Comments on: Robert Scoble Wonders Why He’s Getting So Much Traffic From FriendFeed; Here’s Why

By: Eric Hamilton

Eric Hamilton — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Is it likely that the list is populated by recent activity, or post popularity? =)

By: Richard Chmura

Richard Chmura — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

To compliment a random sample, have an ‘under-rated’/'hidden gem’ list. Those which publish regularly, have a strong core following (not spammers, etc.), but have fewer subscribers than the big guys.

The formula for such a solution would be based on how engaged the subscribers of the feed are with the content.

By: Cyndy Aleo-Carreira

Cyndy Aleo-Carreira — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Allen had it right… it’s those people with the most subscribers that the person is subscribed to. So it’s a self-perpetuating clique over there. You’ll see Arrington there on nearly every page, yet he doesn’t actually participate that I’ve seen; just his feeds are in there. Think of it as the popular people getting way more pictures in the yearbook and it all comes clear. ;)

Also, Allen, please tell Mollom that I don’t like the commenter profiling currently underway. EVERY RASSUMFRASSUM TIME I comment I get “randomly selected.”

By: centernetworks

centernetworks — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cyndy - I will let them know - I've tried as hard as I can to replicate your issue and I can't seem to figure it out - I will let you know once I hear from them. I am sorry for the trouble.

So it is most subscribers - so it's just yet another publicity list. I guess I was right sadly.

I wonder if they will be willing to change it.

By: Tom Limongello

Tom Limongello — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I think that using volume and quality of participation could make the leaderboard more interesting, scoble would still come out on top but maybe others would fall by the wayside…then add a contextual engine to add thought leadership status to users based on meme’s that they post about.

Quality of participation on FriendFeed is really easy to judge because all posts to FF can be ‘liked’. The only problem I could see with that are if crappy posters had like-ing posse’s. :-)

By: chrisco

chrisco — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I think select randomly from two pools. To get in the little pool you have be above a certain minimum number of followers and level of activity, both your own activity and 2nd derivative activity (i.e., people commenting on your activity). To get in the big pool, you’d need to exceed a higher threshold. So maybe top x% (20%?) score go in big pool and next y% (40%?) gets you in the little pool, although the little pool might also so an absolute floor or that y% could be tweaked or even auto-tweaked.

By: Robert Scoble

Robert Scoble — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I agree that the “recommended” list pollutes this thing, but the traffic actually comes from participating and putting up content that people “Like.” If they don’t like (and/or comment on) your content, people won’t see you and won’t click on your stuff.

Also, my bosses at Fast Company are very aware of my FF. Remember who did my redesign? Fast Company’s top designer. What’s on my blog? A FF component.

By: Darren

Darren — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Allen it just looks like the Silicon valley circle jerk to me.

Its actually getting embrassing to watch them talk about each other all the time.