TopOfBlogs: A New Blog Ranking Service
TopOfBlogs is my second discovery in as many days. I have already registered this blog with them and I'll try to explain why I like the service.
TopOfBlogs is in a beta status, so a few things may change as time progresses.
The Discovery
I knew that Twitter was good for a few things other than "What are you doing?". In this case, I saw a tweet appear from K InTheHouse of ShanKri-la mentioning his blog had made it to number one in the computers category there. I investigated and his blog was indeed at the top. At last look, however, it had dropped down a notch.
I looked around for a bit and then decided to register this blog. I followed the steps and several hours later, my blog was accepted into the writing category. Hey, I know this blog isn't only about writing, but there wasn't a category for "miscellaneous tripe" available. The competition in the writing category isn't very tough right now, listing only 25 blogs (including mine). Amazingly, within a few hours, my blog rose to the number 4 position. It's currently at number 1.
What I like and don't like about it.
I like this ranking service for the same reasons I don't like it. Call me a waffler if you wish, but they're using some of the same tired old metrics that other ranking services as well as advertisers use. I like the fact that they using page views and feed counts but I don't like the fact that they're using Google PageRank, Alexa and Technorati. In the absence of other openly reported data, though, I guess they'll have to do. I have no idea what "Sent Out" means. Perhaps they're talking about blog URLs that are clicked on.
The reason I don't like the PageRank portion is because it's controlled by Google and not by traffic. Alexa is too wishy-washy and won't disclose the new traffic sources (that aren't counted by people using one of the toolbars or add-ons). Technorati is just plain inaccurate and I know that from personal experience.
Can the service be gamed? Sure, but so can any service out there. Just take a look at Digg and you'll understand exactly what I mean.
My Recommendation
Even if you don't like the service, it has one thing going for it. The link to a blog doesn't have the "nofollow" attribute attached to it. It's a free backlink! It's not a great backlink, but it's a backlink nonetheless.
I think you should take the time to register your blog, if you have one. It certainly can't hurt.
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Not a great link? The category I am on is a PR5 page… say what you will about PR, but it's a huge selling point for some advertisers.
Link Building Bible’s last blog post… Using Internal Linking to Build Backlinks – Part 5
I don't consider a backlink to the blog home page that great, unless the PR is higher than mine.
Dude you come in topOfBlog , and i go down
) … i was first , than second and know the 8-th
Sorry.
It looks interesting, though I haven't tried it, but I'm guessing they're using some sort of script to track things, correct? It really bugs me to put all these alien scripts in my blog which could maliciously be used for their profit. (Ad-jacking, etc.)
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Actually, it's only an image they're tracking. The one in my lower right sidebar. That's for the page views. Everything else is available publicly using your URL.
Hey RT,
Thanks for the link and I am finding Twitter more useful too than just saying what I am doing at the moment.
In fact, I should have mentioned that I read about this at Link Building Bible and found a nice PR 5 link back wouldn't hurt just to find that the next day I was number 1. Don't mind the number 2 spot either.
Glad to see yours rise to the top too!
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Yes, you should have mentioned that… haha… so that everyone in your Twitter would know to check out my site for amazing info! haha!
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I'll head on over, thanks for the info.
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