Technorati is Irrelevant and Useless for Most Bloggers
Today, Wendy Piersall blogged about how only 10% of the top 100 blogs on Technorati are led or authored by women. And then pointed out that there are more female than male bloggers.
THEN she stumbled it to me and said she wanted to know what I thought.
And here it is: Technorati is irrelevant and useless for most bloggers.
Out of the 100, there are 4 that I read. I’ve read more, but I don’t like them.
Most of my career has been spent in male-dominated industries. I spent a few years in politics before I got into Search Engine Optimization and Online Marketing. I have to say I was surprised that more women are bloggers because blogging appears to be so male-dominated. But that’s because I was trying to keep up with the boys club that is Technorati, Digg, etc.
Recently, I’ve been trying a different approach. It’s more comfortable and it’s actually quite simple. I simply engage in conversations. But I don’t talk with people who don’t respond. That’s a waste of my time. And that means that most of the A-list is worthless to me. They’re like a bad, incommunicative boyfriend.
When I stopped pandering to them, I started writing differently. I started writing better. I was sick of trying to follow their rules on how to get on Digg, or linked to by them. It didn’t work. Which is fine because I was letting my blogging goals be determined by other people and not by myself, my readers, and my clients.
Blogging takes a lot of work. And if you’re writing about things that don’t interest you, the burnout comes with a fast fury. If you want on the Technorati 100, then you need to be writing primarily about tech and politics. You need to be sensational and controversial, which requires a certain emotional and mental stamina to handle the aftermath.
Thankfully, the Technorati 100 is not something that needs to be a priority. Since it is based on inbound links, it is just a mirror of success that is developed through your online marketing efforts. Ironically, building links to quickly can get you punished by Google.
Your goal should always, always, always be conversions. Whether that’s getting new clients or selling products, don’t let any one online marketing method stand in the way of conversions.
Oh and by the way, my new blogging methods are ushering in new success, in case you were wondering. 
Wendy Piersall wrote:
WWWwwwwoooooooooowwwwWWW
That was a really great answer.
In a lot of ways, Technorati is useless even to the people in the top 100 - I came across one or two of them today with an Alexa rank near 1MM. Now I know Alexa is useless too, but if your rank is THAT low, then I have to say I think your blog can’t be all that either!
Posted on 18-Sep-07 at 8:41 pm | Permalink
Nathania Johnson wrote:
Yeah, I mean, it’s kind of like college basketball. You’re ranked number one because you win games. You don’t win games because you’re #1. And if you’re ranked #1 all season but lose in the second round of the tournament, then you’ve still lost the championship.
Thanks for commenting, Wendy.
Posted on 18-Sep-07 at 8:48 pm | Permalink
DazzlinDonna wrote:
I really wish I could display an animated icon in this comment. If I could, it would be of two hands clapping. Instead, I’ll just use words. Applause! Applause! Two thumbs up.
Posted on 18-Sep-07 at 9:09 pm | Permalink
Dana Wallert wrote:
“When I stopped pandering to them, I started writing differently. I started writing better.”
I am so glad I stumbled upon this article! Wow, I don’t know that I’ve ever actually started talking out loud to myself while reading a blog post before…”Yes, exactly, so true!”
I have to admit I felt even more compelled to comment after reading your comment above…
“Yeah, I mean, it’s kind of like college basketball. You’re ranked number one because you win games. You don’t win games because you’re #1. And if you’re ranked #1 all season but lose in the second round of the tournament, then you’ve still lost the championship.”
I felt that in spite of me not commenting on this post yet and you not knowing me at all that you were in some way personally attacking me as a longtime, loyal Kansas Jayhawks basketball fan…I believe we’re the only ones that have fallen to that curse several times in the last few years with the exception that we lost in the first round too.
Thanks for this great post and I’m glad to be a new Bold Interactive subscriber and Nathania fan!
Posted on 18-Sep-07 at 9:34 pm | Permalink
Nathania wrote:
Donna - I’m so glad you liked the post! Is there a WP plugin that allows animated, hand-clapping icons?
Dana - I must have felt in my soul that you were a Kansas fan. Being a Duke fan, I try to give Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan State, and of course, UNC fans a hard time whenever I get the chance.
So glad you liked the post. And I’m so glad I discovered *you* last week and became a Dana fan!
Posted on 18-Sep-07 at 10:29 pm | Permalink
Dana Wallert wrote:
Not to keep going too off topic…but I’m just glad it’s Duke, bad but I can deal with it. If you would have said UNC, I probably would have had to unsubscribe
I’d be all about an animated, hand-clapping icon plugin!
Posted on 18-Sep-07 at 10:45 pm | Permalink
Skellie wrote:
Great post, Nathania — you’ve really made me think about my own practices and priorities. Your ideas are something I predict I’ll be mulling over for the rest of the day. I think they might apply to me a little more than I’d like!
Posted on 18-Sep-07 at 11:55 pm | Permalink
Adam Schultz wrote:
Who needs a plugin?
Posted on 19-Sep-07 at 6:39 am | Permalink
david wrote:
I agree technorati is irrelevant to bloggers but I’m kind of happy when I increase my tech points. Is like a video game where you gain experience and lvl up your rank!
Posted on 19-Sep-07 at 11:03 am | Permalink
Pat B. Doyle wrote:
“They’re like a bad, incommunicative boyfriend.” - LOL
Great post, Nathania! I love it!
Posted on 19-Sep-07 at 2:04 pm | Permalink
Nathania Johnson wrote:
David - now see if Technorati incorporated a video game that somehow enhanced link building - THEN it would be useful
Pat - thanks! great job on your new blog
Posted on 19-Sep-07 at 2:46 pm | Permalink
Bill wrote:
Very nice post, Nathania.
I agree that conversations are a key to success in blogging, as well as writing about topics that you are interested and engaged in.
By the way, I can’t even remember the last time that I looked at the Technorati 100.
Posted on 19-Sep-07 at 7:49 pm | Permalink
Nathania Johnson wrote:
Thanks, Bill. That’s a great comment from someone who writes some of the most thorough posts about SEO!
Posted on 19-Sep-07 at 11:10 pm | Permalink
Bill wrote:
You’re making me blush, Nathania.
I was brainwashed in law school to be thorough, and I just can’t kick the habit.
I do like the video game idea for Technorati. Aren’t they looking for a CEO? Would you consider it?
Posted on 19-Sep-07 at 11:20 pm | Permalink
Adam Schultz wrote:
Bill,
Don’t give her any bright ideas.
I need her right where she is, kicking ass and taking names for < b >.
Posted on 20-Sep-07 at 12:41 am | Permalink
Nathania Johnson wrote:
Hmm. CEO. Sounds like a great title. Actually, yes I hope to be CEO of my own filmmaking company someday. (Sorry, Adam, but not anytime soon, don’t worry) But Technorati? Just not my passion.
However, we do have a client that aids companies in CEO succession planning if anyone from Technorati is reading
Posted on 20-Sep-07 at 9:17 am | Permalink
Bill wrote:
Sorry, Adam.
Following your passion is really the key to happiness, and filmmaking sounds like it would be a lot of fun.
Adding gameplay elements to Technorati really would be something that they should explore, and is a great idea. That kind of interactivity would probably benefit them more than they may realize. But I wouldn’t want to be CEO over there either.
Posted on 20-Sep-07 at 9:37 am | Permalink