May 29, 2009
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Driving More Traffic to Xangans – An Experiment
Today we started experimenting with the “Top Blogs” module on Xanga’s frontpage to see if we can drive more traffic to your Xanga sites with it.
First, we moved the module higher on the page – this move doesn’t really require formal experimentation… the new placement should drive more clicks – woohoo!
Now, we’re experimenting with four different versions of that module:
- Top 10 “Top Blogs”, in order – this is the version of the module we’ve been using for a while
- Top 50 “Top Blogs”, randomized – greater variety of posts, gives more people a chance to make it to the frontpage
- Top 10 “Most Rec’d”, in order – there’s a lot of overlap between “Top Blogs” and “Most Rec’d”, but there seem to be some breakout (and interesting) posts in Most Rec’d that don’t always make it to Top Blogs
- Top 50 “Most Rec’d”, randomized – just like #2, above – offers greater variety and gives more people a chance
This one is a more formal experiment: we are randomly choosing one of the four to show each visitor (for the next week, you should be seeing only one of these four) and we are collecting careful click-through data.
We’re going to run the experiment for about a week, crunch the data and then share the results with all of you to help us all make a decision on how best to use that module to drive traffic.
In the meantime, we’d love to hear from people seeing each of the four different versions – do you like the version you’re seeing or do you think you’d prefer a different one? Again, we’re agnostic on the four versions… we just want to find the most effective way to drive traffic. The data will help inform the ultimate decisions here, but your comments are definitely helpful as well.
Thanks!
Comments (126)
Comment .
Hm. Interesting experiment.
Sounds good. I think perhaps the best way might be a split “5-5″ where the top 5 blogs always make it, but the other 5 are randomized “editor’s pick” type things? I notice that at times there isn’t that much change in top 10 bloggers.
Top Ten Most Rec’d is the way to go.
I think I’m going to like this.
Thanks for doing this, Xanga Team. You really do try to give Xangans what they want. It’s great.
Well, of course, all of these blogs would be rated B or less, so… Sucks for me! But no different than before, lol.
If you really want to drive traffic back to individual sites – quite promoting the -ish sites on the xanga frontpage and start featuring posts on the -ish sites the same way you do on featured weblogs (where the link and comments goes back to the author, not the -ish site). Also, as I pointed out the other day, bring back the subscription browser. It really does increase surfing, you know. And start featuring individuals, instead of -ish sites, on Xanga. Right now, you have a featured xanga team post and a featured -ish site post. I thought you told us months ago you were going to quit doing that.
i’m definitely seeing the randomized top 10..
@radicalramblings - exactly what i was going to say.
@radicalramblings - But arn’t the ish sites helping Xanga get money? That’s why those are being featured.
What about a “10 most recent” blogs list and a “50 most recent” pulse list (that would help you compete with T*****r.
If you don’t mind an opinion, I think Top Ten, like it was, (or even Top Fifteen) Top Blogs on the front page would drive more traffic, except randomize it where a different top fifteen of the total top fifty would show up each time you visit/refresh the front page, similiar to plugz, the way they change every time, with rarely the same plug showing up twice in a row. This way, people may not complain as much, because it’s cycled to put them on the front page module at some point, so they don’t have to make # 10 of above before their post gets more publicity. This would slow traffic to people who frequently make the top three, like myself, wherethefishlives and thetheologianscafe, but it’d give everyone an equal chance.
If that made any sense. Thanks guys!
Sounds like an interesting approach. BTW…
Where is my TRUE badge that I’ve been waiting for? It’s been months…
I reserve judgment and really hope it words well
I am not on Xanga to have hundreds of followers so it isn’t an issue for me.
I would choose option # 4 to give more people a chance.
cool
I like 2 and 4. My problem with 1 is it’s always the same people, and my problem with 3 is based on what I’ve seen on my personal inbox, people rec posts for all kinds of reasons and often not because they are well-written or interesting. A lot of people rec for political or ideological reasons, or for internal Xanga-drama reasons. Great experiment!
I think it would be fun to have a little spot that you could feature a relatively unknown blogger on… someone who might get very few hits, is new to xanga or is just under the radar for whatever reason…. sort of like a meet a new blogger thing…. recent is where I go to find them now… but there are a lot of ads on there….
