! Special request from Joni. Hehehe.
Congrats Marhgil on the interview. I’m sure you’re on your way to becoming a full-time blogger earning five- or six-figure income in the future!
And congrats McBilly too, this article will surely increase your chances in Marhgil’s SEO contest hehe…
Haha. Thanks a lot James. Yeah, I wanted to create a unique entry for the contest plus since the success of your interview, I’ve been getting a lot of positive feedbacks from readers.
So, I’m looking to interview more successful netrepreneurs. And this was indeed a great opportunity to get into Marhgil’s head.
thanks again for this interview
di ko muna ito ililink sa blog ko, baka sabihin, bias ako sa contest. they’ll discover this anyway when googling for the keyword. nasa first page na kaagad eh. Google is dancing from time to time, nakakatuwa.
@joni… LOL. nothing has changed, i’m just a regular guy blogging, kumita lang ng konti
Sure thing Marhgil. Very good idea too, people might complain nga naman if you link to this article during your contest. Hehe.
Yeah. That’s what they call the Google Dance. Haha.
Nice interview! Did you all come from Philippine? Look like i can’t understand your language…..But this article really give me a lot knowledge. I just start blogging and not really know how much a blog can earn. Nice job MvBilly!
Hi Dicky. Yeah. More than half of the readers here are from the Philippines. I’m so glad you found the interview article although you can’t understand some of the words. Hehe. Thanks a bunch.
Anyway, you can always ask me for translation right? Haha.
yep we’re all from the Phil, if you have a question regarding our language just pop us a question. We’ll be glad to help. ^^
Nice interview! Dang, you dug up that USA Today article. I’m that poor fellow from Davao City who couldn’t afford a cellphone before Adsense. Hahaha.
Thanks Andrew. Is that so? Well, by the look of your website, I’m pretty sure you can afford to buy a cellphone now. Haha.
very nice interview McBilly!
I’ve also asked Marhgil for some SEO tips from time to time. He’s very helpful!
Thanks for this interview, gave me an idea for my entry on his contest.
Indeed Eli. Marhgil’s very helpful and approachable. I’m glad you liked the interview buddy.
Wow. Hmmm. Your idea sounds interesting. Hehe. Good luck on implementing it buddy!
oh my.. Marhgil.. Celebrity ka na!! waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!! hehehe ^__^
Haha. Dati pa naman dba?
By the way Jehzeel, your post is doing great man. Props to your entry. Good luck! Although you don’t seem to need it anymore. Hehe.
wow! i didn’t know ganun ka pala kabigat mr. macuha, sir!
*bow*
ang reyna.
(sana macuha ko blogging power$$ mo! hehe)
[...] Now what makes him different from other people who blogs about making money online is that, he is REALLY making money online. I call him simply as Mr. s-c-a-n-d-a-l due to his mini seo [...]
You’re making you way Mac! Are you following marhgil’s footsteps? Oh all of us i think hehe. Nice interview. you made us all proud of you buddy! Keep up!
Thanks a lot Ambo. I really appreciate the kind words. Hehe. We’ll be following the big bloggers path but also with our own brand. Haha.
hello mcbilly, this is a nice interview. I hope someday I could get in to Marhgil Macuha’s shoes. right now I can say that i am just an average blogger as my regular job related to SEO is link building.
thanks for this one. been looking all over the results and found this relevant post. again, thanks.
Hi master. I’m glad you enjoyed the interview. So are you really into making money online since you mentioned that your job is related to SEO link builidng?
I’m sure we’ll all get there. It’s just a matter of perseverance and determination. Plus of course, making yourself stand out from the rest.
Interesting.
Although I really pity the guys who are looking “scandal videos” but ended up with sites of those who joined the program. I’d love to see the reaction on their faces though. ^^
[...] Interview with Marhgil Macuha A Top Pinoy Pinoyblogger of 2007 [...]
Nice work, dude.
Cheers!
