Thursday, September 8, 2011

Post Of The Year


Every so often, we come across a blog-post that is special.  It shows an especially-successful outfit, or examines an interesting question of human nature, or courageously reveals deeply personal facts about the life of the blogger.  The prominence of such a post is palpable.

Unfortunately, however, the format of blogs buries such gems.  The chronological sequence of posts hides special ones beneath an endless pile of new ones.  Sometimes a bunch of ordinary posts will obscure the best ones a blogger has written.

This is often the situation when new readers find our blog and peruse the last week or two of posts.  They get a sense of who we are but, by not going further back, they miss our best efforts.  I've tried to fix this problem by adding a section of links on the side of my blog to posts I'm most proud of.

When I read a great post, I want more people to enjoy it.  I was wishing this recently and realized there's a way I can draw more attention to those special posts.  I'm going to compile a list of terrific posts, present them to you for a vote, and then award the winning blogger two prizes.

In the next two weeks, I'm going to scour all of your blogs for the best posts I can find.  I will compile a list of 6-8 of them and then give them to you to vote upon.  You can help me in this endeavor by nominating good posts, from either your blog or anyone else's.  Nominations can be made in the comments section or by e-mailing me directly (fhu@pipeline.com).  Just tell me where I can find the post (blog & date; or link to it).

The winner will receive two gifts: one from you and one from me.  The gift from you will be new attention to an old post (and hopefully enhanced future readership of the blog).  The gift from me will be cold, hard cash.  (See below.)



Thanks for your help!

28 comments:

  1. oh no ... the pressure is on :-) what if ... what if ... I don't have a blog post that makes the grade? seriously -- this is a good post and so very true -- about our best posts being buried ... But you know, I have no way of knowing which one of my posts are good. I can get some sort of feeling for that about the number of hits a post will get. But often, I think my best posts lie hidden because I am writing a *fashion* blog and if I have a good outfit with good pics, those are the posts that will get the most hits ... I dunno. it's late. I'm tired, and I ramble.

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  2. What a great idea! you are so generous. I'll have to think of someone to nominate and get back to you :) xx

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  3. I wanna nominate this post of emma's - http://scrapbookdelaemma.blogspot.com/2011/07/last-weekend.html I thought it was so cute. All the pics made me smile. Hope you like it xx

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  4. Oh wow, what a generous idea. I'll let you know if I can think of anything!

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  5. Oh Wow! Excellent idea and soo very generous.

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  6. I always read old posts and I'm very fond of reading my favorite blogs from post no 1! I agree with what you say and what an excellent idea! It's too hard to choose the best of all the blogs out there! And I'm too humble to nominate any of my own..! So... good luck with that! And your cash offer is so generous btw! :)

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  7. Oh, wow, to echo what others have said, this is very generous of you. I really don't think I'd be able to pick either, but the idea is tempting ... I may give it a shot!

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  8. Well there are no Pulitzer prize winning posts on my blog, I know that for sure! My silly little blog is just for fun. As for other blogs, there are simply too many smart, funny, talanted folks out there to pick just one.

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  9. Such a great Idea! But I could never nominate one of my pose because I would feel cocky, haha(even though I like my blog).

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  10. Such a great idea. You are so thoughtful and you really are someone who is sincere about getting to know people. I love that about you.

    xoxo,
    Tracy

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  11. This is a great idea! You are a good leader Ralph and you are also thoughtful and can appreciate good writing. I unfortunately don't have anything amazing written on my blog lol. I will be excited to see who gets nominated. I Love a good read.

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  12. What a great idea! I know what you mean about posts getting buried.

    What are you looking for? Witty? Inspirational? Tear-jerking? I have read a handful of amazing posts that I wouldn't mind digging up.

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  13. This is exciting! Great idea. That last line cracks me up.

    Hmm... Now to think of a nominee...

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  14. WOW!!! That's so generous of you!!!

    P.S. The sun is shining in NYC today! Thank God! :) Will you in the city for FNO?

    ♡ from © tanvii.com

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  15. It continues to amaze me how dedicated you are to blogging. This is a wonderful endevour and i really look forward to reading the posts that you find.

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  16. Feel free, guys, to suggest posts, including from your own blogs. Don't be shy! And, Megan, I'm looking for what you guys want, not what I want. You'll be voting and chosing the winner, not me. The subjects can be anything, including just pretty pictures of a nice outfit.

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  17. I really liked this post: http://www.delightedmomma.com/2011/08/how-to-take-non-perfect-family-photo.html

    My new blog is, well, new, so I don't think anything I've posted thus far would come close to warranting such a prize. I'll keep at it, though!

    www.atavisions.com

    P.S. I totally nominate, like, everything you post. You have very engaging topics.

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  18. What a great great great idea (and yes it was so great I needed to repeat myself!) :) I've been so tired recently that my blog posts have been short & sweet so that's all people see but if you delve into my past you might discover secrets and I love that about blogs I've been following for a while (like yours)- you see all different sides!

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  19. I don't know if Bella reads your blog, but this is my vote for post of the year:

    http://www.thecitizenrosebud.com/2011/08/empowerment-of-self-portrait.html

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  20. Hi Terri. Yes, I think she does. Great post! Keep 'em coming, guys; the more, the better.

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  21. What a interesting idea! I quite agree with your point about regular posts obscuring some of our better efforts. I always love finding a blog and then reading their posts all the way back to the beginning. It's fascinating to watch people change and grow.

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  22. Oh well, I'll be that arrogant person who nominates themself. ; D
    This was a good one, I felt: http://rubyslipperjourneys.blogspot.com/2011/06/im-travellin-on.html

    But I'm going to think of some other people's I loved and get back to you too. : )

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  23. Oh I cannot wait! You gotta post links with all the runner-ups too. I will dig around and send you some of my fave reads!

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  24. Since I'm supposed to be all tongue-in-cheek narcissistic, I won't hesitate to suggest one of mine! ;)

    Every post I make is near and dear to my heart, even the short, silly ones. But there are some I'm especially proud of because they took a lot of courage for me to write. And it's my hope that someone out there reads those and relates to them and then begins to change the way they see themselves as a result. That is the greatest reward I can get.

    This is the first post I wrote where I really delved into my personal life and shared my background of how I went from being very insecure to recognizing my self-worth and no longer being apologetic about it!

    http://blog.theclosetnarcissist.com/2011/02/jenarcissist-bares-all-history-of.html

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  25. What a great idea! I can't wait to see all the nominees, and I'll try to think of one to contribute as well.

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  26. You make such a great point, and it's something I've never really thought about, but it's so true. Often times, our best pieces of work do get buried under all the other content. It's inevitable, of course, but still a shame to newer readers who aren't going a month or so back into your old blog content. You have me thinking that I might have to do as you did and collect some of my personal favorite posts that I have done into a list on my sidebar. Hopefully that way, people will click on them and have a better chance of seeing the work I am most proud of and that I deem most worth of them putting their time into reading or looking at.

    You are an idea inspiration, Ally!
    Much Blogger Love!

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  27. This is a great idea :)
    I look forward to reading these wonderful posts.

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  28. Abby
    I have only recently found your blog and I am working through your old posts to try to get to know you better. I will let you know when I have proceeded far enough but so far I like what you have to say and how you go about saying things.
    Pat

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