By the way, this contest really helped me to focus on RSS subscribers aspect of the blog. I never bothered before much for this side of the promotion. This contest was fruitful to everyone rather – we are seeing many blogs gaining double the subscribers this month, thanks to Daniel!

My plan is continue with this motivation and increase the RSS subscribers to 4000 by year end. Difficult but possible!

One important information I don’t have – how to monetize the RSS feeds! Any online guide available?

Here is the latest list of Top 10 today

(Past rank->Current rank) Blog | Increase

(1 From 1) #2 stockmarketindia – 953 => 1499 = 546

Monday worked for this blog it seems, compared to lull weekend. Just short of 1 subscriber for 1500.

(2 From 4) #105 stockmarketguide – 559 => 768 = 209

Gained 2nd position after deciding to make it Top 3 in comments over here.

(3 From 2) #8 homedesignfind – 89 => 292 = 203

Going steady, but lost the 2nd position

(4 From 8) #3 theuniversitykid – 417 => 588 = 171

Great going TUK, Love your growth in last 2-3 days.

(5 From 4) #23 everything-everywhere – 435 => 600 = 165

Gary, you are going steady too bro!

(6 From 6) #1 standoutblogger – 30 => 187 = 157

(7 From 7) #108 bloggingisnotacrime – 0 => 148 = 148

(8 From 9) #24 umarsiddiqi – 69 => 210 = 141

(9 OLD) #91 mommymeryl – 17 => 142 = 125

(10 New) #67 thenetfool – 333 => 453 = 120

And that is the reason some of the blogs don’t show decrease in number due to higher portion of email subscriptions. I hope it resolves your query, doubt and suspicion.

Show me a well known, respected site where RSS numbers increase every single day without decreasing. I’ll also bet they have hits >>> subscribers.

Luckily, the contest is ending mid-week. Hopefully there won’t be a FB sneeze then.

Obviously, a percentage contest wouldn’t work.

You could have different divisions (0-100, 101-250, etc) or use multiple metrics and assign points to them: Technorati rank, alexa rank, Google Backlinks, and RSS. Each of those metrics is flawed, but taken as a whole, they might be better.

Even if there was no prize, I think competitions can be helpful. My traffic and subscribers have increased more in July than in the previous two months, just because I had extra incentive given the contest.

One other idea, would be to make Blogging Idol more closely mirror American Idol. Use something like the above methods to try and get about 20 sites.

Get a panel of blogging celebrities to review sites, make suggestions for improvement, and then let people vote sites out of the contest. To a certain degree, this would be impossible to game. If a site sucks, it sucks no matter how much you can game numbers.

I like the contest and I think a lot of good can come from continuing it. I’m sure you’ve learned a lot from this first attempt at it.

I don’t want subscribers per se. I want readers. I want real human beings who really want to read what I have to say and to follow along with what I’m doing. Almost any single number can be gamed to some degree.

Long term success involves getting people to care about what you are doing. No amount of gaming can ever fake that. The long term value of real people who are interested in what you have to say will outweigh the benefits of winning an RSS contest. They will share your site with others, will be more apt to buy books and/or merchandise, and will be more likely talk back to you.

So just “getting subscribers” via some gimick doesn’t mean squat if they only reason they are subscribing is some contest or something where they just unsubscribe the moment it is over, because they don’t care about the content to begin with.

RSS is, I think, a very good approximation of real readers, but it isn’t perfect. Having a black hat method of making a number bigger wont make you or your site a real influence in your niche, which is the ultimate goal.

Here is the latest list of Top 10 today

(Past rank->Current rank) Blog | Increase

(1 From 1) #2 stockmarketindia – 953 -> 1461 = 484

(2 From 2) #8 homedesignfind – 89 -> 309 = 220

(3 From 4) #58 inspiredology – 829 -> 1037 = 208

Outstanding jump from 10th position to 4th position last time and now at 3rd position.

(4 From 3) #105 stockmarketguide – 559 -> 763 = 204

(5 From 4) #23 everything-everywhere – 435 -> 608 = 173

(6 From 7) #1 standoutblogger – 30 -> 188 = 158

(7 From 8) #108 bloggingisnotacrime – 0 -> 151 = 151

(8 From 10) #3 theuniversitykid – 417 -> 566 = 149

(9 OLD) #24 umarsiddiqi.com/blog/ – 69 -> 199 = 130

(10 From 9) #91 solidsmack – 780 -> 906 = 126

Using % is not an option. Else someone starting with 1 subscriber will be everyone else.

Perhaps the cap could have been lower, say at 500 subscribers max.