*thumbs up* systematic!
will be interesting to see what the results are… not sure any of them will be that effective….
Nice
you know what xanga should implement? A “similar posts you might like” module that goes at the end of every post. This would recommend other posts by the same user or different users that are a) popular b) relevant (through tagging, title, and keywords) c) has been featured, or recced a lot. This would keep people browsing around to different users as well as keeping them within content they like.
You can pay me later for the suggestion
I’m always in to experiments. As indicated in recent posts…….
cool beans :)
i think there needs to be a formula around some of those items if there isnt. aka unique commenters are worth more, if the post has been up a shorter time its worth more, etc.
good job, little angels
@Yosho - This would probably have to be an opt-in feature and I wonder how many people would opt-in to the module?
I can see one slight problem with the recommend versions. I have seen a couple of people post threads asking to donate to charity get a lot of recommends. Which is fine. But I could see a real potential for scamming in this manner.
I do like that the team is working on new ways to drive traffic with the top 50 to more than a few people like the current one does.
My opinion, without seeing anything yet, is top 10 blogs in order AND Top 50 “Most Rec’d”, randomized.
Top 10 gives the competitive people something to shoot for and it will really feel earned, methinks… while top 50 most rec’d will really give readers a cross-section of what’s on Xanga. Of course, this only works if people respect the rec system. Maybe top 40 or 25 would make sure good content gets up in this section.
Something to consider.
Good experiment, though. Big props to y’all. Thank you.
@Yosho - BTW, we do this on the partner sites.
busy as usual!!
Xanga Team, you are spoiling us.
that the way to go for blogs.
I like Top 50 Top Blogs randomized. No offense to anyone, but some of the most rec’d posts are email forwards people copy and paste into their blog or it’s a blog praising or booing Xanga that no one outside of this network would understand.
I’m liking it so far. I have random top blogs and it’s great to see something different by refreshing the screen.
I think the experament would work better if people didn’t know about it in advance.
Cool Idea!! Anxious to see how well it works!!!
sweet…. thank you for the personal attention to our individual traffic needs
I’m seeing #3 and I like it.
But I rarely visit the front page so whatever you pick what (most likely) have little effect on me.
is there an option in the settings to never be included in these rankings?
This is one of your more interesting experiments. I think I’ve seen all of those suggestions floating around at some time or another. Fun!
If you want to give people more traffic why are you showing the top blogs in the first place? Show blogs that are good but haven’t been discovered yet. imo
Really interesting.
i like the one i’m seeing…Top 100…cool
… 
hmm….
Sounds good.
Interesting idea. I think putting both top blog and top recommend on the front page at the same time would be pretty sweet as well.
Interesting variations….it will be interesting to see what the results of all the data will say.
Randomizing Top Blogs FTW.
A while ago I suggested that you increase the top blog from 50 blogs to 100 - thanks for implementing it. I feel it gives everyone a chance.
I think you ideas are great. V
More options and more choice. <3 I’m glad you listen to us, guys. You know we love you.
Always open to new ideas.
hmmmm good idea. Why not drive traffic to those who pay for xanga to boot? As a paying customer (lifetime or premium), shouldn’t there be some special privelages related to being featured more often than people that are not paying customers? I know of at least 20 xangans who have been featured over a dozen times and they are not paying – compared to probably 20 other xangans who are paying and have rarely been featured. That doesn’t seem right does it? Just my thoughts on it.
i’m seeing top 10 rec’d but I’d rather see top blogs.
@radicalramblings - I agree.
The 10 most recent posts should be at the front page as well.
won’t telling us this bias the results? then we know we’re expected to click and we start doing it more
I love 2 and 4. What a great idea! Thanks Xanga team
hope it works eh?
I like #2 Top 50 “Top Blogs”, randomized
Sounds pretty nifty. I like this idea.
Those are pretty interesting….but still. No one is trying to hear MY side.
Anyway, here’s what I have got to say:
Can’t you make an experiment wherein those that belong to the Top 10 Top Blogs or Top 50 Top Blogs should be from the Xanga Team’s own choices and NOT from Xanga users?
