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Paul OFlaherty
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1 year ago
in Imagine my surprise - Wordpress Theme Viewer Updated! on Shooting at Bubbles
You know I can forgive you for not including a link to the new viewer don't you? ;) Especially considering its appears to be no functional at the moment.
http://themes.wordpress.net/
http://themes.wordpress.net/
1 reply
StevenHodson
oppss I'll fix that up .. but as for functioning I'm scrolling through it now as we speak - wierd
1 year ago
in Could email see a resurgence? on Shooting at Bubbles
Have to agree with you Steven because the number of emails I receive lately has grown disproportionately to the number of new "friends" I have on new networks.
The only explanation is that the people I know now have more information about me and therefore more things to "talk" about with me and to share with me and email is the preferred way to do this other than a public forum or a direct message.
The unreliability of some of these services (Twitter I'm looking at you) in notifying you of messages and direct messages may also be a large factor in people using email more again.
While email may occasionally get stuck in a spam filter it always gets there. A DM on Twitter has, in my experience, about a 50/50 chance.
The only explanation is that the people I know now have more information about me and therefore more things to "talk" about with me and to share with me and email is the preferred way to do this other than a public forum or a direct message.
The unreliability of some of these services (Twitter I'm looking at you) in notifying you of messages and direct messages may also be a large factor in people using email more again.
While email may occasionally get stuck in a spam filter it always gets there. A DM on Twitter has, in my experience, about a 50/50 chance.
1 reply
StevenHodson
Personally I don't think email will be going away anytime soon. It's perfect for when we want a personal contact but at our own speed rather than using the phone or face to face.
1 year ago
in It’s the infrastructure stupid on Shooting at BubblesIt is time for them all to realize that access to the Internet is a part of our ever developing social and physical infrastructures.
What are you considering here? Government provided access which could raise issues of destroying competition at the lower end of the market.
Or, the government mandates a minimum price, speed and bandwidth which all providers must adhere to which again will only allow competition at the higher speeds.
Here is Denmark, local libraries are equipped with lots of computers for free internet access and there are multiple "Data stue" essentially internet cafes that are free and funded by local government dotted around every town. There are are at least 3 of them that I know of within a mile radius of me.
1 reply
StevenHodson
Even though I highly question the effectiveness of government regulation or government guidance I like even less the corporate internet providers jockeying for the ability to both continually increase charges to the consumer plus the ability to charge content providers over and above what content providers are already paying for bandwidth fees.
ISP's are playing the perfect man in the middle game with both their hands trying to make many trips into the same pockets on either side of the marketplace. The thing is that in the US telcos have been collecting millions of dollars for years on the basis of meeting bandwidth targets within certain time frames. They have yet to meet those targets and yet they are allowed by the regulators to keep on charging and collecting all those fees.
There isn't a year that doesn't go by that the telcos and cable companies aren't reporting increased profits in the billions of dollars range and yet the consumer is being faced with actual reductions in service at potentially higher price - just look to TimeWarner's move in Texas.
I honestly don't know what the answer is Paul .. not at this point anyway ... although I am sure that there are smarter people than myself who might but I will say that the one thing that is desperately needed it totally transparency in all ISP pricing and all government interaction with anything to do with the Internet - albeit pricing right through to its actions within the medium and its relationships with the corporations providing services.
ISP's are playing the perfect man in the middle game with both their hands trying to make many trips into the same pockets on either side of the marketplace. The thing is that in the US telcos have been collecting millions of dollars for years on the basis of meeting bandwidth targets within certain time frames. They have yet to meet those targets and yet they are allowed by the regulators to keep on charging and collecting all those fees.
There isn't a year that doesn't go by that the telcos and cable companies aren't reporting increased profits in the billions of dollars range and yet the consumer is being faced with actual reductions in service at potentially higher price - just look to TimeWarner's move in Texas.
I honestly don't know what the answer is Paul .. not at this point anyway ... although I am sure that there are smarter people than myself who might but I will say that the one thing that is desperately needed it totally transparency in all ISP pricing and all government interaction with anything to do with the Internet - albeit pricing right through to its actions within the medium and its relationships with the corporations providing services.
1 year ago
in What do you think…. on Shooting at Bubbles
Worse still, after a few comments here the commenting system tells me that I'm still posting anonymously and because of the system this comment will appear above my previous one and out of context.
