I'm not happy with the Z-List squidoo lens either. I'm on it. I'd like to get of it.

Ann,

I could not agree with you more on why the Zlist works so well as well as why the Squidoo list does not. It has been amazing just how many new blogs I have been introduced to from the Zlist which was Mack's absolute intention.

I think Seth's Squidoo turns it into a competition of sorts or at least a popularity contest and there are a number of us in these blogs who could care less about popularity contests.

Ann,

Wonderful, perceptive summary of December's meme activity. Two quick thoughts:

1) Mack Collier is, hands down, my "Blogger of December." He has generated many, many links for many, many people. As a consequence, we've all learned about many new blogs. Very informative! Everyone's a winner. I remember when Mack was going around on his "listening campaign" in early November. Now we see how it turned out. Attaboy, Mack!

2) I usually blow off concepts like the "5 Things You Didn't Know About Me" list, but not this time. As I got into it, I found it fun and enjoyable to think about. It was also a real kick to see what the "tagees" of my "tagees" had to say.

Best wishes,

Roger von Oech

"Seth Godin created a Squidoo "Z-List." I'm not a fan of it, because it allows registered Squidoo users to vote blogs up and down, which I think is antithetical to the spirit of blogging."

Thank you for saying this Ann -- this has bothered me greatly too as the popularity contest has damaged the kind intention that went behind the list in the first place. I appreciate the way Cord coins it in saying "absolute intention".

But no one owns a meme and Mack did marketers a HUGE benefit in creating and promoting the idea--and that's the real story as I am learning of so many great new bloggers.

Thanks for posting the 'Z-List' Ann. Technorati's system of attempting to place 'value' on a blog simply by the number of links it has, has irritated me ever since I started writing for BMA last year. And there's many bloggers that follow that system religiously, and feel that a blog's content isn't worthy of notice until that blogger hits a certain number of links.

This list started as a sort of 'Technorati-buster'. If Technorati was going to say that a blog had to have a buncha links to be worthy, then fine, let's give everyone a buncha links. Many of the blogs that appeared on the first version of this list have added well over 100 links in a couple of weeks because of it.

The list gives everyone a nice bump in links and traffic, but for me the key benefit is I've found several great blogs to read, that I'd never heard of 2 weeks ago.

I think the great thing about blogging is that it gives everyone a channel through which their voice can be heard. When you add in 'authority' rankings such as Technorati, it dilutes the voice and reach of many, and I hate that. I've said before that I think Technorati is great for judging what bloggers are talking about RIGHT NOW, but that's it.

As for Seth's squidoo list, I'm not a big fan of him adding the competition aspect, and have told him so. I think the great thing about the 'Z-List' meme is that it puts the community first. Everyone wins. Want to be on it? Then simply repost the list on YOUR blog, and watch the traffic and links pour in. But when you add the competition aspect, as we see with the Squidoo list, most bloggers seem to be simply voting themselves up, and everyone else down. The main benefactor of the Squidoo list is Seth, not the community, and I think that's its great flaw.

Now having said that, I don't think Seth expected this to happen, and I doubt he would have added the plexo to the list if he had known that it would turn into a list where everyone is putting each other down.

Ann,

Thank you for sharing the memes.

Regarding the "Five Things..." I have been a fan for years. In fact, since becoming the editor of the IMCNE newsletter, I introduced "10 Things..." and the members seem to enjoy it. Every month we learn some great things about other members that we didn't know.

As for Seth's tackling of the zList, I'm ambivalent.

Seth's blog does much to drive traffic to those who create trackbacks to his blog, and my voice has been enhanced by that device. And I don't really feel strongly one way or the other about voting for favorite blogs on his lens.

Ann, I think it's helpful to have these various lists, even if some may be tainted. It helps us see who else is out there offering opinions and analysis.

I'm still new at this blogging stuff, but I'm already spending too much time checking out blogs. I try to look at 2 or 3 a day -- MPDailyFix and CK for sure -- but it's so easy to get sucked into the blogospere.

Any hints on what client I can charge my hours of surfing to? Or how do answer my wife when she asks why I'm still on the computer late at night? I hoipe she doesn't think I'm surfing porn.

