If you can’t beat ’em…

I cached from BlogNetNews the lead to a Salisbury News post that started out this way… 

Monoblogue & Brian Griffiths believe they have calculated who were the best Blogs in the State of Maryland according to Blognetnews. However, they forget to mention how several of these Blogs are cheating the system.

Then he went on to talk about how I crosspost with Red Maryland and only do one post per day. Joe’s post was only up a few hours before it was pulled after a comment I made. Normally I keep lengthy comments but in this case I didn’t. Hey, I figured I’d wait to see what the reaction was and it looks like the reaction was pulling the post.

Let’s face facts here. Unless a website is a private site anyone who puts the time and effort into doing one is interested in having as many people read the site as possible. In my case, I use Red Maryland to expand my audience since people who are into politics (one of my target audiences) go there to read the perspectives of RM contributors.

Besides, if I were doing this to game the influence rating system one would think Red Maryland would be the number one site, what with all the crosslinks it has. But generally it sits around 5th or so, some weeks higher and some lower.

So what do I see this morning but a new “partnership” between G.A. Harrison of Delmarva Dealings and Joe Albero’s Salisbury News site? I’m glad Delmarva Dealings is back and obviously G.A. wants more eyeballs on what he has to say. But the timing on this affair does strike me as a little odd, especially after Joe pulled the post I alluded to above.

It’s not like Joe should have anything to hang his head about – after all, his overall influence rank was #4 so only Brian Griffiths, Free State Politics (also a collaborative effort), and I had a higher influence ranking. I’m also led by his boasting to believe he has a much higher readership than I but since he’s a news site with frequent updates and I’m primarily once-a-day commentary that’s to be expected. I’ll be the first to admit I check on Joe’s site a few times a day.

I guess what frosts me is the accusation of gaming the system. I didn’t ask to become a contributor to Red Mayland, Streiff invited me after reading my website and finding that my commentary was to his liking and I would think well-written in his eyes. Obviously I said yes and I’m honored to contribute to the site. It wasn’t done to artificially pump up my influence numbers because I think I earn what I have through my writing. Truly I think I do have a top-tier political site in Maryland because I don’t always accept things at face value.

All right, enough of my grousing. I’ll be back to politics later tonight. We have a big caucus day tomorrow in Iowa, you know, not to mention Congressional news.

Author: Michael

It's me from my laptop computer.

15 thoughts on “If you can’t beat ’em…”

  1. Michael,

    Don’t let him get to you! Keep up the great work! Just remember, when he’s #1 in Blognet in any given week, he doesn’t complain about the calculation methodology!

    Jeff

  2. One can only quess at Mr. Albero’s reason for pulling that post Micheal. LOL. I figured it was either you or Harrison who talked him into it. After all, if his ratings jump, he wants to be able to take full credit for it and not let people think it is because he cross references, or at least his new contributor does. HaHa

  3. I’ll ask you this simple question Michael. How long have I been working on putting several Blogs together? Who came to you about a partnership long ago? What, has it been a year now Michael? You knew the time was coming and the timing was right as well as the environment. Then there’s the WMDT thing I’ve been working on. I even invited YOU into that loop as well. So please don’t pull that bullshit that you find it interesting with my timing. I have been working MUCH harder than you to pull everyone together and create something that would compete against the DT and I never once said I wanted the strongest share of any profits it would bring everyone, even though my Blog is the biggest draw, easily.

    Keep in mind as well, Delmarva Dealings is not back on line blogging. This gives GA an opportunity to freely post whenever he chooses while I continue with multiple posts about all sorts of issues. IF you were the biggest draw politically, why didn’t the Harris Campaign come to you instead? Because they happen to know how many hits I get and the volume of readers. No matter how many times one comes to my site in one day, look at the numbers anyway Michael.

    In the end, you have a fantastic Blog and incredible talent. That is why I came to you in the very beginning. Even to this day, (today) I have promoted your Blog and encouraged WMDT to consider your Site and I believe they’re convinced. What I will create is something you and others will want to consider being a part of. If not, that’s certainly your choice. However, sbynews.com will continue to grow and even you might be surprised to see who else comes on board in 2008.

    So before you cut your nose off despite your face, be careful where you tread. Volume will sell, Ego’s can swell. I’m the volume end. Think about that before you make any more steps.

    May you enjoy a great year in 2008 and I was pleased to hear your readership is up.

    In closing, you’re a far better writer Michael buy nowhere near a better businessman.

  4. By the way, now that I’ve posted a comment on here, watch your comments finally go through the roof. At least we’re debating something of interest on this Site for once.

    Might I add, are you also saying you agree with how BNN calculates their placement numbers? Has Delusional Duck ever made it into 1st place, yet they post more articles than anyone? They put in a ton of effort, you know it and everyone else out there knows it.