Because its like this: When xangans make comments or recs, they’ll most likely end up recc’ing and making comments to people who’ve already been in Top Blogs for the past several months (like TheTheologiansCafe, Vanedave, Cakalusa, MySecretLoveAffair, etc) And if a blog has more comments or recs, then it will appear in the Top 10 Top Blogs or the Top 50 Top Blogs. Other people who have more good content but no recs or comments are not included, because no one paid attention to them.
That is unfair.
Unless….
If the Xanga Team itself will be the ones to CHOOSE who gets to be on Top Blogs, then it would be full of variety.
I hope THIS comment will not fall on deaf ears.
#4
Driving more traffic to high traffic areas. Brilliant…
Are people who are rec’d exempt from making it if they have the must be logged in block on their site?
@the_loveliest_tragedy - I don’t know how much they are really helping if they are driving traffic away from Xanga. They might be making money but they are making money for different sites, not helping Xanga at all.
I have a quality that I like in people. It is the ability to speak your mind and heart when it may not be the most popular of opinions. You exhibit that quality. I have learned early on that I do not have to ask you “what are you thinking
I love this idea!
@GreekPhysique - That’s actually a really good idea.
option no. 2 sounds most interesting to me, but whatever works. i would also recommend updating the feature blogs a little more often than you do…
What ever happened to links to random blogs? Didn’t we use to have that or am I going crazy? That would be nice to see…
Sounds like a plan
The whole thing seems silly. You should have a pair of Bottom 10s and Bottom 50s. It’s the people who have no exposure that need assistance. The people with the most exposure already have the most exposure; they don’t need the assistance!
Xanga is trying to diversify its home page with different bloggers
faces, and a more diverse set of topics. I understand four versions
are being tested at the moment. The one I’m viewing, I don’t like. I
don’t like the idea of most recommended being on the home page, because
it is the most easily manipulated way of getting exposure to a blog. I
like that there is a page for most rec’d, though.
My 1st idea
is a simple one, well, at least I think so. Instead of messing with
most discussed blogs on the side of the homepage, let that stay as is.
I believe that Featured Blogs should be categorized. For example,
having categories like Life, Health, entertainment/pop culture, comedy,
and relationships. Having the latest featured blog in that category on
the front page with a link under it to a list of older blog featured in
that category. I’m not sure where the responsibility should lie on
deciding on how to categorize a blog, users or Xanga staff.
From
a business perspective, it could help ad revenue for Xanga because it
creates more highly viewed pages and lets say if there’s a
relationships category, a link saying for more relationship topics go
to Dateingish, where still more Xangans are featured. And think all
those featured categories had 25 different Xangans, instead of, the
smaller that is there now, that would be a lot of exposure. I haven’t
been on Xanga that long, if this has been done I didn’t know.
@dan - Then why don’t you do it on Xanga? It seems to me that, once again, there has been some disconnect in logic. Implementing new features on part of the network but not the rest, does nothing but further divide & confuse your users.
XangaTeam gentlemen:
Good Morning to you from India!I am sadaboy
You are always surprising me with new brainwaves.(Something wrong with your server btw? My Dell tells me so!)
This experiment –I hope to make it there too–seems to be fruitful.Thank you a million times for that goodness of heart to share the results with the bloggers.
Thanks a million once again!
sadaboy india
Ok, so I’ve been observing the front page, and I don’t like it lol. I LOVE that the top blogs module is a little higher up, but the randomization and pulling from different places is putting some stuff on the front page that really isn’t that good. Not that I am the knower of all good blogs, but some pretty random stuff is getting there, I don’t think its AS representative of quality posts as it was before.
http://www.mexflores.com
Send gifts to Mexico, Online delivery of flowers to Mexico, gift to Mexico, chocolates, cakes, watches, teddy, sweets, fresh fruits, dry fruits.
Anniversary, birthday, wedding gifts, cakes to Mexico, Same day delivery to Mexico, Gift Shop.