1 reply
Arni
Actually, it appears below your previous post, as it should :)
As for the "Anon" posting, Disqus staff have already agreed that this is not the perfect name for that button. They do, however, peak at this blog from time to time and read comments and try to improve the system, which is more or less still in it's infancy, so they will more than likely read your comment. You could also go to their forums and post your thoughts there, to be sure they'll get them. To get rid of the "Post Anonymously" button, you'll need register with their service (as I did), but I can understand people not wanting to do so. I do, however, also understand the point behind the whole Disqus system; collecting all you comments from all blogs that use the system, in one place. I've used that to look up on old comments, and sure enough it does as advertised.
That being said, I too agree with your thoughts of what will happen when Disqus goes under or simply quits. All comments, bye bye.
As for the "Anon" posting, Disqus staff have already agreed that this is not the perfect name for that button. They do, however, peak at this blog from time to time and read comments and try to improve the system, which is more or less still in it's infancy, so they will more than likely read your comment. You could also go to their forums and post your thoughts there, to be sure they'll get them. To get rid of the "Post Anonymously" button, you'll need register with their service (as I did), but I can understand people not wanting to do so. I do, however, also understand the point behind the whole Disqus system; collecting all you comments from all blogs that use the system, in one place. I've used that to look up on old comments, and sure enough it does as advertised.
That being said, I too agree with your thoughts of what will happen when Disqus goes under or simply quits. All comments, bye bye.
1 year ago
in What do you think…. on Shooting at Bubbles
Steven, it's all about the writing for me. I mostly ready WinExtra through the feed, and you've got me hooked that way (as I've explained before).. but when I do click through I must admit to loving the look.
The only thing I don't like is the use of a 3rd party commenting service. I'd hate to see what happens when they go under.
The only thing I don't like is the use of a 3rd party commenting service. I'd hate to see what happens when they go under.
1 reply
StevenHodson
Glad I continue to keep you "hooked" but the moment I don't youmake sure to let me know and why. Long time readers are somethign that every blogger should treasure because they are the ones that can keep you true to your mission and should never be discounted.
As for Disqus all I can ask is give them some time as they are still in early stages, As Arni stated below Daniel and the crew at Disqus do read the blog and have taken things mentioned in previous posts into consideration. I think concidering the things I have gathered from what Daniel has said Disqus is not just being designed for the blogger but also for the regular reader - time will tell.
As for Disqus all I can ask is give them some time as they are still in early stages, As Arni stated below Daniel and the crew at Disqus do read the blog and have taken things mentioned in previous posts into consideration. I think concidering the things I have gathered from what Daniel has said Disqus is not just being designed for the blogger but also for the regular reader - time will tell.
2 years ago
in Blogging Productivity & Criticizing Goals on Andy Beard - Internet Business Systems Discussion
One post will NOT make them regain their link! Only votes from readers who haven't already voted can do that!
Unless, of course, you're suggesting the bloggers in quest beg for votes from their readers! ;)
I can't shake the feeling with some of your comments today that you feel that just because some top bloggers don't use the service means that they're not entitled to be on the list.
Is use a requirement of popularity? Is my vote for Scoble or Mike Arrington of any less value because THEY don't use the service?
Yes lots of top blogs do get seemingly unfair advantages. But, they deserve it! They made themselves popular. They had to get themselves to a point of critical mass where they were known enough and considered popular enough to be considered for inclusion.
Yes, I know that leads to seemingly unfair advantage because they get lots of free promotion without working for it. However, they did the grunt work in the first place to deserve inclusion.
If your blog gets popular enough you'll be included in those lists to..
And lets be honest, the blogosphere is vicious and fickle. If the tops blogs lets things slide and don't keep working, it won't be long before they are replaced and someone else will be getting the inclusion...
Unless, of course, you're suggesting the bloggers in quest beg for votes from their readers! ;)
I can't shake the feeling with some of your comments today that you feel that just because some top bloggers don't use the service means that they're not entitled to be on the list.
Is use a requirement of popularity? Is my vote for Scoble or Mike Arrington of any less value because THEY don't use the service?
Yes lots of top blogs do get seemingly unfair advantages. But, they deserve it! They made themselves popular. They had to get themselves to a point of critical mass where they were known enough and considered popular enough to be considered for inclusion.
Yes, I know that leads to seemingly unfair advantage because they get lots of free promotion without working for it. However, they did the grunt work in the first place to deserve inclusion.
If your blog gets popular enough you'll be included in those lists to..
And lets be honest, the blogosphere is vicious and fickle. If the tops blogs lets things slide and don't keep working, it won't be long before they are replaced and someone else will be getting the inclusion...
2 replies
Andy Beard
You might be missing my train of thought on this.
