Comments on: Top Ten Reasons Why A-Listers Lose Blog Traffic http://www.crttbuzzbin.com/2007/08/10/top-ten-reasons-why-a-listers-lose-blog-traffic/ Musings and analysis on marketing, buzz and communications. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:07:22 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Vera http://www.crttbuzzbin.com/2007/08/10/top-ten-reasons-why-a-listers-lose-blog-traffic/comment-page-1/#comment-5095 Vera Mon, 13 Aug 2007 04:42:43 +0000 http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/blog/2007/08/10/top-ten-reasons-why-a-listers-lose-blog-traffic/#comment-5095 Hi Geoff, All the items on your list could apply to any number of people, but I think #9 deserves a bit more attention. A couple of influencing factors: 1. What I think of as 'attention dilution'. People who mostly blogged are now also Twittering and Facebooking. Their posts get shorter and more distracted, even when some of them actually post <i>more</i> to make up for it. 2. Being larger than life in a quasi intimate setting is very hard, and few people can pull it off when it happens to them. There's jealous or resentful sniping and worse things (look what happened to Kathy). Tim O'Reilly responds to conversation on his own post and people mock swoon that it's the 'big man' himself. etc. etc. etc. I'm not saying that any of that excuses an A list blogger who loses traffic 'honestly', just wondering about how the population explosion and higher visibility of this medium is changing it. Vera Hi Geoff,

All the items on your list could apply to any number of people, but I think #9 deserves a bit more attention.

A couple of influencing factors:
1. What I think of as ‘attention dilution’. People who mostly blogged are now also Twittering and Facebooking. Their posts get shorter and more distracted, even when some of them actually post more to make up for it.
2. Being larger than life in a quasi intimate setting is very hard, and few people can pull it off when it happens to them. There’s jealous or resentful sniping and worse things (look what happened to Kathy). Tim O’Reilly responds to conversation on his own post and people mock swoon that it’s the ‘big man’ himself. etc. etc. etc.

I’m not saying that any of that excuses an A list blogger who loses traffic ‘honestly’, just wondering about how the population explosion and higher visibility of this medium is changing it.

Vera

]]> By: Geoff Livingston http://www.crttbuzzbin.com/2007/08/10/top-ten-reasons-why-a-listers-lose-blog-traffic/comment-page-1/#comment-5054 Geoff Livingston Sun, 12 Aug 2007 16:44:31 +0000 http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/blog/2007/08/10/top-ten-reasons-why-a-listers-lose-blog-traffic/#comment-5054 I couldn't agree more, Rich. Well put. I couldn’t agree more, Rich. Well put.

]]> By: Richard Becker http://www.crttbuzzbin.com/2007/08/10/top-ten-reasons-why-a-listers-lose-blog-traffic/comment-page-1/#comment-5050 Richard Becker Sun, 12 Aug 2007 16:07:44 +0000 http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/blog/2007/08/10/top-ten-reasons-why-a-listers-lose-blog-traffic/#comment-5050 Great post Geoff. I think the number one reason is because most of them forget what made them A-list bloggers in the first place. So they begin to write about A-list topics (I like this, but not that) as opposed to developing meaningful content that means something. Or perhaps another way to frame it up is to say ... they become the news instead of writing about something newsworthy, eg. "Bill Gates face slammed me." Who cares. Great post Geoff. I think the number one reason is because most of them forget what made them A-list bloggers in the first place. So they begin to write about A-list topics (I like this, but not that) as opposed to developing meaningful content that means something. Or perhaps another way to frame it up is to say … they become the news instead of writing about something newsworthy, eg. “Bill Gates face slammed me.” Who cares.

]]> By: Geoff Livingston http://www.crttbuzzbin.com/2007/08/10/top-ten-reasons-why-a-listers-lose-blog-traffic/comment-page-1/#comment-4938 Geoff Livingston Fri, 10 Aug 2007 19:40:15 +0000 http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/blog/2007/08/10/top-ten-reasons-why-a-listers-lose-blog-traffic/#comment-4938 Good words, Kami and Toby. It really is about thoughts and inspiring conversation. And as the competition increases, I am sure we will see some blogs tumble. But in the end it makes for better reading. Good words, Kami and Toby. It really is about thoughts and inspiring conversation. And as the competition increases, I am sure we will see some blogs tumble. But in the end it makes for better reading.

]]> By: Toby http://www.crttbuzzbin.com/2007/08/10/top-ten-reasons-why-a-listers-lose-blog-traffic/comment-page-1/#comment-4932 Toby Fri, 10 Aug 2007 17:09:22 +0000 http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/blog/2007/08/10/top-ten-reasons-why-a-listers-lose-blog-traffic/#comment-4932 One more to add to your list .. the competition is tough. Many excellent blogs launching every day adding to competition for 'read time.' #9 is interesting .. people read 'friends.' One more to add to your list .. the competition is tough. Many excellent blogs launching every day adding to competition for ‘read time.’ #9 is interesting .. people read ‘friends.’

