9Rules Submissions Now Open

By Steven Finch on Wednesday, August 6, 2008

2 Comments

Filed Under: Blogging

9Rules has just opened their submission window. I have already submitted Crenk to 9Rules, so we can see if we actually get into the fold this time. 9Rules is basically a community of some of the worlds best blogs. It helps readers find information from credible sources and not just any smuck writing a blog. Their submission window is only 24hrs and done every quarter normally. If the 9Rules guys read this post, come on how can you not have Crenk in your network!

Directory Magic with Blogged.com

By Luis Sandoval on Tuesday, July 15, 2008

3 Comments

Filed Under: Blogging

It seems like blog directories are becoming rather numerous. I just recently did a review of BlogCatalog here, and now I am taking a look at Blogged.com.

Registration was easy, but not instantaneous, someone actually reviewed my site and then decided whether I should be added which is what I prefer. After placing some code on my site I was official, and in the first day my site was listed I received traffic. Google Analytics does a great job breaking down where I receive my traffic and I was shocked that Blogged.com worked so quickly. Definitely a place I recommend bloggers list their site. No promises that the same will happen, but what have you got to lose?

What struck me the most about blogged.com is the immediate breakdown of the sites in the directory on the front page. Users are provided well labeled categories to label their own site, but also to find others similar to it. As a registered user you can click on your profile and aside from seeing your site, you are also listed sites that blogged.com recommends you to view. A great way to network and find others like yourself.

Ranking was the most interesting to me. I don’t necessarily find their method to be accurate of a sites worth, but it’s a nice way to see if a site is active or has been dormant for some time. What blogged.com apparently looks at the frequency of the updates on your site and ranks it with a number. The higher the number the more active the site is, but the question becomes is the information worth my time? Is it relevant and well put together. I have friends that update their site three or four times a day, but their efforts are nothing more than to keep a diary of their day, not necessarily hard hitting information so to speak. Just my opinion though.

Users are allowed to write reviews and over time, as reviews are written and enough people have given their thoughts, a new rating is given to replace blogged.com’s rating. Seems a bit arbitrary, but I’ve not been with blogged.com long enough to really see this through. I’m curious to see how others rate my own site and furthermore, what the final outcome will be in terms of a ranking.

A social aspect of blogged.com is present, but does not differ than any of the other offerings from competitors. You are able to invite friends to your circle of favorites, share information through the site, and build a community around your own site.

The underlying factor in all this is simply to drive traffic to your site. Blogged.com does a great job of this, as noted in my own personal experience. Even if you are registered with other categories, it does not hurt to join this community. You might even find yourself enjoying the offerings of this well put together site for quite some time.

PaidContent Sells, Who Is Next Now!

By Steven Finch on Saturday, July 12, 2008

0 Comments

Filed Under: Analysis

In the last couple of day you might already know about PaidContents holding company ContentNext selling their company to the Guardian. It has been reported everywhere, like on Techcrunch, AllthingsD, HipMojo, Mashable, RWW, Centernetworks and more.

The price to be around the $30 million mark, quite high for a blog network. So with Ars Technica and PaidContent already selling out their companies, which blog will be next to get acquired. This is all just proving that blogging is slowly moving away from just personal views and becoming the new media equivalent of newspaper journalism. Does this also mean that in the very near future that all the advertising revenue that is still being spent on newspapers is soon to be heading towards Techcrunch, Mashable and RWW? Im really looking forward to seeing how this market grows in the future and who will be the dominant players. Will Mashable and Techcrunch remain at the top or will their readers slowly migrate to a new service?

The Ultimate Ping List!

By Steven Finch on Thursday, June 12, 2008

8 Comments

Filed Under: Blogging, Crenked Out

Today I was just adding a few more services to our ever growing ping list within our Wordpress settings and this made me think, why not make the worlds largest ping list for bloggers to use! Therefore, this is what we are going to try to do here. I will post a huge list of ping services that you should use for your blog to make sure that all of your content goes to as many services as possible. Then, if you think I have missed out a service, then please comment and add the ping service and i will add it to the list. So then everyone can add and use the list!

Ping List:

