DISQUS

lucia · 2 years ago

I have to admit, I have pretty much the same reaction. Besides, once these are up why will people click these link in the sidebar a lot? If I were to put this up (and I don't plan too) I'd shove it off to the side and bottom where it would hardly be seen. Then, I'd accumulate "credits" and hope someone else puts their icon somewhere visible so I'd get visits! (But if they are sane, they will also put it somewhere inconspicious!)

Jim Kukral · 2 years ago

Ask yourself this question. If you had a few hundred thousand blogs running your widget, and you were collecting stats on those blogs... how valuable would that be to you?

VERY valuable. John Reese is a smart guy. He's not giving away anything for free. There's always a follow up. That data he's collecting will be monetized.

lucia · 2 years ago

Oh, I'm sure he plans to monetize in some way, and that will by by using the stats. Maybe he'll try to sell "blog ranks" to groups like Reviewme. (After all, Alexa is terrible. This might be less wretched-- if widely used.)

His making money doesn't necessarily bother me. If he actually gave me something I thought worthwhile, I would add the widget. But I don't think I'll gain much!

Anita Campbell · 2 years ago

Hi Jim,

In addition to the points you made, at some point there just isn't enough real estate on the page to run all these widgets. Plus, every widget added slows down page loads.

I'm one of the bloggers who really runs online publications. I could not afford to spend the time I do on my publications without monetizing them (wish I could, but just like everyone else I have living expenses). So I have had to get "widget stingy" and I consider very carefully before adding any new widgets.

I've received several invitations in the past 3 days to join BlogRush and I'm glad I found your review when I decided to check them out. Based on what you've said, I've decided to pass. Thanks, Jim.

Anita

Oleg · 2 years ago

I am going to have to go ahead and agree with you. I was offered a similar system (not similar - exactly the same) which I turned down as well. Most blogs are low traffic and I expect the CTR rate to be around 1% (depending upon placement of the widget). So for every 100 visitors to your site, this widget will give you an extra one. Not worth it imo. Although you can find a bunch of people offering some sweet prizes if you sign up under their referral :D

Martin Neumann · 2 years ago

After reading so many "hype-filled" posts on this launch, this is a refreshing take, Jim.

And I tend to agree with your views.

I too don't just want "more traffic" - I want targeted traffic.

Also, as with Anita, I'm trying to run a professional online magazine (via a blogging platform) so this is just too much real estate to give up, when it could be better utilized for a an advertiser or sponsor.

And like you Jim, I testing it out but it will probably be gone by the time I launch.

Jim Kukral · 2 years ago

@anita, glad to help.

@oleg, the prizes are a nice touch, but again, you still have to have many readers to really get anything out of this.

@Martin, I knew you'd agree! :0

CFernandes · 2 years ago

I have also signed-up to try and gather some referrals, should this thing be around in a few months...

but I will also be doing a post in a couple of days explaining exactly why this will not be a success.

Loxly · 2 years ago

No, I don't believe the hype that you "do nothing" to get traffic. I never believe that kind of hype. I see blogrush as not a traffic exchange, but it's akin to the banner exchanges that were once very popular. You added the banner exchange code to your website and got 1 impression for every 2 you gave, or something similar. You still had to get some traffic of your own. The difference here is that blogrush is adding the level of being able to increase your traffic by spreading the news.

Will it work? Maybe, maybe not. Today I have more traffic, that converted to sales, than I did yesterday before I joined blogrush and added the widget. Will it last? Maybe, maybe not.

Marko Pyhajarvi · 2 years ago

I agree with Martin Neumann above. I also prefer targeted traffic instead of "lots of traffic". I would like to reach people who are interested coming back daily, commenting, discussing and who might be interested in clicking the ads I have. I believe in long-term blog development (learned from Yaro Starak):

1. write good content for your target audience
2. market your blog in order to reach your target audience

BillyWarhol · 2 years ago

Some Good Points* The Targeted Traffic is Key too*

What I found most astonishing was the Buzz it created in the Blogosphere + that tells me Bloggers are HUNGRY for Something/Anything (great Todd Rundgren album) that will Earn them a Few Buck$!

Widgets are gonna be the Next Big thing - so BlogRush is definitely hit a Bullseye with that*

;))

Danny @ Blogs For Money · 2 years ago

"Bloggers don’t want, or crave “more traffic”. Whoever built this doesn’t understand bloggers"

I think if you did a survey you'd find a lot more bloggers that DO want more traffic than those that don't. Why would any blogger NOT want more traffic?!!

C · 2 years ago

Interesting review.

Lifting up a conflicting opinion against the masses always brings curious readers. Nice marketing.

BlogRush isn't about collecting email addresses however or selling information.

Think Adwords meets Blogging.

C.

Valentin · 2 years ago

Mainly nice post, yet :
- small bloggers, as well big guys want traffic.
- the idea of this post is that blogrush doesn`t worth the try, yet somebody told me you may have it on left side bar .. is true ? I haven`t check ...

custom tailor · 2 years ago

still you get something

semmy.com · 2 years ago

You are NOT alone.

http://www.semmy.name/index.php/130/goodbye-blo...

Lewis Green · 2 years ago

Jim,

It isn't about getting lots of traffic; it is about getting the right traffic.

lilian aka 5xmom · 2 years ago

Okie, I am here, all ears! :)

David C Schupach · 2 years ago

So the Blog Bucks advert on your other site was a joke, right? I clicked on it, registered, and recieved the conf. email link which led me back here....

Israel · 2 years ago

it 100% sucked for me. sucked! i removed it and wish folks with it luck.

monawea · 2 years ago

Jim that was a rotten Joke. I was all ready to earn hundreds of thousands of dollars doing NOTHING! You really ruined my day ;) .

Yet another ingenious marketing strategy from Kukral (see I got your name right this time). Though I really didn't believe that I was going to earn money by doing nothing, I was relieved to find that BlogBucks was a joke. I have been preaching to my blog readers (mostly on my personal finance blog ) that success comes with time investment, determination and intelligent discussion making. I was begging to wonder if I was wrong ;) .

Thanks for laugh. I needed it.

Jan · 2 years ago

I just clicked on a comformation in my email for Blogbucks and it took me here. It looks to me that I just got on some other crazy mailing list. I can't wait to tell all my readers to stay away from this scam!

Jim L · 1 year ago

I love how the Blogbucks facade took me here. I mean that sincerely. Good stuff, good info, thanks for it.

Jim

Dave · 1 year ago

Is that how I got here? Through the BlogBucks verfication link? Interesting. I don't mind at all.

Daves last blog post..Keeping Your Google Pagerank

Rel · 1 year ago

I agree
I plan to remove the blogrush widget as it just isnt working anymore!

Rels last blog post..Transparent TaskBar - So Simple, My Cat Could Use It

mansid · 1 year ago

I just found this blog and joined without thinking. I hope this is a good blog for me. I have a blog just to write my experiences while working in a bank. I hope more people are visiting my blog and give some good comments.

<abbr>mansids last blog post..What is Audit Governance?</abbr>