tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8139208628011657611.post6993340107935435329..comments2024-03-19T15:44:46.027-07:00Comments on My Home and Garden: How to cheat Blotanical and get to the top of the stats. Why? Because it's just so much easier. (My tongue is firmly in my cheek right now)Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03394245146898073227noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8139208628011657611.post-62655265133472863592013-03-16T00:52:06.641-07:002013-03-16T00:52:06.641-07:00Hi Linda. Your long post just came in today, so I&...Hi Linda. Your long post just came in today, so I'm not sure what the heck. I would love to be on your Canadian blog list. There is a really close bond we form in Canada. The struggle of gardening so far north. Although I'm on Vancouver island so I sure can't complain. How did your experiment go??!<br />ErinErinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03394245146898073227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8139208628011657611.post-84452765820923556872013-03-15T04:44:13.079-07:002013-03-15T04:44:13.079-07:00I'm using today's post as a test to see if...I'm using today's post as a test to see if I can get the red star beside my new site. I can't remember if it is done automatically or if it has to be processed. It will be a good experiment to see if someone actually reads it before giving the red star.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8139208628011657611.post-399649520811935562013-03-14T15:23:23.595-07:002013-03-14T15:23:23.595-07:00Thank goodness the post made it to me...all that t...Thank goodness the post made it to me...all that typing was not for nothing. I will check out your post tomorrow. I go in still to process new blogs and get messages. That is a part of blotanical I love. Stuart never answers their or my enquiries or requests for help. There is a blog I processed, with a perfectly acceptable feed and her thumbnail / preview picture never shows up. I have tried everything I could, but needed to get Stuart's help. Nothing. So her blog is doing okay but of course not really getting noticed. Sad. <br />I am going to check out your blog.<br />ErinErinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03394245146898073227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8139208628011657611.post-40059104004500802432013-03-14T15:14:58.322-07:002013-03-14T15:14:58.322-07:00Yikes I wrote a long reply and when I clicked publ...Yikes I wrote a long reply and when I clicked publish it vanished.<br />Interesting read ... I've got a few words about Blotanical in my post tomorrow. If you want to stop by, click my name on the comment and then do one more click to get to my site.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8139208628011657611.post-79183642002171702402013-03-14T15:04:21.253-07:002013-03-14T15:04:21.253-07:00Very interesting read. I was one of the first mem...Very interesting read. I was one of the first members at Blotanical, back in the days when there were just enough blogs to visit on a daily basis. If you picked and sent messages daily it was easy to get to the top. From there I developed my own blogroll of places I loved to visit. I also have a huge list of Canadian sites that I love to promote. I call it the Canada Blog hop and it is one of the tabs at the top of my site. I left Blotanical due to all the nastiness that went on (in the first couple of years ... people would leave nasty messages about others thinking only the plot owner would see them. Then it became very competitive with picking, picking, picking. I actually got a lot of my points from sending messages and not picking. I just recently went back due to an email message from someone that said they couldn't access my blog anymore on there. Well that would be because I closed my Blogger blog and moved everything to my own domain. Of course I never even thought about changing it at Blotanical as I had been away so long. But I did go back to add the new blog, and then processed it myself to add it. I've picked a few posts and sent some messages and posted on the forum just to see if anyone is around or if anyone will accumulate more points than me in one day.<br />I have a post going up on Friday talking about garden resources and I actually have some almost negative things to say about Blotanical. Perhaps you will stop by and visit my site. I'm another Canadian blogger from Ontario. I use a wordpress account to comment but you need to make another click to get to my site. Hope you stop by. I will add your blog to my <a href="http://www.craftygardener.ca/canada-blog-hop/" rel="nofollow">Canada Blog Hop</a> if you are interested.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8139208628011657611.post-28891340885220973412013-03-06T23:55:33.106-08:002013-03-06T23:55:33.106-08:00Thank you Diana. Thank you Diana. Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03394245146898073227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8139208628011657611.post-68845357036909305932013-03-06T11:17:33.605-08:002013-03-06T11:17:33.605-08:00Hi Alistair. You're right it does feel dead. I...Hi Alistair. You're right it does feel dead. I still go in and process new blogs and answer their questions. But that is about it. I hadn't even thought about someone new taking over blotanical. That would be wonderful!! An exciting thought. :-)Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03394245146898073227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8139208628011657611.post-47145883982400657642013-03-06T11:15:26.145-08:002013-03-06T11:15:26.145-08:00Alistair the speed of loading the blogroll depends...Alistair the speed of loading the blogroll depends on what data you ask it to show. I prefer mine arranged by Last Published rather than an A to Z, with post title and a thumbnail. The odd thumbnail that doesn't come thru is ignored, and doesn't slow down loading.Diana Studerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12286066768376135880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8139208628011657611.post-24385044552497493442013-03-06T11:12:42.672-08:002013-03-06T11:12:42.672-08:00Why flack? We are with you!Why flack? We are with you!Diana Studerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12286066768376135880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8139208628011657611.post-36956013163649540702013-03-06T05:27:10.066-08:002013-03-06T05:27:10.066-08:00Thanks Erin, Telling the truth ensures that you do...Thanks Erin, Telling the truth ensures that you dont get negative response. Thanks for all the info. I think I will try the list on the sidebar as security if blotanical goes down altogether. Blotanical does feel rather dead. I think I am one of the few left that bothers with the picking thing. I just have a feeling that someone else is going to take it over and bring it to life again.Alistairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17104382970502166560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8139208628011657611.post-36751289724279371882013-03-05T10:32:55.852-08:002013-03-05T10:32:55.852-08:00I forgot to answer your question. Sorry. I have qu...I forgot to answer your question. Sorry. I have quite an extensive blog list on the blog. I set it so that it will tell me when the last post happened. That way I know whether I've already seen it. It works brilliantly!!! I have a fair amount of things to load on the blog....but it doesn't really take a long time to load. Not totally zippy, but not painfully slow either. I highly recommend it. Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03394245146898073227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8139208628011657611.post-50224552973568448162013-03-05T10:28:53.685-08:002013-03-05T10:28:53.685-08:00Hi Alistair. It has been an incredible ride. I kne...Hi Alistair. It has been an incredible ride. I knew something was wrong last summer. I just kept plugging away at it until I figured it out. It took months. When I realized that Vachtra, Dandylyon, Infusing Life and Citraphile were the same person and all their blogs were in the top positions, that is when the light went on for me. I realized that setting up new blogs to cheat would be hugely labor intensive so kept looking. Bingo!! It is the non blog members. ta da. mystery solved. The thing that really got me started was the blog that stayed in the number one or number two position for about six months. he wasnt active in Blotanical, didn't do posts very often back then and the blog was an okay blog but not spectacular like you would expect the always at number one blog to be. There were a few of us talking about how odd that was. <br />The cheats have disappeared from the visited list entirely, so I assume they've seen the post. In the post I said that I was going to shoot my blog up from number 55 to the top to show people it worked. I have not touched it since. Really stunned that it is still at number one...I really didn't want that to happen, ironically, so that people don't think I'M cheating. <br />I have my own list of blogs to follow too. It's the best way.<br />Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03394245146898073227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8139208628011657611.post-17734748512920386712013-03-05T07:29:25.820-08:002013-03-05T07:29:25.820-08:00Hi Erin, Whilst on blotanical I spotted the title ...Hi Erin, Whilst on blotanical I spotted the title of your post. I mean who could resist a visit. I have recently become disappointed with blotanical but stick with it, thats where I have my list for visiting blogs which I like. I am not fond of readers as I like to experience what people have done with their sites. A blog list on the side bar would be a good idea, have you any experience of this slowing down the loading etc of your site. Did I miss it on your post, how on earth did you find out such information regarding the cheats. Off to read it again just in case.Alistairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17104382970502166560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8139208628011657611.post-21283663880003114392013-03-04T10:59:50.173-08:002013-03-04T10:59:50.173-08:00Thank you so much. To be honest I thought I was go...Thank you so much. To be honest I thought I was going to take a lot of flack. I have been so pleasantly surprised by people reaction. <br />You are right. We are definitely on our own. I tried to get Stuart to fix this loophole, but never got an answer. One of our bloggers is having a lot of trouble with the preview picture of her blog. I have tried everything i can think of to fix it, and we've both contacted Stuart but nothing. I processed it so I know the feed was working but you can't see her blog snapshot. It's Happenings in the Garden if you want to peek at it. Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03394245146898073227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8139208628011657611.post-33739362564767812822013-03-03T02:24:06.058-08:002013-03-03T02:24:06.058-08:00Well done Erin and Diana for working this one out....Well done Erin and Diana for working this one out. I must be so naive - it never dawned on me that someone would be so desperate as to cheat. <br /><br />Erin, you were very helpful and extremely generous with your time when I had an issue with the fact that it was impossible to pick posts from certain blogs on Blotanical and I thank you for this. Unfortunately Stewart didn't respond to me regarding this glitch. Looking at the comments above, it appears that Blotanical has been abandoned by Stewart. I still visit Blotanical because I can pick posts from certain bloggers and this puts them on the front page, thereby, I hope, increasing their readership. <br /><br />I have joined Blooming Blogs - I like the fact that there are some of my favourite blogs already there and I am enjoying reading new blogs which are not on Blotanical. I also really appreciate the speed with which admin at Blooming Blogs responds to any questions I might have.Sarah Shoesmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03410745860215082568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8139208628011657611.post-61723457483733486532013-03-02T17:18:59.586-08:002013-03-02T17:18:59.586-08:00Hi NJ. I truly appreciate your comments. It was re...Hi NJ. I truly appreciate your comments. It was really such a brutal decision. I love the blog world and have honestly had the best time. And doesn't everyone just help and help and help each other. I am very new. I have needed a lot of advice to get his garden thing going quickly for me. This is my third season and I can see already that this year things are going a lot better. Yayyy.Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03394245146898073227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8139208628011657611.post-15920002605171338432013-03-02T17:14:57.728-08:002013-03-02T17:14:57.728-08:00I do belong to blooming blogs. The main difference...I do belong to blooming blogs. The main difference between the two is you have to insert your blog post yourself rather than a feed grabbing it automatically. Maybe they will fix that at some point. It would be awesome!!Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03394245146898073227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8139208628011657611.post-35710144948510099712013-03-02T17:06:00.086-08:002013-03-02T17:06:00.086-08:00Hi PP. it was Diana at one point who noticed thing...Hi PP. it was Diana at one point who noticed things weren't right. I was actually picking her brain a bit when I realized that something was amiss but couldn't figure out how. I kept thinking they had to be going somewhere in Blotanical that was out of the usual and found a glitch. I was making it way to hard. <br />Besides this, I have loved every blogging minute. I love blogging. I love bloggers. I have made some amazing friends. I am so lucky. Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03394245146898073227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8139208628011657611.post-51390004133454531132013-03-02T16:06:35.328-08:002013-03-02T16:06:35.328-08:00Thanks for unraveling this puzzle. I knew there wa...Thanks for unraveling this puzzle. I knew there was cheating but I couldn't figure it out. I did notice that the cheaters you named never picked me, lol. I have three blogs but only one persona.'