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| How to get on it? Originally part of "I'm surprised how few people want to visit Antarctica" 79 Replies: « back 1 2 3 4 next » |  Mell Mell Post Count: 15161 Msg: #41 10 weeks ago, October 18th 2009 | Judging by some of the posts on this thread, I get the impression that many consider posting on the forums to be a duty, rather than a pleasure. It is a pity it is not seen as a sociable and fun thing to do. Maybe many bloggers are of the quiet type then. Who is lurking and why dont they speak and what would they say if they did speak is always something I am curious about. | It is unfortunate that being sociable on the internet has so many negative connotations attached to it these days. I often think that is the reason many prefer to lurk than to actively participate. What do established Front Page bloggers in general think about Unknown Bloggers being promoted in order to give them a chance to get their blogs on the Front Page? From some of the above posts, I get the impression that to established Front Page bloggers this is not desirable, because it means their own blogs will not get as many hits and will not stay as long on the Front Page? Well, as far as I am concened about good bloggers and the Front Page, the more the merrier.  Vinovat Sudarynya Jonathan Campion Post Count: 745 Msg: #42 10 weeks ago, October 19th 2009 | I had noticed that blogs stay on the front page for less time now that blogs are added to it more often, but like Mell I think the variety is a good thing. | J.  The Travel Camel Shane Dallas Post Count: 1065 Msg: #43 10 weeks ago, October 19th 2009 | I have no problems with good quality bloggers appearing on the front page, even if my blog gets bumped off more quickly. At the moment the page allows for 8 blog summary on the front page, if there were 10 then front pagers would stay on longer - but this might be difficult to implement. You could also have different sections on the front page (such as have a specific destination "of the week/month", blogs about topical areas (i.e. recent floods in the Philippines) or a new blogger section - such as a box with the "New Blogger of the Week") but the amount of effort to introduce and maintain this would make more work for everyone. | Overall, I think the length of time I stay on the front page is a minor concern to me, if I was to drop of within a couple of hours, that would not be preferable, but anything more than 24 hours is a bonus at present. The more the merrier I say too! [Edited: 07:27 - The Travel Camel ] Vinovat Sudarynya Jonathan Campion Post Count: 745 Msg: #44 9 weeks ago, October 24th 2009 | The trick is to publish your blog at a time when no-one else is, but I haven't yet worked out when that is! | J. Vinovat Sudarynya Jonathan Campion Post Count: 745 Msg: #45 9 weeks ago, October 27th 2009 | I got to 78 views before being shunted off the front page; it used to be about 150, so does that mean we have doubled our number of recommended bloggers? | J. The Travel Camel Shane Dallas Post Count: 1065 Msg: #46 9 weeks ago, October 27th 2009 | That is only the second time I've fallen off the front page in under 24 hours - think it means that it was a popular time for recommended bloggers to post. Having said that, there are definitely more bloggers appearing on the front page, so your double estimation could well be correct. | Vinovat Sudarynya Jonathan Campion Post Count: 745 Msg: #47 8 weeks ago, October 29th 2009 | After falling off the front page, our blogs are still only 2 clicks away from readers' attention, as we stay on the "Latest Recommended" page for 2 or 3 days. I almost prefer that map to the front page, as the location is a big factor in choosing which blogs to read (although not as much as it used to be: I've found some bloggers that write brilliantly about countries I didn't previously have much interest in). | How about making this link more prominent - and connecting the two pages more noticeably - by changing the text directly above the featured blogs on both pages from "Featured Travel Blogs" and Latest popular blog entries to: On the front page: Our Newest Recommended Blogs - This Week's Recommended Blogs and on the 'Recommended' page: Our Newest Recommended Blogs - This Week's Recommended Blogs That way, each recommended blogger gets the front page exposure they deserve, but there's a bit of a sweetener to compensate for getting kicked off that much quicker... J. Mell Mell Post Count: 15161 Msg: #48 8 weeks ago, October 29th 2009 | Since I became a member of TravelBlog, the number of members has more than trippled. Naturally, this means that there are now more Front Page bloggers. :) Speaking of which, please nominate if you have seen any good ones with fewer than 3 recommends, or add your nomination to the ones already on the list. Choosing one is not easy, so if folk can tip the balance in favour of particular ones then that will make it clearer which is the favourite of the week. :) | Vinovat Sudarynya Jonathan Campion Post Count: 745 Msg: #49 8 weeks ago, October 29th 2009 | If the number of recommended bloggers increases by too much TravelBlog will need to change the formula for getting on to the front page. If we get to the point where all blogs that appear on the front page only spend 15 or so hours there, the ones among them that are truly excellent will disappear before they have had a chance to be read by a good number of people. | J. system TravelBlog System User Post Count: 958 Msg: #50 8 weeks ago, October 29th 2009 | 1 posts merged into this topic from: Nominate a Blogger to be next weeks Unknown Blogger of the Week. | Vinovat Sudarynya Jonathan Campion Post Count: 745 Msg: #51 7 weeks ago, November 5th 2009 | This week's blog only got to 70 views... are less people visiting TravelBlog in general? | J. Mell Mell Post Count: 15161 Msg: #52 7 weeks ago, November 5th 2009 | More people are visiting TravelBlog in general. Maybe Ali will again join the discussion and give more detail. | [Edited: 09:05 - Mell ]  BarryONeill Barry O 'Neill Post Count: 2 Msg: #53 7 weeks ago, November 9th 2009 | Hi guys - Im Barry i've been blogging for a year but dont post that much here! | Theres been a lot of good info here i never knew about! i always wondered how one got to the front page. To be really honest....