If a lot of that readership and popularity is built upon default blogrolls selected by the creators of RSS readers, it seems fair for a bunch of D-listers to have their own default imports into various services.
It is their choice whether to use it or not, just like I could go to an open OPML resource and pick up Robert's OPML and import it into whichever service I want (though I think his public one is out of date currently)
Top Favorites isn't the same as Most Popular.
The list was never most popular, just who could be bothered to promote it.
The are tons of celebrity bloggers for instance who don't figure on the list.
What happens if a blogger really cares about being at the top of a list?
http://www.bloggerschoiceawards.com/categories/32
Rosie.com now has close to 5000 votes, and that required all those people to actually register and vote, giving some quite personal details.
Most Obnoxious? Perez Hilton only has 709 votes
If Perez Hilton wanted to be in the Technorati Top 10 Favorites, I am sure it would take a few days at most.
The Top 100 Favorites in Technorati is purely a gauge of who has promoted it most, not popularity.
Instead of CPM we could use TFPM - how many Technorati Favorites per 1000 people asked to favorite you.
In some ways I have optimised my TFPM by "paying it forward" - rather than just offering to reciprocate, I have added the favorite up front.
In internet marketing one of the primary ways of selling something, either an item or an idea, is to give a benefit for the person to take such action, maybe a purchase, or just subscribing.
So far I haven't been offering any kind of incentive for subscriptions, it is fairly normal practice, but difficult to do with RSS in any real form.
Then of course there are other ways to add an incentive to building up your favorites.
http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2007/04/a-free-...
If a lot of that readership and popularity is built upon default blogrolls selected by the creators of RSS readers, it seems fair for a bunch of D-listers to have their own default imports into various services.
It is their choice whether to use it or not, just like I could go to an open OPML resource and pick up Robert's OPML and import it into whichever service I want (though I think his public one is out of date currently)
Top Favorites isn't the same as Most Popular.
The list was never most popular, just who could be bothered to promote it.
The are tons of celebrity bloggers for instance who don't figure on the list.
What happens if a blogger really cares about being at the top of a list?
http://www.bloggerschoiceawards.com/categories/32
Rosie.com now has close to 5000 votes, and that required all those people to actually register and vote, giving some quite personal details.
Most Obnoxious? Perez Hilton only has 709 votes
If Perez Hilton wanted to be in the Technorati Top 10 Favorites, I am sure it would take a few days at most.
The Top 100 Favorites in Technorati is purely a gauge of who has promoted it most, not popularity.
Instead of CPM we could use TFPM - how many Technorati Favorites per 1000 people asked to favorite you.
In some ways I have optimised my TFPM by "paying it forward" - rather than just offering to reciprocate, I have added the favorite up front.
In internet marketing one of the primary ways of selling something, either an item or an idea, is to give a benefit for the person to take such action, maybe a purchase, or just subscribing.
So far I haven't been offering any kind of incentive for subscriptions, it is fairly normal practice, but difficult to do with RSS in any real form.
Then of course there are other ways to add an incentive to building up your favorites.
http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2007/04/a-free-...
Paul OFlaherty
I do get where you're coming from Andy. 100%! I'm just trying to look at other points. Being a bit of a picky git (or devils advocate) if you will!
I could disagree that the:
Yes, those on the list DID do promotoion to get their readers to add them as favorites, but their readers still added them willingly. They had knowledge of what blog they were adding.
They added the blog individually!
Yes there are ways and means to promote and entice your readers to vote for your blog (on any system or list), but at the end of the day they still depend on the will of the individual potential voter.
I do think that offering prizes to entice your readers to vote your site up lists similar to technorati favorites is wrong. It is creating "false positives", but I suppose the only saving grace that approach has, is that the majority percentage of voters will probably be readers already and will actually be subscribers to the blog in question. Before you say it, yes there will be exceptions. Yes I could start a new blog, under a fake name and BUY it's way to apparent "popularity" on the lists. Doesn't make it right though!
The whole marketing pilgrim thing is a bit of a waste. He'd be better off offering the Wii for folks who actually create quality links back to his site. The traffic generated by Technorati favorites is tiny in comparison to other avenues. Not to mention the additional Google Juice (although he's doing quite well with his PR7 at the moment ;) )
Alas, folks will always try it, and any list will always be skewed by results introduced in that manner.
Anyway, back to TFE, which we are talking about.
With the Technorati favorites exchange, I would wager that the majority of the bloggers involved did not vet the OPML files and simply added them. Do you really believe they checked it, for quality, whether or not they've even heard of the blogs in question, or even to root out any potential splogs?
I seriously doubt it.