Also, going from 500 to 600 is a 20% increase where going from 100 to 200 is a 100% increase. I think that is something which might want to be considering in future contests. A 2 year old blog will have a different set of challenges and opportunities than a brand new blog.

(Past rank->Current rank) Blog | Increase

(1 From 1) #2 stockmarketindia – 953 -> 1437 = 484

Stready increase as usual!

(2 From 2) #8 homedesignfind – 89 -> 300 = 211

Steady increase again!

(3 From 3) #105 stockmarketguide – 559 -> 763 = 204

Good jump today, retaining 3rd position.

(4 From 10) #58 inspiredology – 829 -> 1002 = 173

Outstanding jump from 10th position to 4th position with 50+ increase in a day.

(5 From 4) #23 everything-everywhere – 435 -> 603 = 168

Going steady!

(6 OLD) #23 jobmob – 684 -> 838 = 154

Yesterday, the feedburner sneeze pushed it out of the list, for today’s return!

(7 From 6) #1 standoutblogger – 30 -> 177 = 147

Need to push more!

(8 From 6) #108 bloggingisnotacrime – 0 -> 145 = 145

No increase today!

(9 From 8) #91 solidsmack – 780 -> 920 = 140

Can do better!

(10 From 7) #3 theuniversitykid – 417 -> 551 = 134

Went down from 7th to 10th, due to 1 subscriber down

Alright guys, that’s it for now! See you tomorrow!

So here is the list of Top 10 today

(Past rank->Current rank) Blog | Increase

(1 From 2) #2 stockmarketindia – 953 -> 1413 = 460

After Rome, Stockmarketindia is leading the group with steady increase in RSS subscribers. But there is good competition coming from blogs like homedesignfind and everything-everywhere. Keep in mind guys, anything can happen in this last week. So cheer up!

(2 From 3) #8 homedesignfind – 89 -> 304 = 215

This blog is going steady as well and crossed milestone of 200 yesterday.

(3 From 7) #105 stockmarketguide – 559 -> 739 = 180

Awesome jump! Stockmarketguide almost breached the Top 5 and entered into Top 3 as he claimed yesterday.

(4 From 4) #23 everything-everywhere – 435 -> 596 = 161

SMGs jump did not allow E-E to take benefit of topper’s exit.

(5 From 5) #108 bloggingisnotacrime – 0 -> 145 = 145

One subscriber less today, wass up!

(6 From 6) #1 standoutblogger – 30 -> 169 = 139

Going good bro!

(7 From 6) #3 theuniversitykid – 417 -> 552 = 135

7 Subscribers left TUK today bringing him down in the list. Whatsoever, this is one of my favorite blogs along with Dailyblogtips.

(8 From 9) #91 solidsmack – 780 -> 911 = 131

One position up with solid strength.

(10 NEW) #58 inspiredology – 829 -> 954 = 125

I am really sorry but this blog was ignored for last few days. I was actually updating a list of some 25-30 same top blogs and missed this for long. Sorry fella! He or she stood at 10th position and it would be interesting to track a new blog from today.

So that’s it for now! Would you wait for my next update :D?

What a brilliant idea to give some exposure to bloggers and readers alike. You know … looking for some fresh stuff to read … well … here it is! I am definitely going to check some of these blogs out 😀

Ok off to write a post about all the birthday freebies and discounts that are flooding my email box since my birthday is next Monday!

Anyone want to subscribe as a birthday gift to me? LOL!!!

So here is the list of Top 10 today

(Past rank->Current rank) Blog | Increase

(1 From 1) #66 romeuy – 759 -> 1941 = 1182

Enormous increase. It’s almost going 200% increase in a month :O – no comments!

(2 From 2) #2 stockmarketindia – 953 -> 1377 = 424

I shall not say but initialy it looked like this blog will be tough competitor for Romeuy, but no noticeable spikes in RSS subscribers with on an average 20 new subscribers added up everyday compared to Romeuy’s 80 to 100 of increase everyday, brings this blog in mentionable blogs in this competition with the steady increase.

(3 From 3) #8 homedesignfind – 89 -> 293 = 204

This blog is going steady as well and crossed milestone of 200 today.

(4 From 6) #23 everything-everywhere – 435 -> 589 = 154

Coming back into action, this blog jumped from 10 to 6 and now at 4. Bravo!

(5 NEW) #108 bloggingisnotacrime – 0 -> 146 = 146

A new entry in last lap of competition. Good luck buddy!

(6 From 8) #3 theuniversitykid – 417 -> 559 = 142

TUK entered in the list last week with and going with speed. Let’s go where he can reach by end of this month.

