I went from obsessively begging for votes to not saying anything but placing the click bar in every post to just putting the vote buttons in my side bar. And now? As of today I have QUIT the top lists. Because EVERY blogger- me included have said they didn’t want to have to campaign for votes. But, they all end up caving. I am so sick of my twitter streams constant “click here!” “click there!” And since I am competitive & would have probably ended up caving & begging for votes- I took myself OFF the lists.
This may prove to be a stupid decision, because clearly, those lists give you traffic. But, I am hoping that my bloggy friends & people who read will continue to link me in their blogrolls & visit & comment & share my interesting posts- and maybe, maybe- I wil be able to grow the readership of this blog through actual merit & not how many people I have badgered into voting.
This is totally not in response to anyone- I’ll just make that clear right now. I just want to write what I want to write & if people like it they will come. I don’t need a #4, 8, 25 or 37 to tell me what my writing is worth. You also don’t see the big blogs listed on top lists. So, maybe there is something to stepping out of the race?
I’ll let you know how badly my visits fall after this- but I hope that I’ve gained enough friends & readers that I can continue to “grow”.
<3
July 8th, 2010 - 7:53 PM
I'm still here
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Emmie Bee Reply:
July 8th, 2010 at 8:59 PM
YAY!
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July 8th, 2010 - 7:54 PM
I just did the same thing yesterday. I am hoping my traffic wont fall – but honestly all i really saw from those lists were lots of non-relevant PR pitches. *Fingers Crossed* I'm new so it was great to gain some traffic- but i really hated campaigning
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Emmie Bee Reply:
July 8th, 2010 at 8:59 PM
We will hope for our sake it makes no difference.
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July 8th, 2010 - 7:57 PM
I keep listed but hardly get any traffic from those sites… oddly enough. most of my traffic comes from the blogs I comment on most…
I'm still here.
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Emmie Bee Reply:
July 8th, 2010 at 9:00 PM
I got a ton of traffic last time around from TBB but maybe it was my blog blurb about being pregnant with twins. People love that stuff.
PS: HOT avatar.
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July 8th, 2010 - 7:58 PM
So glad I saw someone tweet this post because I love it and am a new reader now.
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Emmie Bee Reply:
July 8th, 2010 at 9:00 PM
HIIIIII!!!
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July 8th, 2010 - 7:59 PM
I'm not leaving you!
And to be honest, I've never gotten hits from TMB or TBB. Since I started Google Analytics a couple months ago, I haven't had a single referral from TBB or TMB. I still have the voting buttons, but I'll probably take them off soon enough. I don't even think anyone clicks them any more anyway.
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Emmie Bee Reply:
July 8th, 2010 at 9:01 PM
lol. Well, I click on all the blogs I read that are listed- so even though I don't want to be listed I will still totally vote!
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July 8th, 2010 - 7:59 PM
I hear you! I didn't "officially quit" but I stopped asking for votes and now I just have the buttons on my sidebar. I hated campaigning. And I feel like putting that bar at the bottom of every post takes away from what I write. It just feels weird to write a really serious, heart-felt post, and then be all: VOTE FOR ME!
Whatever, there's only, like, five people who read my blog anyway…
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Emmie Bee Reply:
July 8th, 2010 at 9:07 PM
totally on the serious posts. Nothing says heavy subject like a vote for me!!
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July 8th, 2010 - 8:00 PM
I found you through Twitter and I ain't going anywhere!
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Emmie Bee Reply:
July 8th, 2010 at 9:07 PM
And that widget in the corner of my blog about you being awesome?? Yeah, you are awesome.
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July 8th, 2010 - 8:03 PM
I just linked your blog on my site before you posted this! See, you don't need TBB or whatevs. Your blog is awesome.
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Emmie Bee Reply:
July 8th, 2010 at 9:07 PM
Thanks mama. I heart you. Lots.
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July 8th, 2010 - 8:04 PM
I'll keep reading if you vote for me! Okay, I'm kidding. I just put the buttons on my blog within the past few months but I can't bring myself to promote it because I get kind of annoyed that I see the "please please" so much on twitter. That being said, I have been asking for votes for a BlogLuxe Award, but I feel like that's a bit different since it's for a short time and then I won't be buggin anymore. I can't say that either have worked (the buttons or the asking for votes). I really would rather people want to read what I have to say and keep coming back. I think you should do whatever works best for you. And if your readership goes down, you can try something else.
