CHICAGO – Blogs are an undeniable force to reckon with in an age of declining newspapers and different kinds of new media. They answer to a different standard, which is both a burden and a blessing in the eyes of readers everywhere.
For this MidwestBusiness.com List of Top 10 Midwest Blogs list, our staff used Technorati as a data pool to rank the best blogs in the Midwest based on overall navigation, look and feel, uniqueness and content.
Technorati, which is known as the Google search engine for blogs, currently tracks 112.8 million blogs and more than 250 million pieces of tagged social media. We used the Technorati “authority” standard to weed out lesser-established blogs.
A blog’s “authority” starts at zero and grows incrementally as other blogs link back, which is viewed as a sign of credibility. To be considered for this list, we required a blog to have earned a Technorati authority of at least 100. We also required a blog to post new content at least daily.
Following publication of the top 10 Web sites in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Missouri, Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio, this month’s blog list adds to our Big 10 business school list, our Web 2.0 and social networking list and our top 10 newspaper Web site list.
www.stpaulrealestateblog.com
Technorati Authority: 227 Technorati Rank: 23,882 |
|
Navigation |
Look & Feel |
Unique |
Content |
Overall |
|
7 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
29 |
|
Pros: Good posting frequency |
|
Cons:
Can improve overall design |
www.babeslovebaseball.com
Technorati Authority: 182 Technorati Rank: 32,510 |
|
Navigation |
Look & Feel |
Unique |
Content |
Overall |
|
7 |
7 |
9 |
7 |
30 |
|
Pros: Unique, niche topic |
|
Cons: Can improve overall look and feel |
www.dumblittleman.com
Technorati Authority: 2,443 Technorati Rank: 426 |
|
Navigation |
Look & Feel |
Unique |
Content |
Overall |
|
8 |
8 |
7 |
8 |
31 |
|
Pros:
Quality content, good posting frequency |
|
Cons:
Could use larger photos and imagery to break up text |
www.bricksandstonesgossip.com
Technorati Authority: 313 Technorati Rank: 15,871 |
|
Navigation |
Look & Feel |
Unique |
Content |
Overall |
|
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
32 |
|
Pros: Memorable branding |
|
Cons: Needs to stand out more among scores of gossip sites |
blog.circlesixdesign.com
Technorati Authority: 222 Technorati Rank: 24,957 |
|
Navigation |
Look & Feel |
Unique |
Content |
Overall |
|
9 |
7 |
9 |
8 |
33 |
|
Pros: Interesting visual design |
|
Cons: Needs more blog content visible on the main page |
www.douglaskarr.com
Technorati Authority: 842 Technorati Rank: 3,546 |
|
Navigation |
Look & Feel |
Unique |
Content |
Overall |
|
8 |
8 |
9 |
9 |
34 |
|
Pros:
Quality content |
|
Cons:
Could use more imagery to break up text |
www.emomsathome.com/blog
Technorati Authority: 950 Technorati Rank: 2,885 |
|
Navigation |
Look & Feel |
Unique |
Content |
Overall |
|
7 |
9 |
9 |
10 |
35 |
|
Pros: Unique, niche topic |
|
Cons: Can widen main text area |
www.googlified.com
Technorati Authority: 620 Technorati Rank: 5,769 |
|
Navigation |
Look & Feel |
Unique |
Content |
Overall |
|
9 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
36 |
|
Pros:
Excellent topic selection |
|
Cons:
Can improve overall design |
howaboutorange.blogspot.com
Technorati Authority: 766 Technorati Rank: 4,110 |
|
Navigation |
Look & Feel |
Unique |
Content |
Overall |
|
9 |
10 |
10 |
8 |
37 |
|
Pros: Serves as an interesting for-your-information blog |
|
Cons: Needs to better define niche |
www.technabob.com
Technorati Authority: 1,371 Technorati Rank: 1,540 |
|
Navigation |
Look & Feel |
Unique |
Content |
Overall |
|
9 |
10 |
9 |
10 |
38 |
|
Pros:
Excellent content, visually stimulting |
|
Cons:
Can widen main text area |
Tune in next month for our continuation in this series.
By STEPHANIE HULS, Staff Writer
SARA ROBERTSON, Staff Writer
ADAM FENDELMAN, Editor-in-Chief
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