I participated recently in on the 100cc (100 comment challenge) organised by Jacinta Dean and mostly enjoyed it. I got to visit 100 other blogs some of which I had seen before, some not.
My overall experience was positive although it was quite time consuming to visit those blogs, read the posts and comments and then contribute something valuable to the conversation. There were a few posts (of the 101 in the challenge) that were lacking in content and it was difficult to conjure up something worthwhile to say.
Jacinta has noted elsewhere (see her comments on Alex’s post link below) that in hindsight it would have been better to more clearly enforce the conditions of participation. As for Jacinta’s effort – I say ‘good on you for getting up and having a go‘.
I agree with Alex that some comments that were left on a few blogs should not have been published and simply deleted from the moderation queue. These were the drive-by comments left by a very small number of bloggers, apparently in a hurry.
It is somewhat disappointing that those comments were written in the first place but understandable to some extent. You see, there will always be a number of cookie-cutter blogs (and bloggers) operating at any time and there will always be people who buck the system.
On a positive note, most of the time I saw valuable and well constructed comments left by bloggers who respected the guidelines set down by Jacinta.
Alex Whalley was somewhat unforgiving in his take on the 100cc but his post and the almost 150 subsequent comments do make some good points about the nature of some bloggers.
That is how I came to the point where I wondered how many rivets there are in a Boeing 747.
Just as it takes a lot of different parts to make a Boeing 747, the blogosphere is made up a many different people. There are lots of rivets in a Boeing that all look very similar and there are also some pretty neat bits that are really impressive (eg engines) but every bit plays its part and is there for a purpose. Try flying a Boeing 747 without any rivets and see how far you get.
The challenge for each rivet is to be different and to be noticed.
I cannot recall where but I left a comment on one of the 100cc participants blogs about attempting to be original rather than continuing to blog to a formula laid down by a coach. Catarina Alexon wrote an excellent article about being yourself rather than parroting others. It’s well worth a few minutes of your time to see her take on this.
When starting up it is wise to follow the guidelines laid down by a coach but there comes a time when it pays to be original and especially so with blogging. It might be good to start the first few months like that but sooner rather than later it becomes necessary to begin making your rivet look different from all the rest.
What can be missing sometimes from the cookie-cutter blogs is the spark of originality. Every one of us started out somewhere and very often it is through failure that we experience success. After all, success is not a lot more than a series of failures overcome by a will to achieve.
For the rivets, it is a matter of passionately believing that they are where they are for a purpose. I see myself as one of those rivets and I am slowly colouring and shaping what is visible so that it is different from all the others. What I make of it will not appeal to everyone but my blog will stand out enough to get me noticed.
Perhaps the culprits are the handful of people selling the rivet shops. Those people who are making money telling other people that they can make money by telling other people how to make money. That really does make sense if you read it again slowly.
That is another good reason why every rivet needs to set a goal to be different from the rest.
It’s a somewhat circular process of making money teaching others how to make money. I read this somewhere recently …
If you can make money then you can make money, but if you can teach others how to make money you can make 10 times more money.
It is an unfortunate reality that many who sign up to these programs have no idea what they are doing and are jumping at a perceived opportunity to “make their fortune online” without first conducting research on how many thousands of others they will be competing against.
Too much emphasis seems to be placed on churning out more of the same rivet shops when what the world needs is a few of these blogs to retool and begin making coffee carts, arm rests and puke bags.
Over to you >> What makes your blog stand out from the crowd?
Just for the record … I have no idea how many rivets are in a Boeing 747 and I cannot find a reliable answer anywhere online 
Related posts:
Twitter: thublogger
says:
Hi Michael,
There comes a point where you do want to face the temptation which may come at you. Sometimes constructively, other times destructive but more on the wagering side of experience. I think we all try to be unique and therefore will risk ourselves into trying things new.
The 100 Blog Comments Challenge taught me that it’s not only about commitment but about making a difference. There was no right or wrong actions but after the smoke cleared, whew! I think we all got to see clearer in our own ways and that’s what I love about collaboratives. There will be lots to debate on and also engage about.
As for how do I stand out? I don’t, I stand tall and keep at it. I consider myself a rivet that wants to continue flying with the others so I’ll support them. No matter how jaded, bent or polished, this rivet has to maintain some originality to the her elements even if the ones around her are changing.
Thu Nguyen@BloggingFor´s last [type] ..Where This Blog Has Been – Sept 12 to 18- 2010
Hey Thu, you hit it spot on. Making a difference is what sets a person apart from those who just “fit in”. Keep on making a difference as you do as that is how your rivet stands out from the crowd.
Twitter: Alexwhalley23
says:
You know how much I love an analogy Michael?!
Almost as much as I love a trackback LOL. So you can imagine my delight when I received an analogy in my trackback.
