Leadership in Blogging

Great post. Someone said blogging is high school all over again. But I don’t care about the “pushier” bloggers. My concern is that I have a very nice set of tools to present whatever I write to an audience, Now I have to see how well I can get myself to write, what my limits are.

Beyond the struggle for fame, there must be a whole lot of people out there doing the same thing. Sounds as if you are out to find a few of them.

I think, to a certain extent, all blogging is pretty much ego-driven. Some more than others, but it takes a certain amount of ego to start a public blog to begin with. If none of us really cared about readership we’d all pen our rantings on cocktail napkins or on legal pads.

I also think that going on and on about egotism in blogging (complaining about PJ Media, complaining about the Weblog Awards) is itself a bit of ego-stroking. Not to be rude or anything (just mildly critical) getting all sarcastic and caustic about people getting together to leverage some advertising dollars (PJ Media) or getting together to have some silly fun (Weblog Awards, even though some take it pretty seriously) is sort of silly.

If the Weblog Awards truly are meaningless, what’s the point in getting upset about them?

And don’t take this the wrong way, I just think you’re making mountains out of molehills.

I think, to a certain extent, all blogging is pretty much ego-driven. Some more than others, but it takes a certain amount of ego to start a public blog to begin with. If none of us really cared about readership we’d all pen our rantings on cocktail napkins or on legal pads.

I also think that going on and on about egotism in blogging (complaining about PJ Media, complaining about the Weblog Awards) is itself a bit of ego-stroking. Not to be rude or anything (just mildly critical) getting all sarcastic and caustic about people getting together to leverage some advertising dollars (PJ Media) or getting together to have some silly fun (Weblog Awards, even though some take it pretty seriously) is sort of silly.

If the Weblog Awards truly are meaningless, what’s the point in getting upset about them?

And don’t take this the wrong way, I just think you’re making mountains out of molehills.

I don’t object to heavily self-promoting bloggers per se. But the problem is, they make it more difficult to find those bloogers who devote more of their energies to just, frankly, running great blogs. The self-promoters divert limited resources (attention and money) that would nourish lesser-known bloggers. Some real revelations get steamrolled by the elbow-throwers. That’s my concern.

A great blogger, Robert Scoble, said to “blog down” the food chain. Most bloggers “blog up”, that is, quote blogs higher up the traffic scale. The rich get richer. Problem with doing that is that everyone has seen the big bloggers’ posts/ By blogging down, you can promote less-trafficked blogs, and post items that are more unique (i.e., they weren’t shown to the world on Instapuundit already). These days I do mention Instapundit now and again, but I remain predominantly mindful of wonderful lesser-trafficked bloggers who have found items that the big boys missed.

The road less traveled and all that.

I don’t object to heavily self-promoting bloggers per se. But the problem is, they make it more difficult to find those bloogers who devote more of their energies to just, frankly, running great blogs. The self-promoters divert limited resources (attention and money) that would nourish lesser-known bloggers. Some real revelations get steamrolled by the elbow-throwers. That’s my concern.

A great blogger, Robert Scoble, said to “blog down” the food chain. Most bloggers “blog up”, that is, quote blogs higher up the traffic scale. The rich get richer. Problem with doing that is that everyone has seen the big bloggers’ posts/ By blogging down, you can promote less-trafficked blogs, and post items that are more unique (i.e., they weren’t shown to the world on Instapuundit already). These days I do mention Instapundit now and again, but I remain predominantly mindful of wonderful lesser-trafficked bloggers who have found items that the big boys missed.

The road less traveled and all that.

From a certain perspective, all the “A-List” bloggers already do a lot of the “blogging down.” Glenn, with his “instalanches,” is famous for it. That’s how they get such large readership. They aggregate the voices of the smaller bloggers.

I also try not to post anything Instapundit already has (unless I have something good or unique to add) but that’s mostly because if he’s posted it pretty much everybody has already seen it.

