Who Makes The Cut In These Top 20 Blogger Lists?
January 7th, 2008 Deeper Thoughts
Lani is having a fit again. Relax, it’s normal for her. This too will pass.
Anyway…
Tony Gallegos at The Mortgage Cicerone put out a Top 20 Bloggers List, which I managed to make the cut for. Lani at RE Revealed says…
“Boo, Cicerone! Kris and I know people and while I typically would award myself the 21st place award, I’m just going to note that although I do like Tony, I think the list is bunk. I understand my absence (especially given my recent blogatonic state), but Kris’? That’s whack.”
And further down in the comments (after I bait her saying I love the list!)
“@Athol- of COURSE you think the list is right on the money. Not only are you on the list, it’s your nature to oppose me, right? 
JK
I can say that MOST of the list is right on, but there are a few questionable bloggers (no, I won’t name names or opine, don’t ask). While I don’t really believe *I* should be on the list, I think people like Kris, Benn, Jay, Kelley and Dalton were blatantly overlooked.”
At this point I’m glad we’re blogging, as I somehow imagine in person she’d have a sharp pointy object like a pen, finger or umbrella she’d be stabbing at me with to make her points.
Perhaps a cup of Jasmine Tea would benefit our conversation. Or Hot Chocolate.
All these lists are just opinions, usually of just a single person. Essentially it’s just a popularity contest of sorts.
For what it’s worth, Tony writes some really solid deep pieces. I linked to him multiple times over the last year and we’ve emailed a few times. He really *should* right a book. Plus he isn’t really into the RE blogs as much as the mortgage ones.
Am I better than Kris, Benn, Jay, Kelley and Dalton? Well yes I am. Maybe, maybe not, honestly I’d struggle to rank this now on the quality of our blogs as much as me liking the individual blogger.
That being said, I bet I had far more email contact and linkage to Tony and even guest posted there once, than all five of them combined. Tony just knows me a whole lot better than any of them.
So it’s not who you know. It’s who knows you.
For example I happen to know who the President of the United States is. He however, doesn’t even have a clue I exist. So it’s not like me knowing the President gets me any kind of leverage. Now the President knowing me… well that’s a different story. I might become Ambassador to New Zealand, or find myself held in an undisclosed location for questioning. It’s all so exciting!
After who knows you. It’s what you are known for.
Honestly, I’m just plodding along on my topic of real estate photography. I think the only person who sticks better to their core topic is Jeff Brown at Bawldguy Talking. Brian Brady (holy crap Brian is everywhere… um just Google Brian Brady) likewise is relentlessly on topic. Teresa Boardman in St Paul’s is on topic too.
As dull as it sounds we can probably sum up all three of us in about 3–4 words each.
Me: Real Estate Photo Guy
Jeff: Planned Investment Guy
Brian: Super Mortgage Guy
Teresa: St. Paul’s Realtor Gal
and of course…
Scott Ginsberg: That Name Tag Guy
That’s about all there is to winning your way onto these Top 20 lists. I won’t lie and say I didn’t enjoy being part of the group, of course I did. It is fun, I said thanks and linked back and so on. But you can’t try and win these awards as your writing voice will never be quite right.
The trick is, there is no trick. Just plod.
The tea and your company has been delightful Lani. 
But now if you’ll excuse me, I made a mistake many years ago in the start of my marriage that I must attend to. Unfortunately I made the error of being the first person to perform this task, so it has defaulted to me forever…
…I have to scoop the cats litterbox.