Happy days!!!
Onto the commenting…..
I really like your take on the challenge, and on my post – and I think you have turned this into a really powerful message, using a very clever (and highly applicable) analogy. Respect
To answer the question (and it was a really timely one too!) I have literally just added a do-follow blog search to my blog. I did this because I wanted a way to make my rivet stand out from the rest.
I have already added a neon flashing light to it (read personality and niche) which has been quite effective, but this is only doing so much. I need sound!!
I completely agree that if we accept that we are all rivets it will make it so much easier to think outside the square and find a way to make yours stand out.
Awesome.
Thanks for the nice summary and take on my post too btw.
Alex@blog optimization services´s last [type] ..Want Quality backlinks Follow Me!
That is a great addition to your blog. The Google custom search engine does seem to be underutilised from what I have seen (or not seen) of it.
Stay away from sound unless you want to alienate a percentage of your visitors. Sound belongs to 90′s style websites and media repositories such as YouTube.
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Twitter: barry_wells
says:
Hi Michael, sorry for the delay in my getting here my friend but i’ve been laid up again after my last operation.
Please excuse the pun but i found your post riveting: grunt groan, i know it’s poor but couldn’t resist Michael.
I think you’ve put it very nicely, we are all much the same as we start out and we do need to develop our own identities and start to brand ourselves.
That is done, in part, by the quality of our posts and more importantly by the quality of our comments. Its the comments that people see on other peoples blogs that bring the majority of blog traffic to our own blogs.
Prior to my going into hospital at the end of August i started to use Google Analytics for the 100cc and i was amazed at who sent me the most traffic (at the time of checking, not checked since getting back) so i went back to that site to see what could have caused this surprise and my only explanation is the quality of my comment to the person. It was the 1st time of visiting so there were no other links to have helped.
I have also seen Alex’s post and while he has a very good point he seems to have put us all in the same bracket, which i feel is unfair. Especially as he stated he only visited 25 blogs, which is 25% and not enough to give you 100% overview.
I will be visiting Alex again and leaving a comment, however i want to do a little research first to be sure of the facts. I do agree that…..
“I’m in the challenge and here’s my comment so you have to leave me one”
…….is not a comment and it would not be allowed on my blog. Luckily for me all of the comments i received were of good value and added to the post. Quite a few people mentioned the discussion going on and how the tips in the comments were being taken on board, which is what it’s all about.
I’ve still got a lot of catching up to do after my absence Michael, but I’ll be back to read all of the comments for your last post about the SEO plugin.
I hope that you’re well my friend and will catch up again very soon.
Respect and Regards, Barry
Barry@The Newbies Guide´s last [type] ..The Newbies Guide Part 11- Plus A Gift- A Guide and A Video
Hi Barry, You’re punny
and it is good to hear from you again. I hope your recovery is speedy and painless.
That is interesting and useful feedback about leaving quality comments on other blogs (like your comment above). I will keep that in mind for future comments I leave on blogs.
I have to collate that traffic data now that a month has passed after the challenge. It will be interesting to see Jul, Aug and Sep traffic figures. My Alexa ranking has been bouncing around a lot – probably because I haven’t written many posts recently – so the traffic data might paint a useful picture.
warm regards, Michael.
How many rivets in a Boeing 747 | Software Tools For Bloggers by Michael Pedzotti…
I participated recently in on the 100cc (100 comment challenge) organised by Jacinta Dean and mostly enjoyed it. I got to visit 100 other blogs some of which I had seen before, some not. My overall……
Twitter: inetliving
says:
Great analogy, because there are certainly thousands of blogs to choose from, and if they’re interchangeable then most of them may as well not exist! The ones I go to again and again have great information or at least make me think of something in a new light – plus they have plenty of their author’s personality shining through.
I’ve let my own blogging voice get kind of vanilla or standardized (and boring) in my last blog because I had no real purpose for the blog and therefore didn’t know who I was writing for. That’s why I ditched it last month and started over – this time talking to people who, like me, want to find ways to enhance our lives with the internet, including having the freedom of working entirely online.
Hi Christie, it does take a while to get into the groove. The main thing I have come to realise is that it is best to remain level-headed and set realistic goals.
Getting caught up with all the hype or the next big thing, or trying to be someone you are not only leads to burn-out.
Decide what shape and colour your “rivet” will be, stick with it and then you will stand out from the crowd.
Howdy Michael,
Very well written, mister.
I looked this up for interest. The 747 has a million and half rivets – the 787 Dreamliner has none!
It’s all carbon-composites. Good for aircraft manufacturers, bad for the rivet industry which has been around for a long time.
http://www.montereypeninsulaairport.com/747specsheet.html
The world waits for no rivet…
Thanks for the post, Michael.
