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Having used a number of blog directories and participating in a few of them, yes, I have way too many, I have made some observations along the way. I have tried Technorati, Ping.sg, Blog Catalog, My Blog Log and many others. All in the name of raising awareness that I have a few websites and trying to gain more traffic.
Most of the blog directories have made changes to their interfaces and algorithm along the way too. Blog directories are great to start shouting your site to everyone and hoping those with the same interest would be joining in and commenting on your website.
While there are forums for some of them, I have used a few and realised something. If you are not familiar with the regulars; don’t expect your sites to have regular traffic. If you used to be familiar with the regulars but haven’t gone out with them for any of the outings, don’t expect your entries to be supported or be even seen on the front page after 10 minutes.
Community based websites tend to have regulars and these are the people who will welcome everyone initially but after that, they will categorise the people based on the behaviour or words written in the forums or shoutboxes. If they fail to click with them, they are often ignored.
When a site claims to be community based and welcome everyone but at the same time be prejudiced towards those who have seemingly immature minds, I wonder if these very same people are immature or biased in the first place. It’s like “Pot calling the kettle black“.
Sometimes, I wonder if it was my imaginative mind overworking. However, having witnessed first hand, I realised that it isn’t me. Ultimately, blog directories work to a certain extent but participate at your own risk. People have been blacklisted just because of something that irritates others.
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Just to share my own experience regarding ping.sg. I’ve not been in any outings with the regulars (as I’m keeping my real identity a secret) but I still get into the top 10 entries from time to time. I guess it is not entirely true that you need to go out with them to get traffic.
Not forgetting to mention, those sites that require manual updating whenever you tweak your site, it’s quite a hassle. I rather go for sites which I can ping automatically these days.
it will be very difficult not to get pigeonholed into a certain type. humans are social creatures and the more sociable ones definitely have an advantage over the introverts.
i would go on to say that true democracy exists within these communities. they practise a form of self-censorship. the onus is on the user to push the envelopes of acceptance.
democracy & censorship do not normally come hand in hand, but its a necessary evil.
@cobalt
I’m just voicing out what I noticed and feel. I could be just too sensitive.
I notice that your entries to get to the top.
@Ed
Aye, I do hate going to a blog directory and update it manually. I know there is a list of URIs that can be auto pinged.
@Hisham
I’ll agree on the advantage part. It somehow reminds me of our democratic society, doesn’t it?
Hey wishbone, I totally understand how you might feel about community based websites like ping.sg. I am quite new in the community and I do see a certain trend in the top 10 that matches what you said.
Saying that, good content is still the most important factor in a blog. A socially popular blogger may get 100 reads for the last 24 hrs while a blogger with gd content may only garner 10 reads, but how many of the 100 reads of the former will really stay ‘loyal’?
The blogger who is less popular should just continue writing well and maybe learn to be more creative in giving the post a title. Interesting titles always have people interested. Over time, I’m sure the blog with better content will triumph in terms of readership.
@krisandro
Thank you for your kind words.