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Last week, I had an opportunity to sit down with the crew at BlogCatalog. While browsing exploring the site’s many functions, I discovered in the “About” page that they were based right here in San Antonio. So, I decided to make an afternoon trip out there to see what they were up to. I’m glad I did.
I’m only in my 2nd week of using the service and have already noticed differences between MBL and BlogCatalog. I had seen the MyBlogLog-like widget on many of the blogs I read; but quite frankly, wrote it off as a MBL wanna-be (sorry, Angie & Tony). Boy, was I wrong!
Angelica Alaniz & Antony Berkman of SitePro shared with me the story behind BlogCatalog’s inception and eventual success. They purchased BlogCatalog from Jacob Gower of BlogFlux on January 20, 2007 via Sitepoint for $40,000. By early March with the help of its designers and programmers, Daniel and Oscar, the site had grown. Aside from improved traffic, they had implemented a variety of changes to differentiate itself from the competition.
The first thing I noticed was the “Discussion” tab. Behind it lies a diverse list of topics. Contrary to a traditional forum, this provides one place for any and all deilberations to take place.
Discuss issues and concerns, or promote a Community Fundraising Event
The second thing I noticed is that it doesn’t have site stats. I visit MyBlogLog daily becuase of this feature…even though I use Google Analytics. While this feature may be of value to me, it may not be to others.
And last, I really like the fact that “Featured Blog” on the front page gives everyone a chance to be seen. While the “Top Neighborhoods” and tag cloud point readers in the direction of the latest buzz (that’s all MBL does, it seems), everyone has a chance to get noticed by being featured…on the front page. A minor courtesy, but definitely an honorable mention.
Anyway…that’s just my quick $0.02. As always, Andy Beard assembled a thorough and unbiased review of BlogCatalog versus MyBlogLog. Check it out…and then get your butt over to BlogCatalog and join in the fun!
Oh yeah…and thanks for the coffee, guys! 
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June 5th, 2007 at 1:11 pm
Derrrrrrich,
Thank you for the review and the kind words.
We’re just getting started. Everyone better hold on to their pages as we have new ideas up our
hard-drives. We are going to blow all other blog sites away. – - – - – — – - – - >
Next time we’ll have more then coffee to share with you.
Now that’s Buzz!
Angie
June 5th, 2007 at 9:28 pm
The design looks a lot better than mybloglog
June 6th, 2007 at 6:57 pm
BlogCatalog certainly seems to be far more polished than MyBlogLog; it’s just a case of getting the users to switch!
- Martin Reed
June 6th, 2007 at 7:18 pm
I totally agree. They’ve got some great stuff up their sleeve.
June 6th, 2007 at 7:45 pm
[...] meeting with the BlogCatalog crew last week, we discussed a few things they had planned for the site. One of these features includes [...]
June 7th, 2007 at 8:31 pm
great blog you have here.
i’m a member of both mybloglog and blogcatalog. blogcatalog wins hands down for me in every department!
and if there’s more to come as Angie says, it will soon be unstoppable.
keep it up!
–Steve
June 8th, 2007 at 12:20 am
I only use mybloglog currently.
July 21st, 2007 at 11:22 pm
Hi Derrich!
I’m currently using several networking sites and Blogcatalog is the one that I treasure the most. Not because it has given me the most traffic referrals but because of the community. With Blogcatalog there’s real human interaction among the members. We help each other, we argue on different topics, we have misunderstandings sometimes but these are the factors that makes me feel that Blogcatalog is not just a directory or a source of traffic but a community of real people.
I’m looking forward to the new ideas. Lovely blog you’ve got here Derrich. Cheers and goodluck!
July 24th, 2007 at 10:24 am
They’ve got some great stuff up their sleeve? Stuff being fed to them by Andy you mean. I have yet to see them come up with an original idea that was not copied from MBL or fed to them.
July 24th, 2007 at 11:45 am
Actually, there’s one idea I’d love to claim…not from MBL and not from Andy. They’ve also been beta testing a few of those features for awhile — long before Andy came into the picture. He does offer excellent insight. Daniel and Oscar are quite creative and should be credited accordingly. There’s no denying the obvious similarities. Imagine where Google would be today if they didn’t start off with a simple search engine (i.e. Yahoo!). They took the idea and ran with it. I think what BlogCatalog is doing is healthy for competition. Obviously, we’re all entitled to our own opinions as to which community we frequent and promote. I certainly respect yours…no lip service. Thanks, Rose.
For those interested in reading more of Rose’s thoughts about the MBL/BC issue, stop by her blog and check it out:
http://rosedesrochers.todays-woman.net/2007/07/22/is-blogcatalog-a-copycat-of-mybloglog/