The Purpose of Points
Much has been said about the controversial Points system here on Blotanical. I even wrote a post that highlighted the differences between those who liked it and those who didn't - which met even more controversy and criticism.
So let me be really frank - the Points system is here to stay. Permit me to explain the reasons behind this system and why it is essential for Blotanical.
Blotanical is a Tool
In many ways Blotanical is very similar to Google or any other search engine. For example, try typing the phrase 'Garden Blogs' into your search engine of choice and you will notice a list of more than 100 million results - depending on the SE. Now every body knows that most people using these SE's will predominantly only view the first 10. Some may flip over to the next 10 and an even smaller majority may venture past that point.
It becomes almost impossible to get into the first 10 results and remains hard for the first 20 - 50. So how does your garden blog get found in that list of 100 million + results? Well, if you're not in the top 30 results then having someone stumble upon your blog is less likely than winning the Lottery.
My purpose in creating Blotanical is making as many ways as possible for users to find great garden blogs. So, I have tried to give every blogger as many opportunities to promote their blog as possible - and will continue to do so as this site grows.
The purpose for most Blotanists using Blotanical is to get their blog in front of other readers. And who can blame them? I've heard many people say they don't care if nobody reads their blog they just write for themselves. Great. That is of course if you also enjoy talking to walls and getting no response. But for most of us, we like to know that we're being heard, or at the very least, noticed.
Points help order things
Using quantitative means to measure anything always has its downfalls - and is always hotly debated by those who can only ever view things qualitatively. However, qualitative measurements can never be organised into any semblance of order which makes it inappropriate for a site like Blotanical.
For instance, you may view 'XYZ Garden Blog' as great because it makes you feel good. To someone else, the hot pink colours used give them a migraine and to another the language expressed is far from conservative. Now try and order those things so that you can organise them into a list. Impossible, isn't it? That is until you assign some value to those reasons. Then you can compare values and hopefully produce a list of something that can be somehow meaningful.
The point of having Points is to somehow manage this vast array of blogs vying for attention. This is why I have produced so many different ways to try and help gauge people's varying opinions and reward those who are successful in some particular area.
As an example, those who are great communicators will probably do best in the Picks area. Those who have helpful and relateable blogs may do better in the Fave section. And those who are friendly and willing to network will do well in the Most Active Users section.
The New and Improved Most Active Users section
Which brings us to the new and improved Most Active Users section. Firstly, let me state that this is still in beta mode and hasn't been finished yet. I will explain what is still coming after explaining the reasons behind it.
The Popular Users list has been a stalwart from the beginning of Blotanical but it's had two major flaws that needed to be rectified. Firstly, those that were on the scene early were able to quickly move up the levels and have now carved an almost unassailable position. Those starting today are then bewildered by the mammoth task of moving ahead and may write it off as an impossible mission.
Second, those who have made the top 1-2 pages are feeling somewhat guilty for their lofty achievements and have become the scorn of some less tolerant bloggers. I'm not sure why this happened for I'm of the opinion that if you work hard to achieve something then you should also enjoy the rewards of that effort. Apparently, this isn't a commonly held value.
So, to make it a little fairer and also to offer anyone the opportunity, no matter when they join Blotanical, I have improved this list. From now on you can scale the Most Active Users list based on what you're doing over the next 24 hours. Everyone has the same opportunity and it updates on a rotating 24 hour period.
What happens to rewarding Guru's and other high levels
Never fear, we shall continue to work on ways to reward those who have been contributing so wonderfully to Blotanical's success. If you have been working hard to reach the top echelon's then we will still offer ways to recognise your effort and are very keen to hear suggestions for how this might occur.
The plan for the Most Active Users list will incorporate five different lists, apart from the new one, which cater for each of the different levels. Therefore, there will be a list for the Most Active 'Blotanist' level, one for the 'Patron' level and so on. Each of these will have the ability to be viewed by either Most Points earned and also Most Active Points earned. Those who plan to camp at a certain level i.e. earn 499 points to remain at the top of the 'Blotanist' level will eventually be regulated.
In Conclusion
The Points system is the way to promote those blogs, bloggers and members who are actively taking part in Blotanical. If you plan to leave your blog here just as a directory then you are most welcome to do so. But, please understand that it may not get much attention as it will most likely be relegated to the bottom of many of the lists.
Points aim to reward those who are active. Those who put in the effort should be justly rewarded for it.
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Comments
Love the new ideas, and don't worry - you can't please everyone. It's back to the quality thing again. I know that the odd thing that I don't find so useful here is important for other people.
You didn't mention the "Featured Blog" on the first page, but that's new too isn't it? Or have I just not scrolled down for a while? Anyway, now that I've found it I shall be using it regularly.
Posted by: Sue Swift | April 5, 2008 6:30 PM
Well done Sue - great spot. I did forget to mention the new Featured Blog on the front page. Melissa Manson requested it, as did a few others, so I finally got it up there. Enjoy.
Posted by: Stuart
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April 5, 2008 8:59 PM
Thank you Stuart for doing this. I for one, am pleased to see other ways of organizing the lists. And hopefully this will take away some of the "not so nice comments" that were being made about those that have reached the top and are staying there. It also means that I can continue to enjoy Blotancial the way I want to.
It will be lovely to see some different faces on the front page. This will not only give them some recognition but it will also give their blogs some more exposure.
I also like the featured blog to visit. No matter what anyone says, Blotanical is a great place and I'm always mentioning it to other bloggers.