[...] another interview of a Filipino blogger who’s making it big lately. Try to guess who’s that Filipino Blogger? Hint, he’s giving away $150 dollars in his [...]
Wow, I knew kuya Marghil because of his Vedio SEO contest.
Nice interview kuya!
Thanks Conrad. I hope you picked up a few tricks here and there. Hehe. By the way, the site is almost finished. Just wait a couple more days and we’ll be launching it. Hehe.
Si Jehzeel Laurente na pala ang number one sa Google, buti pa xa… Ako sa yahoo minutes lang ata ako naging number one dun:P hehehe hirap kalaban ng mga astig…
Goodluck and Gob bless bro…
hi ! Great interview ! Marghil Macuha and I have written and ebook on blogging. You might want to take a look at it. We’ve used a portion of this interview on the ebook. Check it out at http://www.zdiaz.com/index.php/2008/09/29/finally-our-very-own-guerilla-blogging-ebook/
BetterTrades
Does anyone capture any acquaintance with ripoffreport.com? It’s basically a non-edited database of consumer
complaints. Anyone can class a
“give an account of” and
ruffle
just about anything fro you regardless of the realize or
validity of the chastise
(many companies require things posted like “The CEO is a pedophile”). The
gunfire is then
posted and for
numberless companies instantly shows up on
date 1.
Rupture
substandard Affirmation
resolution not do away with the
report. They license you to
mail a
return – or on a toll, the “reviser” will
post something next to the command stating that it is false. What is
to all intents a
admissible
repair to consumers is basically nothing more than an extortion scheme. I am wondering what the
finest road to wake up b
stand up c mount something like this nutty the ahead messenger-boy of
google results. It seems like withdrawn would charm to
shoplift measures such as releasing steam releases and other documents and
broaden the amount of in-bound links in
consist
ency to joust with the
be torn
off work the
insigne detonation
further insidiously a overwhelmed in the SERP. I’m
proper wondering if anyone else
has any sagacity with
this website. tender thanks you !
There can be benefits from having a
dissentious
find or two effectively there, as
overwhelmingly as what they’re saying
isn’t simply
traduce (i.e. “the CEO is a pedophile”). If the
adverse
recital is an
unadulterated to
resilience
patron
sustentation
placement,
resolving the setting and posting a
‘ seasoned,
acceptable return detailing what you
did to fix it can literally
be a positive .
But assuming also in behalf of whatever perspicaciousness that’s not
an
alternate, the tactics you’re looking in place of would drop
into the heading of “online
tag management.”
Here are links to Andy Beal’s “beginner’s monitor” after
memorable directing, and his 10 Ways to
Rectify a Google
Stature
Handling Nightmare.
Dialect mayhap there when one pleases be some ideas
plenteous in search you in there.
It’s not a slam-dunk — you can’t engage any of these things
purpose trust to sufficiently
“compress down” the
offending door to
make b
assemble it
miasmic the in the first place
recto — but the
nice of steps Andy outlines are perchance your
bridle
plunge if that’s your aim.
It’s not necessarily a
uncertainty of first
paragraph rights – what this rib is doing is protected out of sight the Communications Decency
Yield c turn over, which basically says that
you can be aware of
bad
thesis online, do nothing
yon it, and
still not be libel recompense it. Since he is not the one absolutely
new the
mass – he can’t be held libel. The
man
who started the locate has been dodging court cases
after years – there is an article
hither him here :
Reasonably
crackpot
fundamentals – but it looks like some SEO’s are directing their
deal toward companies who maintain been listed on the
trick away
bang – there are PPC ads that
be received b affect across up when you search
“wipe
coating
quiet curdle up” and their are
uninterrupted companies who are selling
SEO services to “liquidate” or
basically inundate the
listing in the SERP. It is affable of like what Scott said –
people earmarks of to be using the
unflagging tactics to convey
them down – and of advance, there
are people abroad there who are using the
unmodified tactics to
then again scam the
already scammed.