Rob, I respectfully disagree. Yes, Instapundit “blogs down”, but only because that blog is at the top of the food chain (it could scarcely “blog up”). What I meant to say is that the top bloggers rarely blog THAT FAR down. Actually, Glenn does it more than most, but in gerenal they tend to link to other high-trafficked bloggers. I’d guess 80% of their links are to the top 100 or so ranked sites.

Which leaves need and opportunity at the ‘lower ends’ of the spectrum. I mean, this is what a midranked or lower end blog ought to do - find and promote lesser-known blogs. That’s my opinion, anyway, and that’s what I tend to do, especially when I assemble blog carnivals (I do the Big Apple Carnival occasionally) and so on.

Rob, I respectfully disagree. Yes, Instapundit “blogs down”, but only because that blog is at the top of the food chain (it could scarcely “blog up”). What I meant to say is that the top bloggers rarely blog THAT FAR down. Actually, Glenn does it more than most, but in gerenal they tend to link to other high-trafficked bloggers. I’d guess 80% of their links are to the top 100 or so ranked sites.

Which leaves need and opportunity at the ‘lower ends’ of the spectrum. I mean, this is what a midranked or lower end blog ought to do - find and promote lesser-known blogs. That’s my opinion, anyway, and that’s what I tend to do, especially when I assemble blog carnivals (I do the Big Apple Carnival occasionally) and so on.

Did you guys ever consider that there are only maybe 500 or so really good political blogs out there (that number increases if you start including other topics, obviously) and that maybe these bloggers get the majority of the traffic and links because they’re the best?

I don’t buy into the idea that Instapundit and Malkin (another good linker) are “using” smaller bloggers. They link to what they think is interesting. Just like I do. Am I “using” Technosailor if I post an excerpt in a link to a piece here on my blog?

I really think you guys are making too much of this.

I didn’t think I was still talking about the words. I was talking about reality. Blogging is a market with a wealth of products but a finite number of customers. Of course some damn good bloggers and posts are going to get overlooked. That’s just what happens. If you want to be big, you have to be good on a daily basis for a very, very long time. Competition is a bitch, but you can’t exactly demand attention either. If you’re good, people will notice. It really is just a matter of time.

And I don’t know what to say about the people who don’t want any credit. Why would they care what the A-listers are doing? If they truly don’t care, that is.

“I don’t buy into the idea that Instapundit and Malkin (another good linker) are “using” smaller bloggers.”

Never said that.

“Did you guys ever consider that there are only maybe 500 or so really good political blogs out there (that number increases if you start including other topics, obviously) and that maybe these bloggers get the majority of the traffic and links because they’re the best?”

Actually, I have considered my position quite carefully.

As a marketer, I know empirically that the superior product or service does not necessarily win out on the basis of its superiority. Other forces besides merit are at play. (The old Betamax vs. VHS chestnut is the best known example, but there have been many others.)

Huffington is a good example of inequality in the blogosphere. In her case, money has bought audience share of a number of (mostly ghostwritten) “names” who are posing as bloggers. There are many examples where circumstance, rather than skill, has dictated various bloogers’ station in the pantheon.

I think Malkin and Instapundit are excellent blogs, and have more than earned their positions. There are others about which the same can be said. But there are many who game the system in various ways, that are inferior to lesser-read blogs. Some inequalities may be wrung out over time, but on the other hand many potentially superior voices will wither away and die.

Malkin is clearly skilled and hard-working. She also has a circumstantial advantage over many bloggers in that she does not need to earn a living. There are many bloggers enjoying similar strategic advantages, who are read for that reason rather than because of the superiority of their skills. It’s not just money and/or availability of unstructured time: Some writers got a head start because they had early access to technology which others did not. Others are in the tech business and their opinions are read becausee techies tend to be online.

Some perspective: At least we HAVE a means by which many new voices can be heard. An unknown law professor became a ’star’ because of blogging, and we are all better for it.

