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November 27, 2005
About that Traffic Jam Yesterday
I went to bed after midnite, this morning, after taking a look at my stats for the day.
Each persons experience of what happened yesterday is unique to their Blog, the subjects they write about, and the interest level of the readers of Instapundit in the story that he linked to.
By any measure the results of the attention, from an Instalanche, are a positive for the recipient, but it is entirely up to the recipient to take stock of his, or her, Moment in the Crosshairs of the Blogosphere, and make the most of it as a new day dawns.
An Instalanche has the potential to propel your Blog into sudden MUST-READ territory, or somewhere just below that, and everyone wants to have you in their Blogroll, but for most the simple truth is that, after a few days, most of the Blogosphere moves on.
Count The Cycling Dude in that last category.
The question then becomes what do you do for an encore?
Visitors according to Sitemeter from 918am PST to Midnite = 714.
Visitors from Instapundit from 1018am PST to Midnite = 554.
Page Views according to Typepad = 918 over a period starting the previous Midnite GMT, and Midnite PST.
Ecosystem Traffic Rank 918am yesterday = 3,463.
Ecosystem Traffic Rank 1035am this morning = 2,058 !
Ecosystem Status 918am yesterday = Crawly Amphibian ranked 13,410.
Ecosystem Status 1035am this morning = Slithering Reptile ranked 10,782 !
***Update*** Ecosystem Status as of 221pm this afternoon = Slithering Reptile ranked 10,694 !
A newcommer to Blogging, The Wrightwing, discovers me, and deems me a fellow "Non-collectivist Cyclist".
I get an e-mail from a Tomas Gold calling the Dude "An Interesting Site for Bikers", and promoting the Bike Touring venture of his Brother in Africa.
Some might say that by reaching "Nirvahna" there is nowhere to go but down, unless Glenn links to you again, but I say they are wrong.
Some might also say that I posted my Hello Post too late in the day since most of my visitors had already passed through, but I say they are wrong.
Even if I hadn't already planned to spend the day Blogging up a storm, I would have went ahead and done so, and here's why:
New people coming to take a look will see new, and interesting, stories to hopefully catch their eye, and for a Blog like The Cycling Dude that is important because it gives newcommers something to consider as they decide whether to return again, and again.
An acknowledgement of the new people checking you out is important, but not as important as not taking them for granted by sitting back, and watching your stat tracker all day, and not posting something new.
As for what the future holds:
Regulars will have noticed I'm an Amazon Associate, and am encouraging BlogAds.
I have produced a new flyer, with the Photo in my Title at the top of it, promoting the Blog, and plan to get it on the Free Lit racks of Bike Shops in the OC, and maybe beyond.
It is similar in content to the list here, and I'm willing to ship a small stack out to anyone interested in helping spread the word about cycling resources online, so send me an e-mail if interested.
I will be getting my Trusty Steed a much needed Full Tune-up soon, a new saddle, a new helmet, and a new riding outfit, and will be planning a big year of Bike Riding for 2006, after the year I've had that kept me from doing so this year.
In the coming months I'll be adding new members to the list of Elderstatemen, and will be writing about each and every link in my extensive list of links.
You see, I have always believed that it wasn't enough for me to just link to them, but that I should write about them to share reasons why I added them to the list, and even check in on them from time to time.
I want to do more regarding the Congressional Bike Caucus.
As for keeping the attention of the wider Blogosphere, and getting readers, and writers from that wider Blog Communtiy to visit, link to, and even add me to their Blogrolls ( Even though I don't list non-cycling related Blogs in my own Blogroll )?
I will be continuing the ongoing series that I call The Blogosphere covers Bicycling.
You see, therein lies the best way to increase your audience, and raise your ranks in the Ecosystem.
There are people that take the lazy way out and hold Weekly Trackback Parties to try to game the system, but this concept is too succeptable to Spammers, and the excesses of Bloggers with nothing of interest to say, or read, and may also be just plain incompetent at writing.
