Wriging

I'm not entirely familiar with what is or isn't considered a blog network. If a site like 9rules is a blog network (which I am assuming it is), then even in my limited experience it is the gold standard. There seems to be a small, knowledgeable fairly tight knit community that is critical and helpful in just the right amounts.

If a blog network is more like mybloglog, we are all doomed. I don't like it, it is very awkward to navigate, ugly, and I don't yet see a point/value.

Well the definition of one has always been up in the air. Lots of people like to call us a blog network because we have blogs, while others (like the "competition") don't like to refer to us as one for whatever reason. Weblogs, Inc. and Gawker I would say fit under the Blog Network definition, while MyBlogLog is more of a community (almost refuse to call it a social network).

Oh and thanks for the compliment. Gold standard...I like that.

Gawker Media could die in a burning car and I could care less. Seriously their method of interlinking for the sake of exposing every single reader to one story (which isn't even theirs) and racking up the impressions doing so.

I definitely wouldn't call MyBlogLog a network because it's too organic but I reckon 9r could be classed as one.

I think there's a certain amount of exclusivity involved with networks but the amount depends on how organic each individual blog is. The big networks (ones with the biggest blogs) tend to be far more impersonal and as I said before, there's often pressure for them to interlink to remind people there's more to their network.

9rules has the back-link to this site and occasionally people will cross-slink articles but I can't imaging there's any pressure on anyone here to blog something about something happening on another 9rules member's blog.

9rules is the way it *should* be. Loosely keeping great content together while keeping trash (like my site *cries*) out.

I'm not sure what they are but it sounds like they are useful for business blogs or they are a financial means to and end for the people who start them with the sole intent of making money from them.

Cooper: It depends on who they function. Many of them own their own sites so they only benefit the authors through money and exposure. The rest is all for the network owners.

Blog networks are shit.

I am not aware of the blog network when I read the blog, I focus mostly on the author. Blog networks are invisible to me because they do not help much. Except networks like 9rules which help in discovering quality content.

I like the modern networks like 9rules. Gawker, planets and all those other networks which "claim" to be "social" but are just there for linkwhoring could all drown. Please.

Wrong place to ask the question. How can anyone be impartial when the question is asked on a blog network? The fact that anyone is answering the question means they like, at th every least, this blog network.

Whoops. Wrong thread >_<

I don't know of any other blog networks that are anything more than cross linking SEO abusive sites with little or no actual content. Maybe livejournal? That was ok, quite a bit behind the times but there is decent content to be had if you know where to look.

I don't really care for them... mostly because I'm tired of "blogs". If it was just a "content" network, that would be fine as there would be more variety amongst the sites in the network. Sure, there's variety in a blog network, but only in-so-much as the topics being talked about. 95% of the sites, however, have that basic blog format and it just gets tiring after a while.

Personally, I love blog networks. If I stumble upon a network for which all nodes have high value, it's a wonderful experience to wander from site to site finding new and interesting information. If, however, the nodes are of intermittent value I find that the network as a whole is brought down and more than likely I won't be spending much time jumping nodes.

I think it also depends on your definition of a blog network. To me, it's simply a set of sites that like each other and have provided links to (what the author thinks to be) good blogs (probably) of a related topic. To others, it may be Gawker Media or Fox News' Syndicates. It may even be 9rules (to provide an example of a great network).

I like blog networks, but that's because I like networking in general. Networks like 9rules are great because they expose me to blogs I may otherwise not be aware. Gawker and Weblogs Inc. are cool too, although I value the independent blogs in 9rules more than a publishing network.

It depends on the network. Some seem to be primarily interested in the linkback to themselves. I'm not really interested in that.

I like MyBlogLog because it gives me some visual feedback on who is reading and who is coming back.

I like the community/comment aspect of 9rules, especially the notes section.

I have Technorati, of course, and I'm liking it more than I used to, but it still doesn't really excite me.

this is my first time here and I am very impressed with the notes section of this website. So far it has been nothing but helpful to a personal blogger like me...keep it up folks!

Seems that blog networks are starting to make a comeback, but still not too many of them standout. Would love to know if you have any favorites and hopefully I'm missing some of the best of the best.

I think that blog networks could work rather well, but not on a global level.
For example, I'm the user of www.region51.com.
It is an informational source with regional blog-system.

BUT if all is planned clearly and without mistakes, blog network will work on a global level too. It is more difficult, but more interesting too. :)

I kind of see blog networks in a similar vein as record labels.

Seems as though performers are always introduced as "so and so recording artist...", but not once have I ever put any weight on that announcement, or been prompted to visit so and so label's website to see what other artists are signed there also. Nor have I become a fan of a performer simply because of the label they are signed to.

Instead, if I hear a song I really like, I'll Google the title or the artist and then gauge their relevance (in my mind) by the type and quality of return links. I'll check Amazon or iTunes and check out their album. If it all works for me, then I'm a fan and I'm hooked.

I'd imagine at the very core, most people find bloggers / quality content in a similar fashion.

How do you figure they're making a comeback? From all that noise Arrington raised not too long ago?

"Comeback" in the sense that more and more people seem to be throwing the term out more than usual. I like your analogy with the recording artists. Might the first good one you pumped out this year.

You mean like how 9rules is making a comeback to blog network-ism?

Yeah, I like blog networks. It's a tad biased, of course (we are, after all, discussing the question on one), but I think it's a marvelous way to blog hop. And when bored, finding new blogs to read is just heaven.

I think blog networks are probably the future of the genre. It's just too hard to find good content (and there's just sooo much to sift through on the internet).

It's like driving all over town vs. one-stop shopping. Most people are going to go with the superstore or shopping center and maybe veer off to the occasional specialty shop every once in a while.

Nice analogy missginsu.

Honestly this is the only "blog network" I'd even consider following--Maybe b5 because of Darren Rowse.

Like firesnake mentioned above, the Notes are fantastic. I come here for the community. I love how active and vibrant it is.

From what I can tell there really isn't anything like 9rules out there. It's the best!

9Rules is really the only blog network I respect as a blogging network that isn't completely corporate (like Weblogs Inc is). I've seen so many stupid networks pop up recently, and they're so annoying.

I like blog networks that take their network seriously -- like 9rules. I hate it when someone just says "I'm starting a blog network", works on it for a day, then forgets about it.

I'm thinking that there's a variety of blog networks (of which I'm completely unaware so this is a guess) - so in effect it's just a matter of what network suits you. Common people will probably pick only one or at most two to peruse. The good thing about this, I think, is that the crappy ones will go to hell while the better ones will get to stay afloat. That is, unless the lowest common denominator rule wins out and the networks which attract the dumbest, easiest minds for instant gratification prevail.

Anyhoo...it might be a cliche (or regurgitation) but I personally like to come to a blog network which will reflect the highest quality of topics and discussion. Also a network which will attract a low number of trolls. And for me, it'll only be one because I only have so much time to spend online. And that's where I'll be most invested.

I think blog networks are "good" but as far as liking them enough to actually get involved with them - only one shall apply to that definition.

Thanks for the props guys, hopefully the new 9rules continues living up to the standards that we have set.