I posted yesterday about BackType and, spending some more time with it, I am really excited about the one thing I think is most important about this tool above all else: Discovery!
Yesterday I talked about how you can find new blogs by following some movers and shakers in your niche with BackType. You follow on BackType just like Twitter. The layout and interface is much the same, so it should be easy to use and understand for anyone who also has a Twitter account.
What I am finding today is that blogs I “know” about are coming up on my radar with individual posts I would have otherwise missed.
Here is an example:
Chris Brogan’s blog is “known” to me. He’s in my massive 250+ feed file. Yet I would likely have missed this post had I not been browsing my BackTalk page today.
That would have been an awful shame because Chris’ post, “Is Your Blog A Media Property?” rocks. And now I get to pass it on to you. Care of BackType.
Get Involved in More Meaningful Discussions
There is power in collective chatter. What I mean by that is, following professional bloggers around the web and seeing what they are commenting on usually will turn up more cutting-edge discussions on more current issues in your niche. While yesterday you might have seen fit to comment on someone’s blog about a fairly old issue or news item in your market, today you can set your sights on the most current, high-traffic blog discussions in your niche by following the top commentators in your market.
BackType producers clearly didn’t think this would be one of the bigger benefits of their service, but I think it is.
I encourage everyone to check the service out and invite the movers and shakers (blog owners) in your niche who haven’t found it yet. Then follow them. And discover things you are missing day-to-day, even if you are a feed junkie like me!
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Wow, excellent. That looks like a fantastic tool Jack. Hmmm, could that be comparable somewhat to Comment Sniper as well, in a way?
Cheers
Davin
Also, thank you for the favor a couple days back. It turned out to be a great day for our birthday girl…thank you!
Davin-The Viral Sanctuarys last blog post..Titles That Make A Blog Popular
@Davin - nope - this tool really lets you follow people around on blogs with their actual latest comments. CommentSniper only lets you find activity on blogs that you physically put into it. So if you don’t put in a blog, you’ll never know when to go comment on it.
And you can’t discover new blogs as easy. They both have purpose - just different purpose.
Hi Jack. I’m super happy to have been found. Thanks for swinging by.
I haven’t done LOTS with BackType, but the way you just explained using it is interesting. I like that it’s a way to reach into new blogs and get to see new places to have conversations.
And obviously, you’ve just pointed out to me that it’s a way to get more visitors. : )
Chris Brogan…s last blog post..What the Barenaked Ladies Know
Backtype is awesome and really helpful..
And you know what? I came here through backtype!
Chetans last blog post..Twitter no-follows the profile links
Me too. I am here solely because I saw Chris’ comment on Backtype, as I’ve added him to my people whose comments I wanted to track.
And now, I know about this blog - and pop - it goes into my RSS reader.
Backtype will grow to be an incredibly useful tool - and the data they will gather over time will be very powerful - I think it’s going to need pretty heavy-duty engineering to let it scale as it catches on. Simply using the search facility throws up all sorts of new sources and commentators - ideal for finding background on any topic you’re interested in, or writing about.
The key element is a blog owner does not have to install a specific plugin, nor do commenters have to sign up to a specific service - so it captures, potentially, everything said on every blog it follows. That’s some search engine.
David Pethericks last blog post..Sean Connery copies biographer’s photo for his autobiography!
I’m amazed at what it can do.
Thanks Jack for letting us stalkers in on your col tools as soon as you know about them. I’m looking at my backtype account and thinking it’s not working.
Nope just all the people whose blogs I comment on haven’t quite got round to using it yet. Strange for me.
Kenny Ritchies last blog post..Is your signature file rubbish?
@Kenny
I’m not sure what you mean. Are you saying that the blogs you read aren’t on BackType or that the comment authors who leave comments on the blogs you read aren’t on BackType.
If it’s the former, please submit your favorite blogs to http://www.backtype.com/addblogs
If it’s the latter, you can follow anyone who comments with a URL. You can search people by name @ http://www.backtype.com/people
Feel free to e-mail us if you have any other questions: support [at] backtype [dot] com
Thanks!
Gack! More things to follow
I am gonna have to turn my PC off one day to get away from the emails, alerts, friend requests, follows, and so forth. It’s taking over my life!
Still, I’ll check out and see what its like…
Thanks Jack.
Eran
I like backtype too but I just found http://www.samepoint.com . Now that is cool. Samepoint has a way of showing comments as real conversations. It is in beta now, and getting a lot of press.
It has showed me a new internet. It does not showcase bloggers like backtype, but I think that is on purpose.
I am loving these new tools. We really have to support backtype and samepoint I think together they will give the googles a run for their money.
another company in this field is http://www.commentino.com