(7 From 6) #105 stockmarketguide – 559 -> 694 = 135

Little down from last week’s position but still strong.

(8 From 4) #1 standoutblogger – 30 -> 157 = 127

With marginal increase of 10 subscribers in last 6 days, my friend slid down 4 positions this week. Don’t lose your hopes dear!

(9 From 9) #91 solidsmack – 780 -> 900 = 120

Retained his last week’s 9th position though there are lot of changes in the list.

(10 OLD) #58 dev102 – 394 -> 500 = 106

Why old? Because it’s an old entry – re-entered in the list. Welcome back fella!

I hope to see some action in last week, and will try to update you as often as I can even if not possible everyday.

I know that I’m mainly in the competition for the learning experience, since I’ve only been blogging for less than 1 month.

Speaking of which, if you haven’t subscribed to my blog yet, take a quick look at my SEO give-away competition (it’s the latest post on the blog) – just 9 hours left till the end of round 1 !!

Debi

@Life is Colourful
Thanks for everything!

@Gary
Don’t worry man. Daniel knows what he’s doing 🙂 Everything will be cleared soon.

The contest was done with all good intentions, and 98% of the people who entered are playing fair, and honestly, really would like to increase readership for its own sake.

The lack of rules, and the large prize has made it an easy target for scam artists.

All this drama aside, it would be nice if Feedburner could provide some additional information in its data. Unique IP’s, percentage of readers vs email subscribers, etc.

Normally, if you fake your RSS numbers, you are only making yourself look bad and are ultimately hurting yourself by spoiling one of your best performance metrics.

If Daniel does a contest like this again (and I think it would be a good idea), he should use RSS as one of several measures. You can set anyone up to see your Google Analytics numbers, so you could require everyone to do that as well.

Does it count a hit, if I just read it in the mail, and don’t bother to visit the blog – I believe No! That was the only reason I was saying not necessarily the hits should be the parameter, in my humble opinion.

But yes, if someone is gaming the system – that is not acceptable here. And even if we have hands on our ear, that does not mean Daniel has. He must have been doing his ground work – so I was just saying there is no point in discussion until Daniel comes up with something.

I am right now not in favor or against of anyone! What say?

I don’t know why we should put our hands to our ears and go “LA LA LA LA LA” and ignore what is happening.

I agree that increasing traffic is its own reward, but someone is clearing trying to do it to scam money. It would be wrong to sit back and do nothing.

It is so obvious that Romeuy is cheating, it is the 800 pound elephant in the room. Everyone can see it, but no one wants to say it. I don’t think you can show me an RSS graph in the history of the web that shows a trend like his site has shown.

Romeuy is a shady MMO site operator who runs a gaming website on the side. For obvious reasons, he entered the gaming website instead of the MMO website he runs (which share the EXACT same design). We are supposed to believe that he has increased his subscribers day after day without any pause or drop, without links or traffic to his website.

This contest was a good idea, but it was done without any rules or guidelines. When Feedburner shows subscribers greater than hits, that should be ground for elimination.

My aim is to break into the top 10 on the final week!

So guys, mess up with the top 10 list and let me see who can be a “NEW Entrant” this time 🙂

Will leave it with Daniel to sort out! Alot of people have put the blame on Daniel for the cheating of a few individuals, it is not Daniels fault that some people want to cheat. Lets let him get on with running the contest.

You analysis is not conclusive though. It you take a look at the graph, the number of hits did rise with the number of subscribers indeed, didnt it?

My point was, I think most of us are doing this just to get exposure to other bloggers and to get the word out about our blog, so even if the allegations are true, it wouldn’t affect my experience at all.

My comment was actually the opposite of your interpretation, so I’m glad I could clarify in case others felt the same way!!

I’ve gained 16 new readers and I’m thrilled since I had plateau-ed a few months ago. I know my bump is due to implementing the great ideas I’ve heard about through this conversation. Plus, I’ve been really transparent about this contest and some of my readers have enjoyed the journey.

When you do this in the future, I hope to enter my brand new blog. I hope you keep it really laid back, Daniel, even if some blogs are “gaming the system.” The prize wasn’t my motivation to begin with — I’m just thrilled to get new, valid readers.

As I’ve told my high school students for years, sacrificing your soul for points, a grade, or even money will catch up with them eventually… I’m just really glad you did this!! Thank you!!

I had two (maybe 3) big things planned for traffic in July and so far one of them is done, and its performed very well.

Even if the second one goes well, I can’t see ever getting in first place.

Even though it isn’t part of the contest, I’ve also seen my podcast subscriptions via iTunes jump by 120 this month.