I'm confused about ranking.

I don't get the ranking system.

For instance, my article on INTJ women gets quite a bit of traffice from seach engines but has a very low ranking while others articles don't get any traffice from search engines and has a very high ranking.

I don't understand that.

Can someone explain?

Thanks.

Check out our Help page --> left column --> "What is page and author rank?"

http://wizzley.com/service/help/

Okay, I got that.

1. Likes/thumb-ups 

2. Number of visitors and comments 
3. Content and uniqueness of the article

As I actively discouage comments from Wizzley writers and delete them if I don't like them, I guess I'll have to get used to a low score while my aritcle actually gets traffic from the web. As far as I'm concerned, comments don't make an article get traffic. What makes an article get traffic is if people are searching for information on a particular topic and there's very little available.

In other words, ranking is dependent on the status one holds at Wizzley and not on the merit of the article.

Tess: 03/05/2013 - 08:36 PM

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As I actively discouage comments from Wizzley writers and delete them if I don't like them, I guess I'll have to get used to a low score while my aritcle actually gets traffic from the web. As far as I'm concerned, comments don't make an article get traffic. What makes an article get traffic is if people are searching for information on a particular topic and there's very little available.

 In other words, ranking is dependent on the status one holds at Wizzley and not on the merit of the article.

I'm confused why you would discount other authors just because they are your colleagues.  No, comments don't bring in search engine results but they do add credibility to articles in the eyes of many viewers trying to figure out what is a reputable website.

Having worked with other web based companies much larger than Wizzley for many years I can say that it is very refreshing that most authors actually spend time reading other articles on Wizzley and care enough to comment.

To all intents and purposes, Tess, all ranking indicators on Wizzley have no effect whatsoever for you, so I would not use any of your mind-energy to worry about it.

You should concentrate on the things that matter to you: external ranking in search engines and external traffic.

humagaia, my concern is that if someone from outside reads one of my articles and it is only ranked by Wizzley at 28, then they will question the validity of what I am saying. 

Because the money doesn't come from other authors. They're not allowed to click on ads

ChefKeem told me to read about the ranking, and it's not my belief that ranking is totally dependent on status here. According to the pages he referred me to, Wizzley ranking is totally dependent on 

a. Likes/thumbs-ups.

2. Number of visitors and comments

3. Content and uniqueness of articles.

In any event, I don't want to mention specifics here, but I have analyzed it, and it doesn't make sense. I will speak to chefkeem directly.

Tess: 03/06/2013 - 10:46 AM

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Because the money doesn't come from other authors. They're not allowed to click on ads

No, but the other authors who are trying to help each other rank better (and genuinely enjoying each other's articles) help ensure more visibility for articles.  More visibility, and more confidence (from visitors seeing the comments), leads to more clicks.

And I'm stepping out of this now before my Southern mouth fires off something very unprofessional

Tess: 03/05/2013 - 08:36 PM

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As I actively discourage comments from Wizzley writers and delete them if I don't like them, I guess I'll have to get used to a low score while my article actually gets traffic from the web.

Possibly so.

 

 

As far as I'm concerned, comments don't make an article get traffic. What makes an article get traffic is if people are searching for information on a particular topic and there's very little available.

Comments and Likes show Google that an article generates user interest, therefore it must be an authoritative and relevant piece, therefore it should get placed high in the search results for its key phrases. 

That is the formula that generates traffic, and that is why we've created our ranking system  in its current form - as a guideline for authors, to see if an article needs more work with regard to marketing or design.

 

In other words, ranking is dependent on the status one holds at Wizzley and not on the merit of the article.

Wrong. You choose to separate yourself from an important aspect of the business of online writing. We accept your decision, of course. Please accept our business model, as well.

 

P.S.: No need to contact me directly. I don't really know what else to say about this.

My new boss told me today that the Google algorithm for finding content will have more and more to do with social networking. After I heard that, it was 'bye bye content writing. Thank you, but no thank you.'

