Regular readers of this blog, all four of them, will have noticed a new look to the blog site. Well, at least I hope they have noticed. If not, a trip to Specsavers might be in order.
As much as I liked the picture of the harbour at Fernandina Beach, it wasn’t really me. I am based in Jacksonville and thought a picture of the downtown area was more in keeping. Besides, the metropolitan vista fits my suave, sophisticated and urbane character, as well as my fast-paced urban lifestyle. How I wish.
A more pressing reason for the change was the discovery that the blog site is now listed on Technorati. I had heard of the name but hadn’t a clue what it was about. I clicked on the link and sure enough a thumbnail-size image of my blog site appeared. Just as I was congratulating myself that I had “arrived” on the blog scene, I happened to notice my ranking. I stand at 3,324,487*.
An editorial board meeting was convened immediately. Heads were going to roll. Although some consolation could be taken from the blog site ranking higher than Stoke City’s Tony Pulis does among the world’s football managers, it just wasn’t good enough.
But then I got to thinking if the population of the world is four billion, a ranking of 3,324,487 is not all that bad. I am making the top 0.1 per cent.
Plausible as those arguments are, the board remained unconvinced. One unkind soul even suggested getting someone with real talent to write the blogs. The cheek! The financial director came to my rescue and told the board that, given the present economic climate, funds did not stretch to paying for a talented writer. Phew, that was close! Who says an economic downturn is all bad news?
But the board insisted that changes need to be made and so yesterday, armed with my camera, I set out to take shots to revamp the blog site and give it big city appeal. Fingers crossed the image change does the trick and the blog site sees a meteoric rise in the rankings. Well, actually, no because a “meteoric rise” is an over-used oxymoron, particularly by tabloid journalists and Fox News presenters. Meteors fall from the sky, kiddies.
Consolidation is the key at the moment. If the ranking can remain somewhere around the 3,400,000-mark, the blog site can push on next season. All it needs is a little bit of quality in the top third of the page.
[Note to self, I must stop using Pulis expressions.]
Technorati says, “The best way to increase the ranking is to write things that are interesting to other bloggers so they will link to you.” Write something interesting? And lose sponsorship by the American Association of Insomniacs!
I have lost track of the number of letters and e-mails I have received from people telling me that they have had their first good night’s sleep in years after reading my blogs, an accolade I share with Tony Pulis but, of course, not from the same glass.
You asleep yet? Good! My job is done.
* Author and bon viveur Stephen Foster ranks 1,655,777 in the Technorati listings, which goes to show the difference real talent can make. Pulis take note.
2 Comments
July 6, 2008 at 3:24 pm
3,324,487 – arf, arf, arf, arf.
1,655,777 – arf, arf, arf.
Try some naked wimmen [or men], Calvin. That should get you up the rankings a tad.
I like the new vista heading. It’s reminiscent of downtown Burslem.
M.
July 6, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Excellent photo my Pulis hating pal. Two posts in one day? My, the board members must be pushing you ‘aaaard!
Yoiks, all my prolific efforts and I only make the rank 3,324,847. I demand a recount!