Publishing his top 100 list, Mark from 45n5 evidently started a trend that may result in dozens of scripts with which you can create your own list for your own particular niche.

Today I have stumbled on one of such scripts, written by Gary from osWorld. If you are on the original list created by Mark, Gary is willing to give you the script for free if you link to his post.

Unlike the list at 45n5, Gary’s script populates only Google PR and Technorati rank (no Alexa rank). However Gary added an option for visitors to vote for their favorite blog. I am not in favor of the “voting” option and would prefer to see a script out there that would rely only on PR, Alexa and Technorati rankings in order to rank blogs or websites. (Mark are you reading this? ). Nevertheless I have asked Gary to let me try his script. Stay tuned for the follow up!

So do you think BlogRush is going to bring you traffic? I do not believe that it will.

The only reason I have chosen to join is to give it a try. I probably should place the widget some where above “the fold”. I may just get to it in a few days, if I am going to keep it on my blog.

I think the idea is ok, but it does sound familiar. Didn’t at least one of those traffic exchange websites tried to implement similar widget? Was it BlogExplosion?

The bright side of BlogRush is that it does not require you to visit other blogs to earn your “syndication credits”, unlike other traffic exchange websites. It also promises to bring you very targeted audience. Bottom line- there nothing to loose joining BlogRush but I do not expect my server to overload with traffic.

Not too many people are worried of servers crushing down from the “stumble effect”, but I got scarred yesterday when over 500 visitors came to my site in a span of 10 minutes. I guess it all depends who “stumbles” your posts. Thanks Andy! It did not continue but I think time will come that traffic from StumbleUpon can be as heavy as from Digg.

Just wanted to let every one know that I have just closed the comments/entry to my contest. Winner will be announced on Monday, so please stay tuned.

I have also collected some interesting data on the contest. I will attempt to publish it soon after the drawing is held, hopefully with some useful tips how to benefit from a contest on your blog. Good luck every one!

The first and probably the last ever contest on my blog did not go as I anticipated wished for- only 62 comments were made so far and it will probably take few more months to get 38 more comments. Main reason was that as soon as I hit the “publish” button I realized that the rules I have implemented for the contest was flawed.

As you remember I was willing to give out to the author of comment #100 monetary reward of $100, and should the comment #100 have been trackback/pingback I would have rewarded the author with $200. I have received great feedback on how such a contest can be improved. Most of the feedback seams to indicate that a contest would be much more exciting if a winner would be chosen by a drawing. This also would prevent from some one taking and advantage of the former rules towards the end of the contest while the participants that commented early on, may have exhausted their options. I have
adjusted the rules in that regard.

Also a suggestion was made to maybe split $200 four ways and reward more readers. In my original rules there was a chance that I could have given out only $100. However since I have budgeted $200 for this content, I will give out $200 to one winner rather than splitting it four ways. And of course there is no longer a limit to how many times you can enter the contests. Of course this contest will have to end- August 31 will be your last chance to enter the contest.

I am not going to go into the details what was wrong with the rules, I will just simply change them. Please go to the original post to see the new rules and/or to participate in the contest.