Comments on: Reader Poll: Best SEM Email Discussion Lists http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/03/reader-poll-best-sem-email-discussion-lists/ Grow your business with TopRank Online Marketing tips, articles, & experts interviews on social media, digital PR & search engine marketing. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 04:20:09 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Andrew Goodman http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/03/reader-poll-best-sem-email-discussion-lists/#comment-183287 Andrew Goodman Tue, 14 Aug 2007 02:40:04 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/03/reader-poll-best-sem-email-discussion-lists/#comment-183287 Lee, well, we eventually get to it :) I think one of the strangest parts of trying to resurrect an i-search-like community at Google Groups (SEM 2.0) was people's odd view of the format/platform. I wanted something that would require less moderator "grunt work," and also felt that email was dying. Google Groups is a flexible format -- like Yahoo Groups -- read online, or on the web. Up to you. Many on there seem to *want* email. That surprises me. SEM 2.0 is low traffic, I think, because of fragmentation. I never wanted to pour tons of energies into pushing people to post - there is enough of that going on elsewhere. But like any community it needs some active prompting, a role I guess I stepped down from when I-Search died. I had been hoping to find a successor to lead SEM 2.0 (the offer is still open but a committee might work). All in all if good stuff is happening in other places, then I am not about to promote the heck out of a not-for-profit low-traffic group, that seems to please some people. Since some like it, I suppose it will keep going. It beats having to unsubscribe from stuff that is just too high traffic or annoying. :) Lee, well, we eventually get to it :)

I think one of the strangest parts of trying to resurrect an i-search-like community at Google Groups (SEM 2.0) was people’s odd view of the format/platform. I wanted something that would require less moderator “grunt work,” and also felt that email was dying. Google Groups is a flexible format — like Yahoo Groups — read online, or on the web. Up to you. Many on there seem to *want* email. That surprises me.

SEM 2.0 is low traffic, I think, because of fragmentation. I never wanted to pour tons of energies into pushing people to post – there is enough of that going on elsewhere. But like any community it needs some active prompting, a role I guess I stepped down from when I-Search died. I had been hoping to find a successor to lead SEM 2.0 (the offer is still open but a committee might work).

All in all if good stuff is happening in other places, then I am not about to promote the heck out of a not-for-profit low-traffic group, that seems to please some people. Since some like it, I suppose it will keep going. It beats having to unsubscribe from stuff that is just too high traffic or annoying. :)

]]> By: Mary Findley http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/03/reader-poll-best-sem-email-discussion-lists/#comment-95781 Mary Findley Fri, 16 Mar 2007 23:21:57 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/03/reader-poll-best-sem-email-discussion-lists/#comment-95781 I hate being up a creek without a paddle. LED may be just as old schooled as that saying but it's exactly where I would be without LED. The solutions, information and discussions are invaluable. The group has helped me solve problems and kept me ahead of potential problems. For someone as computer challenged as I am, LED is a life saver when that creek gets to flooding over the banks. The only time I miss reading LED is when I'm on the road traveling with my company. Mary Findley, owner, Mary Moppins I hate being up a creek without a paddle. LED may be just as old schooled as that saying but it’s exactly where I would be without LED. The solutions, information and discussions are invaluable. The group has helped me solve problems and kept me ahead of potential problems. For someone as computer challenged as I am, LED is a life saver when that creek gets to flooding over the banks. The only time I miss reading LED is when I’m on the road traveling with my company. Mary Findley, owner, Mary Moppins

]]> By: Adam Audette http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/03/reader-poll-best-sem-email-discussion-lists/#comment-95671 Adam Audette Fri, 16 Mar 2007 17:02:47 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/03/reader-poll-best-sem-email-discussion-lists/#comment-95671 I've been thinking about this, and another thing this poll reveals is the general lack of interest in email lists. They're definitely not in fashion, partly due to reasons I already stated above. Not only that, but they're also nearly extinct. Of the options in the poll, Google's webmaster forums can be received in list format, but are better suited to the Web (great method, I like what they've done, even if they get knocked for bad usability). They're more of a newsgroup than an email list. Some blackhat thread is non-descript, SearchReturn is a newsletter with an occasional reply post, SEM is on Google's newsgroup, and Online Ads is nearly dead. The only real discussion list in this poll is the LED. Where have all the email lists gone? It's a dying format. I’ve been thinking about this, and another thing this poll reveals is the general lack of interest in email lists. They’re definitely not in fashion, partly due to reasons I already stated above. Not only that, but they’re also nearly extinct.

Of the options in the poll, Google’s webmaster forums can be received in list format, but are better suited to the Web (great method, I like what they’ve done, even if they get knocked for bad usability). They’re more of a newsgroup than an email list. Some blackhat thread is non-descript, SearchReturn is a newsletter with an occasional reply post, SEM is on Google’s newsgroup, and Online Ads is nearly dead. The only real discussion list in this poll is the LED.

Where have all the email lists gone? It’s a dying format.

]]> By: Lee Odden http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/03/reader-poll-best-sem-email-discussion-lists/#comment-95643 Lee Odden Fri, 16 Mar 2007 15:22:06 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/03/reader-poll-best-sem-email-discussion-lists/#comment-95643 One thing this poll proves is that subscribers of SEM 2.0 certainly don't read this blog. LED Digest readers, WOW! One thing this poll proves is that subscribers of SEM 2.0 certainly don’t read this blog. LED Digest readers, WOW!