]]> By: Kami Huyse http://www.crttbuzzbin.com/2007/08/10/top-ten-reasons-why-a-listers-lose-blog-traffic/comment-page-1/#comment-4928 Kami Huyse Fri, 10 Aug 2007 15:58:36 +0000 http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/blog/2007/08/10/top-ten-reasons-why-a-listers-lose-blog-traffic/#comment-4928 I think people are looking to converse about ideas, which is something A list blogs often don't do as well as they used too. BTW, your blog looks great on mobile. I think people are looking to converse about ideas, which is something A list blogs often don’t do as well as they used too.

BTW, your blog looks great on mobile.

]]> By: Geoff Livingston http://www.crttbuzzbin.com/2007/08/10/top-ten-reasons-why-a-listers-lose-blog-traffic/comment-page-1/#comment-4926 Geoff Livingston Fri, 10 Aug 2007 14:18:51 +0000 http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/blog/2007/08/10/top-ten-reasons-why-a-listers-lose-blog-traffic/#comment-4926 Great comments! Jacob, I agree. most of the A List content is vanilla. However, vanilla sells more so they're doing something right. David, sorry for the vanilla metaphor ;) Definitely had folks in mind, but don't want to call people out as it seems to have become a meme. Patrick, the only thing that matters is a core audience. For example, TIA's blog is not a top ranked blog. It is read by telecom industry folks, so i think it's extremely relevant. Last, but not least, Jim. Your analysis of linking is outstanding. I'm not sure what to say yet as i am digesting a bit, but I think this bodes more discussion. Perhaps a guest or dual blog discussion? Great comments! Jacob, I agree. most of the A List content is vanilla. However, vanilla sells more so they’re doing something right.

David, sorry for the vanilla metaphor ;) Definitely had folks in mind, but don’t want to call people out as it seems to have become a meme.

Patrick, the only thing that matters is a core audience. For example, TIA’s blog is not a top ranked blog. It is read by telecom industry folks, so i think it’s extremely relevant.

Last, but not least, Jim. Your analysis of linking is outstanding. I’m not sure what to say yet as i am digesting a bit, but I think this bodes more discussion. Perhaps a guest or dual blog discussion?

]]> By: David Wescott http://www.crttbuzzbin.com/2007/08/10/top-ten-reasons-why-a-listers-lose-blog-traffic/comment-page-1/#comment-4925 David Wescott Fri, 10 Aug 2007 14:01:43 +0000 http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/blog/2007/08/10/top-ten-reasons-why-a-listers-lose-blog-traffic/#comment-4925 I'm thinking Geoff has a few people in mind. ;) I don't know if this would add to your list, but nothing repels me from a PR blog faster than an obsession with metaphor or simile. It's a clear indication that the thought leadership that thrust the A-lister to the top has run out, and they're replacing strategy with guru-speak. "The internet is a big zoo, and facebook is the panda cage. Twitter represents snackbars. Users flow back and forth, from the snack bars to the pandas, consuming little bits of content while watching pandas, going back to the snackbars and talking about pandas in 140 characters or less..." No, I'm not naming names... ;) I’m thinking Geoff has a few people in mind. ;)

I don’t know if this would add to your list, but nothing repels me from a PR blog faster than an obsession with metaphor or simile. It’s a clear indication that the thought leadership that thrust the A-lister to the top has run out, and they’re replacing strategy with guru-speak.

“The internet is a big zoo, and facebook is the panda cage. Twitter represents snackbars. Users flow back and forth, from the snack bars to the pandas, consuming little bits of content while watching pandas, going back to the snackbars and talking about pandas in 140 characters or less…”

No, I’m not naming names… ;)

]]> By: Spin Thicket Comments http://www.crttbuzzbin.com/2007/08/10/top-ten-reasons-why-a-listers-lose-blog-traffic/comment-page-1/#comment-4922 Spin Thicket Comments Fri, 10 Aug 2007 13:14:38 +0000 http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/blog/2007/08/10/top-ten-reasons-why-a-listers-lose-blog-traffic/#comment-4922 <!--%kramer-ref-pre%-->[...] [...]<!--%kramer-ref-post%--> Kramer auto Pingback[...] [...]

]]> By: Patrick Riccards http://www.crttbuzzbin.com/2007/08/10/top-ten-reasons-why-a-listers-lose-blog-traffic/comment-page-1/#comment-4921 Patrick Riccards Fri, 10 Aug 2007 12:54:43 +0000 http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/blog/2007/08/10/top-ten-reasons-why-a-listers-lose-blog-traffic/#comment-4921 You raise an interesting point regarding other people getting into the space. More and more, the technorati score doesn't tell the full story, and that's how many still determine the A list. Is the true value to be read passively by a large group, or to be read closely by a smaller, but more influential, group? You raise an interesting point regarding other people getting into the space. More and more, the technorati score doesn’t tell the full story, and that’s how many still determine the A list. Is the true value to be read passively by a large group, or to be read closely by a smaller, but more influential, group?

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