Posted by: Crafty Gardener | April 5, 2008 11:40 PM
Any way you choose to set it up is great, as far as I'm concerned, Stuart. I can't imagine the headaches you must encounter, and as Sue has pointed out, you can't please everyone. My greatest fear is that there will be so much antagonism that you'll eventually throw your hands in the air in despair, and Blotanical will be gone. And that would be a shame -- I've found so much useful information and inspiration from daily visits. Just my 2 cent's worth. :)
Posted by: Nancy Bond | April 6, 2008 2:08 AM
Good for you, Stuart!!! Tell it like it is! You've just become an honourary Maritimer because that tends to be how we do things too. You so rock!
As you know, I wrestled with the fact that bloomingwriter has sat at the top of the most favourited heap for a long time, feeling guilty that someone else isn't taking that spot. Then I thought to myself:
A. People must like what I do.
B. It's all just for joy and fun, and
C. I'll just keep cheering others on and to heck with any grumbly bears.
I've been incredibly busy this past week and the next three are even more mad. So even if I come in fits and starts, know there's nothing wrong--just lots of work (which pays the bills so I can buy more plants, and rescue more cats, apparently.)
Posted by: jodi DeLong | April 6, 2008 6:57 AM
Great post Stuart! And as Sue said you can't please everybody. Love the new features and can't wait to see what happens!! Jodi, there must be a reason so keep it up . You deserve it!!
Posted by: LetsPlant | April 6, 2008 12:43 PM
Crafty Gardener - my pleasure and I'm glad that you're of a similar opinion wanting to champion other gardeners and their blogs. You deserve all the merited favour you receive as you are one of a handful who have truly cheered on the blogging community through this site. Huge Kudos.
Nancy - cheers for the support. I have, at times felt like throwing it in, yet I'm always reminded by people like yourself who are willing to see the big picture. Thank you.
jodi - Of course there's a reason why you're blog is the most faved. In fact, I'm sure there's more than one. You deserve the accolades and I appreciate all you do for this site and for the garden blogging community.
LetsPlant - thanks heaps. I appreciate your support and hope it helps.
Posted by: Stuart
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April 6, 2008 2:51 PM
Great idea Stuart and already it's got other people to the top of the pile that may not have been discovered so easily via the other lists.
Posted by: VP | April 6, 2008 5:54 PM
Stuart, Blotanical is awesome. Thank you for creating it. Although I don't consider myself a competitive person, I have no problem with points, or anything else here. Anyone who doesn't appreciate it can always set up their own site according to their own vision instead of griping! You rock! and so does Blotanical.
Posted by: linda | April 6, 2008 8:42 PM
How exactly does the active user thing work? Does it go by how many points you accumulate during the 24 hours? I'm just curious because I can't seem to figure it out.
Posted by: Priscilla | April 7, 2008 6:08 AM
I think you are doing everything right. I've loved my short time on Blotanical. I don't see it as a competition, but as a chance to meet fellow garden bloggers. I hope to be an active member and maybe to get to "the top" one day. But as I see it, if I am active and leave comments for others, they will come check out my plot too. That's the way to become known here. I've already met a couple of wonderful blogger friends after only a week or so here.
Posted by: Melissa Mannon | April 7, 2008 8:40 AM
Melissa - good for you. You seem to have a great handle on Blotanical already. The more interactive with fellow gardeners the more success (however you define that!) you're likely to enjoy. You go girl!
Priscilla - you've got it. It's a 24 hour period so whatever you did at this time yesterday will gradually fall away while points you accumulate now shall increase. Hope that makes sense and I trust that that is what you are seeing in your results.
Posted by: Stuart
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April 7, 2008 5:40 PM
Stuart, I can't even begin to thank you enough for crating and maintaining Blotanical! I agree with Jodi 100%. Without you, Poor Richard's Almanac would be languishing somewhere in the blogosphere, a voice crying in the wilderness without an audience. Instead, thanks to you and Blotanical, it's found a faithful readership in just two months. Bless you!!!!
Posted by: our friend Ben | April 8, 2008 2:53 AM
Stuart, please don't throw in the towel. These are just growing pains or birthing pains. It will get better once you get the system the way you want it. You are doing a fabulous job and Blotanical is an awesome resource.
It may not be for everyone, but there are so many others who appreciate this service.
THANK YOU!
Posted by: Robin | April 8, 2008 10:56 AM
Stuart, I picked several posts last night and my point numbers didn't go up at all. Is this working properly?
Robin
Posted by: Robin | April 8, 2008 9:52 PM
Good pickup Robin. There was a line of code that was wrong which wasn't calculating the Picks numbers. It's now fixed. Much appreciated.
Posted by: Stuart
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April 9, 2008 7:10 AM
Bravo, Stuart! You know how I feel about Blotanical. All the doors are open. We are each at liberty to participate to the degree we wish. one of the many great beauties. I very briefly went through a teeny bit of angst about being in Top Ten, then came to peace with recognizing how much time I put into each post (hours), and allowing myself to just be really grateful for the readers who visit. I think the number one value at Blotanical is LEARNING. Whatever I want to learn next I can usually find on Blotanical. Today it was building a raised bed. (Thank you The Home Garden.) And where else could I meet so many wonderful new friends with like interests? Thanks, Stuart, for what you have created. Deeply appreciated.
Posted by: Kathryn | April 10, 2008 10:41 PM
Stuart, your changes were ingenious and so timely. There is so much more "Picking" activity now. Allowing others a chance to be noticed has really increased Blotanical participation. Kudos to you!
Posted by: Robin | April 22, 2008 11:48 PM