MyBlogLog makes the internet feel smaller.
I’ve been using MyBlogLog for a couple months or so now and one thing I’m beginning to notice is that it makes the internet feel smaller. I’ll attempt to explain that :) For example have you ever met someone new online and found out they just so happen to live in the same town as you? An old saying you could apply there is “it’s a small world”. MyBlogLog constantly reminds me of that saying.
Have you ever visited some extremely obscure blog that seems to be teetering on the edge of the internet, noticed they had the MyBlogLog widget installed and saw two or three familiar faces amongst their recent visitors? Has it happened numerous times? More than you can even remember? I’m beginning to think in some sort of roundabout way MyBlogLog does a really excellent job of connecting people with similar interests, or at least similar browsing patterns. I don’t quite know how. Maybe it’s magic or some sort of spooky voodoo at work, but it’s happening.
Am I just totally insane? Don’t answer that. Has anyone else witnessed this MyBlogLog phenomena besides me? Sometimes it feels like out of the many thousands of users registered with MyBlogLog there’s only a couple handfuls of them actually making use of the service. Obviously that’s not true, but the “small worldness” aspect of it makes it feel that way. It’s actually kind of cool.
Haha, that’s funny. I realised how tru this was after you mentioned it :)
I’m glad I’m not alone :)
Actually I know I’m not since the same people are always following me around the internet ;P
I have to agree with you and I’m using MyBlogLog (MBL) for 5 months already.. just don’t get addicted to it! ;)
It’s too late. I’m already addicted :-O
I’ve been using Mybloglog for a few months now. When I first installed it on my blog, it was just through idol curiosity (like many of the widgets I’ve added and dumped over the year), but having used it, and connected with visitors – I think it’s one of the best blog tools out there. Nothing else really gives you a chance to get to know your visitors, and what they like. I’m in the habit now of looking at most visitors pages, and leaving messages thanking them for looking at my blog.
I totally agree with you. It’s really cool just to be able to put a face to the visitors of your site. The contacts and friendships you can make as a result of it are the icing on the cake :)
Mike — thanks for the very kind post. You’ve nailed it. There is something very cool about going to a blog, seeing someone you recognize and thinking “hey, that guy surfs here too?” Just as fun is looking at your own site and seeing the same person a third (or tenth) time. The web can be a very solitary experience and we’re hoping to make things a bit more social.
You make a very astute observation there. Probably explains why your graphics are so good too!
If nothing else, MyBlogLog has taught me how social network sites should work. I was completely stumped by the hugeness of MySpace but now I get the principle of visiting your visitors, weeding out who and what you share interests with, being part of a community that follows you round! I even got inspired to start a MyBlogLog Sunday feature which seems to be working well too. I know I sure couldnt start MySpace Sunday, trying to be positive about some of the worst blogs on earth could get trying and a little insincere.
I know I’ve come across some great people through mybloglog. *winks* ;)
@Eric: It is really cool! I wish there were a service like MBL years ago when I first started creating websites. It would’ve made the whole process of connecting with visitors and growing a site so much easier. It wasn’t much fun back then when all you had was cryptic IP addresses to identify your users :P
@Ed: Haha…thanks Ed :D I totally agree with you. I’ve had Myspace for a couple years or more now and I don’t really feel like I’ve ever gotten much of anything out of it. I use MBL for a couple months and it’s been everything Myspace is not and more. I’ll have to check out your Sunday feature :)
@Beenee: Yesss, you do some meet some really great people! I may not have found your tasty little blog without it :D Heck no one may have found my site as well and that would have been no fun to have no audience for Gummy ;P
The MBL widget has definitely assisted me in getting to know others. There’s a comfort thing going on when you start to see familiar faces. Plus, it serves as a reminder, “Oh yeah, I need to check out his or her blog!”
I think that’s a good way of putting it. It does give you a cozy, comfy sort of feeling when you begin to see a small community growing and following your site. I think it actually helps serve as a motivation too. It sure it makes it easier for me to put in 10 – 12 hours doing a new drawing when I know there are people in my little MBL community that are going to appreciate them :)
That’s exactly what I was thinking. Sure, seeing stats is one way of telling you somebody’s out there. But seeing their avatar show up regularly tells me that maybe I’m not talking to myself after all. :D
Haha…with or without the widget I still seem to talk to myself, but that’s a topic for another day :P
That describes my feeling exactly. One can get so afraid reading these huuuge numers at Technorati. 50 gazillions of blogs, authority=99,999 (I hate this new feature) and, little Zep, you are just dust compared to BoingBoing and you’ll stay dust – bruhahaha!
MBL is different – it’s just us, the bloggers.
(Hmm, makes me think. Blogging for bloggers?)
I’m not a big fan of the authority thing either, but hey what can ya do? :)
I don’t even worry about trying to reach the status of all those so called “A-List” bloggers like Boing Boing and the rest. I’ll just continue to do what I like to do and if a few people actually appreciate it, then great :)