The Urban Conservative Smear Campaign, well not really
And this time, it’s coming from someone on the right. Now, I have done some pretty rotten things in my life. Things I am not so proud of and many of which I choose to forget. But this … this accusation is completely wrong and I feel like I need to defend myself. I know, I know … another post about my feelings. What the heck is going on with me? I promise a thought provoking-liberal bashing post coming really soon.
Now, I created the Best Conservative Blogs directory about 6 months ago; and began to populate the directory with blogs that I read, subscribe to or just stumbled on. Some have also asked to be on the list. This directory became very popular and was picked up by Wikipedia, podcasts and several other blogs. I try and add it once or twice a month. At the same time, I have solicited reciprocal links from a few other conservative blogs and/or websites, Bruce Kelley being one of them. My mistake with Bruce and a few others was that I did not let him know that the directory uses “no follow” tags. So, here it is … I use no-follow tags in the directory, not on the blogroll or in blog posts. And now he is on this quest to smear this blog and at the same time setting himself up on a pedestal because he has been a “webmaster for 10 years” and “knows Google’s requirements for linking”. Whatever.
Nowhere on this blog do I say that a reciprocal link is REQUIRED in order to get on the list. The only criteria is as follows:
We have two fundamental requirements — your blog must cover conservative politics and it must post bi-weekly at a bare minimum. Other considerations include, blog design, usability, writing style and quality. And we do add Myspace blogs once in a while, if they are good.
In fact, the majority of the blogs on the list DO NOT even link back to me, and that’s okay. I link to Drudge and Michelle Malkin for God’s sake. I did not create this list to get links. I created the list because I am passionate about advancing the conservative agenda. The conservative blog directory gets a ton of traffic, mostly from Wikipedia; and I want to share that traffic with others. If your blog is on that list and you want it off, please let me know. I will gladly take it down. Or, if you want to take my link off your site, please do. No hard feelings.
What do you think? Am I wrong? Am I deceiving people? If I was really trying to hide something, would I even bring this out in the open?
Share this post
i dont get it. What's his issue?
I have been coming here for over a year; and even though I don't agree with 75% of the rhetoric that you say ... you seem to be a very honest guy. I don't see any deception at all...well, at least with your above post. Now some of the other blah that comes our of your mouth...well that's another story.
UC - keep up the good work. Don't let this clown get you down.
just went to his site: he runs a conservative directory too. He's trying to dismantle his competition. *laughing*
I'd say that this is evidence that you've 'arrived.'
When crackpots start attacking you, that generally means that you've gotten far enough away from the backscatter to be noticeable. Think of it as an honor.
@Michelle
He actually does make some good points and I don't really think he is out to get me. I do think he blew it out of proportion though.
@Norski
As usual, thanks for the comment.
Congrats on 'arriving,' UC! I'm so proud of you!
Not sure what ya’ll mean about “arriving”. I think I “arrived” years ago – straight from the womb. ; )
Kidding.
OH DUDE THAT WAZZZ CLASSIXXXSSSS
Haha,
UC, that was actually pretty funny
H
Hi, Michael. I know who you are and I have known since you offered me a three way link exchange from linedirectory about a year ago. You've got a large footprint on the web and it doesn't take a genius to figure it out. I've read your other blogs and your papers. How many bloggers do you think know what, or understand the effects of, a three way reciprocal? Few if any. It was a red flag for me; I knew I wasn't dealing with a typical blogger so I took the time then to find out who you are.
The truth is that I actually admire you and what you do. With just your mind and your energy you pull viable and effective products right out of the thin air of nothing more than an idea. It's hard work, I know. You are an example of creative capitalism at its very finest. There is no webmaster or conservative in the world that wouldn't admire that.
The core of our conflict is that I take this personally and for you it's business. SEO, social networks and community building is literally your business and you're very good at. I honestly and truly salute you.
You say you're all about spreading conservative thought on the net. I know that there's more to it than that. I think you're methods take advantage of people I consider friends. Remove the nofollows and spread the link love too.
True, reciprocal links are not the best tactic for SEO, but it's not always about SEO, and I don't use them as an SEO tactic. Here's a simplified explanation of what I'm talking about for the benefit of others who may be reading this (I know you already understand this Michael). Consider each link on the wild world web as one vote. When you link to a website you are, in essence, voting for that site as far as the search engines are concerned and increasing that sites rank in the search engine result page (SERP). When you link back, reciprocate, you are splitting that vote 50/50. It takes a lot of votes to affect search engine rankings.
As far as your disclaimer, admitting that your using a rel="nofollow" on all out bound links. It's my opinion that telling people that you're essentially robbing them doesn't make it right. Especially when you're speaking a foreign language. How many bloggers do you think fully understand the effect of what you're doing? Again, few if any.
Although you brag about your high search engine placement you're not explaining how you got there. You have turned their reciprocals into one way links to you. You get the full SE vote and they get nothing and I don't think it's fair.
Your contention that reciprocals are spam is wrong. I'm not calling you a liar; I'm just saying that you're wrong. Reciprocals are weak when compared to one way links, but they're not spam. If that was true then every blog with a blogroll would be kicked out of the SEs. In my experince, spammers get banned eventually.
I don't care what you do on your other sites. I'm asking you to back it down a notch in the conservative blogosphere.
The conservative thoughts of those bloggers on your link list are just as worthy of promotion as your own. Release the link juice and spread the love.
You're a sophisticated guy Michael, intelligent and hard working, no doubt about it and I apologize for saying anything to personally insult you. Like I said, this is personal for me and I know I got a little fired up (I'm freakin' scots-irish fer chris'sake). I still believe your linking methods are unethical, but I don't think you are an unethical person. I think you just got caught up in being an SEO. Just because you can do something, doesn't mean always you should.
I'm done with this; I've decided to spend more of my time trying to help conservative bloggers promote themselves and build better sites. My question to you is why don't you do that? You would be far, far better at it than me. Open up and share the spotlight.
Looks like changing email addys worked. I'll recant the "I was blocked" statement on my blog.
@Bruce
You have made some really good points Bruce; and I am a little freaked that you know my first name. I try and be anonymous for many reasons (I was threatened when i first started this blog -- it was my firstnamelastname.com).
Anyways, I have decided to take the nofollow’s off. I will be deleting a few of the blogs off the directory first because they are linking to some very questionable sites.
I do appreciate the insight.
Sorry about dropping your name. Feel free to edit or even delete the post. I just wanted to, one, get your attention and, two, let you know I wasn’t just blowin’ smoke with the intelligent and hard working stuff. It’s obviously true to anyone that know’s what I know about your online presence.
no worries Bruce. No need to delete anything.