Added MyBlogLog To The Blog
written by John Chow
I finally got around to adding MyBlogLog to the blog. It’s located under the Top Commentators on the right sidebar. MyBlogLog allows you to put a face to the reader. When a MyBlogLog member visits this blog, his picture shows up in the Recent Readers. Clicking on the pic will take you to that reader’s MyBlogLog page, where you can find out what blog(s) the reader run and view other MyBlogLog users who are part of the reader’s community.
In addition to seeing who is visiting your blog, MyBlogLog offers a quite a bit of stats (if you upgrade to MyBlogLog Pro). You can find out where your readers came from, what pages they viewed and what links they clicked on. Everyone who signs up for MyBlogLog gets MyBlogLog Pro for three days to try out for free. After that, it switches back to the free version, which I assume has no stats.
So far, only two members have joined my blog community. However, I’m sure that number will increase in the next few days. If you’re a MyBlogLog member, then please join my community. It’s a great way for you to connect with other readers of this blog and show those readers what your blog has to offer.
*Update - It looks like this blog already made the “Hot Communities” list. That was really fast. They haven’t even got my blog image yet! LOL 
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(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
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I tried this for a blog of mine once but it never quite looked right. Doesn’t look too bad here, though. Are you going to pay for pro?
It depends where you place it and how much you’re willing to mess with the code to make it look right. It also depends on your current theme and whether a box full of tiny pictures will fit in there.
Allen.H
I will try out the stats for the full three days before deciding if I want the Pro or not. Ya, I had to do a bit of tweaking to make it look right with the blog. The current setup looks pretty good. was debating whether to reduce the 5 rolls to 5, but I think I will keep it at 5.
I don’t really see the point of pro other than getting more statistics. But we all use Analytics for that anyway, right?
I don’t know about anyone else here, but Google Analytics has been crap for me…I find their numbers to be way off compared to my Dreamhost and StatCounter.
Anyone else notice anything wrong with Analytics???
Well, I do notice it doesn’t count all visitors, in fact on my website the stats differ up to 30% compared to my ‘regular’ Webalyzer stats, which are pretty crap and not by far as detailed as the stats Analytics provide. It’s a bit of a choice you’ve got to make I guess.
Isn’t that because GA tells you to put the javascript above the end of the “head” tag. If you put it higher up I think it catches more visitors but that will include people who quickly leave your site too.
I don’t know John, I dont like it very much, makes the site look very amateur.
But I like the fact taht you can find out how many times a link is clicked wtih this tool.
I agree, but for the stats it’s not really required, unless you’ve got a very big site you can just apply for Analytics and get the same stats but then somewhat more invisible to your visitors
On the other hand MyBlogLog might also bring in new visitors…
I doubt that MyBlogLog will directly bring in any new visitors, if you meant the link you get with your (or a hot chick’s) face displayed - It changes like crazy on John’s blog since he has so many visitors.
I do believe it will strengthen the community here though, since there’s an option to join the community via MyBlogLog.
Allen.H
Well, I still think it will, especially since there are already a lot of people who joined his ‘community’ on MBL, that way it’ll most likely rank high somewhere on their pages which could result into more people taking a look at it.
The pro is worth it for one simple reason: It tracks ALL out clicks!
Very leery still about MyBlogLog, John, especially for a high traffic, high profile site such as yours. I was an early user of MBL for the purpose of tracking my blog statistics. It worked well, although like all of the javascript ‘glue on’ tracking services it misses users and clicks … will not agree with the simple and accurate stats available from my server logs.
However, it was cute and hand. Then they re-launched themselves as some kind of viral, “community” network and, in my view, took a useful service and turned it into something which I can not fathom the purpose of.
I suddenly became the “leader” of a “community” populated bu obvious “script kiddes”, jerks who had no interest at all in my blog, just trying to connect to as many communities as possble to be noted, and many apparently underage folks and a couple older folks improperly interestd in the younger ones. Creepy. And the sad part is, MBL does not allow you to control who joins your list, and does not respond to queries regarding this issue.
As a publisher, interested in monetizing your work, consider this:
MBL is owned by Yahoo! How many pixels are you thus giing away to Yahoo! for no return?
Yahoo! essentially “owns” a ton of data now regarding your site(s) and you don’t even really know what they are collecting, nor what they will do with this data.
You are publicly making yourself the “leader” of a community which you have no control over the membership of … could be some bad juju.
Traffic is one thing, how you are portrayed and who that traffic is may, indeed, be another thing.
And lastly, MBL’s code and servers slow down page loading … who needs that?
I’ve seen the page load issues on occasion as well (commented on that below). I also don’t like the MySpace-like abuse of folks joining communities simply for exposure.
I’ve recommended to Eric that they add a new “Community Widget” that works similar to a blogroll. For authentic users, we wouldn’t really want to join communities of those we don’t read. It could weed out the abusers better.
However, I’m a fan! It puts faces to readers which is valuable beyond dollars. I don’t belief theirs any sacrifice on John’s part to join a service like this.
I’ve been hoping he would do it for a while - I’m anxious to see who’s blogs that I can find him on (including my own).
Respectfully,
Doug
I have used MyBlogLog Pro for over a year now on one of my sites (a link blog) and recently renewed my subscription. I have loved the service. The reports feature is extremely useful and I’ve used it to incorporate two features on my blog - 1) What readers loved to click, and 2) What I would like my readers to click. Trust me, the two lists are completely different
MyBlogLog is a neat tool to add to your blog. I’ve enjoyed having it on mine.
Nice to see you on MBL, John. I think it is a great service and I like that you can now connect faces to readers.