(here goes) i dont think the algorithm works as well as it should. When im looking for some great travel stories or inspiration i tend to flick by the front page but to be honest most of the blogs are simple writing-home-to-family blogs, rather than the kind of travel writing i love. Should the algorithm take into account who made the recommendations as well? On facebook just because you have 300 friends in your list doesnt make you a great guy! Same as if you have 4 recomendations from 4 random bloggers doesnt mean your a great blogger. However if you were to get a recommendation from a 'power user' of the site, say Mell or Ali, then that recomendation would hold more weight (similar to how google judges a sites importance).......anyway sorry for the rant thats just my input! I love this site though. I love planning my next blog. I will plan it in my head for a week or two, then sit down one night and write the most entertaining engaging blog i can. I also find this site invaluable for travel inspiration. You can read all the guidebooks and brochures or whatever but to read someones own, well written, experience of a place is truly unique. (I have a few saved blogs on my other computer i must post here or recommend them). One feature which would be great, would be an advanced search function: I tend to travel to melbourne in a few weeks, however when i search for Melbourne blogs i just get a list of all blogs. How great would it be to be able to sort by recommended bloggers, totals views, total word count, total pictures, oldest TB user, most overall blogs...... I dont mind if the blog was written 2 years ago, if he/she has 8 recomendations and 900 views....i wanna read it!! Apologies guys for getting carried away in post!! because i dont post much i thought i needed to put down some oppinions. Mell Mell Post Count: 15161 Msg: #54 7 weeks ago, November 9th 2009 | Hello Barry |   Should the algorithm take into account who made the recommendations as well? All members with blogger status are equal, as far as TravelBlog is concerned. It wouldn't be fair if we(me and Ali) are to decide that some are better than others. If there are bloggers who are more to your taste than the ones who currently go on the Front Page, be sure to recommend them. That would help get ones that are more to your taste on the Front Page. If they have fewer than 3 recommends, then you can nominate them on Nominate a Blogger to be next weeks Unknown Blogger of the Week.. Then hopefully other will agree with you and they will soon be on the Front Page. And also, thank you for your compliments about TravelBlog. Mel BarryONeill Barry O 'Neill Post Count: 2 Msg: #55 7 weeks ago, November 9th 2009 | yeh i agree all bloggers are equal. | i suppose i phrased it wrong. i should have said: the algorithm could take into account how many recommendations the people that recommeded you, have. And even how many reco's those people have nahhh doesnt matter really justa thought!! i wonder how many people have more than three reco's??? any ideas? Mell Mell Post Count: 15161 Msg: #56 7 weeks ago, November 9th 2009 | i wonder how many people have more than three reco's??? any ideas?I dont actually know the answer to that. If you want, you can post it in the TravelBlog Support Forum, where Ali will see it. :) Mell Mell Post Count: 15161 Msg: #57 7 weeks ago, November 11th 2009 | This blog which is currently at the bottom of the Front Page has 211 hits. | Full Moon Party - Nov '09 This one which is half way down the page has 164 views. Fundamentalist Iran So, depite complaints about gloomy viewing numbers on the Front Page, there is still a chance that a Front Page blog will be heavily viewed. I think it depends a lot on making the blogs enticing and how much a blogger nurtures a relationship with her/his fans. Talented and friendly bloggers who iteract with other members are more likely to get more viewings, in my opinion. So, I think part of the secret is to make your presence felt on TravelBlog, by interacting with others, so people get curious about you and your blogs, and then take a look at them, to find out what else you have to say for yourself. With over 100 new members daily on TravelBlog, it is likely that the quieter members would be lost in the crowd. system TravelBlog System User Post Count: 958 Msg: #58 7 weeks ago, November 11th 2009 | 1 posts moved to this new topic: Blogs which get over 200 hits, while on the Front Page. | Vinovat Sudarynya Jonathan Campion Post Count: 745 Msg: #59 20 days ago, December 10th 2009 | A quick front page question: how many photos does a blog have to have to make it on to the front page? | J. Mell | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