Interestingly enough, I am seeing more traffic to my site in footprints coming from the home page, so it does seem to be pushing more traffic to this particular xangan.
not sure where to report this but…
on the current theme i’m using, even though i’ve set it to only display one weblog on the main page, it’s currently displaying two
it only recently has started doing this, i know it was displaying correctly when i first set it up and only noticed the change to displaying two yesterday
why is there a read more thing? please remove it!
UNDO THE “READ MORE” CUT TAG.
NOW.
STOP TRYING TO FIX WHAT IS NOT BROKEN.
There’s an automatic blip at the end of my entries which say “Read more…” – is there an option to turn it off?
Please and thank you!
- Dee
Why are cut tags suddenly appearing on my entry?
I like that you are trying this; it’ll be interesting to hear the results!
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I’d say option 4!!!
@Lithium98 - I agree.
I think top 50 anything is a bit much. :/
10 sounds just peachy.
I think @Yosho - ” similar posts you might like” is brilliant. eBay is a pretty smart company, and they have developed those types of programs presumably because people click through? That’s a great idea.
As for the “experiment” with the four options, I think people might like something that shows something other than the few names that are always there, which probably seems almost static with how familiar those names are.
I don’t see it as one of these four options, if I’m understanding right, but I like what I see right now. There are tabs for “Top Blogs” and “Most Rec”, which include the top 100 under each tab.
note: The HUGE ad below #5 almost made me not realize there were 95 below it though. Of course you need ads, but looking at screen placement and size I really didn’t know until second look that there were 100, not five. (I guess I don’t look at scroll bars.) Maybe the tabs might indicate “Top 100″ or something? But I like the tabs, and the longer lists.
nice one hope it works
cool. i wondered why i had people coming to my site form that page…i know i’m not that interesting! lol
i’ve got randomized top 10 rec’d, and to be honest, i’m not impressed.
what i like about the front page’s having 10 top blogs is that it is what is drawing the absolute most attention, and i like to see that.
maybe what you guys want is to spead the attention over more people, which is great, but i guess it’s not my forte.
add a random blog button!
I really hadn’t noticed.
Hi. I wanted to make a suggestion to you guys? I was wondering if you might be able to have an ‘online users’ thing. Like, in the blogrings, put it in order of who’s online in alphabetical order, and who’s not in alphabetical order below that or something. And then the same thing for your subscriptions, your subscribers, and your friends. I think it would be really, really helpful, especially for us RPers. So, just consider it, please. Thank you.
-Veva (aka Winter Lynn)
When you Google
EminemsRevenge
the first entry that
used
to pop up was my Xanga site…NOW it’s on page two
Looks like you creeps have finally allowed to silence my Xanga site…especially now that it’s set to automatically freeze up when i log in….just curious—WHY
MEologian got that much POWER over y’all???
I think xanga is the best blog site thing so far but I really would like to be able to post comments without being registered on xange because none of my friends can use xanga due to the language so I wanted to know if that was possible: adding comments just under anme for example
Why do I keep getting the cuttaganchor at the bottom whenever I published a new entry???
Does xanga ever reply to our queries?
I think you should just have a button that says “random” that takes you to a random blog. One thing I think that has made xanga so dead over the last few years is the fact that you only promote already highly popular xangas.
I truly love this idea. But could someone tell me why my editor is huge and it is so big that there is no scroll button? How does one get tech support on Xanga? Judi
@jassmine - Don’t bother…
Thanks
I like it so far
ok
I’m sorry, I seriously don’t understand the different options you just listed. What is the current Top Blogs style in?
hmmmm.
regards.
trulytito.
(tito dutta)
I wish I had read this article earlier
I started loving Xanga.com. Keep experimenting.
There should be more modules like latest updated blogs etc.
I’d like the see the opposite–people who have the least traffic to their sites. If you could weed out the commercial ones (advertising stuff or with layouts), it could be a great way to connect with “average” xangans. I doubt I’ll ever make it to the front page, and I’d like to make friends with non-celebrities, so that could help people connect even more.
Xanga was great when it was simple and awesome
it would be cool to get an update on the stats of what worked best
Excellent site, keep up the good work. I read a lot of blogs on a daily basis and for the most part, people lack substance but, I just wanted to make a quick comment to say I’m glad I found your blog. Thanks,
A definite great read…
anti keylogger
like this
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hows it goin
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