MyBlogLog Contest Winner

I wrote an article not too long ago about changing my avatar to that green thing to see if it drew attention. I promise it does. Standing out from the crowd always helps. Content keeps them there but you need other things to get them to see your content. I like pretty girls as much or more than the average guy but most of the avatars are not really the blogger or they took the best picture ever shot of them to represent them. Jane is a perfect example. She by no means is ugly but not quite the 18 years old cutie suggested in the photo. Her content is great though.

I have a great dislike for the guys who use female avatars to drive traffic to their sites. A dislike that's almost as great as for the guys who use female avatars and then get upset when I still ignore their site. A dislike that is almost as deep as that which I have for the spam that they then send directing me to a post on their site in which they blah blah blah about their choice of avatars.

I'm a cranky feller. I make sure my avatar clearly signals that attitude. The guys who use female avatars are either sexually confused or too cynical for my tastes.

And that robotic blinking fingerpointing thing ilke uses now pisses me off. I detest people who put blinky flashlights in my face.

Congrats, Ilker.. I like to read you too.

As promised, the post is up!

THat's really cool btw, i read interesting article about bloggers making best lovers. I wonder if it's true.
http://dating-me.blogspot.com/2007/02/why-bloggers...

You're right, Ilker, it is a real picture.

And you're an absolutely excellent blogger. You've got great content that'll keep me coming back daily.

I've added you to Google Reader!

I found your post about a black Google yesterday very intriguing.

And I can't wait to see the results of what we e-chatted about...

Congrats and much love,
Paula

Hey it is not fake.. look at David Temple's avatar, it's blinking!

Cool beans, ilkeryoldas...but I wish you'd show the world your real pic.

I hate fake avatars!

Congrats Ilker (Turkish name meaning "first man"). Great avatar and since he changed from the original aborted fetus avatar his community members have grown like crazy. Best part is it's a great thinking person's blog so good move.

WooHoooo!!! WOW! I can't express how happy I am!! Thanks a lot John! YOU MADE MY YEAR!! I knew there was a good karma in being active in MyBlogLog. Sweet.. now I get to write with my John Chow dot com pen! =)

About my picture.. few other people also asked me in MBL. I don't know if it will be true to say that is "real" me. The picture is taken by a professional photographer and I guess there was some Photoshop involved as well (oh and a bit of make-up :). Haven't you seen what could be achieved with that combination, like the girl in Dove evolution video?

Besides, it doesn't drive as much traffic as people think it does (just helped a bit on the number of community members). On average, I get about 200 visitors per day with 60/70 clicks coming from MyBlogLog. Last weekend, I was on MBL the whole time chatting with my members (now friends) It was a record for me in terms of time spent on MBL that much (WARNING, its really ADDICTIVE!) but there was little effect on my traffic. That is despite my avatar showed on every profile's "People Who Viewed This Page Recently". I'm assuming few people clicked on it because it doesn't appear there for long. In any case, I am not interested in traffic or SEO and nothing like that. I just want my readers to keep coming back and contribute to the thinking process!

What's more, I don't think people read blogs because the author is hot (certainly I don't, with the exception of John ;) but because the content is worth reading.

Hmm.. Guess I need to make a post about this.

Congratulations Ilker Yoldas on the flash drive.

Yeah, I've been wondering the same thing - she has 6 pictures on her MyBlogLog profile and I don't see why she would do that if that's not her on the pictures... either way, the girl on the picture certainly attracts clicks ;)

John, how do you pick the winners of the contests? Is it totally random or do you just pick the one you feel like should win?

I doubt it's her, lucky winner though ;)

Anyway, if it's her, I think you should give her a visit and report your experiences ;)

Definitely not. It is not her.

Congratulations Ilkeryoldas. I hope you enjoy the flash drive. It seems like a really cool little gadget.

I'm thinking of putting MyBlogLog on. I like my blog :) you should give away Tshirts

I believe its a proven fact over at dp by having a girl as your avatar and putting your blog feed next to it drives traffic to your blog!

The obvious answer is no.

I do, however, think everyone over at MyBlogLog should change their avatar to a woman wearing panties / thong. That way I could just spend all day over at MyBlogLog browsing user photos.

Seriously though, I bet those type of avatars drive traffic.