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Emmie Bee Reply:
July 8th, 2010 at 9:08 PM
I do agree with the major award thing. If someone else nominated me for something like that I wouldn't necessarily campaign for it but I would definitely share it's existence with people!!
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Emmie Bee Reply:
July 8th, 2010 at 9:09 PM
thats not a top list. Thats a straight up award!
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July 8th, 2010 - 8:17 PM
I found you through…I don't even KNOW anymore, but it wasn't Top Baby Blogs and even if you wrote a post called "SUZANNE IS A STUPID UGLYFACE SELLOUT" I wouldn't stop reading.
That being said, since I signed up for TBB a few weeks ago I have gotten a LOT of traffic from that site. So I can't bring myself to hate it yet. Plus it feels good to be "noticed" by PR people, even if I don't want the stuff they're pitching. I figure it's a good way to build up a few more loyal followers (besides my mom and my in-laws and the two girls from playgroup who internet stalk me) and then I'll give it up. Maybe. In a little bit.
I sound like a drug addict, don't I?
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Emmie Bee Reply:
July 8th, 2010 at 1:58 PM
Next post: "Suzanne is a stupid uglyfacesellout" for sure!! Just to test you!! Thanks for reminding me to actually take the effing buttons DOWN after I wrote the post. FAIL!!
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Kristi_Maristi Reply:
July 8th, 2010 at 10:49 PM
do it . I wanna see that post! ha. I'm a caver. What can I say…Suzanne & I can start a top list of sell outs. Holla!
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July 8th, 2010 - 8:21 PM
Good for you, dear. I'm starting to lean the same way. I get *some* clicks from them, but I'm tired of feeling like I need to remind people to vote. It seems unfair anyway.
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Emmie Bee Reply:
July 8th, 2010 at 9:10 PM
Even though some of my very favorite blogs are at the very top of the list- Hello Dear Baby, etc. I think others on the top page may have gotten there through badgering. Myself included. I don't think I ever deserved to be #4!
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July 8th, 2010 - 1:23 PM
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by metta1313, Emmie Bee. Emmie Bee said: Blog:: Why I quit the top lists: http://www.emmiebee.com/2010/07/08/why-i-quit-the-top-lists/ [...]
July 8th, 2010 - 8:52 PM
Good for you! I hate when people beg for votes, it is so dumb.
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Emmie Bee Reply:
July 8th, 2010 at 9:11 PM
I think the lists would come out pretty similar in the end. The more popular blogs would still be on top- but with 200 votes instead of 2000.
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July 8th, 2010 - 8:58 PM
I am so glad you wrote this post. I was actually thinking of joining these top lists! I've been blogging for six years (way before the seven month old baby was even thought about) but now that my blog is mostly baby related, and I love photography and comments, I stupidly thought this was how to find new readers.
Guess I'll just keep reading and commenting on my favorite blogs and forget about the top lists.
Jessica
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Emmie Bee Reply:
July 8th, 2010 at 9:04 PM
You can always sign up! It is fun to meet new people, I just don't think the asking for votes helps gain readership. I think it helps get votes and annoy people.
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July 8th, 2010 - 9:07 PM
BRAVA!!! been thinking the same. it's consuming. probably unhealthy.
Claudia
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Emmie Bee Reply:
July 8th, 2010 at 9:14 PM
Yeah. When I was on the front page- it took like 100 tweets and facebook statuses a day to keep myself up on the list!
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July 8th, 2010 - 9:47 PM
Yay good for you. I get especially annoyed during those " Hey I'm giving stuff away if you vote for me" deals.
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Emmie Bee Reply:
July 9th, 2010 at 6:07 AM
Yeah, I did that on one giveaway and felt like a jackass after.
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July 8th, 2010 - 10:13 PM
I'll keep reading! I've never even seen "the lists" people are talking about and I still come here.
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Emmie Bee Reply:
July 9th, 2010 at 6:06 AM
And you?? ARE AWESOME! Those little girls of yours make me want another girl NOW. And that is crazy talk.
