Viral blog game
Here’s a funny viral game I’d like you to take part in. If you’re a blogger, I want to give an iPod to one of your commentators on March 2nd 2007.
This fun game could benefit you by increasing interactivity and possibly even subscriptions on your blog . If you already have an interactive blog, then why not take part for a bit of fun anyway.
What prompted me to do this?
I wrote a post which now has 50 comments and a staggering word count of 11,759 words. The comments include mine, but the word count doesn’t. Comments have come from very qualified people in companies such as Opera and Google , so this competition is a by-product, rather than something I thought of before writing the post.
I was invited to attend an ‘Internet People Brainstorming’ event in London yesterday. We discussed social networks and viral marketing/services. The other attendees included Nic Brisbourne, Nick Tsinonis, Charlie Osmond, Maurizio Marmotta, David Prever, Jae Chalfin and Andrew Skates . So, think of this post as my experimental output of that meeting. I’d like to see if it can gain traction within the blogsphere to help demonstrate how it’s a community within its own right.
Competition
The blog post with the highest word count in comments wins.
However, the iPod will not be awarded to the blog owner. It will be awarded to one of your commentators. The name will be picked out of a hat. Giving the iPod to one of your readers should help encourage them to comment 
I will announce the winning blog with a link to its post on March 2nd 2007. I will also link to every other blog post that enters the competition.
Rules
- Word count must not include original post author.
- Word count can include comments from other blog authors/contributors.
- Word count must not include date, time etc.
- Word count can include commentators’ signature, quotes and smilies.
- Comments must be meaningful. We will review the comments on the winning post to ensure they’re not just comments for the sake of comments. We won’t review based on the content. We will only review based on relevance.
- Commentators can be anonymous so we will need to base this competition on trust. Please don’t cheat as you’re only cheating yourself!
- When writing a post to announce the competition to your readers, include a trackback to this post. The trackback is your entry, so ensure it comes up on our post. Trackback http://segala.com/blog/viral-blog-game/trackback/
To make it easy for you, below please find proposed text that you can include on your blog.
Hey readers, here’s a chance for you to win an iPod on March 2nd 2007. All you have to do is comment on a post that takes your fancy on our blog, that’s it.
So, here’s how it works. If one of my posts has a higher word count than any other entry in Paul Walsh’s viral game (include link if you wish), one of my commentators will be picked out of a hat.
Naturally the comments must make some sense and they must be contextual.
The winning name will be pick out of a hat by Paul Walsh at Segala. (link to http://segala.com/blog)
Good luck and get blogging!
24 Responses to “Viral blog game”
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Tip: get Paul commenting on your blog
I’m in! This ought to be very interesting!
Great stuff Kayliz! Just saw your blog entry – that was fast
Well, you did make it very easy by giving us ‘stock’ text. And thanks for that.
If you guys are game, how about responding to this: http://www.manojranaweera.com/2007/02/22/silly-game-1-describe-yourself-in-one-word/
Kayliz – that’s the name of the game – keep it simple.
Manoj – done! a troublemaker in disguise.
thanks, trackback is still not showing. I changed as you suggested. option 2 and 3 are better descriptions in my opinion!
Manoj – it should work if you use http://segala.com/blog/viral-blog-game/trackback/
We’re going to update our theme right now to ensure the default trackback is the permalink minus the word ‘trackback’. Thanks for highlighting this as an issue. I bet we could have had many more pingbacks had we known about this before now.
[...] So what are you waiting for? Head back an join the party win some readership. More details of this competition can be found at segala’s Viral blog game post. Bookmark to: [...]
Manoj
The problem seems to be within your WordPress, technically http://segala.com/blog/viral-blog-game/trackback/ or http://segala.com/blog/viral-blog-game/ both should give you an auto trackback. The previous comment is one example. Sometimes trackback take time to reflect (1-3hrs.).
But still if you are having problem, you may try adding the URL of this post at the trackback section of your post edit window (Manage->Edit) and save.
Obviously trackback does not work! Will investigate later. Paul thanks for a cracking intro to content labels. I am beginning to understand. I will do a blog when I understand your business model bit better.
thanks Manoj
Regarding business model, just look at VeriSign. We’re growing a partner network of companies that design, build or test Web sites. We enable them through marketing and testing tools, to sell certificates for standards compliance. http://segala.com/partner-programme/
[...] Segala, a company involved in website accessability and trust. They have rather an interesting idea about content labeling. Paul Walsh, their CEO, “is Segala’s W3C advisory committee representative”. Keep an eye on them. You’ll be hearing more about them I’m sure! Oh, and if you leave a comment here, it may be entered into a link bait competition Paul’s running. He’s giving away an iPod on March 2nd. If he picks you, I’ll email you with Paul’s email address. [...]
Fantastic to see Donncha from WordPress playing our viral game!
Hello I would like to partecipate, I just want to know if my commenters would have the chance to win the ipod, being them italian for the most part. thanks for the info and congrats for the idea.
Hey dandyna – yes why not! You just need to include a trackback so we know who’s taking part. Good to have you on board.
who won?
Sorry TP – I was tied up all Friday so I’ll take a look on Monday.
and the winner is…..
much fanfare in announcing the competition but closure remains AWOL
abandoned competition posts = spam
blogsphere etiquette requires honesty, transparency and closure
TP – I apologise for taking so long! I’ll announce the winner today. The delay is not due to lack of transparency or etiquette, it’s simply me not getting off my ass to do a count – being busy with other things is no excuse but it is the reason.
Sorry to everyone involved.
[...] I started a viral blog game a couple of weeks ago and it’s now time to announce Donncha from WordPress as the winner. Congratulations Donncha! [...]
[...] When I originally mentioned Paul Walsh’s viral competition to win an iPod I thought he would pick out the winner, but no. He makes me do the dirty deed. [...]
[...] Segala, a company involved in web site accessability and trust. They have rather an interesting idea about content labeling. Paul Walsh, their CEO, ?is Segala?s W3C advisory committee representative?. Keep an eye on them. You?ll be hearing more about them I?m sure! Oh, and if you leave a comment here, it may be entered into a link bait competition Paul?s running. He?s giving away an iPod on March 2nd. If he picks you, I?ll email you with Paul?s email address. [...]
[...] here’s how it works. If one of my posts has a higher word count than any other entry in Paul Walsh’s viral game, one of my commentators ( that’s you) will be picked out of a [...]