<br /><br />Your new puzzle to solve is why I can't comment with my Google/blogger self on blogspot blogs that have embedded comment pages. Sometime I can use my Wordpress account, sometimes I can't comment at all. I think it is the embedded thing that stops me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8139208628011657611.post-83247624421581397262013-03-02T16:03:57.598-08:002013-03-02T16:03:57.598-08:00Thanks for unraveling this puzzle. I knew there wa...Thanks for unraveling this puzzle. I knew there was cheating but I couldn't figure it out. I did notice that the cheaters you named never picked me, lol. I have three blogs but only one persona. Jean Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09000315400392984647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8139208628011657611.post-31721505900717661892013-03-02T15:32:43.146-08:002013-03-02T15:32:43.146-08:00Interesting. I remember reading about this issue i...Interesting. I remember reading about this issue in the past--maybe through Diana's post? I think some others complained about it, too. I'm very sad about this, because Blotanical is where my blog really got going. The community of garden bloggers here is ... well, words can't express how much I appreciate everyone. :) I have noticed that Blotanical seems to be waning in other ways, too. I'll probably keep checking back, but it's nice to know about bloomingblogs.com. I had heard about that one, but haven't joined yet, so perhaps now is a good time. I, like you, am just happy to be able to participate in this wonderful community of garden bloggers!Beth at PlantPostingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10473637655960119672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8139208628011657611.post-42526500075483984212013-03-01T10:55:02.683-08:002013-03-01T10:55:02.683-08:00Hi Diana...you are right. I am completely on board...Hi Diana...you are right. I am completely on board with you. You know I was trying to figure out the cheating as almost a challenge for myself. I figured it out and now I've contacted Stuart and Outed the system. My job there is done. :-)<br />So now I'll just pop in and get messages and questions from my Sprouts and look at new blogs. I am going to put blinders on to stats and stuff...as I said, my job there is done. <br />I will follow your lead. Good plan. Bloggers are the coolest people I've ever met on line. The most giving, generous people. I feel blessed to be a teensy part of it. Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03394245146898073227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8139208628011657611.post-75408669631904745352013-03-01T10:48:43.595-08:002013-03-01T10:48:43.595-08:00I you are right!! It is an automated message, but ...I you are right!! It is an automated message, but I take the mentoring part of it seriously. I've processed about 150 blogs and enjoy helping people figure out the ropes. As I mentioned in the post...I really love Blotanical. But, Stuart has abandoned us and we're on our own in there. I have been asking him for about a year to fix the cheating, but he never did. <br />What brought it to my attention was the blog Ernie and I. it was in the top spot for about six months or maybe more before i joined. He rarely posted anything in the blog back then and never interacted with anyone in Blotanical. It took me a while to realize that what was happening wasn't possible. So I started watching very carefully. That is how my brain is wired. I love a puzzle. Once he went on vacation (said it in his blog) and his blog dropped off the stats. He comes back and he was at number one again within the week. The other stat cheater was Vachtra/Citraphile/Infusing Life/Dandylyon. These four blogs are all the same person. They haven't been cheating in a while. <br />I don't know why people would cheat either. I guess being number one is important to them. <br />But hey, even though I'm not going into Blotanical much since the post, I will go in and look at my messages now and again or you can post here if you have questions. I'd be happy to help. Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03394245146898073227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8139208628011657611.post-1459509523756131062013-03-01T10:19:04.858-08:002013-03-01T10:19:04.858-08:00I've just come across your blog Erin - I'm...I've just come across your blog Erin - I'm a relative new comer to blogging and Blotanical was the first site I joined. It didn't take me long to realise that the site had kind of been abandoned by who ever was running it. I did get a welcome message from you but didn't reply as I thought that was just an automated message. So my apologies, I don't want you to think I'm rude - I just thought it would go unread.<br />I joined Blooming Blogs too but find I don't have always have the time to 'join in'. <br />I can't understand why people would cheat???? Angiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14682908724307784154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8139208628011657611.post-48660769573437720022013-03-01T05:51:05.271-08:002013-03-01T05:51:05.271-08:00I am effectively using Blotanical's most popul...I am effectively using Blotanical's most popular posts to skim off the cream for me. <br />As you can see in the Recent Comments on his sidebar, I tried to catch Stuart here<br /> http://www.yourmoney2keep.com/<br />but no reaction via that route either.<br /><br />I continue to find new blogs via comments, or recommendations (e.g. from Jean's Garden each month). In my turn I promote the blogs I read on my sidebar. I know that works because StatCounter sometimes shows me readers click on a few blogs from mine.Diana Studerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12286066768376135880noreply@blogger.com