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Right, I know a lot of you will scream “hypocrite!” at me, but hear me out.
The reason I posted my post yesterday was to drum up interest into what I believe could be a better thing for bloggers everywhere.
You see, the reason why blogging has been rubbish recently is that I’ve been slogging away at a side project.
That side project is called Fair Review.
The principle is simple. Normally you review a blog and getting a plain linkback. Now you review a blog, get a linkback in two blogs (this one – for the first 100 blogs and the Fair Reivew Blog), and also get placed into the Fair Review Directory.
You can’t just bullshit though, a review must contain:
- A link to the reviewee’s blog
- A link to a blog post on the reviewee’s blog
- A link to any page on the Fair Review
- A link to the reviewee’s blog feed (optional – but if you do it, I will link to your feed too)
That’s it, no need for anchor text, as it’s more about buildng readers and getting people to visit each others blog, rather than building search engine rank.
Of course, to begin with, you need blogs to review. I sent an email out to my top 10 commenters as well as people who shared the bottom position, explaining it and giving them a free submission. Of the 15 emails I sent out, as of today, 10 returned. These blogs are:
The Gospel According To Rhys
Eruanna.net
Jemjabella
Everything’s Eventual
Alaskanchilli
Infektia.net
Claire Phipps
The Megaphone
DoingWord.com
Grumpy Old Matt
My New Nustle | Make Money Online
So go ahead and review one of them, submit it to the directory, and who knows, maybe you will be reviewed next!
Right, as my readers, I suppose I need to ask you a question too, as you are my nearest and dearest things to friends in this blogosphere. What do you think to the idea? Is it good? Bad? What don’t you like about it? Please let me know, as a few people have said “yes it’s brillaint!” a few have said “eh…wha?”. I just want to do something a little different in the hope it takes off.
Please give your thoughts, questions or bugs (especially bugs) in the comments.
Also, if you wouldn’t mind spreading the word a little bit, I would me most grateful. Thank you!
Thank you, and have a bitching weekend! Mine is dull, no football, so have to accompany people shopping. Eurgh.
Comments: 16 Comments
Rhys Wynne, the author of this blog, is a 20 something web designer from Colwyn Bay. 
I love it but thats cos I don’t have to review anyone! *as will most certainly offend*
shopping rocks – quit whinging.
My logo’s still rock!
I have to say, “BRILLIANT!” ( I’m picturing the Guiness cartoon guys
Great idea.
Now you need to create a chicklet or badge for participants to post in their side bar to advertise.
It sounds like a win – win Mr. Wynne.
Thanks for leaving the suggestion at my place.
An interesting concept! A great way for bloggers to connect.
There are lots of directories and communities coming up lately!
Let me get this right… you emailed people and they emailed back. Top of that list is you?
So you emailed yourself… and then replied to yourself?!
Another thing.. gotta ask wtf is going on with your blog lately?! When did it ever matter about how popular your page was and how many people read it? Bring back the old posts of every day goings on and normal stuff!
Just my 2cents.. or 5 as you don’t get 2 or 1 cents over here.. actually a really good idea but nehoo i digress….
I think it seems like a really good idea and certainly one of the easier to navigate/understand than a lot of the review sites and directories out there.
I don’t really understand the whole thing about reviewing and getting a link back or whatever it is, but I think it’s great you’re productive enough to do a big project like this. I’m a lazy sumbitch.
I agree with Guy. I miss your posts where you didn’t ask questions at the bottom to ensare more comments.
Hmm, yeah, not knowing about this stuff. Sex, Boobs, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Beer and Wiii
I reckon it’s a great idea! I hope it kicks off, lotttttta potential. I really think it’d all depend on how easy maintenace is though. Do you have to do much administration stuff? Or do databases and stuff do everything for you? Either way, good luck. It’s looking great!
I think it’s a better system than an A-list heavy one. To me, building up readers is less important than building up a feeling of community. I’ve been blogging for (my god!) three years now and I really enjoy the circle of friends that I feel I’ve made during that time.
I think that regular readers gradually build up if your content is good and interesting and if your blog is a friendly place where they feel welcome. So a review system that is based on a more equal balance of power is a good thing I think – the A-list lot really piss me off – a lot of them just blog about blogging, which is tedious. Or politics, which is slightly less boring if they do it well. Which a lot of them don’t.
Anyway. Yes. Go for it. And I might join in if my head’s together enough over the weekend
.
I like it – good idea
great Idea
I just posted my first review on my blog
It will be cool to see where people are say, a year from now.
Hey Rhys. Sorry, I didn’t really even check it out because my goal is to spend less time online, not more.
Honestly I just want to be entertained. I’m not really interested in bulding a community.
for visiting.