But is everyone’s traffic earned and justified on merit? Well, my experience in blogging, and life, says it just isn’t so. Nor can I believe that some aren’t crowded out of the blogging space by voices which are merely louder.

Of course, I am open to an explanation as to how blog traffic is earned by merit and merit alone.

“I don’t buy into the idea that Instapundit and Malkin (another good linker) are “using” smaller bloggers.”

Never said that.

“Did you guys ever consider that there are only maybe 500 or so really good political blogs out there (that number increases if you start including other topics, obviously) and that maybe these bloggers get the majority of the traffic and links because they’re the best?”

Actually, I have considered my position quite carefully.

As a marketer, I know empirically that the superior product or service does not necessarily win out on the basis of its superiority. Other forces besides merit are at play. (The old Betamax vs. VHS chestnut is the best known example, but there have been many others.)

Huffington is a good example of inequality in the blogosphere. In her case, money has bought audience share of a number of (mostly ghostwritten) “names” who are posing as bloggers. There are many examples where circumstance, rather than skill, has dictated various bloogers’ station in the pantheon.

I think Malkin and Instapundit are excellent blogs, and have more than earned their positions. There are others about which the same can be said. But there are many who game the system in various ways, that are inferior to lesser-read blogs. Some inequalities may be wrung out over time, but on the other hand many potentially superior voices will wither away and die.

Malkin is clearly skilled and hard-working. She also has a circumstantial advantage over many bloggers in that she does not need to earn a living. There are many bloggers enjoying similar strategic advantages, who are read for that reason rather than because of the superiority of their skills. It’s not just money and/or availability of unstructured time: Some writers got a head start because they had early access to technology which others did not. Others are in the tech business and their opinions are read becausee techies tend to be online.

Some perspective: At least we HAVE a means by which many new voices can be heard. An unknown law professor became a ’star’ because of blogging, and we are all better for it.

But is everyone’s traffic earned and justified on merit? Well, my experience in blogging, and life, says it just isn’t so. Nor can I believe that some aren’t crowded out of the blogging space by voices which are merely louder.

Of course, I am open to an explanation as to how blog traffic is earned by merit and merit alone.

Never said that.

Never said you did. Aaron did.

As for everything else, nobody said that free markets (and that’s what I see the blogosphere as, a free market of thought and opinions) are perfect. They’re not. Some people game the system, etc. But if there’s a better way I don’t know of it.

I just don’t see where there’s anything to get excited about. Yes there are blogs that get lots of attention that don’t deserve it. Jeff Jarvis, for instance. I can’t stand the guy. I think he’s an ass, yet I probably get about 1/10th of his readership. Does that make me angry? No. I don’t get it, but I don’t dwell on it either.

This is just life. Some people stumble into good situations, others work hard to achieve them. Still others work hard and never achieve anything. It sucks, but this is nothing new.

I don’t blame you for trying Aaron. You do kind of hit a nerve for me when you say that the top-tier blogs “use” smaller blogs, but whatever.

I’m interested: How do you propose things change?

OK, sorry about the misunderstanding, re who said what.

I realize this tends to fall into the “life is unfair” category. If you look at my blog, you’ll see I don’t whine about my traffic numbers or situation. (Actually I’m prettty content with it. I have a few blogging relationships, I’ve gained a few readers in a relatively short time. Can’t complain.)

All any of us can do, really, is play the hand we’re dealt - and try to stay in the game!

OK, sorry about the misunderstanding, re who said what.

I realize this tends to fall into the “life is unfair” category. If you look at my blog, you’ll see I don’t whine about my traffic numbers or situation. (Actually I’m prettty content with it. I have a few blogging relationships, I’ve gained a few readers in a relatively short time. Can’t complain.)

All any of us can do, really, is play the hand we’re dealt - and try to stay in the game!

