Before Christmas I sent an email to the 9rules network in regards to what they need from a website to join and what would be involved in joining their network - could they please send some information along to me… that would be fabulous… kisses… me.
Now maybe, just maybe I picked the wrong time of year to send something like this to 9rules - that would require perhaps more than just a canned response (but I didn’t even get one of those)… hrmpph.
So I’ve been waiting for some sort of response from them. I mean they’re a big network and probably get 1000’s of requests just like mine. Since 9rules seems so big… maybe this lack of feedback is a good thing for me.
Do I want to be apart of a blog network with this site? I guess I’m just curious to see how they run - what’s involved before taking a big plung… you know?
I’ve got a couple of friends and we’ve got a network running as well for a couple of topics - its new and fun and I love it. I was just curious to see how the “big” networks ran and if I could get something out of it, while contributing my own little blurbs to help them out too.
… but maybe not. 9rules logos seem to be showing up on more and more sites - is that such a good thing? I have no idea how to apply to be apart of this network/collective - it can’t be that hard right… since, and I’ll say it again, that everybody in blogland seems to have their logo affixed to it.
*sigh*
Luckily I’m not that desperate yet and it will make for an interesting “study” to see how many networks respond to my information request.
Popularity: 10% [?]
pagepeel by webpicasso.de
January 4th, 2006 at 3:27 pm
I wouldn’t worry too much about 9rules - the only real advantage that I can see of being a member is that you get an initial boost of traffic and probably a few extra readers for the long term. Beyond that they have never really managed to convince me of the benefits of being a member of the network. Sure, there’s some private forums, but nothing that you can’t get elsewhere in my opinion.
I didn’t even bother submitting any of my blogs/sites in the last round, I felt it was better in the long run to start my own smaller network where I had complete control over the content.
January 4th, 2006 at 4:28 pm
9rules guy here, hopefully I can answer some questions
I’m sorry that you didn’t receive an email response back, Paul Scrivens (head of 9rules, in charge of membership stuff) has been extraordinarily busy as of late. See, in order to get into 9rules, you have to wait for one of our 24-hour submission rounds. We’ve only had three so far, and the very last one had 509 weblogs trying to get in. We’re very selective and only let the best of the best in, so I think something like 8-10% made it so far. We don’t accept emails to join the network because that’s not fair to those who wait for their chance to submit. The only other way to join 9rules is for us to find you and think that you’d make an amazing addition, and honestly that doesn’t happen very often. We try to keep membership pretty democratic.
Back in November, we wrote about what we look for in a site when they submit to join 9rules. Hopefully that list answers your questions, and if not, you could always try the 9rules About page which has some good information.
As to the benefits of joining, it’s not completely apparent unless you talk to someone who’s already a member so you can get the inside scoop. Our private member forums have been instrumental in getting a few people full-time jobs, new client work, great contacts at larger companies, starting new companies, and much more. Our members are great leaders in their respective industries, so the networking aspect of 9rules is a huge positive.
With regards to traffic boosts, it all depends on what kind of traffic you got before you joined, and how much of an active member you are in the community. We’ve had many new members have a 2-3x sustained increase in traffic from their exposure, while other members’ traffic might only increase 10-15%, it all depends on what you put into the Network. Just like with anything, the more you put into it (forum posts, member relationships, networking, making new friends and colleagues) the more you’ll get out of it.
Feel free to shoot me an email if you have anymore questions. I apologize again for nobody answering your email, but I assure you that if you email me directly you’ll have a response
Very best,
Mike Rundle
January 4th, 2006 at 6:25 pm
I will definitely say that December was a bad month to send an email, but that isn’t an excuse for a lack of an email response. That I will personally apologize for.
In any case we do mention on our site that we go through submission rounds for inclusion.
The blogosphere is so large that we definitely wouldn’t say every site you come across has our logo, but over 100 do and we like to think that our members are proud to have that logo on their site since it stands for quality.