]]> By: Al Toman http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/03/reader-poll-best-sem-email-discussion-lists/#comment-95366 Al Toman Thu, 15 Mar 2007 20:30:21 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/03/reader-poll-best-sem-email-discussion-lists/#comment-95366 LED DIGEST, hands down. There is no comparison. And, it's even going to get better. Why? Because the LED DIGEST is comprised of real-life web masters sharing real-life experiences. Extremely valuable information without the "fake sell jibberish". The LED-DIGEST is ROCK-SOLID. LED DIGEST, hands down. There is no comparison. And, it’s even going to get better. Why? Because the LED DIGEST is comprised of real-life web masters sharing real-life experiences. Extremely valuable information without the
“fake sell jibberish”.

The LED-DIGEST is ROCK-SOLID.

]]> By: Nick Stokers http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/03/reader-poll-best-sem-email-discussion-lists/#comment-95274 Nick Stokers Thu, 15 Mar 2007 14:01:08 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/03/reader-poll-best-sem-email-discussion-lists/#comment-95274 I've been religiously reading the LED Digest every day for ten years. The best thing about the LED is that it's fair and balanced. I’ve been religiously reading the LED Digest every day for ten years. The best thing about the LED is that it’s fair and balanced.

]]> By: Steve Pronger http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/03/reader-poll-best-sem-email-discussion-lists/#comment-95235 Steve Pronger Thu, 15 Mar 2007 11:18:30 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/03/reader-poll-best-sem-email-discussion-lists/#comment-95235 LED Digest by a country mile. Great community. Lively discussion. It might be old school, but it's the only email I read daily without fail. LED Digest by a country mile. Great community. Lively discussion. It might be old school, but it’s the only email I read daily without fail.

]]> By: Allan Gardyne http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/03/reader-poll-best-sem-email-discussion-lists/#comment-95198 Allan Gardyne Thu, 15 Mar 2007 08:57:15 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/03/reader-poll-best-sem-email-discussion-lists/#comment-95198 My vote goes to LED Digest. I like the wide variety of topics covered and the depth of knowledge displayed. I've been subscribed so long that I feel I know many of the marketers involved. The moderating is superb, tough but fair. My vote goes to LED Digest. I like the wide variety of topics covered and the depth of knowledge displayed. I’ve been subscribed so long that I feel I know many of the marketers involved. The moderating is superb, tough but fair.

]]> By: Chris Hermann http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/03/reader-poll-best-sem-email-discussion-lists/#comment-95051 Chris Hermann Wed, 14 Mar 2007 22:28:42 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/03/reader-poll-best-sem-email-discussion-lists/#comment-95051 The LED Digest has and will always be a reputable resource. It's hard to vote against it! LED DIGEST FOR SURE!! The LED Digest has and will always be a reputable resource. It’s hard to vote against it! LED DIGEST FOR SURE!!

]]> By: solay http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/03/reader-poll-best-sem-email-discussion-lists/#comment-94994 solay Wed, 14 Mar 2007 20:40:11 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/03/reader-poll-best-sem-email-discussion-lists/#comment-94994 I like online advertising digest the best. The others are very strong too. I like online advertising digest the best. The others are very strong too.

]]> By: Adam Audette http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/03/reader-poll-best-sem-email-discussion-lists/#comment-94971 Adam Audette Wed, 14 Mar 2007 19:39:26 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/03/reader-poll-best-sem-email-discussion-lists/#comment-94971 Lee, you're one of the few I know who actively promote discussion lists. You're right - they're very old school. Speaking for my own list, it's slower than Web 2 (takes a whole day to get responses), heavily moderated, plain-text-basic, but it's also valuable because of that. I kind of think it's a 'time capsule' in a sense, with so many old-schoolers subscribed. Then every now and then we get graced with a post from you, or Eric Ward, or Bruce or some other big name in the industry. The real power of lists like the LED is in uniting diverse audiences - small business, edu's, industry leaders, mom & pops, and agencies, firms and consultants. Wonder if there's interest to start up I-Search again? The buyer of Adventive would probably be all for it, he's a supportive guy. What do you think? Lee, you’re one of the few I know who actively promote discussion lists. You’re right – they’re very old school. Speaking for my own list, it’s slower than Web 2 (takes a whole day to get responses), heavily moderated, plain-text-basic, but it’s also valuable because of that. I kind of think it’s a ‘time capsule’ in a sense, with so many old-schoolers subscribed. Then every now and then we get graced with a post from you, or Eric Ward, or Bruce or some other big name in the industry.

The real power of lists like the LED is in uniting diverse audiences – small business, edu’s, industry leaders, mom & pops, and agencies, firms and consultants.

Wonder if there’s interest to start up I-Search again? The buyer of Adventive would probably be all for it, he’s a supportive guy. What do you think?

]]> By: Jeffrey Clausen http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/03/reader-poll-best-sem-email-discussion-lists/#comment-94967 Jeffrey Clausen Wed, 14 Mar 2007 19:29:11 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/03/reader-poll-best-sem-email-discussion-lists/#comment-94967 too much good info. to list! A must join for all! too much good info. to list! A must join for all!

]]> By: Adam Thompson http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/03/reader-poll-best-sem-email-discussion-lists/#comment-94939 Adam Thompson Wed, 14 Mar 2007 18:26:09 +0000 http://www.toprankblog.com/2007/03/reader-poll-best-sem-email-discussion-lists/#comment-94939 LED Digest! It's great. LED Digest! It’s great.

]]>