Blogging Up a Storm with BlogStorm Version 2
The first time I looked at BlogStorm was back in July 2007 when its founder and chief blogger, Patrick Altoft, ordered a review for his then new blog. BlogStorm has grown a lot since then and recently underwent a complete redesign. With a new look comes a new drive to expand the readership so Patrick asked me to take a look at the site again.
Who Is BlogStorm?
BlogStorm exploded onto the blogsphere when it pull down 30,000 visitors in its first week with their BlogStorm Tracker. The BlogStorm Tracker allows you to track the number of websites linking to your blog posts or news articles. BlogStorm monitors your RSS feed daily and offer free statistics so you can see which of your posts are the most popular and how you can improve. Anyone is allow to add their site for free.
Since creating the tracker, BlogStorm has added more tools for bloggers to improve their sites. These tools include the Crawl Rate Tracker, the Competitor Link Analysis, the Hot Blog Topics and the Link Tracker. These tools, plus a bunch of really unique blog posts has helped BlogStorm reach over 100,000 visitors each month.
More Portal Than Blog
The new design of BlogStorm makes the site more of a portal than a blog. Instead of blog posts, the front page has links to the various elements like the tools and SEO consulting services. The latest and most popular posts are highlighted in a separate box on the right side. The layout is extremely clean and except for two 125×125 buttons, completely ad free.
You might think BlogStorm is leaving a lot of money on the table by not monetizing their traffic better. However, making money from advertisings is not the goal of the site. The site is used mainly to promote BlogStorm’s Branded3 Search SEO consulting service.
I wish Patrick would add a blog link to BlogStorm. Right now, there is no way to view the site as a normal blog - you can only click on a link to read a blog post. This does increase the page views but I found it frustrating to click link after link instead of turning the scroll wheel on the mouse.
If you want to read BlogStorm like a normal blog then the best way to do it is by subscribing to its RSS feed. BlogStorm offers a full feed with both a RSS reader or RSS by Email. This is how I and nearly 2,000 other people read BlogStorm.
Worth Adding To Your Feed Reader
BlogStorm has been in my Google reader since Patrick’s first post. Patrick continues to deliver unique and compelling content at least once per day. Some of his most popular posts include:
- 4 Ways to Get Banned from the Technorati Top 100
- Beginners Guide to Linkbait
- Top websites ranked by Digg saturation
- Advanced use of Google Analytics and the new interface
- Top 10 Worst Websites You’ll Wish You Hadn’t Seen
- How to use hotlinkers and Google Images to build natural links to your site
- How I built 10,000 links in 3 weeks
If you haven’t added BlogStorm to your RSS reader then you’re really missing out. Patrick isn’t just another make money online blog. He knows what he is talking about and he has a successful track record to prove it. it’s also refreshing to see Patrick using a different business model than the standard build a blog and add advertising method. BlogStorm is more than just an informative blog on marketing, blogging and Search Engine Optimization. BlogStorm is one hell of a business card for potential clients of Patrick’s Branded3 Search service.
Patrick is looking for feedback on the new BlogStorm. Please check the site out and tell him what you think of it. My only recommendation is a blog link so I can read the site like a real blog. However, that’s not overly important since I read BlogStorm by RSS. 
- Posted in Ramblings
- 26 comments what's your take?
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Thanks for the lead! I really enjoy learning from those that have had prior success!
Reply to this commentTheir blog design is very nice and clean (and compact, no long scrolling)
Never heard of these guys before… Have added to RSS for a while to see content
Reply to this commentOh wow. MR. JOHN CHOW actually wrote a free review?
-Mike
Reply to this commentGood thing you put a ? after the sentence.
We don’t know it was free, this line makes me think not:
“With a new look comes a new drive to expand the readership so Patrick asked me to take a look at the site again.”
Reply to this commentYou mean - “Oh wow. MR. JOHN CHOW actually wrote a
Reply to this commentfreereview?Why are we all so meen?
Reply to this commentThanks those links are really useful.
Reply to this commentis it a free review?
is john offering a review for FREE already?
Reply to this commentYeah, along with his income…
Reply to this commentI forgot about this site. The new design is pretty clean.
Reply to this commentAgreed, the site is clean and very user-friendly - I love this guy’s blog. Good stuff!
Reply to this commentNice design.
Reply to this commentI added blogstorm to my RSS.
someone needs to tell them that their site doesnt look right in opera
Reply to this commentThat’s so common these days. I use Firefox, and when I accidentaly enter in Opera to check my website I get shocked. Everything is right as it shouldn’t suppose to be…
Reply to this commentThe site is great and very helpful. This is one heck of a helpful tool.
Reply to this commentThat looks like a really interesting website John, thanks for the heads up. It seems like a very important read for bloggers like myself, definitely going to take a look at what they have to offer
Reply to this commentLoved the popular posts section.
Reply to this commentJohn,
Good find. Im in for an RSS.
Mister Jester
Reply to this commentForgot about the RSS. That’s a good one, too.
Reply to this commentBlogStorm looks like another good site with some useful tools. This appears to be an alternative to Technorati services and I noticed the article bout being banned in Technorati. Some big names being banned.
John Chow’s site is in BlogStorm’s “Top 50 Blogs we Track” - “John Chow dot Com averages 35 links to each post”
~Terry
Reply to this comment35 links is amazing. We can only hope to replicate that kind of success. It’s a small number. But it’s an absurd value.
Reply to this commentI must admit that I too had never heard of these guys before but have also added them to my RSS list. If John Chow says they deliver decent content each day, who am I to argue with that!
Reply to this commentI had subscribed to blogstrorm but removed it. I have just subscribed to them again.
Reply to this commentI’ll read the 10k backlinks one. I really need some help there.
Reply to this commentWe regularly visit their blog. Informative and interesting. Good to see your review!
Reply to this commentI remember when BlogStorm launched, I was one of the first to comment and subscribe. I’m actually using right now their link tracking system. It’s nice and I like to watch it grow.
Reply to this comment