Yeah, this is true. But I have a hard time believing Waraas is that hot!
Don’t we connect faces at PHO?
If you’re using Feedburner, they already have stats. They recently married their two services together: Feedstats and SiteStats. Analytics is also free, and the code and service is very fast.
I have a MyBlogLog account, but I’m not sure if I’m going to put it on my blog yet. It wouldn’t be fair to the Top Comment Whores fighting for a prize this month. I might try it next month.
Why wouldn’t it be fair? MyBlogLog tracks recent readers, not commentators. And the links it gives are not direct.
you made me scare stephen :p
Although not a direct link, it’s distracting. Which would you rather click on? A persons picture, or a text link? My “Comment Whores” deserve all the attention they can get during this “Special” time
The main purpose of the link is for SEO and not traffic.
Speaking of clicking on pictures, I think if everyone used a half naked chick they’d get a large increase in CTR. I click when I see it. I’m not ashamed to admit it.
I really enjoy MyBlogLog simply since it puts a face to a reader. It allows me to get to see who my ‘regulars’ are, which is quite nice.
The folks over at MyBlogLog are buried in development now that they’re with Yahoo! so I feel good that it’s getting the attention it deserves.
I have commented on some enhancements that MyBlogLog could do, but with its widgets and its service… I’m doubtful any of them will have to do with enhancing their statistics package. I utilize Google Analytics for that.
Eric has personally responded to some ideas I’ve passed on… that meaans a lot to me. I hate simply being a ‘user’.
I have seen some issues with performance with MyBlogLog… they queue their pictures from A3 it appears and sometimes it’s a little slow. I look forward to them updating to an Ajax-style plugin that post-loads the images so spead is not a factor.
It helps put the “Social’ in Social Networking.
Regards,
Doug
Even after the pro trial expires you will still get some basic stats like visitors and clicks, but the more descriptive ones will be gone. I would recommend the feed burner standard stats for your traffic tracking needs, especially since the feed for the site is already with them.
wouldn’t hurt to experiment with this! I’m going to try it when i get around to isntalling it.
I don’t know… I keep seeing it everywhere but I just don’t really see the utility of it all. Am I missing something?
All you need now is My Avatars
http://www.napolux.com/2006/12/14/myavatars-a-wordpress-plugin-for-mybloglog/
Works with MyBlogLog… It shows MyBlogLog avatars in the comments.
Thanks! I just installed it.
I like it!
This is a pretty cool addition, always nice to put a face to a name.
Very nice addition John!
Allen.H
I signed up for mybloglog to help increase my stats. I dont use the widget to put pictures on my blog but whenever I visit someone elses blog the owner will likely visit my blog.
I’ve noticed this trend also. The community of MBL has been very supportive and interactive. I give MBL credit for that!
Another trick i see people doing is to use an enticing avatar to make people click on their link. Several times I have seen movie stars or models in avatars knowing that they are not who their avatar is.
Wow things are changing around here
Hey John,
I added your community to my profile, now it’s your turn to return the favor.
Vic
Dang, John again demonstrates the power of his popularity. He joined MBL a few days after me and already has blown past me in terms of community members and no doubt the contact list.
I’ve been a member for a few months now and have debated on inserting the widget for it in my blog. I thought it made the blog lose a little of the professionalism. But judging by the numbers it’s bringing in, it’s increased visitors by 5.6%. Right now, the 5.6% is worth whatever professionalism I may have lost.
How do you know it was MyBlogLog that increased the traffic by 5.6%? (just curious) and how significant will the same number of visitors become when your blog grow?
Allen.H
Well, again that’s based of Google Analytics, but since GA has been crap for me (although as baron pointed out, I need to make sure javascript above the end of the “head” tag before I make accusations) not sure how reliable that source is.
It looks like the plugin does work, the avatars showing up do give some kind of personal feeling, but on the other hand I think it looks a bit unprofessional to have that kind of blocks on your blog, simply asking people to sign up. I might consider it
i’m just posting this to get my pic in here
that is interesting, I am going to sign up to with them !! sounds good
[...] night, I added a MyBlogLog community for this blog. So far there are 90 community members. It is actually quite nice to put a [...]
Looks good. I think it’s a great way for networking and building a community.
I also added MyBlogLog to my blog a few days ago and I like it so far…
Hey everbody, come and see how good i look. dont act like your not impressed.
Hi John,
I am reagular reader of blog. I know your blog since 2 months. But perhaps you don’t know it. Whenever I get time, I love to read your blog. But as you have said in your blog that you update your blog many times in a day, now you would be able to know who is there keeping the eyes on your blog. Really it is very nice service. I have joined the community on January 15, 2007 and since then my profile has been view more than 700 times. I just love it. I run google ads on my blog. I am trying to generate some pinch of money by it since 6 months. But all in vain. But after joining Mybloglog, I have earned $3 in less than a month. I am happy with it. I wish to earn more. For guidlines I read Problogger.net. Really fantastic site. I wish to work with you. Please reply at jane.parker@rediffmail.com. Waiting for your reply.
Regards
Jane
[...] MyBlogLog is actually a very cool service. It has helped me put a name to the face of my readers and it also helps to increase traffic because readers visit the community member’s website. I have noticed a nice increase in traffic since setting this up. [...]
[...] And from Dave Starr of GPS Tracking, commenting at John Chow Dot Com: [...]
this is very cool! glad to see you on mybloglog.com. and i’ll definitely try this too when i recover from whatever flu bug hit me. *sigh*
peace out!
[...] learned about this nifty widget by reading this post by John [...]
John - How does one get the multi row format on the MyBlogLog widget ?