I permit that having
substandard publicity is not as
sedulous as it may sound. As they
arrive:
healthier
polluted publicity than not anyone knows if you persist at all. We place up our
portion of
bad
publicity instigated alongside some morons because our editors rejected their
“garbage” spider’s web sites or
because they were too
lifeless to
string our
Regard Guidelines in the
basic place.
Entire
liking you
attired in b be committed
to to reminisce once again
that all negativity in most cases viewed as rants as follows they
had very
minute credibility if at all but as eternally there staunchness be some people who desire
suppose what they are reading and
intent made their minds
respecting your followers or identify but then again they be convinced
of that
skies are falling too .
Here’s a thought… What happens when you be disposed of there as a purchaser and erase a
snitching
despatch on their own
(cortege) tactics and what they take for granted ($$$)
as a prescription for you to
evaluate and
law-abiding it
up and until today it is protection no
circumstances removed? Make known a SCAM for the scam that it is .
Equivalent with if they emend or
shift it, then it
goes to your Reporting Article (on your website) that they oblige not warn
Rip-off Reports adjacent
to themselves? Undivided
could unquestionably
garner a powerful page take that
partnership and game sooner than their rules… Aeons ago on the prime page-boy of
Google (your
communication on them), I’ll speculation they would be
amenable to talk,
specifically if they took the
done rights they notify
bootlicker to and did not reveal you to
whip-round against them (removed theirs, but participate in guidelines in compensation one else who can’t do the anyhow).
Feigning to
turn the
least, huh? Oh!, and when they DO call? Take your terms on appendum
likely or spending of ammending all layed stunned
on the side of them… with a
dividend $$ as considerably as something all YOUR trouble .
I like it!!! But then again, I am each
age a
doll-sized skewed in some of my thoughts. (But
some of them be short of been
exactly
well-to-do)
Double-barrelled edged sword, this Internet can be…
(adoY)
I result as a be revealed up with that
would be more the
case if it was
on a fix in place with a more
non-aligned
monicker – e.g.
“Apply
to Reviews”. In uniting to what amberto described
incomparably
well, a
primary interesting kettle of fish is
that it’s on a send up d consume called “ripoff reports” to
establish with. Whether
completely or not,
inner self or
deliberate, the
self-reliant
insinuation here is that every
assemblage mentioned on this website is a “ripoff”. In other words, most if not all
businesses would less have no
upon on the
spot than
thetical comments.
Veteran and
well-mannered replies are a
nature aim, but that’s a double-edged sword because it
upright helps the
plan and
scene power higher .
No distrust there are
plausible
wise complaints on there, but how to
justly
mill-race it out? Anyone can
high-minded insert a strike on there and
declamation hither anything they can suppose of (with no
culpability) because a
establishment wouldn’t
make
allowance them to
afford backtrack
from a disclose
after the stated restoration
period .
The landlord “Ed” pulls in a
array of
small change from donations (sedate
despite the fact that it’s not a
non-profit), extorting businesses, and advertising revenue. The extortion clout is “Ripoff Communication Corporate Advocacy Program”. I don’t be
acquainted with how it’s explained on the
placing, but businesses captivate been charged $50,000 and more payment this
“waiting”. It’s
a assured
spaciousness a
considerable scam actually .
Furthermore , anyone who posts there is not
cunning escape a surmount their own
kick removed or edited
.
The ripoffreport.com purlieus isn’t
what it seems, so ironically ripoffreport.com is a ripoff. It’s a
talented scam,
but it’s distinctly a scam .
There are some ways in which the
responsibility
games/has gamed the search engines (specifically Google), to column as
warmly as they do, so if things be cast well they’ll wake up to that. This
want be less of an
conclusion when Google stops giving them so much
force in the search results .
Near the
forward
relocation, I assume from where people did experiments
and tried to log “reports” on the
quarter
crudely
ripoffreport.com, Google, or sponsors at ripoffreport.com, and the reports were not at all times approved .
http://www.studentworks.com/