About 2 months ago, I started to see a new and regular source of traffic to this backpacking blog – MySpace. My immediate tracking back to the source didn’t lead me to my profile on MySpace as I had expected. Instead, I found that GoBackpacking’s feed had been picked up by MySpace News, which appeared to be a public feed reader (in beta testing).
The post-specific pages of blogs are framed within MySpace, with other sites in the same category, and an ability to rate content. The fact that you can see the entire blog made it seem innocuous. Plus, I was getting new visitors, so it must be a good thing. A reader either submitted my site (and it was approved), or the people at MySpace behind the project were proactively gathering some of the great sites in the blogosphere to populate their new service.
During the course of my normal review of traffic sources via web searches, I found that my posts were coming up under the heading of MySpace! Again, I’m not sure whether this is a good thing or not. My content is associated with a big name like MySpace, however could this be taking away from visitors coming directly to me (w/o MySpace as the intermediary)?
For now, I’ve decided to leave my site available on MySpace News, as it is hopefully expanding my audience. If you have a blog, you may want to consider submitting it. The language below is from the MySpace News FAQ:
Q: Can I submit my own blog or website?
Sure. Just go to Suggest a Site/ Blog/ RSS Feed to fill out our submission form. Our staff will review it for appropriate content and quality. If it passes inspection, we’ll try to add it to relevant news topics.
About the Author:
Dave is the author of 1529 posts on Go Backpacking.
Dave (Editor-in-Chief) blogged his way around the world from 2007-2009, and then started Travel Blog Success to teach others how to do the same. When not writing, he can be found salsa dancing in Medellin. Follow him on Twitter @rtwdave or look for him on Google+
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Categories: Blogging
10 Comments
seems bad to me, taking traffic away from you and keeping it on mypsace for myspace ad revenue etc.
seems bad to me, taking traffic away from you and keeping it on mypsace for myspace ad revenue etc.
i have a question, youve blogged lots on your trip preparations, but what prep have you/are you doing for your site? paying someone else to maintain it? blog on the road every once in a while?
most sites can pretty well maintain themselves but my site I do a lot via ssh which on the road can be a pita and makes you rely on web interfaces…
what plans have you for the site whilst gallivanting around the world?
Good question Stu. I’m satisfied with the blog’s current design and functionality, so while I might tweak a few things from the road, I’ll mainly be focused on generating new posts which I can do from any computer with internet access (and ideally a Firefox browser).
I’ve already paid for several years worth of the domain name and web hosting service, so there should be no interruptions there.
The rest of GoBackpacking.com is designed with NetObjects Fusion software, and therefore I will be unable to update that part of the site while gone. The only real decision I’ll need to make before leaving is what advertising to put in place. Otherwise, I long ago turned my focus to the blog as the source of all new content.
i have a question, youve blogged lots on your trip preparations, but what prep have you/are you doing for your site? paying someone else to maintain it? blog on the road every once in a while?
most sites can pretty well maintain themselves but my site I do a lot via ssh which on the road can be a pita and makes you rely on web interfaces…
what plans have you for the site whilst gallivanting around the world?
Good question Stu. I’m satisfied with the blog’s current design and functionality, so while I might tweak a few things from the road, I’ll mainly be focused on generating new posts which I can do from any computer with internet access (and ideally a Firefox browser).
I’ve already paid for several years worth of the domain name and web hosting service, so there should be no interruptions there.
The rest of GoBackpacking.com is designed with NetObjects Fusion software, and therefore I will be unable to update that part of the site while gone. The only real decision I’ll need to make before leaving is what advertising to put in place. Otherwise, I long ago turned my focus to the blog as the source of all new content.
hmm interesting dilemna. Maybe you could cause all the links to open a new window when a user from myspace sees your site which would allow you to collect revenue.
Oh yea another question, are u going to bring a small laptop on your trip? Or are u going to spend extended periods of time sitting in internet cafes?
Well, the MySpace thing is really just a frame around my site, so I’m quite sure anyone who would click on one of my Google ads, for example, would generate income to me (not MySpace). Also, there is a link to allow you to break the MySpace frame so it disappears. I actually think it’s a very *non-invasive* design.
I am not going to bring a laptop with me, as my primary goal is to travel light. I am probably underestimating the amount of time and/or money I may spend in internet cafes.
Hopefully I can strike a comfortable balance between keeping the blog updated (both in terms of content and advertising) and enjoying my freedom.
:idea: I’m hoping I can save some money by accessing the internet from the homes of couchsurfers I stay with.
hmm interesting dilemna. Maybe you could cause all the links to open a new window when a user from myspace sees your site which would allow you to collect revenue.
Oh yea another question, are u going to bring a small laptop on your trip? Or are u going to spend extended periods of time sitting in internet cafes?
Well, the MySpace thing is really just a frame around my site, so I’m quite sure anyone who would click on one of my Google ads, for example, would generate income to me (not MySpace). Also, there is a link to allow you to break the MySpace frame so it disappears. I actually think it’s a very *non-invasive* design.
I am not going to bring a laptop with me, as my primary goal is to travel light. I am probably underestimating the amount of time and/or money I may spend in internet cafes.
Hopefully I can strike a comfortable balance between keeping the blog updated (both in terms of content and advertising) and enjoying my freedom.
:idea: I’m hoping I can save some money by accessing the internet from the homes of couchsurfers I stay with.