    It’s NOT about Joe Albero being #1. It’s about their system being totally screwed up and unfair. I’ll repeat, you didn’t even post one or two articles all of last week, yet you were the #2 Blogger. I believe other Blogs deserved to be treated better than that, DON’T YOU? Or do you actually believe you earned such a rating? That’s all I was really trying to say.

  5. I don’t have an issue with the business part of what you do, my beef was with the accusation that I was gaming the system. And you have to admit that the timing was a little suspect, coming after you ragged on me about crossposting to build up my rating. Perhaps that’s why you thought twice about the accusatory post. In the end, perhaps I was writing with misplaced passion but I don’t let people question my integrity. You may think my opinions are 180 degrees off kilter, but I come by them honestly.

    A couple questions though:

    I knew you’d been working on the WMDT thing, so why is it taking so long? We talked about this over the fall sometime.

    And why won’t you put up your Site Meter? I’ve already conceded that your readership is higher, but inquiring minds want to know.

    I do appreciate the kind words about my writing talent. And before you lump me in with the anti-Albero websites, do you not agree I’m asking fair questions?

    Oh, by the way…maybe it wasn’t fair that I was #2 for posting so few articles but possibly it’s karma for me putting hours of thought and research into a week’s worth of posts and being rewarded with something like a #11 ranking.

  6. Karma? Michael, that’s ridiculous!

    As for me showing my Site Meter, I have my reasons for such at this time and if you use your head you might understand why. That will come in time, should “I” choose to do so. Also, when we start selling Ad Space, that information will become public.

    As for the WMDT thing, is that my company? Do I have any control over what they do Michael? I gave them your telephone number and e-mail address, why didn’t you ask them that question when they called or wrote?

    I was told their Budget is what controlled most of their time in recent months. I also know they are updating their entire computer systems. However, it’s MORE than YOU or anyone else out there have done to create a larger audience for Bloggers. Again, it will come in time, I’ve been assured of such anyway but remember, it’s not my company and I have no control.

    “do you not agree I’m asking fair questions?” Michael, I have not challenged your questions but look back and noticed you truly haven’t answered mine. I do not think your statements are fair. You said I would call you an anti Albero Blogger. Have I ever done so? I haven’t in the past and even at the moment I will not go there as I do not feel that way.

    However, Michael, do you not promote the anti Albero Bloggers on your site? Do you actually believe they have quality information when they only discuss me? So, are you an anti Albero Blogger Michael?

    Again, it’s NOT Karma at all Michael. Obviously you’re not going to admit your recent rating was screwed up and off. I believe it was very unfair to other Bloggers who worked much harder than you that week. I’ll close with this. You may not enjoy my style but unlike you I put in 12 to 15 hours a day on my Blog. You mentioned my photos. The photos clearly show I’m there when other people can’t be. It helps them get a better feel for the story. I’m sorry you don’t enjoy them or the time and work I put into them.

  7. Michael,

    I need to add. I had stated that “linking” to one and other is what creates the unusually higher rankings. I still believe that. By hooking up with Delmarva Dealing’s GA Harrison, we are not “linking” to one and other and cheating the system.

  8. Uhhhh, Joe…if you look at G.A.’s post he indeed crossposted back to his site from yours. However, he did not reciprocate back from his site.

    Once again, cheating the BlogNetNews system wasn’t my intention in hooking up with Red Maryland and I have no plans to stop doing so.

  9. OK Mike, you’re not responding to the WMDT portion of my message and or telling everyone that I had been working for about a year to combine our Blogs. That’s OK though Michael, I now know what you’re really all about.

    I tried to warn you not to burn that bridge but you’ve proven you’re not the man I thought you were. That’s cool. Have a great 2008.

  10. And you’re proving that the subject wasn’t worth arguing over because while you did state that the timing of your alliance with G.A. was sheerly coincidental and I’ll buy that, the other portions of what you said regarding a prospective partnership with me and linking to WMDT were straw men that had nothing to do with my original point about accusing me (falsely) of something that I was supposedly doing.

    To address other readers, Joe is correct in saying that he approached me on the partnership and on WMDT and I listened. They sounded like good ideas but I opted to keep them under my hat and let things develop because I was under the impression that the discussion wasn’t for public knowledge.

    Joe, I guess we’re just going to disagree because I have better things to write anyway.

  11. OMG it doesn’t get any better than this. A mental battle featuring two complete idiots!!

    Michael: You and Joe deserve each other. You should go back to Ohio; Joe should go back to Crofton.

  12. Oh, dear Lord, don’t ever align with him! As one of your loyal “pre Rush” listeners, I’m begging you!

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