Helpful hackers can improve your life

Not all hackers want to break into your computer and steal your identity. Some of them want to make your life better, one problem-solving tip at a time.

These white-hat hackers run how-to blogs that get readers trying work shortcuts and launching self-improvement projects they didn’t even know they needed.

Clever solutions to interesting problems — that’s how O’Reilly Media, which publishes a series of Hacks guides, defines a genre led by such general-interest sites as Lifehacker.com and Lifehack.org.

It’s addictive stuff. A visit to Gawker Media’s Lifehacker delivers everything from 10 ways to increase auto mileage and Jerry Seinfeld’s tips for reaching long-term goals to 17 handy uses for tennis balls off the court.

The latter item — which recommends deploying the fuzzy orbs as trailer-hitch covers, bottle openers and secret storage containers — linked to an article on yet another hack blog, DIY Life. These blogs tend to be cross-referenced compendiums of found tips.

At rival Lifehack.org, visitors also find hints-from-Heloise-style “lifehacks” such as “8 easy ways to remove tough stains” and “how to clean your house in under 20 minutes.” But the site provides quite a few personal productivity pointers as well. Recent examples covered “10 reasons to write things down” and “how to fail at practically anything” — while gaining valuable insights from the process.

Other general-interest hack sites include dirtSimple.org (which focuses on life-changing strategies) and Dumb Little Man (“tips that will save you money, increase your productivity or simply keep you sane”). But a lot of the hack-blog action takes place on niche sites.

Parent Hacks is one of the most popular specialized hack blogs. It gets with the Web 2.0 spirit of reader-generated content by inviting moms and dads to submit tips on pulling off stand-up diaper changes and setting up homework stations.

As an affiliate of the Federated Media network, Parent Hacks enjoys A-list sponsors. One of those, Sprint Nextel, jumped on the hack-site bandwagon with Sprint Waitless. Waitless.org pitches wireless phone service while visitors watch videos on quick-chilling soda cans, speed-drying manicures and other time-saving activities — including one for “turbo parking” that’s likely to get someone killed.

Other niche how-to blogs focus on high-tech tricks and tips (the How-to-Geek’s Blog, Hackszine.com, I-Hacked.com) ways to improve your physical health and mental acuity (Mind Hacks, Wired’s archive-only Bodyhack).

The latter subgenre, which blogger Matthew Cornell described as providing “surprising little tricks or abilities of our minds that are based on psychological insights,” is a personal favorite.

But some hack blogs drill down into a single subject to the point of absurdity. Take Ikea Hacker, which shows readers how to create odd new configurations of assembly-required Swedish furniture. If turning serving bowls into hanging planters isn’t your bag, perhaps you’ll find LiquidIce’s Nintendo Wii Hacks more to your liking.

There’s probably a how-to blog out there for the hacker in all of us.

Turning a personal blog into big bucks

Following last week’s column about word-of-mouth marketing, I checked in with Justin Hancock, who’s helping to pay for his education at Spokane’s Whitworth University by writing PayPerPost.com-sponsored blog entries.

In just over a year, Hancock, 20, has earned nearly $7,000 writing up PayPerPost clients at Myliferamblings.com. When I asked for examples, he pointed to two recent items about student loans.

While those posts don’t spell out that they’re sponsored content, the blog does have a “disclosure” page stating it “accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation.”

“I’ve yet to receive any negative feedback/comments regarding PPP entries,” Hancock said via e-mail. “All the comments have been positive and it has increased my blogging activity as well.”

But other interested bloggers probably shouldn’t expect to match Hancock’s success. He’s done so well with PayPerPost that the company uses his story to entice other college students to sign up.