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July 8th, 2010 - 11:18 PM
I took my TMB badge down a while ago. No one voted for me and traffic didn't come in from that site. I don't need to be part of the popularity contest. I was and still am a huge nerd
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Emmie Bee Reply:
July 9th, 2010 at 6:05 AM
lol. I'd like to think I'm pretty cool- but in that "too cool to have people vote for me" kind of way.
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July 8th, 2010 - 11:46 PM
I'm here, and I've never signed up for those sites because I think I'd be the person shamelessly begging. lol
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Emmie Bee Reply:
July 9th, 2010 at 6:04 AM
You're doing just fine without them!
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July 9th, 2010 - 12:43 AM
You don't need to be on a top list for me to read your blog–you're on my blogroll and for me that's my list that counts, lol
Keep up the great blogging!!
~ Melissa @ Babies on the Brain
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Emmie Bee Reply:
July 9th, 2010 at 6:04 AM
THANK YOU MAMA!! I appreciate that!
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July 9th, 2010 - 1:47 AM
I found you through a bunch of comment controversy a while back. I can't say I've even looked at TMB or TBB for months. The "vote for me" plugs do get annoying. Especially the ones on Twitter that make me feel like I was tricked into clicking. You're in my google reader, so I'll keep coming back.
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Emmie Bee Reply:
July 9th, 2010 at 6:04 AM
You mean I GAINED a reader from that mess? I'm floored!
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Mungee's Ma Reply:
July 12th, 2010 at 2:40 PM
Sure thing!
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July 9th, 2010 - 3:56 AM
It's ok! I just happened to find your blog and it wasn't through it list. Enjoyed reading and will come back.
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Emmie Bee Reply:
July 9th, 2010 at 6:03 AM
YAY! Thanks!
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July 9th, 2010 - 5:50 AM
Meh I gave up asking for votes a long time ago. I mean, it's not like any of those "top blogs" are really top blogs, they just have more clicks because they harassed more people. Or maybe not, but the thing is, having to ASK for votes specifically takes the joy out of it for me. If I get votes because someone thinks I am worth it – cool. Otherwise I don't want them anyway.
I leave the button up but I honestly never even check my stats ha.
You're stuck with me mama, I will stalk you until we meet and then I will stalk you in REAL LIFE!
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Emmie Bee Reply:
July 9th, 2010 at 6:02 AM
Once we meet in person you'll see I'm not stalk worthy at all. And then you will leave meeeee. lol
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Babe_Chilla Reply:
July 9th, 2010 at 10:43 PM
Not true AT ALL.
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July 9th, 2010 - 3:47 PM
This is why I love you so much!!! I will always stay a devoted reader of yours
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July 9th, 2010 - 9:48 AM
I really cant stand my Twitter stream with all the “click here”‘s and the “please vote for me! this is my last time asking!” and then 2 hours later the same thing. come on. I blog to share, if people want to read, thats awesome. Im flattered, but I want people to WANT to read, not be deterred, and thats what all the voting does to me, makes me feel like its not very genuine. Just my 2 cents. I will always come back to your blog, because you are awesome.
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July 9th, 2010 - 5:11 PM
i caved for one day when a couple tweeps peer pressured me…then I stopped. I will keep the buttons on my blog, but really, twitter is where it is at. I mean I found you that way…and so many other mommas! I think twitter is a much better social networking tool than those lists! And I promise not to cave anymore
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July 9th, 2010 - 6:59 PM
I'm glad you posted this. I have been torturing myself latey thinking about taking them off altogether. I was driving myself crazy with it for such a long time and I am SO over it. I do get traffic from the sites & I am still on the fence regarding keeping the buttons on my sidebar – but I am done asking for votes. Well, except maybe the BlogLuxe one…but that's different right? I can still beg right? Have you voted? You have, right? LOL.
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July 10th, 2010 - 1:56 AM
to be honest…i would vote when you girlies asked me too…but i never actually went and looked around and visited blogs off TMB or TBB. i'll never leave you lady…but you probably knew that already.
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July 16th, 2010 - 1:35 AM
Makes sense Mama! I'll still read cha…lmfao.
I'm also not verbally asking for votes anymore, although I still am on the mommy blog list & I still have a button on my blog…but, yeah. 
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