Barry
Barry from Saskatchewan´s last [type] ..A Thousand Word Post About Life Condensed to Fifteen Words
Hi Barry. That’s a fair stack of rivets! And to think there’s none in a 787
That is an impressive spec sheet you found. Well done and thanks for the feedback – and answer.
Yup just like you said in any organization there are different parts and if all the parts are not complete you will not too far or near your target or goal. And also to be able to stand out you must be unique, in short you must be you, don’t just hop in the bandwagon and become one of them.
Andrea @ Anelli Xavier Reviews´s last [type] ..Law Related Posts
Andrea, thanks for stopping by. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts. Michael.
Twitter: Brandon_Connell
says:
I did not take part in that challenge, but I did try to help others by commenting on many blogs. I also had the same problem with some of the posts not having the meat and potatoes to help me come up with something creative to say.
Brandon@MakeMoneyBlogging´s last [type] ..How To Give Up On Your Dreams
Twitter: johnmcnally54gmail.com
says:
I always gravitate towards blogs that have a touch of originality about them. Have a look at Barry Williams blog, he wrote the definition for original.
An individuals personality can’t shine through if all the posts are buy this, buy this buy this………It’s really great, honest, buy this. 
You have a good Alexa rating Michael, so whatever you’re doing generates traffic.
The 100 comment challenge really gave my traffic a kick-start, and I have been improving my visitor numbers ever since.
Like Barry, I use Google Analytics, and looking at the source of my visitors, I realised how much were click-throughs from my comments on other blogs. So It’s important for your personality to shine through, not only on your blog, but on the comments you leave elsewhere.
John
John McNally´s last [type] ..Dreamweaver or XsitePro
John,
Barry W sure does do original very well
. My main product push will be a suite of plug-ins for bloggers. I wont sell them here as I enjoy the chit-chat too much to scare away regular readers with sales hype. That doesn’t mean I wont talk about them or promote them but I do shy away from the sell, sell, sell line. I don’t post like the pro-bloggers say to (regularly) so I am happy enough with the Alexa ranking right now. Thanks for visiting and giving your valuable opinion.
Michael.
i think Boeing 747 still got so many rivet. today Qantas’s Boeing 747-400 with flight series QF 30 had emergency landing in singapore. and i think this site is interesting. love reading this article
fransisca´s last [type] ..Texans Without Health Insurance & The National Health Plan For Uninsured Americans
Hi Fransisca, I am glad you liked the article. I noticed that you have a blogroll on your blog. When you have a moment, try my latest plugin released free on WordPress dot org – spicy blogroll.
It will make your blogroll come alive.
Twitter: tristanhigbee
says:
I just Googled it and one site said there were a million and a half (!!) rivets per 747
I’d like to think that my rivet stands out just in terms of originality and usefulness of information. Of course it’s easy for me to say that, but really! I think it’s true!
Thanks for the insightful post. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Tristan@BloggingTips´s last [type] ..Get My Awesome New WordPress Publish Confirmation Plugin!
Thanks Tristan. I gave up counting from enlarged pictures on wikipedia as they never showed enough of the inside of the plane.
So long as you are adding value to the world your rivet will be a stand-out. From the looks of your blog, new publish confirmation plug-in and level of interaction online you are doing great.
See you around … Michael.
It’s quite a good point to think of: what’s the unique point making your blog stand out of the crowd. To do this, I’m afraid the blogger should have a good plan first and read more and learn more from others.
Sometimes it will work without a plan but full-on success will always be the result of a well laid out plan
Thanks for your comment.
Hi! I can’t imagine how time consuming it would’ve been to go to 100 different blog posts and leave quality comments pertaining to the post. Not just “hey, great info. thanks” It bothers me when I go back to a blog and see those comments posted but for some reason mine has not. I suppose my blog is not really out there getting attention, it is just kin of tagging along behind my business. I link to it every now and again, but it doen’t really stand out! Thanks for the jolly post
Jasmine@Personalized Photo Puzzles´s last [type] ..Picture Perfect Square Jig Saw Puzzle
Hi Jasmine, I like the concept behind your blog. Have you experimented with adding more content closer to the top of each post? The way it is now the search engines would categorize it more as a shop and less as a blog or a place to get in-depth information. It depends on your plan for the blog of course.
It is up to you really, but if you want more targeted traffic from the search engines try adding some pure information pages about “the benefits of puzzles – keeps the mind active”, “giving personalized puzzles as gifts”, “give a keepsake that will last an eternity”. With a bit of keyword research you could come up with a dozen more article titles. Add them to your site and write a 500 word (approx) article around each theme/title. This is a guaranteed way of getting more traffic and ranking higher in the search engine results pages.
Cheers, Michael.