An example of the insidious TB Party Phenomenom is the Open Trackback Alliance (OTA)
N. Z. Bear, of the Truth Laid Bear, the founder of the ecosystem, has some recent thoughts on this phenomenom, and how the Ecosystem is fighting back ( Be sure to read the comments, and trackbacks, for the thoughts of others on this volatile subject ):
Open Posts and Inline Trackbacks.
You need to be actively out, and about, in the Blogosphere, leaving inteligent, or at least semi-inteligent, comments, linking to, and actually opinionating on, the writings of your fellow Pajama, and Bike, Pundits.
[ As much as your free time will permit, of course! Never let yourself become a slave to your Blogging. ( You have a LIFE afterall. ) ]
Consider their stories a resource for you to tap into for stories of your own, and give appropriate credit, through Trackbacks where enabled, and through a mention in your post, and even an e-mail heads-up.
Joining a Community of Bloggers, such as through a Blog Ring, or RSS Feed Agregator, brings you in contact with like minded Bloggers, and brings you, honestly, to the attention of others interested in what you have to say.
Find a way to create an interesting post on a subject apppropriate for submission to one of the many Carnivals out there.
Play the game fairly, and honestly, and you WILL be rewarded by new eyeballs, many of whom will find you worthy of return visits.
All you fellow BikeBloggers out there keep all of this in mind because, in theory, it will help you not only come to MY attention, but MAYBE you will someday find yourself WORTHY for inclusion on the Top 10 Blogroll of Cycleclicious. ;-D
( Fritz DOES have me on his Blogroll at his OTHER Bikeblog, so DON'T write him nasty e-mails wailing why? Why?? WHY??? OK? )
Also it will help you in the voting for The Best Bike Blogs of 2005! ;-D
( Don't forget to consider me for this new, what I hope to see become an Annual, Event ! )
To be among the best, and considered as such by your peers, means hard work, not laziness.
And I aim to do my best, within my means, and available time, and resources, to provide the best, most interesting, informative, and resource full, BikeBlog in the Blogosphere.
I'm here to spread the word, and the word is...
BICYCLE!!!
November 27, 2005 in The Opinionated DUDE | Permalink
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Comments
And thanks for helping to spread the word.
Another *ahem* "non-collectivist" cyclists include Elias Freidman. He's a Jewish, politically conservative, American gung-ho patriotic cyclist in the Northeast.
Cyclelicious Top 10 -- I suppose I should figure out how to make that a dynamic list. CyclingDude would probably be on the Top 10 this week.
Posted by: Fritz | Nov 27, 2005 7:39:36 PM
Just want to point out a few things since you listed Sam's Open Trackback Alliance as insidious:
1) Sam was already in the top 250 BEFORE doing OTA. OTA is a very recent addition, like less than one month old.
2) In 3 months, she has gained an audience of over 500 unique visitors per day. Certainly not the largest blog around, but that isn't too shabby. She has a very high repeat visit count and a very loyal following of readers - because people like her stuff.
3) She posts articles 3-5 times a day. Good quality humuor, depending on what people like as humour.
4) On the weekend she posts a single OTA posting on the weekend when she takes a break, and tells people to link good stuff, not "I'm just having a party too" posts. Not everyone obeys, but at least most do.
5) She has discovered a bunch of blogs because of this... Other bloggers have sent many e-mails thanking for the additional exposure they are receiving.
6) She could care less about her TTLB ranking.
She is not lazy as a blogger by any means and taking an easy way out and while you may or may not have intended to imply that she is... the message comes out that way.
Always easy for someone else to take a peak and pass judgment without knowing the facts.
FYI - she has not changed her pattern of blogging since the start.
How do I know? Because I'm her techie at her blog and I see how hard she works at blogging.
Normally I don't respond to such posts but to give Sam's Alliance as an example of being lazy at blogging - well that is just uncalled and I think the record should be set straight.
As for what N.Z. Bear is doing, I welcome the change and hope he's able to figure out a solution that works fairly and accurately. What he counts or does not count is of no consequence.
Posted by: MrBig | Nov 28, 2005 4:56:02 PM
Dear Mr. Big:
To start I just want to point out something that you overlooked in your rush to be a Flack:
Read my Entry: I was very clear that THE PHENOMENOM was insidious in my view, and chose your comrade in Gaming the System as 1 example of this Phenomenom.