Anyway, have a Happy New Year. Keep the good info coming.

So Ann.

Are you game or not?

Tell us 5 things about you we do not know.

Mike

Thanks for the great comments, all. Like many of you, I love the spirit of Mack's Z-list...mostly because, as I've said in the past, some of the blogs I enjoy most are written by bloggers who are pure "amateurs"...who write for love -- not money or glory or the audience. So I love that Mack highlighted them.

And Roger -- I agree that Mack is a great candidate for "Mr. December." But he's a pretty unassuming guy. Something tells me he'd HATE that moniker!

Much as I'm personally not a fan of the Squidoo list... at the same time, I guess it's an evolution of it. Again -- not one I'm in favor of, but an evolution nonetheless.

And in the end, little-known blogs still get more eyeballs. So... there's some good.

David -- Funny stuff! Consider coming to a meeting sometime....sounds like you could use it:

http://darmano.typepad.com/bloggers_anonymous/

And Michael -- actually, I did play! (It's buried way down at the bottom):

http://www.mpdailyfix.com/2006/12/closer_to_home.html

(I'm STILL having night sweats over that Disney episode!)

Meme-Xmas! Ok, had to.

The meme, meme is touching a lot of people's nerves lately. Down with the memes!

Couple of comments on my experience with the Zlist. I didn't like the Squiddo list after I saw it in action, but was pleased that Seth Godin picked it up and posted it originally. When I saw my traffic pick up from it, I of course when in there and voted ONCE for myself. Next thing I know, I got slammed back down the list. Maybe that's where I belong ;-)

Besides new traffic, my Technorati ranking has been improved a lot. Before the Meme, I had a ranking of about 190K, but now it stands at 40K. Thanks Mack.

Eric

OMG, how did this happen? You're right Ann, I think I better start going to Bloggers Anonymous meetings.

Jim: I came *this close* to calling this post "Meme-ories!" But Meme Christmas is even goofier than THAT...lol.

Eric: I agree. It wasn't the Squidoo list that bugged me....it was the voting. Regardless, that's quite a jump....which is very cool!

And David....don't be afraid. Embrace the darkness... : )

Ann, thanks for mentioning Flooring The Consumer.

Thanks so much for posting this! Like C.B., I am so appreciative of the attention that we've gotten. If it weren't folks like you posting these links, we'd still be unknown!

Warmest Regards,
Doug

I've posted the Z-list on my my-space page and I've gotten a few thank yous...

It's a very cool thing!

Ann and all,

I think all of us who were on the original z-list have done an appreciative happy dance at Mack's inspired generosity. The gentle boundariesd (no adding yourself etc.) he suggested allowed the meme to be the best of the blogosphere.

Seth's efforts come with mixed results. I know my blog has certainly gotten many new hits originating from his and the squidoo site. While it was pretty disheartening to see my blog sink to negative numbers, I did take heart in the fact that I was milling about with the likes of Tom Peters and David Armano. I'll score at their level any day!

But, perhaps when we step back, there's a more important reminder here for us all.

Good, bad and ugly, this is exactly what we point to blogs and say. "It is not in our control anymore." We share the podium with everyone else and sometimes that gets messy.

While I agree that voting people down is less than collaborative -- it's "fair" in the playing field that Seth put the list into. When we relinquish control and just put things out there...I guess we'd better be ready for what happens.

Even when we don't like it.

Drew

When I first saw Seth's "squidification" of the "z list", I thought it would be a win-win type of thing. Obviously it's good for Seth because you have to register with Squidoo to vote and it seemed like it would only amplify the exposure all the blogs on the original list were getting.

But as time passes and I look at how the list evolves and moves, it seems like a game of "King of the mountain".

Something doesn't feel right, and many, many great blogs on that list are well into the negative range.

There's just something not right about it. It doesn't work.

