Blogebrity

Sucking up to what?

What is “sucking up to the A-list“? What game does Lisa Stone of the BlogHer conference think bloggers have to play? Why do people bitch and moan about lists of popular bloggers, then grumble “but you have to do what they say”?

What’s to suck up? Technorati’s top blog, Boing Boing, permanently links to one blog: Fark, hidden in a text link below a stack of ads. You can only earn temporary links from BB, by sending them something cool. Just find something they might like, and fill in “Your Website” on the suggestion form. Sometimes they’ll come around and find you; most likely if you’re also a coolhunter or techie or both. And if you’re not, why do you want Boing Boing readers anyway?

Technorati slot two, Glenn Reynolds’ Instapundit, either neglects credits or gets everything first-hand. If you want a link from him, you’ll have to actually write something. Again, something he’s interested in. That basically covers politics and world news. Or e-mail him some great posts from your own political blog, and he might put you on his right-column link list. Can’t be too hard to get there; there are over 200 links already.

Daily Kos, number three, stands out for its heavy threaded commenting. This is easy. Write something intelligent, link your name to your blog. Done. No one has to approve you. No one has to see you. But the blogroll is short, and Kos admits it - he feels a long list wouldn’t serve his readers. But again, you’re fine; just comment.

Gizmodo, fourth place, has only the occasional credit and no blogroll. It’s really about the products, so there’s no focus on networking your blog — nothing to suck up to.

Fark rounds out the top five. It’s a forum-blog like Slashdot, Metafilter, and Digg, and my advice applies to all four: Get an account, add to the conversation, don’t naysay people without wit and insight, and post a few of your own links. Follow the forum rules, and do more than whore your blog.

Building a reputation in blogdom isn’t about sucking up to an A-list. It’s about sharing tidbits with other bloggers, blog readers, forum members, and chatters who might enjoy them.

A good investor builds his wealth through diverse investments, some in blue chips and some in speculation. He doesn’t play the lotto, and he doesn’t spend his life savings on one Internet startup. You won’t build long-lasting fame and influence with a few blogroll links and a lucky meme find. You’ll build it with interesting, relevant discussion. And, as always, by writing something worth reading.

Am I connecting with anyone here? Do you want more?

This entry was posted by Nick Douglas on Sunday, July 31st, 2005 at 12:04 pm and is filed under Gawker Media, Technorati. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...