Her Blog, of course, is NOT insidious, but is really quite good, and entertaining, and I'd link to some of her mentions of Bicycling, except for 1 thing:
She loses a lot of respect from me because of her promoting TB Parties.
There are other ways to "discover" new Blogs, and raise your Status in the Ecosystem, than this way if you choose to put a little effort into it.
I agree with N.Z. Bear's assesment wholeheartedly:
"It seems to me that the main motivation of such posts is simply to provide a quick and easy way for bloggers to generate links to each other, without any real regard for the substance of each other's posts. The links, rather than symbolizing and codifying the relationship between two posts, or two blogs, have become an end in themselves."
Samantha can do all she wants to suggest how people use the concept ( "link good stuff, not "I'm just having a party too" posts", and other such admonissions ), but the simple truth is that while most folks who join HER Party League may write serious posts, and follow her rules for membership, and participation ( I can only take her word for this, as I'm sure you, or her, don't have time to play Cop ), in the wider Blogosphere there are far too many people who have no intention of even remotely playing fair.
There are far too many people who take the Ecosystem far too seriously.
They forget that its creation, and maintenance, is a FREE Labor of Love ( the guys gives up his T-Day Weekend, for Christsake, to fight people like you! ), and that they would be up the Bike Trail with a Flat Tire without it to inflate their egos.
There are people out there who write nonsense, inappropriate material, and just plain badly, and incohehrently, who go about TB Parties in their own ways, or look at your informative FAQ Page to learn more about the ways of this Game so they can play.
I agree with the purpose of the Ecosystem as stated by N.Z.:
The "goal has always been to reflect, as accurately as possible, what is truly popular and interesting in the 'sphere --- not distort it by creating bogus incentives for blogs to create automatic links to each other with no real meaning."
When I see a bunch of so-called Sports Blogs in the top few echelons of the ranks it leads me to wonder if they got there legitimately.
When I see a half a dozen Blogs, in a row, with similar titles, and the same persons name in the title, in a section of ranks, it is clear to me they didn't get there honestly.
Before the current re-vamp of the system, my OTHER Blog, Sneakeasy's Joint, was Ranked #248 with over 550 Links, and had been as high as the 220's a few times.
I got it to its current Lofty Perch, as a Large Mammal, the Hard Way ( Years of honest effort ):
1. Through joining several Alliances I cared about, and participating in various ways through serious, thought provoking [ or silly, in the case of the Alliance ( I need to participate more there ) ] posts on my Blog, and Linking, and Trackbacking posts by fellow members that I actually read, and commented on.
2. By participating in Carnivals, and creating my own personal ones to showcase Blogs, and stories, I found interesting.
3. By writing posts that others found interesting enough to Link, and TB.
4. By having a blog people felt was worth having in their Blogroll.
All of the above is important in my growing the audience of Cycling Dude, and facilitate its rising in the Ecosystem.
If the Ecosytem ended tomorrow I would not stop doing what I'm doing.
I would not stop being a Blogger.
How many participants in the Ecosystem can honestly say the same?
Don't spout off to me Samantha's stats, and place in the Ranks it does not impress me.
I have always found my stats a fascinating, and often humorous, thing to share with my readers, especially the Search Words, and don't obssess over them like some folks.
Very few people have experienced what I have experienced where traffic is concerned, so don't go there:
I wrote a fiery essay, on the beheading of Nick Berg, that, because it also included a link to the video, caused a month-Plus long BergLanche on my Blog the likes of which would make even Instapundit, with all his traffic, drool in envy.
I was using a better, more comprehensive Tracker, than Sitemeter as well at the time, and the numbers would astonish you ( I posted about the fun for weeks ).
I am now one of the honored members of the Fraternity of the Instalanched, and this gives me a profound sense of pride, and accomplishment, but also makes me realize that honest hard work, and effort IS worth it, no matter how little time, and resources, I have to Blog.
This is a Cycling Blog, and I've said more than enough, now, on a non-cycling subject, and will move on.
