Kevin, I've looked at your list. In fact I've done a number of the things on our list. I even posted your first list back in May. Somewhere it seems to me that there has to be a balance between just doing good work and waiting for people to show up and pandering your blog everywhere - though if I recall, I think I found you through pandering at 25 peeps. But you have different objectives for you blog than I have.

But in addition to putting up your list, I've commented, sent you emails, and even put your blog on my list of blog acquaintances and friends. I did that not to get you to put my blog up, but in the spirit of helping you out. I think people should put up links to blogs they like. My blog is quite different from yours in most ways and there's no reason for you to be interested in it. But your list sounds more mercenary than idealistic. You're simply trying to promote yourself any way you can. So in that spirit it would seem reasonable for you to reciprocate when people put up your link. You don't even have to endorse the site. You could have a list of "Sites that link to me". Now, let's see if I'm under 15,000 words.

Posted by: Steve | 2007-10-21 23:18:36

Hey Steve! I know what you mean when you say there is a difference between pandering and doing good work, I guess it is my hope that my pandering can be part of doing good work. I have found, after starting this blog, that I really do enjoy marketing - and through this blog I explore the world of blog marketing, and blog promotion. I have had a lack of tech-related topics to write about recently, so it may seem that I am heavy on the blog promotion (pandering) in the last few months. I guess that's just the way things have worked out recently, and I have tried not to over think it.

I absolutely love the involvement that you have had here at my blog Steve - besides you and one of my real world friends, I haven't had any success in building a community here at my blog, and I do appreciate the fact that you read what I write and respond. As you may have noticed, I do have a "Links" section, which I originally intended to take the place of a blogroll - but as I hope is obvious, I rarely remember that the Links page exists, and I neglect it. I have a whole list of sites in my feed reader that I need to add to my links page, yours included, that I haven't remembered to add yet. I hope that I don't actually come across as needy and pander-driven as you have perceived me, but I guess I might, and I should probably take a look at how I am doing things. It's possible this blog has run it's course and that I won't find the motivation to work on the software or write good content ever again, if that's how it ends up, I want you to know that your support has been appreciated. If I do find the extra time to keep this hobby alive, I hope that you will continue to find me a worthwhile read.

Posted by: Kevin | 2007-10-22 1:28:14

Kevin, I'm glad you take my needling in the constructive way I mean it. As I wander the blogosphere there appear to be two types of blogs that get lots of comments. The first is a 'friends' blog where a group of friends have blogs and talk to each other that way. The second is one that has content that just attracts people to comment. If you don't have a friends blog, then I think you should just write what is important to you. I think visiting other blogs that you really like, or you come to like the blogger, and you can make honest constructive comments, you can build what I think we could call a 'blog friend' blog. That would be where friends you develop blogging comment on your site.

I think that the work you put into creating your blog from scratch was probably a useful learning experience in itself for you. And I suspect your job is now consuming a lot of the creative energy you used to commit to the blog. Plus, you probably spend enough time on computers at work, that you need to do real stuff after work.

I also think as you get older and have more experience, you'll have more to say. I too looked at some of the 'spread my blog' gimmick sites. I found them interesting as a phenomenon that has developed. But I quickly lost interest in them and decided to just let my blog do whatever it was going to do. Though I continue to check into half a dozen other blogs regularly and to look at new ones now and then too.

Whether you keep this particular blog up, take a blog vacation and come back (with this or another blog), I've enjoy watching the evolution of your blog and the start of your career - though we haven't heard too much about that, except that it happened. I'll keep dropping by as long as your open for business.

Posted by: Steve | 2007-10-23 1:01:41

I read your article it is really a nice work to meet people to share his idea and emotion

Posted by: Ashish | 2007-10-23 5:37:21

Glad you recognize that I am vital to your blog's success. I will continue to grace your comments sections whenever I feel charitable.

Posted by: Derf | 2007-10-25 12:23:39