A bit harsh maybe, but there’s a valid point in there somewhere, let me see if I can dig it out.
I was just having a look through Technorati, and came across the Top 100 blogs ranked according to incoming links, and though I’d see which ones I read. It struck me that of the top 10 I have read exactly none of them. Here’s the Top 10 when I looked at it this morning, along with my thoughts as I visit for the first time:
- Engadget: A tech blog with news on the latest gadgets, gizmos and tech news. Rather a lot going on, on the front page, with dozens of outgoing links to other blogs on the Weblogs Inc network. First impression: Cluttered.
- Boing-Boing: A completely random blog/magazine with no apparent focus on any one thing (nothing wrong with that). Dozens of posts on the front page, hemmed in tightly by what I assume are ads. First impression: Fluid width design anyone?
- Gizmodo: It calls itself the gadgets weblog, and appears to be just that. Nice clean design, good use of images, sensible number of posts, uncluttered. First impression: I like it.
- TechCrunch: A blog that concentrates on the latest internet products and companies. A clear WordPress blog with only 6 posts on the front page (which encourages you to read further) and some interesting articles with news of a new WP plugin that I like the look of. You would think he’d keep his version of WordPress up to date though… First impression: Green! But I think I’ll subscribe.
- The Huffington Post: Unsurprisingly laid out like a newspaper, the blog is tucked into a narrow column, although it does exist in it’s own right on another page. News and opinion on any topic you care to mention. First impression: I hate the homepage layout-it may work on paper, but not on my screen.
- Lifehacker: Recommends the software, downloads etc. that help to make you more productive. A relief on the eyes after the Huffington Post, and an engagingly written, interesting blog. First impression: The blocks of ads overlaps the sidebar. First thing I noticed I’m afraid.
- Ars Technica:Everything technology related, with articles on IT, gaming, internet and related law. A little cluttered, with few images and the right ‘sidebar’ is way too intrusive for my tastes. First impression: Is this on Blogspot? (Sorry, it’s the template).
- PostSecret: People write a secret of theirs onto a postcard and mail it to the blogger, who posts it up. The most drab template you can imagine, on Blogspot of all things and yet utterly compelling. Unequivocal proof that content is what counts, and a couple of blogs further up the list could learn from letting the content of the posts speak for itself. First impression: Wow.
- Daily Kos: Hard to sum up in a few words, but comes across as very personal given the number of different contributors. A political blog very firmly centered on the US, it is nevertheless an interesting read. A clean simple layout, which allows you to concentrate on what’s been written. First impression: Simple, and straight to the point.
- Michelle Malkin: Very little actual writing, just an awful lot of cutting and pasting. Probably appeals to the opposite camp to Daily Kos, I should imagine they lob dead woodchucks at each other over the Technorati fence. First impression: Blockquotes ahoy!
I suppose you’ll be wanting a point now?
Simply this; there’s very little outrageously special about any of the blogs on the list above: Probably only PostSecret is anything outside of the ordinary, but it’s effectively written by the people posting the cards. There is absolutely no reason why your blog couldn’t be on this list one day.
Of these I’ll probably only be subscribing to one, maybe two of the blogs. Five of them I almost certainly won’t visit again. For those of you starting out, or feeling depressed at a lack of progress, keep going: longevity is almost as important as quality in the cases of some of these blogs – I know that I read better blogs daily from people who have yet to reach this level of linkage.
One other thing I noticed whilst going through these, is how some of the ‘absolutes’ of blogging that get beaten into you when you start simply don’t apply: Tell me what niche Boing-Boing sticks rigidly to? Uncluttered layouts? Prominent RSS icons? No, be true to yourself, visit and participate in other blogs, and you’ll get the level of success you deserve.
Which is why I’ll probably still be plowing this lonely furrow years from now 
The only Top 100 blog I read with any regularity is No.57, The Dilbert Blog. How about you? Do you read any of the Top 10 on a regular basis?
14 users commented in " The Top 10 Blogs – Who Cares? "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackChris – these are all very well known blogs (well, duh, Sheryl, that’s why they’re all in the top “whatever” list). The reason they’re all popular, however, is the content, quite simply. Each of them is authored by or contributed to by people who know their stuff, have been blogging for awhile and know how to write about said stuff in an engaging, fluid style. (Well, except Malkin, who just screeches, in my opinion.) It’s a classic example of substance over form, I guess, but if these are truly new blogs to you or anyone, you’ve been missing out! Sometimes the leaders are leaders for a reason – I mean, a good reason.
Thanks Sheryl, I do agree up to a point-you have to be good to get there certainly.
The point I was trying to make, albeit badly I suspect, is that what they’re doing isn’t rocket science, they don’t all follow ‘the rules’ (hence the comments on their design) yet they are where they are.
Bottom line is to be yourself and not slavishly follow/copy the A-list. It’s an easy trap to fall into, following every little design tip and ‘absolute’ and forgetting why you’re blogging in the first place.
Cheers for visiting
I have a look now and again, Chris, but to be honest they’re not top of my personal favourites list. Maybe I’ll post my own top ten sometime soon.
Lol good one. I will link you for sure
[...] The Top 10 Blogs – Who Cares? by Chris [...]
I don’t read any of them on a regular basis. I skim TechCrunch but not every day. When I see an interesting headline about a celebrity on the AOL Welcome screen, I’ll click on it. It’s usually from TMZ.com.
David has the same thought as I do: Having our own top ten.:-)
I have noticed that if a blogger is well-liked, then the content won’t matter so much. Even bad spelling and grammar can be over-looked by the friends or fans of the blogger.
“No, be true to yourself, visit and participate in other blogs, and you’ll get the level of success you deserve.”
Very good advice. Again.:-)
Diana Brunson
Inspired Blogging
The blogs that I find and read (besides techcrunch) aren’t even in the top 100.
I should make my own top 100 list
[...] suppose you’ll be wanting a point now? Discuss here This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 24th, 2007 at 4:23 am and is filed under [...]
Thanks Ashish
This is interesting, I did wonder just how many bloggers read the Top 100. Sure, their traffic doesn’t lie, but how relevant are they to us?
I did visit The Dilbert Blog throught your link and surprisingly I found there are tons of comments on his blog. How come? Is he something?
I will Exercise for Comments!
Sunflower
Scott is the author of the Dilbert comic strip hence his popularity. However the blog is an excellent read in it’s own right.
Good article.
I did a post on the A-list and I thought it was quite telling that most of the commenters were not remotely impressed by the Technorati top dogs. Quite vehement against them, actually, and they aren’t 15 year old Diggers!
Maybe when I hit the top 100 and my current fans notice that my site is not really the same as it is now, they won’t like me any more either? Unless you know different, I cannot imagine that I can ever get top of a 71 million list by being a purist blogger to the bitter end.
Cheers Ed.
Remember us when you’re huge
I didn’t see much to interest me that’s for sure (although I’ve no doubt the top 10 would say the same on visiting here!)
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