It's all in the name! A favorite is an expression of popularity. Just a different kind to inbound links. Inbound links represent a mixture of quality and content of work, as well as an bility to link bait and publish with interesting stories which create traffic. You know what I mean in that respect.
A favorite, is just that, a favorite. It's a measure of an individual users affection of affinity for a certain blog. It's unrelated to quantity, quality of posts or incoming traffic. It's an endorsement based on how the user relates to the blog or blogger in qusetion.
For example, I have a number of blogs in my favorites that I would guess post as little as once every 2 weeks or sometimes once a month.
They'll never be "popular" in the way you're supposing. But they're my favorite because I like the author or the authors style of writing. I have an affinity with those blogs for my own reasons.
I really do think we could discuss this one forever. I'm sure that for whatever point we make, there are 10 people with 10 different takes on it.
One last thing, and perhaps the most important to me..
After the TFE meme started my blog jumped from 12 favorites to 64. I believe it was because I was on somebodies OPML list.
I don't know how many of those votes I have are valid. That annoys me.
TFE has robbed me of the knowledge of whether those people actually read my blog.
TFE has robbed me of knowing if any of those endorsements are real.
I might have only had 12 favorites to begin with but they were 12 REAL ones and I was damn proud of them.
I have 64 now and they mean bugger all!
Also, anybody looking to judge the quality of my blog before subscribing is now being serious misled if they use the number of Technorati favorites I have (yes I know they could use incoming links but thats a different metric, it's not an endorsement).
I could disagree that the:
The Top 100 Favorites in Technorati is purely a gauge of who has promoted it most, not popularity.
Yes, those on the list DID do promotoion to get their readers to add them as favorites, but their readers still added them willingly. They had knowledge of what blog they were adding.
They added the blog individually!
Yes there are ways and means to promote and entice your readers to vote for your blog (on any system or list), but at the end of the day they still depend on the will of the individual potential voter.
I do think that offering prizes to entice your readers to vote your site up lists similar to technorati favorites is wrong. It is creating "false positives", but I suppose the only saving grace that approach has, is that the majority percentage of voters will probably be readers already and will actually be subscribers to the blog in question. Before you say it, yes there will be exceptions. Yes I could start a new blog, under a fake name and BUY it's way to apparent "popularity" on the lists. Doesn't make it right though!
The whole marketing pilgrim thing is a bit of a waste. He'd be better off offering the Wii for folks who actually create quality links back to his site. The traffic generated by Technorati favorites is tiny in comparison to other avenues. Not to mention the additional Google Juice (although he's doing quite well with his PR7 at the moment ;) )
Alas, folks will always try it, and any list will always be skewed by results introduced in that manner.
Anyway, back to TFE, which we are talking about.
With the Technorati favorites exchange, I would wager that the majority of the bloggers involved did not vet the OPML files and simply added them. Do you really believe they checked it, for quality, whether or not they've even heard of the blogs in question, or even to root out any potential splogs?
I seriously doubt it.
It's all in the name! A favorite is an expression of popularity. Just a different kind to inbound links. Inbound links represent a mixture of quality and content of work, as well as an bility to link bait and publish with interesting stories which create traffic. You know what I mean in that respect.
A favorite, is just that, a favorite. It's a measure of an individual users affection of affinity for a certain blog. It's unrelated to quantity, quality of posts or incoming traffic. It's an endorsement based on how the user relates to the blog or blogger in qusetion.
For example, I have a number of blogs in my favorites that I would guess post as little as once every 2 weeks or sometimes once a month.
They'll never be "popular" in the way you're supposing. But they're my favorite because I like the author or the authors style of writing. I have an affinity with those blogs for my own reasons.
I really do think we could discuss this one forever. I'm sure that for whatever point we make, there are 10 people with 10 different takes on it.
One last thing, and perhaps the most important to me..
After the TFE meme started my blog jumped from 12 favorites to 64. I believe it was because I was on somebodies OPML list.
I don't know how many of those votes I have are valid. That annoys me.
TFE has robbed me of the knowledge of whether those people actually read my blog.
TFE has robbed me of knowing if any of those endorsements are real.
I might have only had 12 favorites to begin with but they were 12 REAL ones and I was damn proud of them.
I have 64 now and they mean bugger all!
Also, anybody looking to judge the quality of my blog before subscribing is now being serious misled if they use the number of Technorati favorites I have (yes I know they could use incoming links but thats a different metric, it's not an endorsement).