The reason I chose to work on the web is that I am a loner. I don't work well in offices because I want to do my work, and then go home and forget about it.

If that's a condition of earning a living as a content writer, I'm sorry, I just can't and won't do it. 

Buty thanks for the help. I'll leave my stuff here, but I won't be writing anymore content. Fifteen years is a long time to waste one's time.

:)

This discussion has lost focus.

To be clear:

1. Even without allowing comments and engaging in social networking - you can generate traffic and income with interesting, useful content ... if you find a good niche with a decent search volume and low competition. Obviously, that's what you're experiencing with your articles that get search traffic.

2. Our internal ranking system has nothing to do with that. People who find your article useful couldn't care less about the number in your profile pic. They're only interested in what they can get out of your content. They do not care about your reputation or rank or what-have-you. Most of them won't even notice your name.

So, unless you want to engage in personal branding, none of that social networking stuff applies to you. Even as a loner, you can build your portfolio.

Our internal ranking/guiding system is geared towards authors who want to participate in the whole shebang - comments, discussions, mutual support, warts, and all.

You want only half of our system. Which is fine with us.

Just don't analyze the system in which you don't want to participate, and then tell us it doesn't make any sense.

If you do it your way, and we do it our way, and we all respect each other ... we won't have to waste any more time with bickering.

Thank you. 

Actually, I just want to add something. I have never told anyone how to do anything. On the contrary, every single time I have asked something that is a little different to the norm, I've had my head bitten off. Even on this tiny thread, there are those who find it unbelievable that someone doesn't want to make friends, that they don't want to be popular, that they prefer to work independently, etc. I have never said anything negative about others wanting to work togehter. It's as if it is the worst possible evil to want to work independently of others. More than that, it appears it is completely socially unacceptable. So yes, I don't mind if others want to work together, but please remember, I was only asking how the ranking system worked. And I'm shocked at what google is doing. I wonder if they have any concept of what the consequences will be in the medium to long term. I haven't used google search engine for anything serious for more than a year. Why? because it's all about popular content and not about anything that is of a little more depth.

Tess: 03/06/2013 - 09:27 PM

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Actually, I just want to add something. I have never told anyone how to do anything. On the contrary, every single time I have asked something that is a little different to the norm, I've had my head bitten off. Even on this tiny thread, there are those who find it unbelievable that someone doesn't want to make friends, that they don't want to be popular, that they prefer to work independently, etc. I have never said anything negative about others wanting to work togehter. It's as if it is the worst possible evil to want to work independently of others. More than that, it appears it is completely socially unacceptable. So yes, I don't mind if others want to work together, but please remember, I was only asking how the ranking system worked. And I'm shocked at what google is doing. I wonder if they have any concept of what the consequences will be in the medium to long term. I haven't used google search engine for anything serious for more than a year. Why? because it's all about popular content and not about anything that is of a little more depth.

To be fair, you started out with basically saying you didn't want comments unless they paid you money.  Everything anyone said to try and show the merits of a group of people helping each other you shot down in a very blunt way while everyone else tried to be polite until we just couldn't take it any more.

With any due respect, and this is coming from a major introvert who completely understands the loner aspect, I think you need to reexamine who is not making friends.  No one wants to make friends with someone who starts out growling and just starts barking when others do try to help.

Working independently doesn't mean shutting off all contact with colleagues except when you are mad about something.  And whether it was your intent or not, yes you did come across as very negative about working together.

I truly hope you can find your happiness again because you obviously aren't happy with a lot more than online writing and interactions right now.

I think Chef gave you (at least) one very important and true observation.

If your primary concern is earnings (So is mine)

then,

"..most wont even notice your name"

Is an important takeaway. 

The viewers you are going to earn from aren't going to be dissecting you. They are going to go..

"oh, look! a butterfly*" and click on a link and leave you ..never remembering they ever crossed your path.

You are just a hop on the way to a click or a sale .. nothing more.

If you are building something else than internal gamification elements might have more relevance for you than you are admitting here

* shiny thing, pretty picture, something else, caught my eye