http://rpc.pingomatic.com/
http://rpc.blogrolling.com/pinger/
http://www.blogdigger.com/RPC2
http://www.bitacoles.net/ping.php
http://rpc.wpkeys.com
http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping
http://rpc.britblog.com
http://pingoat.com/goat/RPC2
http://bulkfeeds.net/rpc
http://rpc.weblogs.com/RPC2
http://api.my.yahoo.com/RPC2
http://services.newsgator.com/ngws/xmlrpcping.aspx
http://api.moreover.com/ping
http://api.moreover.com/RPC2
http://www.blogpeople.net/servlet/weblogUpdates
http://ping.fakapster.com/rpc
http://www.blogoon.net/ping/
http://ping.bloggers.jp/rpc/
http://bblog.com/ping.php
http://rpc.tailrank.com/feedburner/RPC2
http://ping.bitacoras.com
http://ping.feedburner.com
http://ping.myblog.jp
http://ping.syndic8.com/xmlrpc.php
http://ping.weblogalot.com/rpc.php
http://pinger.blogflux.com/rpc
http://blogsearch.google.com/ping/RPC2
http://blog.goo.ne.jp/XMLRPC
http://rpc.icerocket.com:10080
http://rpc.pingomatic.com
http://api.feedster.com/ping.php
http://rpc.pingomatic.com/
http://rpc.blogrolling.com/pinger/
http://www.blogdigger.com/RPC2
http://www.bitacoles.net/ping.php
http://rpc.wpkeys.com
http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping
http://rpc.britblog.com
http://pingoat.com/goat/RPC2
http://bulkfeeds.net/rpc
http://rpc.weblogs.com/RPC2
http://api.my.yahoo.com/RPC2
http://services.newsgator.com/ngws/xmlrpcping.aspx
http://api.moreover.com/ping
http://api.moreover.com/RPC2
http://www.blogpeople.net/servlet/weblogUpdates
http://ping.fakapster.com/rpc
http://www.blogoon.net/ping/
http://ping.bloggers.jp/rpc/
http://bblog.com/ping.php
http://rpc.tailrank.com/feedburner/RPC2
http://ping.bitacoras.com
http://ping.feedburner.com
http://ping.myblog.jp
http://ping.syndic8.com/xmlrpc.php
http://ping.weblogalot.com/rpc.php
http://pinger.blogflux.com/rpc
http://blogsearch.google.com/ping/RPC2
http://blog.goo.ne.jp/XMLRPC
http://rpc.icerocket.com:10080
http://rpc.pingomatic.com
http://api.feedster.com/ping.php
http://1470.net/api/ping
http://www.a2b.cc/setloc/bp.a2b
http://api.feedster.com/ping
http://api.moreover.com/RPC2
http://api.moreover.com/ping
http://api.my.yahoo.com/RPC2
http://api.my.yahoo.com/rss/ping
http://www.bitacoles.net/ping.php
http://bitacoras.net/ping
http://blogdb.jp/xmlrpc
http://www.blogdigger.com/RPC2
http://blogmatcher.com/u.php
http://www.blogoole.com/ping/
http://www.blogoon.net/ping/
http://www.blogpeople.net/servlet/weblogUpdates
http://www.blogroots.com/tb_populi.blog?id=1
http://www.blogshares.com/rpc.php
http://www.blogsnow.com/ping
http://www.blogstreet.com/xrbin/xmlrpc.cgi
http://blog.goo.ne.jp/XMLRPC
http://bulkfeeds.net/rpc
http://coreblog.org/ping/
http://www.lasermemory.com/lsrpc/
http://mod-pubsub.org/kn_apps/blogchatt
http://www.mod-pubsub.org/kn_apps/blogchatter/ping.php
http://www.newsisfree.com/xmlrpctest.php
http://ping.amagle.com/
http://ping.bitacoras.com
http://ping.blo.gs/
http://ping.bloggers.jp/rpc/
http://ping.blogmura.jp/rpc/
http://ping.cocolog-nifty.com/xmlrpc
http://ping.exblog.jp/xmlrpc
http://ping.feedburner.com
http://ping.myblog.jp
http://ping.rootblog.com/rpc.php
http://ping.syndic8.com/xmlrpc.php
http://ping.weblogalot.com/rpc.php
http://ping.weblogs.se/
http://pingoat.com/goat/RPC2
http://www.popdex.com/addsite.php
http://rcs.datashed.net/RPC2/
http://rpc.blogbuzzmachine.com/RPC2
http://rpc.blogrolling.com/pinger/
http://rpc.icerocket.com:10080/
http://rpc.pingomatic.com/
http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping
http://rpc.weblogs.com/RPC2
http://www.snipsnap.org/RPC2
http://trackback.bakeinu.jp/bakeping.php
http://topicexchange.com/RPC2
http://www.weblogues.com/RPC/
http://xping.pubsub.com/ping/
http://xmlrpc.blogg.de/
http://blogsearch.google.com/ping/RPC2
http://1470.net/api/ping
http://api.feedster.com/ping
http://api.moreover.com/RPC2
http://api.moreover.com/ping
http://api.my.yahoo.com/RPC2
http://api.my.yahoo.com/rss/ping
http://bblog.com/ping.php
http://bitacoras.net/ping
http://blog.goo.ne.jp/XMLRPC
http://blogdb.jp/xmlrpc
http://blogmatcher.com/u.php
http://bulkfeeds.net/rpc
http://coreblog.org/ping/
http://mod-pubsub.org/kn_apps/blogchatt
http://www.lasermemory.com/lsrpc/
http://ping.amagle.com/
http://ping.bitacoras.com
http://ping.blo.gs/
http://ping.bloggers.jp/rpc/
http://ping.cocolog-nifty.com/xmlrpc
http://ping.blogmura.jp/rpc/
http://ping.exblog.jp/xmlrpc
http://ping.feedburner.com
http://ping.myblog.jp
http://ping.rootblog.com/rpc.php
http://ping.syndic8.com/xmlrpc.php
http://ping.weblogalot.com/rpc.php
http://ping.weblogs.se/
http://pingoat.com/goat/RPC2
http://rcs.datashed.net/RPC2/
http://rpc.blogbuzzmachine.com/RPC2
http://rpc.blogrolling.com/pinger/
http://rpc.icerocket.com:10080/
http://rpc.newsgator.com/
http://rpc.pingomatic.com
http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping
http://rpc.weblogs.com/RPC2
http://topicexchange.com/RPC2
http://trackback.bakeinu.jp/bakeping.php
http://www.a2b.cc/setloc/bp.a2b
http://www.bitacoles.net/ping.php
http://www.blogdigger.com/RPC2
http://www.blogoole.com/ping/
http://www.blogoon.net/ping/
http://www.blogpeople.net/servlet/weblogUpdates
http://www.blogroots.com/tb_populi.blog?id=1
http://www.blogshares.com/rpc.php
http://www.blogsnow.com/ping
http://www.blogstreet.com/xrbin/xmlrpc.cgi
http://www.mod-pubsub.org/kn_apps/blogchatter/ping.php
http://www.newsisfree.com/RPCCloud
http://www.newsisfree.com/xmlrpctest.php
http://www.popdex.com/addsite.php
http://www.snipsnap.org/RPC2
http://www.weblogues.com/RPC/
http://xmlrpc.blogg.de
http://xping.pubsub.com/ping/
http://rpc.twingly.com/