Since you guys are so into this, let me say that I have assembled a small panel to ascertain the “best 100 posts of the year” to promote, not the most popular blogs (although who knows, some may come from them) but the best posts. If either of you wish to know more, email me.

mistersnitch [at] hotmail [dot] com

Since you guys are so into this, let me say that I have assembled a small panel to ascertain the “best 100 posts of the year” to promote, not the most popular blogs (although who knows, some may come from them) but the best posts. If either of you wish to know more, email me.

mistersnitch [at] hotmail [dot] com

All any of us can do, really, is play the hand we’re dealt – and try to stay in the game!

That’s where I’m at too. I love blogging. I still remember the first year I did it and it was pretty much just me talking to the void. The commenters and readers are fun, but this has become like therapy for me. I’d do it even if I was just saving the posts on the hard drive. Blogging has opened some doors for me as well, and that’s cool. I just take things as they come.

Aaron:
That’s admirable. I think the whole “I don’t link to the big blogs” thing is sort of silly (I guess I subscribe to the “you should write what you have to say, regardless of who else is also writing about it” school of blogging), but to each their own. I look forward to your review of smaller blogs. That’s a cool idea.

All any of us can do, really, is play the hand we’re dealt – and try to stay in the game!

That’s where I’m at too. I love blogging. I still remember the first year I did it and it was pretty much just me talking to the void. The commenters and readers are fun, but this has become like therapy for me. I’d do it even if I was just saving the posts on the hard drive. Blogging has opened some doors for me as well, and that’s cool. I just take things as they come.

Aaron:
That’s admirable. I think the whole “I don’t link to the big blogs” thing is sort of silly (I guess I subscribe to the “you should write what you have to say, regardless of who else is also writing about it” school of blogging), but to each their own. I look forward to your review of smaller blogs. That’s a cool idea.

Wow…so much to read here. I have blogged for almost 1 year (Thank Aaron) and I really don’t blog everyday or every week like some of my blogging peers.

I blog when there is an issue or subject (Personal or Public) that even I can’t help but to add my 2 cents worth. But I also put my own peronal being out here on the internet and that is a big step for anyone who does.

I could care less for talking about politics because it always ends up in some disagreement between people are not in position to change the problem anyway.

I don’t talk TECH shop because I do that stuff all day so if you are familiar with it you will know the struggle it takes just to cut the home PC on.

According to my stats I am lesser known. But I keep on doing what I do when my mind says to. To the lesser known bloggers keep on doing what you do. Without us the blogesphere would not have variety or flavor.

Political blogging isn’t for everybody. It takes a special sort of fortitude to put up with the inevitable baloney (from both sides of the political spectrum) that will come when you posting something somebody doesn’t like. But I enjoy it. For one thing I’ve learned a lot from my commenters. I’m a better informed person because of my blog. Its also taught me a lot about politics and debating, about how to keep your cool and make your point without having every conversation devolve into a name-calling festival.

As for blogging only when you have something to say, I think that’s the best policy…though its not always one I follow myself. Sometimes I forget that my blog isn’t a newswire and that people get their breaking news from the media. They come to me for perspective and opinion, so if I can’t offer that there’s no sense in posting.

Political blogging isn’t for everybody. It takes a special sort of fortitude to put up with the inevitable baloney (from both sides of the political spectrum) that will come when you posting something somebody doesn’t like. But I enjoy it. For one thing I’ve learned a lot from my commenters. I’m a better informed person because of my blog. Its also taught me a lot about politics and debating, about how to keep your cool and make your point without having every conversation devolve into a name-calling festival.

As for blogging only when you have something to say, I think that’s the best policy…though its not always one I follow myself. Sometimes I forget that my blog isn’t a newswire and that people get their breaking news from the media. They come to me for perspective and opinion, so if I can’t offer that there’s no sense in posting.

Good points, Sean. Aaron, I look forward to seeing what you come up with!

Good points, Sean. Aaron, I look forward to seeing what you come up with!

Can I subscribe to this blogs feed? Samuel in Tampa