Ann,

Nice title for the post ---you must have been either a former newspaper columnist of Abba fanatic :)

I agree that something a lot more altruistic and democratic is going on here with the 5-meme and the z-list. Mack started the latter with 100% altruistic motives, and most of that spirit has stayed pure with its chain of advocates and link lovers..even Seth, although a benefactor, can't really be blamed of Squidoo-ing it...the other option would be to ignore it...most nascent bloggers are happy for the exposure.

One overall point that needs to be made in the mania, if you're into blogging for sheer volume or recognition, you are bound to be disappointed.

Remember only 25 of them make it onto Mack's list ---more importantly, it is the "who" arrives at your site ---I've enjoyed more lifelong advocates, word of mouth clients and prospective partners in the short time posting on Buzz Canuck then any self enhancement with breaking through some a Casey Kasum "Best of" list.

For me, it's not about the broadcasting yell to eyeballs and competing with the Seth's of the world but more about the conversational grassroots whisper that starts conversations with kindred spirits.

Happy holidays and keep spreading the word,

Sean

"more about the conversational grassroots whisper that starts conversations with kindred spirits."

Bingo! Community always trumps traffic. Always.

Drew -- I see your point about relinquishing control, and when you say that the voting down is "fair" in the S-doo playing field. But I'm not sure it's about control, exactly. The S-doo list is more like total anarchy.... not simply a loss of control. Building on what David said, it's like King of the Mountain meets Lord of the Flies....every blog for itself, and damn everyone else.

And Sean -- thanks for the comments (and kudos -- I am a former newspaper /magazine writer and editor). You bring up a valuable point -- it's not about reaching a giant audience, it's about reaching the right audience. I like your quote, "... if you're into blogging for sheer volume or recognition, you are bound to be disappointed." To that I'd add....if you are blogging for MONEY, you'll be bummed, too. Soooorrry..!

One final point, which Mack Collier and I were talking about the other day -- I wonder if the "King of the Mountain" stuff comes from some bloggers, who AREN'T getting the volume, recognotion or money, so they have to seek FAME... maybe any way they can? At anyone else's expense? Anyway, just a theory.

Popping in and out of the blogosphere this week in between holiday celebrations and noticed that some of the most interesting blogs have been "voted down" to -8 and -9 .. including the Daily Fix and Diva Marketing (my blog). Perhaps that's where the real Z List is in play? However, just goes to show you shouldn't take any of this stuff too seriously.

Ann,

I agree with you 100%. I'm not suggesting the squidoo activity is right..just that people are playing by the rules that Seth created. (which dramatically altered Mack's original boundaries.)

Unfortunately, they are participating with the pyramid inverted, in my opinion. Me first and everyone else be damned. As opposed to what Mack set out to do...Me (Mack) a facilitator, everyone else be celebrated.

But I think Mack gets it -- when someone else's excellence is noticed, we all get to bask a bit in that glory. Everyone wins brcause the collective is proven to be smarter and stronger.

Drew

Ok, went back to the s-doo list for the fist time since I saw the voting thing screwing things up. I hated it then, but now I think I might just like it.

I mean, my marketing blog in only at 269 and is now way ahead of Gapingvoid, Micro Persuasion, Brains on Fire and even the DF (sorry). Hell, that's the only freakin' way I'll ever get to say that. I am a bronzed God! Bow before my gigantic popularity!

Ok... I'm gonna go sober up now.

OMG, how did this happen? You're right Ann, I think I better start going to Bloggers Anonymous meetings.

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I've posted the Z-list on my my-space page and I've gotten a few thank yous...

It's a very cool thing!

Ann,

Thank you for sharing the memes.

Regarding the "Five Things..." I have been a fan for years. In fact, since becoming the editor of the IMCNE newsletter, I introduced "10 Things..." and the members seem to enjoy it. Every month we learn some great things about other members that we didn't know.

As for Seth's tackling of the zList, I'm ambivalent.

Seth's blog does much to drive traffic to those who create trackbacks to his blog, and my voice has been enhanced by that device. And I don't really feel strongly one way or the other about voting for favorite blogs on his lens.

I've posted the Z-list on my my-space page and I've gotten a few thank yous...

It's a very cool thing!

thanks a lot..

Thanks so much.

thnks for topic...

thnks