How Did I Kill My Blog?

Published on April 27, 2005 By Gideon MacLeish In Blogging

I'm wondering how I did it.

At one time, my blog being in the top ten was almost a given. In fact, the only time it fell below was when I was offline due to having no access to the computer.

Now, however, I'm at 14 and falling. Our favorite anti-Catholic blogger is about to leap on top of me. Most of the bloggers above me are worthy, don't get me wrong, but it's pretty embarassing to be on the brink of being passed by Jerry Falwell's retarded stepbrother!

I know some of my articles have been stretching a bit, but I think I'm back after my "slump". Article views and replies would seem to disagree, however.

I'm going to solicit a little constructive criticism (rare for me): How did my blog die SO badly, and how can I get some momentum back?

Comments (Page 2)

Ionolast

on Apr 27, 2005

BakerStreet, I only want the system to be fixed. When it said I had 0 articles, that was proof that something is wrong.

Dr Guy

on Apr 27, 2005

When and where did you see that? The most points I've seen for myself is 2959.

You should have checked the top 10! You were king of the hill!

bakerstreet

on Apr 27, 2005

Oh, I agree, it needs to be fixed. I think it has less importance than stability and load times, etc., though. The point is people being able to browse and read.

Once they get all the "connection refused" stuff straightened out, then by all means it might be worth spending the time on.

Dr Guy

on Apr 27, 2005

To me the "top blogs" list is meaningless. That shows the activity in the last 30 days. I dunno about anyone else but the main reason I wander on and off that list several times a year is because I have a LIFE.

I agree that is why I quit worrying about it.

Texas Wahine

on Apr 27, 2005

Gideon: You didn't kill your blog...Bush killed your blog...it's a conspiracy!

EmperorofIceCream

on Apr 27, 2005

As I write this, our resident teen queen, carebear, is sitting at # 2.

wtf?

Texas Wahine

on Apr 27, 2005

As I write this, our resident teen queen, carebear, is sitting at # 2.

I am wondering if this is the result of referrals...she has an article about cars that keeps popping up and getting anonymous comments, and I think that might have something to do with it.

Gene Nash

on Apr 28, 2005

I love it when people with four times my (30 days) points whine about how unread they are....

None-the-less, might I offer some possible reasons?

1) Too many articles. Actually, I think the number of articles is one of the things that propelled you up to begin with. The larger problem with it now may be something beyond your control, namely...
2) The shift to 5 articles on a page instead of 10. I usually don't click on articles by you when I see them on the sidebar because I figure I'll catch them later when I access your blog through its main page. The problem is, I now have to click twice as much to see the same number of articles. Needless to say, I don't do that, so more articles go unseen. I doubt I'm the only one so affected. Also, more articles would get more points from home page views when there are 10 on a page than when there are five simply because most people don't click over to a second page (let alone a third or fourth). The cutoff for "home page" points (and hence "page view" points from people commenting or reading comments) has been greatly lessened. I don't know, but it might pay to adjust your output slightly in consideration of that. It's worth experimenting with.
3) New and shiny has worn off. People like to chase after the new and exciting. You're now so well established that people might take you for granted. Oh yeah, there's Gid... I have to read him... later after I read that nutcase over there who just popped up. Apathy can set in. Is that happening? I don't know. Could be.
4) Can't maintain commenting habits. I don't think you've been able to keep up your high comment to article ratio. As you know from your original analysis of top JU bloggers, that is very important.
5) Can't stoke articles. As an adjunct to #4, you can't opportunely time your responses to comments to keep your articles bounced into view. There's a certain art to the management of comment response that can greatly prolong the life and points of an article, as I am sure you are well aware. Your current situation just hasn't afforded you the time to do it probably.

So, I think once your ISP situation is stabilized you'll be able to address most of the problems. Till then, you're still doing far better than most people around here.

(I'm hoping ad banners on the sister site will help with the financial end of that deal)

By the way, I have some ideas in that regard that might help you. Email me. (genenash AT gmail DOT com)

[Okay, I'm loopy on all the medicine they've given me to fight a serious infection. If this is total nonsense, I'll disavow any knowledge of it at a later date. I think I reworked it enough to make it legible, but then I'm no judge right now. You should have seen it before I ran it through all the "checkers" I have. If this made no sense to anyone but me, I apologize. I shouldn't even be out of bed....]

Nebraskawoman

on Apr 28, 2005

Oh hell guys. Just be glad you are in the top 100. I'm out there in OuterSpace at number 185.

{Hello, Can anyone here me up there? Talk about the nosebleed section.}

Gideon MacLeish

on Apr 28, 2005

Good thoughts, all. Gene, yeah, those probably have a lot to do with it, and I don't mind the 13 people above me, but when (it seems inevitable) I drop below Cooley, I think I'm gonna cry! What's next? Tracy Givens and the Fred Harteis blogs overtaking me?

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