2 years ago
in Blogging Productivity & Criticizing Goals on Andy Beard - Internet Business Systems Discussion
Hi Maki,
I meant to say comments and not post. Your comments are marked "external nofollow". Your post and trackbacks are nofollow free.
Sorry for the confusion!
I looked at the source for your comments section and spotted the nofollows. I didn't scroll up through the code to check the trackbacks.
However, the fact that you do no implement "nofollow" supports my point that Amit was correct, because 152 people are getting a little bit of Google Juice from you due to their trackbacks.
That's all! I didn't mean to imply that you had "nofollowed" all the links on your blog! :)
Maki, at no point did I say or claim that you instituted any rule about interlinking or make any reference to such. By interlinking I assume you mean exchanging of blog links.
I simply stated that:
However, upon reading your post again, and we are talking about this post, you do state the following under How do I Participate in Dosh Dosh’s Technorati Favorites Exchange Experiment?
You also state:
It would seem to me that you made linking back to you a big part of your post for your experiment.
To say you didn't encourage linking, is, well, misguided!
Don't get me wrong. I've got nothing against that. You deserve all the link credit you can get for getting people involved, trying something different and promoting yourself.
By the way, I'm now subscribed to your blog and look forward to seeing your future posts. Keep up the good work! :)
Paul
I meant to say comments and not post. Your comments are marked "external nofollow". Your post and trackbacks are nofollow free.
Sorry for the confusion!
I looked at the source for your comments section and spotted the nofollows. I didn't scroll up through the code to check the trackbacks.
However, the fact that you do no implement "nofollow" supports my point that Amit was correct, because 152 people are getting a little bit of Google Juice from you due to their trackbacks.
That's all! I didn't mean to imply that you had "nofollowed" all the links on your blog! :)
Maki, at no point did I say or claim that you instituted any rule about interlinking or make any reference to such. By interlinking I assume you mean exchanging of blog links.
I simply stated that:
Many of the participants involved linked back to Dosh Dosh's original post.
However, upon reading your post again, and we are talking about this post, you do state the following under How do I Participate in Dosh Dosh’s Technorati Favorites Exchange Experiment?
2. Link to this blog post with your Post on Technorati Favorites
This is only for those bloggers who are interested in holding Technorati exchanges on their blog as well. These are the steps you need to take:
* Create a post on your blog announcing that you are exchanging Technorati favorites. Prominently include a link to this post to indicate that there is a similar exchange going on at Dosh Dosh.
You can use any link text you want. I do however prefer that you make a new post on this topic instead of putting the link in a old post that is already deep in your archives.
* Get a Link Back. Once I’ve noticed the link via trackback or Technorati, I’ll include a link to your post on Technorati favorites in this post itself so readers here can visit your blog to participate if they want to. I will also try to periodically highlight this post so it never gets lost in the archives
You also state:
The only reason why I am asking for a link to this post here is because I want this to be an interactive experiment
It would seem to me that you made linking back to you a big part of your post for your experiment.
To say you didn't encourage linking, is, well, misguided!
Don't get me wrong. I've got nothing against that. You deserve all the link credit you can get for getting people involved, trying something different and promoting yourself.
By the way, I'm now subscribed to your blog and look forward to seeing your future posts. Keep up the good work! :)
Paul
2 replies
Maki
Thanks for the explanation, Paul.
Some clarification here: By 'interlinking', I am referring links between blogs participating in the experiment. Not referring to links between myself and the blogger who is participating in the exchange.
As you've probably noticed, many bloggers have started linking to other bloggers participating in the exchange, probably motivated by my practice in the post itself. This accounts for the increase in backlinks for most blogs participating in the exchange.
I did suggest that blogs could link to me to get a link back, but what I meant to say in my original comment is that if other bloggers want to participate in the exchange, they are not required to link to one another.
Thanks for subscribing to Dosh Dosh :)
Some clarification here: By 'interlinking', I am referring links between blogs participating in the experiment. Not referring to links between myself and the blogger who is participating in the exchange.
As you've probably noticed, many bloggers have started linking to other bloggers participating in the exchange, probably motivated by my practice in the post itself. This accounts for the increase in backlinks for most blogs participating in the exchange.
I did suggest that blogs could link to me to get a link back, but what I meant to say in my original comment is that if other bloggers want to participate in the exchange, they are not required to link to one another.
Thanks for subscribing to Dosh Dosh :)
Paul OFlaherty
Cool! Now that we're clear on what you meant by interlinking, you're right that you didn't set any rules for that :)
As for subscribing! It's a pleasure ;)
Keep up the good work! :)
As for subscribing! It's a pleasure ;)
Keep up the good work! :)