Twitter: cindy
says:
This is a wonderful website buddy and an informative post!!! i am new here and i found this site very interesting and informative 642-661
you are a professional blogger i think i have a great interest in such things…thank you for the post buddy and keep on posting nice stuff like this in future as well.
Glad to be of assistance
Twitter: InteractOne
says:
Googled it and your site is # 5 in the SERPS! But from what I read its in the millions..OK sorry to go off track.
Your analogy is a good one, I think each rivet(blog/website) being unique is important. To many copiers and cookie cutters make the world a very boring place.
Thomas@ Magento Developers´s last [type] ..Using Social Media
It is good to be unique, but still in touch with the real needs of visitors.
Twitter: hottiehair
says:
Hey Michael, It’s funny how what I have been thinking about the blogosphere in general you sum up in one neat little post. I have been visiting allot of blogs lately to get involved in the blogging community. I really love the bloggers that take the time to interact with those that are commenting too like yourself. I have been to tons of blogs where you write something meaningful only for it to never be posted or never to be responded to. But the ones that do I feel a connection to and I will be back to those ones often because they are reaching out. In general people want to be social and have someone reach back out to them. It makes you feel good inside to try to brighten someones day and have them brighten yours as well. Anyhow, I will be around and I look forward to communicating with you in the future. Have a good night.
Hey Crystal, I just pulled your comment out of spam
It was really helpful that you have a gravatar image otherwise it would have gone the way of all non-gravatar comments in my spam queue. I only look closely at those with pics.
In any case, I really appreciate you taking the time to write your thoughts. I like the play on words with your name CryStyle on your stylists page.
I have been to quite a few blogs where I hear nothing after leaving a meaningful comment. Often though they do not have the “Subscribe to Comments” plugin (free) or something similar installed. When a comment is approved on a blog with such a plugin there is no mechanism to notify the comment author of the approval nor any follow-up comments. That is why I have the box at the bottom of the comment form pre-ticked – or at least I hope it still is. I encourage ongoing communication and sharing of ideas, etc.
I see you like Two and a Half Men also. I love the wit and situational humor in that show.
Cheers, Michal
Twitter: barry_wells
says:
Hi Michael, I’ve just popped back to thank you for all the help you’ve given me this year and to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Prosperous New Year.
Catch up after the holidays Michael, have a good one.
Respect and Regards, Barry
You are very welcome Barry. I extend the thanks back at you for the informative posts (and more numerous) you have published.
I look forward to a productive and exciting 2011
Michael.
Great post!
I wasn’t really sure where you were going with it when I started reading, but loved the natural flow. Reading the intro, about having trouble coming up with a good comment, made me think about how much responsibility the blogger has to write a dynamic piece that really invites dynamic and insightful comments.
Anyway, keep up the good work.
Navid´s last [type] ..DSA’s Whistlestop Tour Kicks Off!
Thanks Navid and welcome. You’re right, the post does start out without a lot of direction. I really should re-write the first few paragraphs!
Thanks, Michael
I’ve just recently got in to the website and blogging game, and I don’t understand why people find it so hard to avoid the ‘spam commenting’ game. I chose to start a website on my chosen career and interest, and reading and commenting on other blogs has improved my field of knowledge. In return for reading other peoples posts and engaging in discussion I improve my foundation of information which only better improves my website posts. Its win-win. And, for me, its been a lot of fun!
Cheers!
Chris@Business Risk Management´s last [type] ..Risk Certification- Financial Risk Management
Interaction is good so long as it’s not the only thing a blogger does. Done in moderation, reading and commenting on other blogs is, as you say, valuable and educational, but be sure to put in some quality effort on your own goals and visions for your blog. If it is business based, which it certainly seems to be, then be sure you know what you want from it, how you’re going to get to that point and then do whatever it takes to move in that direction.
“success is not a lot more than a series of failures overcome by a will to achieve”. Hahaha. True. I have to keep that in mind, especially now when I have lots to overcome. But I agree with the first comment – temptation is HUGE at times. We are all human after all.
I sure hope my comment won’t end up in spam, even though I have no avatar (well, what can I say. I am not photogenic!!)))
Nope, it didn’t go to spam
I have approved quite a few comments without avatars as that is not what’s important – it is what you say and the fact that you actually respond to the post and other comments that’ll get you published.
Wow, 100 visited blogs? That is a lot. But all the hard work will pay off towards this wonderful site.
I think alot of commentors don’t understand that bloggers are just looking for a comment to add value. Simply saying “good job!” doesn’t really cut it. I would say that over 95% of my comments are spam, so why would i approve something that adds no value to my site whatsoever.
I someone has some insight on the subject i’ve written about, i appreciate a good comment.
mike @ dating tips 1´s last [type] ..Niche Dating Communities: How Tiny Sites Became Big Business