What are the benefits of joining the Network?
- Maybe a small/large traffic boost depending on the topic and your current traffic.
- Connections with other professionals in your industry. I think this is something people really underestimate as great things happen in our private forums. Sure you can find forums in many places, but it’s the people that make it wonderful.
- In the future there will be many ways we will help you monetize content if you so wish.
Our Network definitely isn’t for everybody, but we are happy with what we are doing and look forward to what’s in store for the future.
January 4th, 2006 at 7:37 pm
I think I’m leaning that way myself. I’ve got a little network on the go right now and I’m really enjoying it and it’s fun - I like the fact that I’ve (we’ve) got complete control over the content/ads/revenue.
Hmmm… this sounds better and better
Thanks Paul!
January 4th, 2006 at 8:31 pm
Hey Empress, I was wondering why my comment has been posted yet? I swear it’s not spam
January 4th, 2006 at 10:50 pm
Oh and forgot to respond to Paul’s comment about owning the content. The 9ules Network doesn’t own any of the content that our members produce on their sites so if you are building a smaller network, joining us wouldn’t hurt that Network at all.
You control everything.
January 5th, 2006 at 6:45 am
Paul: Just a quick note for you, perhaps to clear things up a bit. We don’t control, nor own, any of the content on our member’s web sites. So even if you were to join the Network, or submit all of your Network’s sites, the content control would remain 100% the same.
Empress: There are several other advantages to joining 9rules that are perhaps beyond the vision of those outside of the Network. Although we’d love for everyone to see the entire picture, we’re not actively trying to “sell” ourselves to anyone, so some of the advantages are kept internal.
That isn’t to say that if you emailed any of our members I’m sure that you’d get a response back with many more benefits than meets the eye.
Happy writing!
January 5th, 2006 at 2:46 pm
Thank you so much for the information guys! I was a little dispondent over the fact that no one had answered - and I was jumping up and down for the attention
I think the traffic boost for the 9rules network is pretty nifty - I am not a big fan of losing income from my sites if I were to sign them up under a network. You guys don’t and that is totally cool! I also like the fact that you can be apart of other networks - and 9rules. Freedom baby… yeah!
Sidenote: I’ll be much more diligent on checking my spam filters for comments. I had 10 sitting there and didn’t even know it. My BAD!
Thanks again Colin, Mike and Scrivs!!!!
January 5th, 2006 at 8:39 pm
wow, very nice. My opinion just went up ten fold for that crew.
Not that my opinion matters, but if it did…. lol
January 6th, 2006 at 7:44 am
Colin: When I was talking about ownership of the content, I meant across the whole network, not just my blog(s). If one member of 9rules start posting content that I don’t want to be associated with, there’s not an awful lot I can do about that (except leave the network), whereas on my own network I can dictate *exactly* what is posted to every single site.
Mike: Your original comment had three links in it, and if I recall correctly that automatically flags it as spam in WordPress.
Scrivs: The problem with the private forums is that no one outside of 9rules can see them, so they don’t appear as an incentive to join. I’m not knocking them in any way, but the only people praising the forums are 9rules owners/members, who are probably going to appear biased even if they’re not.
January 6th, 2006 at 12:16 pm
Paul: I can see that if you don’t agree with someone’s content there isn’t that much you can do, but I guess I come from the perspective that there isn’t much people could write about that would make me want to leave unless it’s racist or sexist. Difference of opinions happen on the web and I think that only makes everyone stronger.
As for the forums, yes it’s hard to see the value unless you are actively involved in them. If you don’t want to bother connecting with other industry leaders and great minds then the forums probably wouldn’t be that special to you. The Network definitely isn’t for everybody, but we do feel that the positives outweight any of the negatives. We require little and try our best to give out a lot.
January 6th, 2006 at 12:17 pm
45n5: Every opinion matters whether you think so or not
January 6th, 2006 at 2:24 pm
Scrivs, good philosophy, thanks…….