Hello
This is me. I’m Liz. I’m the nice one.
I love 9rules Network. This Not a critique of the blogs there.
I never imagined in a million years it would be taken as such.
I’m sorry it was mistaken for that.
My apologies. I am truly sorry if that was not clear..
It saddens me to think someone would mistake this as something like that.
I’m so very sorry to all of you and so embarassed.
So I set the record straight.
I loved 9rules and everyone I met there when I was member and I still do.
Paul Scrivens has only been good to me. I consider him a friend.
This piece was simply meant as study in how quicky readers can sometimes make decisions
That was all.
As my dad use to say, “Only believe 1/2 of what you see, and none of what you hear.”
Sincerely,
Liz
PS. This was a post about the mathematics of a customer’s quick scan. 13,5% of 111 made a “I wanna look later list. Read the post again. There is no critical malice in it. It is an emotional observation of my own behavior.
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Going Down the List Again
A week ago the 9rules Network announced 111 new sites had been selected to join them. I had the interesting experience of going through the list of 111 domain names looking for the blogs of folks I knew. I learned a few things from that experience that I think are worth sharing.
UPDATE: It seems I need to update this. These are the response of a cursory look through a bunch of 111 blogs that I knew nothing about, except that within them there were a certain number I already knew well. I had a limited lime as I went through list to capture those that immediately grabbed my attention. This doesn’t mean those that didn’t have something wrong. I wasn’t judging a contest. I was supershopping as some customer on timed reconnaissance might do. There is no intended implication that the blogs I left behind have anything lacking. This is about 15 unnamed blogs I happend to pick up on my way through a list of 111 that were selected.
Think of these as observations from the field. Do what you will with them.
- I don’t pay attention to domain names. I pay attention to titles. That meant I had to check every single one just to be sure I didn’t miss a great blog — a blog that has, for one reason or another, a domain name that is wildly different from its title. If you have a different name on your blog, make sure that folks know about it, before they have to go through search engines to find you.
- Too much going on and nothing to look at. There were several sites that couldn’t hold my attention for longer than a second. They made it easy to click on.
- I was in a hurry to get to the short list. Some bloggers actually said they weren’t good enough to be in 9rules. I decided to agree with them. When there are too many choices in a short time space, customers look for reasons to say no. At least I know that I do.
- On a second look, only 6 of the 15 blogs I bookmarked still hold my attention. I collected what I thought were 15 winners. I went back to check them out tonight. I couldn’t remember what I saw in most of them. Most seemed unremarkable. Had they blown their wad to get in? Did they not stand up to a longer look?
- This is not the time to think that folks won’t notice. One of the 15 still has the same post up — the post that says it was chosen to be in 9rules.
Only 6 out of 111. Granted I went through the list fast and furious, but . . . even 6 out of 15 is disappointing. . . . I’m going to keep watching all 15 of them. I’ll let you know whether things change.
PS — I still like the ones I knew were great going in.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
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*ya* I hear you. although, some have nice “designs” .. There’s a better place to browse the links .. at least Tyme had decency to make the links clickable at http://pingsix.com/2006/06/03/round-4-preliminary-list/
I’m going to refrain from judging the new sites until I know them better. Personally, I don’t trust that these are the best of the submissions and 589 other submissions might agree with me. Everyone has to remember though – it’s not my opinion that matters – it’s 9rules.com business and people should respect at least that much.
Personally, I did find more than 6 sites worth surfing. I too went back just a few moments ago and saw the same “I’m In” speech but, my blog post timings have been worse 😀
Like I said, Hart,
I’m not trying to be hard on anybody. I’m just saying what happened when I went through 111 links to find some blogs to look at.
I know I overlook some great ones and probably picked some lesser ones. I do think it’s bad timing to leave up the i’m in post. There could be extenuating cirucumstances. . . .
I started out with 6 I already am in love with and I’m a 9rules fan to start with.
I’m still going to watch those 15 blogs.
I think that blog overload hit me with 111 to start with was part of the point I think.
I’d have to disagree; I think there were a lot more than six. But it comes down to personal preference, I suppose. That said, there were a lot that were of questionable quality. I trust the 9rules guys though, so I won’t make any judgements yet.
I’m still getting my head around me being in. I’ve wanted it for months, and now I’m not really sure what to think, say or do (Other than keep blogging ;))!
Hi Rich
I’m NOT saying there were only six. 😉
I agree there were a lot more. in the time I started with 6 I already knew were goodl — you were one — and then as I went looking through the list as a customer making quick judgments, I wanted to see where I’d end up. I ended up with 15. Of those only 6 still held my interest.
There are probably 80 other good ones. They just didn’t catch on that cursory run through. It’s like a fast pass through a mall, you miss a LOT.
smiles,
Liz
Obviously you can’t please everybody…but why did you think for even a second that a large portion of those blogs on soooo many different topics were all going to appeal to you? You couldn’t have possibly thought that 100+ sites ranging across just as many topics were all going to appeal to you.
Josh,
I was just doing an exercise in shopping Josh. That’s all. I didn’t mean to imply that all of the other blogs were less than right.
I apologize if that’s what you heard.
Liz
Liz, maybe you are onto something – the Religion community Leader just left 9rules.
Paul,
I wasn’t on to anything. I ‘m sorry to hear that. It’s just a coincidence.
Hi Liz. Thanks for pointing me to this one. When I read it last night, though, I didn’t understand all the fuss. Now that I read it today, I don’t understand all the fuss. Obviously, I’m not seeing the offense. If I’m at all on the right track, I think that everybody can’t make every cut, if they could, there would be an award for the 49th runner-up in the Miss America Contest.