People from left and right, even from the inside, are pitting b5media and 9Rules as if they are direct competitors in the blog network arena. More often than not, it’s pretty entertaining actually. Ok, so Scrivs and his gang over at 9Rules almost always spit the first
What I would have liked to see is less comparison between the two and more on other existing blog networks with a real business model, say WeblogsInc, Creative Weblogging or Gawker Media. See b5 and 9Rules are like apples and oranges. The guys over at b5 started the network with money a business model in mind while the troops at 9Rules are in it for the frat-effect.
Let’s look at it in terms of accountability — the management at b5 is accountable for all of the blogs under it, obviously because they own them; 9Rules on the other hand, is just concerned about the community or what I would call the badge fraternity (remember “me-too” mentality?). The problem with badge fraternity is that it boils down to public perception, which could work both ways — your blog could be identified with a cool group (with great content?) or you being a member of the cool group patronizing the actions and demeanor of the group’s founders. So Scrivs being crass and all that jazz does not help the identity of the community.
Second, the community (9r) you are espousing creates an aura of elitism? So while you create a bond amongst yourselves, you also pile up a tall wall between your community and the rest of the blogosphere.
Whereas, on a blog network with a solid business model (b5), all rules are laid out and decisions based on the economics of supply and demand. At the end of the day, it’s all about business decisions.
Then, we look at content and the motivations to create great content. B5 has some standards and the motivation is fairly simple (bigger payouts at the end of the month). With 9r, well content is already there and they’re just picking golden needles in a haystack and showcasing them to the rest of the audience. The motivation — you get to be included in a glorified bookmark.
I always say and I’ve learned this the hard way — all is fair in love and war. And yes, this might seem like a war for readership for others, credibility for a few and profit for the rest. Still, there are lessons to be learned here.
So, which business are you into?
Member benefit from boosted traffic because if they run ads on their site the traffic obviously makes them more money. The traffic also builds them a larger audience, more comments, more links, more credibility, and lots of other stuff.
“We don’t own any of our members’ content so we don’t pay them, therefore we have little overhead, which has let us be profitable from the start.”
So that means YOU earn and NOT the members, is that right?
Members get their traffic boosted and increased RSS subscription.
Then, Abe was right to say comparing 9rules with b5media is like comparing apples and oranges. Business model alone is different.
Dave, I’m actually pretty confused by your comment so I’ll try and respond the best I can.
“For Mr. Rundles and the rest of the 9r cognoscenti … before crowing on how many people line up to join you it might be wise to ask … who are these people and what life do they have aside from sitting in a basement and writing content to finance your fiancees engagement ring?”
These people are college professors, students, entrepreneurs, accomplished writers, cartoonists, scientists, ministers, cooks, etc. They write for their blog because they love the medium and 9rules helps them get more recognition. We don’t ask anything from them (they can write about whatever they want, their design can be anything they want, ads or no ads, they have total control) and in return we give them more more traffic and recognition, give them the opportunity to find new clients, get full-time jobs, and many other things.
“Pretty smug comment, I thought since I know the founders/managers of b5 did not take any salary back out of the business for the first year, at least.”
Because they had to pay their dozens and dozens of writers first, and had little leftover. We don’t own any of our members’ content so we don’t pay them, therefore we have little overhead, which has let us be profitable from the start.
“9rules seems to exist to get insiders to join their fraternity, b5 seems to exist to put up blogs that the general public will read … and thus gain value from the content and, oh yes, click on some ads from time to time.”
9rules exists to boost the traffic and recognition of great independent blogs from around the world, and also provide a centralized location for readers to find great content on their favorite topics. I’m not sure why you consider that a negative thing :)
I’d say that Abe hit the nail pretty square on the head. For Mr. Rundles and the rest of the 9r cognoscenti … before crowing on how many people line up to join you it might be wise to ask … who are these people and what life do they have aside from sitting in a basement and writing content to finance your fiancees engagement ring? Pretty smug comment, I thought since I know the founders/managers of b5 did not take any salary back out of the business for the first year, at least.
9rules seems to exist to get insiders to join their fraternity, b5 seems to exist to put up blogs that the general public will read … and thus gain value from the content and, oh yes, click on some ads from time to time.
I had no thought of commenting on this issue since I don’t belong to either network and have little thought of ever doing so, but the snarkiness of Mike’s comment and the confirmation of my view that these networks exist to ‘suck in fish’ who probably could swim better on their own was irresistible. Thanks for sharing, Mike.
Hey Rickey, yup! Business Logs is the consulting arm of 9rules — we work with a lot of internet startups and larger companies on user interface design, blog consulting, knowledge management, fun stuff like that.
Was that Mike Rundle of BusinessLogs.com?
Well 9rules has been profitable for many months now — 9rules and 9rules-related work pays for my house, my sports car, my fiancee’s gigantic ring… ;) ;)
There’s a lot of value in joining 9rules. Normally when we announce a new blog we push a few thousand readers over there instantly and then push RSS subscribers up pretty high as well.
We basically have two major functions: bring more recognition to budding authors with great sites, and provide readers a place to find great content all at once. So many people come to 9rules.com trusting us to find great content that we take that responsibility very seriously.
“Second, the community (9r) you are espousing creates an aura of elitism? So while you create a bond amongst yourselves, you also pile up a tall wall between your community and the rest of the blogosphere.”
I think if we were putting up walls, you wouldn’t see hundreds and hundreds of people apply to join 9rules, over 75 comments and trackbacks on our Round 5 entry, or about 100 people guessing how many people will apply this round. Every time we let the flood gates open, many more people want to join 9rules — I see that as people thinking we’re doing a positive thing rather than just building up walls :)
hehehe…korek ka dyan kutitots.
heh. in the end, it all just boils own to the question who got the VC funding and who didn’t :D