Forbes Blog/Advertising Network Is Taking Shape

By Steven Finch on Thursday, May 15, 2008

1 Comment

Filed Under: Analysis

Here at Crenk we have been a part of the Forbes Business and Finance Blog Network from the very beginning. Crenk has reported about this blog network a couple of time when announcing the addition of Nick Ricci and also the initial launch of the network.

At the very beginning some journalists were discussing the possibilities of Forbes paying CPM rates of anywhere between $10 - $20. Initially I thought these CPM rates were very optimistic and now I can report that this hasnt been the case here on Crenk. CPM rates has been a bit lower, but overall I think the network is definitely moving in the right direction. The advertisers that are currently involved are of a very high standard and im sure this will only grow.

I would also like to hear confirmation about whether the network blogs will have any of their content syndicated across the Forbes network of sites. There has been a lot of rumours about this and it would be great for some smaller blogs to actually get their voices heard for a change.

BBC Blog Network: Joke or Actually Worth It

By Steven Finch on Friday, April 18, 2008

0 Comments

Filed Under: News

The BBC has long been toying with the idea of blogs. Today SixApart have announced as a nice piece of PR that they are running the blogs for the BBC on their software. The blogs themselves are for individual shows and for individual people. Each blog has its own distinct style and design. As a collective the design really lacks imagination and format. If you would like to know where you can find this lack of imagination please head to the blog network home page.

April Fools’ Day: How To Track

By Steven Finch on Wednesday, April 2, 2008

0 Comments

Filed Under: News

I came across this interesting site yesterday when it hit the front page of Digg. The site is AprilFoolsDayontheweb. I still have no idea why all the blogs get involved in April Fools’ Day so much, but it just seems to happen. Im always up for a good prank, but how does April Fools’ Day differ to any other day for Tech news blogs, most of the time they just make stuff up anyways or even just get the story completely wrong. Well anyways check out the site and see what happened this year.

We’ve Been JoeTech-ed!

By Steven Finch on Wednesday, January 9, 2008

2 Comments

Filed Under: All Posts

I have just noticed that Crenk has been featured over at JoeTech.com. JoeTech is a site run by “Joe”, who basically reviews anything and everything. The posts are normally short sharp and straight to the point. The site is a little similar to Bloggin-Ads in which weblogs can sign up to be review by them on their sites. These type of weblogs are a great idea because they are really orientated towards linking. Lets say for example JoeTech reviews this weblog, now he know that most probably I will write about it on my weblog and link back to him. Helping both of us.

Well anyways thats enough of me whittering on, so please head across to JoeTech and let me know what you think about his review. Thanks.

Website Awards Waste Of Space

By Steven Finch on Tuesday, November 6, 2007

0 Comments

Filed Under: All Posts, Analysis

It is getting towards the end of 2007 and the website awards seem to be coming out of the wood work, but really are any of them worth winning?

Awards:

It seems like the list of useless blog awards never stops. What do you actually receive from winning one of these awards? Additionally, have you noticed that it is mostly the same websites winning or nominated for all the awards! This all seems to be because of traffic numbers which will push everything. Hence winning awards like these dont push traffic to your site, but the opposite you need the traffic to push the awards.

Spotplex What Is Going On?

By Steven Finch on Friday, September 28, 2007

1 Comment

Filed Under: All Posts, Analysis

spotplex logo

Spotplex was touted as a Digg killer by many! It never eventuated! Why do you think it never really grew to be a strong player in the content aggregation market?? Well I know why, CAUSE I CAN NEVER GET IT TO WORK PROPERLY!!

The site itself has very good fundamental and the service could be very very useful but possibly they are having a lot of problems because it provides dynamic and instant content.

Does anyone use Spotplex and what do you think about it service?