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Our decline and fall is complete.

By The Armorer on November 2, 2007 | | Comments (13)

We didn't make the cut this year for the Weblog Awards.

Heh. How the 'sphere has changed since 2003, when we were a nominee for Best Milblog and barely catching 500 visitors a day, to where now we have 4000+ uniques a day (the conservative sitemeter estimate) to 20K uniques (my server logs) a day and scored an invite to the White House, joined a Congresswoman's advisory council, and other things herein not mentioned... and we didn't produce a blip on the Weblog Awards radar. Two votes, I think. Of course, I only noticed this at all because I got an email about it today. I didn't even know nominations were open...

That marketing thang works. Good thing my ego finally let go of these things, or I'd consider shutting down.

Really good thing I'm not trying to make any money, given my marketing skillz suck.

I think the Milblogs category is full of absolutely great blogs that are, in genre, far better milblogs than this place is.

And in our consolation category from last year, the Top 250 Ecosystem Blogs, well, hell, they're all pretty good ones, too - and far more 'hep' to the current trends than I.

Truth is, the Castle is... the Castle. If anything, it's retro, hewing to an older genre of blog, and more about my quirks and interests than full-bore focused topical - and has to be that way for me to keep doing it.

But, as I've said before - it's not how many read you, but who, if you're trying to have an impact. And this blog has given me access in ways that other, higher-traffic, admittedly more entertaining blogs do not.

The Rulez hurt in that respect. But, the Rulez are what keeps this place fun, or safe for discussion, vice the vitriol-filled riots or comment-only-by-registration or can't comment at all of more popular (especially the political) blogs. The Rulez help me to gain and maintain the access I've garnered. And keeps people away from here who are likely to vote in on-line polls, while attracting those who are not likely to...

I can live with that.

Good thing, huh?

However - Congrats to SWWBO! She didn't make the cut, but she *did* get nominated!

Janette and Damian - thanks for your Forlorn Hopes!

Update: Heh. The Blogfather got dissed, too. And didn't notice it until someone told him, either. I feel better. Ah schadenfreude, thy balm is great...

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13 Comments

By pam on November 2, 2007 12:17 PM
I was shocked when I went to vote! But it's only an online poll; as you stated in your post there are more and better accolades attesting to the Castle's superiority. [my wording ;>]
 
By AFSister on November 2, 2007 12:51 PM
Honestly John... I don't put faith in popularity contests. Never have. I like what I like, and that's the end of the story. I write what I want to, I read what I want to, and every once in a while... I swing from a chandelier and take a swig from the 'rita-matic. What could be better than that?
 
By John of Argghhh! on November 2, 2007 12:51 PM
I'm not really shocked. Just a little wistful. I don't pimp this place like I should if I want that kind of exposure. Something I'll have to learn if I ever want to make any money at it. Other bloggers send me emails with their posts and I'll link 'em if I like 'em. But I don't often send mine out like that. Even though I don't resent getting those emails, I'm not really comfortable sending them out. And I know from experience, once you get to a certain level in blogging, you don't have the time to read everyone, even with a feed, like you did when you began. But I don't like to flog myself out like that - except as I do it in this space. Keeping up your own content, especially when most of us have regular jobs, gets in the way and the family starts to get a little grumpy. SWWBO stops bringing me coffee in the morning - because it just facilitates me staying glued to the machine, Little Girl jumps on my bellyshelf and blocks the screen... the little signs you're spending too much time staring at the screen and typing away. And then, you start getting to where you can actually get involved, peripherally, in policy venues and *that* eats up your time, because you have to keep current. And still do your day job. I'm not comfortable that I've got enough to offer readers and advertisers to make the risk of quitting my day job and trying to actually make a living at this... so, I'll go the safe route and opt for the steady check. Which is why I'm not rich. The entrepreneurial spirit ebbs in me. ;^ )
 
By BillT on November 2, 2007 12:56 PM
Geez, here I thought *I* was the only one around who didn't know that a. nominations were being taken and b. voted on and c. the nominees decided. Of course, this place doesn't fit comfortably into any one category -- but I think we'd be a cinch in a runoff for "Most Esoterically Eclectic." Doesn't get any niche-ier than *that*...
 
By jim b on November 2, 2007 9:12 PM
"Of course, this place doesn't fit comfortably into any one category -- but I think we'd be a cinch in a runoff for 'Most Esoterically Eclectic.'" Thanks Bill now I have two new words to look up. John, of course you have to "pimp" this blog if you want to be a "headliner." If I may ... you simply have the typical military problem .. that is you follow your beliefs. Too many times that doesn't sell. There is also this ... the Rulz prevent hatchet fights. You know how it is .. if it bleeds it leads. My degree is in journalism. I can tell you that journalists are "paid by the inch" of printed material. To get their stories published they lie and embellish. You simply don't. It's called "ethics." That will stand in your way as long as you live. Imagine how easy it would be to be some wacko Barking Moonbat blog. The truth would not stand in the way of sensationalism and your echo chamber effect. You are a man who I am proud to know. Sometimes that means ... you toil in the shadows.
 
By John of Argghhh! on November 2, 2007 9:58 PM
Well, high praise, Jim - especially since I've thrown the Rulez flag on you once or twice... 8^ ) Marines, current or former, just can't resist a good fight...
 
By Barb on November 2, 2007 11:03 PM
John - the community may not 'sell', and the Rulez do keep the fur from flying, but the Castle is special, and I'm glad you're okay with that. I wouldn't want it to change, and popularity contests are momentary, impact and intelligent discussion will stand the test of time :-)
 
By Cassandra on November 3, 2007 12:13 AM
Gosh John - in nearly 4 years of blogging at 2 different sites I don't think I was nominated even once. I know I have said this to you before... very likely last year about this time :p Somehow I think you have done all right for yourself.
 
By MR. T's Haircut on November 3, 2007 1:28 AM
John, You need to run it like a company with a board. You can be big chief and run it like Pelosi runs the house.
 
By Justthisguy on November 3, 2007 2:55 AM
Blackfive is in first place? *Blackfive*? My God, the man is an infantryman, and voluntarily lives in Chicago, and actually has been known to pay money so as to visit stinking naples, Florida! Owhell, at least Michael Yon came second. He's really cool. Yah, I know, he's kind of infantry-like, too, but he doesn't live in Chicago.
 
By John of Argghhh! on November 3, 2007 8:39 AM
Ah, but Cassie - this is the first year we've not made the cut. Ego, thy skin is translucent pale, as insubstantial as gossamer fluff, floating on a zephyr... 8^ )
 
By Cassandra on November 3, 2007 7:20 PM
Ah, but Cassie - this is the first year we've not made the cut. I know you are smart enough to work out what I just typed and erased, so I'll spare both of us. Let's just say there's a reason I never paid much attention to a lot of things people said to me over the years.
 
By John of Argghhh! on November 3, 2007 7:42 PM
Heheheheheheheheheheheheh heh heh. Heh. 8^ )