Blogrush - blog traffic pyramid scheme attracts first movers
The blogosphere consistently introduces online experiments for the blogger masses. The latest viral traffic building scheme is the Blogrush widget that was launched Friday and is already on several real estate blogs. I have no doubt its reception was explosive because it's constructed as a traffic pyramid scheme and fodder for first movers. The mechanics of how it works to conceivably distribute traffic to participating blogs is explained on their video. Mashable provides insights on the good and bad of a widget that, like many of their genre, exist solely to game traffic.
I see one intriguing strategy for real estate bloggers - - Hyperlocal bloggers who write only about their local areas aren't attracting national traffic and thus tend to reach a traffic ceiling. It's possible that Blogrush might bring more national exposure, although that local content may still not keep new readers from outside. Frankly, I see the real estate blog readership as finite and closed and don't believe Blogrush will draw much additional traffic... similar to the low volume experience with the Criteo Autoroll widget that distributes traffic to other cousin blogs.
In any case, like other experiments, it will be interesting to see how this plays out given the initial rush...
Technorati Tags: blogrush, viral marketing
I'm not seeing how this would be helpful enough for a hyperlocal blog to use up sidebar real estate for an ugly widget.
What would be helpful for us hyperlocal's is to have a similar widget with traffic directed to and from other local blogs. Or if we could hand pick blogs- a blogroll with the latest post headlines displayed. That would be so useful to a small community of bloggers within a geographic area. Or, if you were blogging about a very limited subject say, backgammon. You could show what the other backgammon bloggers were posting.
A widget like that could create a very tight and immediate social network of like-minded bloggers...
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What I don't like about blogrush is that it takes readers off your blog to another's. As a real estate agent, I don't think that helps you. You want to keep readers on your blog.
I prefer blidget to promote your own posts on social networking sites, or Grazr, where at least you can choose the feeds your readers may find useful.
http://tinyurl.com/37nj55
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If it doesn't work, it doesn't matter.
If it does work too well, Google will spank it.
:-/
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Per Pat's suggestion, I tried this out on my blog. I got a few referrals from places I wouldn't normally get yesterday.
I'm a hyper-local in SLC, but I've created more of a national mortgage blog at Easy Mortgages. I'll let you know how it works there.
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Nigel, you're ambitious to have both a hyperlocal and national blog...
Joe, it's great to see you back... I will check out the other widgets you recommend... I think Blogrush will have the same utility as the other traffic distribution widgets like the Criteo Autoroll - not too effective... I'll probably take it off shortly.
and Teri... your suggestions for widget features belies a sharp mind for applications... I agree that a widget that allows the user to self select across a portfolio of blogs could take the place of a blogroll ... and save site space too if the original blogroll is fairly large.
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I was given a sneak peak at this some time ago and figured (like Pat) that it was a lot like the Autoroll.
I am pretty much anti-widget these days, so I dismissed it. I think that the most unique thing about it so far was the frenzy that was created. It seemed to me a 'must have' among our client base with dozens of requests to give them the 'thumbs up' before they installed it.
I mostly resisted, just letting them know that it is 'just another widget' - may be helpful.. may not.. but definitely takes up sidebar real estate.
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Jim- >I am pretty much anti-widget these days
I'm curious- Why? Have you always been anti-widget? If not, what changed?
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