Posted by: Kiril Kundurazieff | Nov 29, 2005 10:28:35 AM
I wasn't saying it to impress anyone. She's only been at it for just over 3 months from not even knowing what a blog is about. As I said, it was to point out that she is NOT gaming the system. You gave the OTA as an example of this even and I'm suggesting your example is wrong - look elsewhere. She got to where she is by playing fair and square. That was my point. Not to impress anyone. You suggest otherwise, and that is wrong.
She works extremely hard at what she does. Her posts are not in-depth analysis, and she never expects to be top dog since she isn't into politics.
As for those who don't play fair - how can anyone control what others do? Those whom have poor content and 'cheat' - they get the respect they deserve. As for those whom do game the system - they didn't learn it from the FAQ - they learned it because it's common knowledge. Trackback parties have been happening for years and years and by many people whom have the intention of gaming the system.
The TTLB ranking is of no consequence. It's just a blooming game. As for NZ Bear giving up his Thanksgiving, he chose to do so and he does make some small $ from his site in the form of ads too. Probably not worth the effort though. He didn't have to give up his weekend, and this trackbacking has been done for years - he knew it was an issue for a long long time.
He didn't do it to fight people like me - I'm not a blogger. Sam has a blog - I write the occasional posting and help her technically. I don't encourage people to do that bogus article stuff and I welcome the change he is doing. I fail to see how I am part of the problem here, unless defending Sam for something she has not done is part of the problem.
As for all the other methods, there are plenty of methods for gaining links. Trackbacking real articles is yet another way. There is no harm in doing so, and it's no more moral or less moral than carinvals etc. If they should be counted or not, that's up to NZ Bear to decide. I've shared w/ him how he can ignore tracbacks on Sam's site (rel="nofollow" is put on all trackback links so search engines don't count them).
Again, you used a poor example and attacked Sam for insidious behaviour she has actively discouraged. She doesn't even do all those other "tricks" to gain links - it's not her goal - no carnivals - no shared blogrolls [OTA blogroll is not required to be displayed on anyone else’s site and it's not on Sam's main page]. She has her own style, and people read her blog because they like her content - pure and simple. If she wanted to game, she'd be going all that and her content would be poor.
As for being a cycling blog - you brought up the topic. If you left Sam out of it, I wouldn't have commented.
Posted by: MrBig | Nov 29, 2005 11:27:55 AM
Okay, last comment for real:
1st let me say that what DOES impress me about Samantha is her writing, and the effort she has put into making her Blog the success it is in so short a time.
It took me longer, on BOTH of my Blogs, to bring them to the stages they are at.
I guess what this comes down to is a fundamental difference of opinion on how to bring attention to your Blog, or the blogs of others, in the wider Blogosphere.
Trackback Parties, once I discovered them, plus some other ways folks have used to rise in the ranks at the expense of everyone else who do not use those methods, are bothersome.
Carnivals,and joining Leagues, and Associations, are long accepted, respected, ways of bringing eyeballs to your blog, and it might suprise you to know that I'm going to remove Sneakeasy's Joint from 1 List due to a regretable inability, on my part, to contribute in more than a year.
This will no doubt have a dramatic effect on my place in the Ecosystem, but so be it.
You are right that the ways to Game the System are common knowledge, but to me her FAQ stands out as a manual of sorts.
We will just have to agree to disagree on this, I suppose.
I am glad to see that you have been in contact with N.Z. Bear on this issue.
I will state it again:
Samantha's Blog is NOT insidious, I NEVER said it was, but is quite good, and interesting.
Posted by: Kiril Kundurazieff | Nov 30, 2005 9:24:14 AM
FYI - I completely agree w/ your last statement, except with a few minor non-important details and I happily agree to disagree on those :)
Cheers,
Mr. Big
Posted by: MrBig | Nov 30, 2005 12:18:56 PM
Mr. Big, and I, will next attempt to come to a mutual understanding on the issue of World Peace.
Heh, heh. ;-D
Thank you, Sir, for stopping by. ;-D
Posted by: Kiril Kundurazieff | Dec 1, 2005 1:10:16 AM
