rssHugger - Blog directory with a difference

There were, at last count, over 9 million Google search results for “blog directory.” This speaks not only to the popularity of blogs themselves, but the mainstream, money-making possibilities associated with blogs. We’re talking “making money by NOT writing a blog” here - directories, listings, paid blogging, blog ads, etc. So what does it take to stand out from this crowd?

Unique selling points have always been the key to success in business, but that’s certainly not the only way; look at the millions of dot com copycats out there hawking the same or similar products (Wikipedia and eBay’s competitors come to mind, although we also freely acknowledge these guys were not necessarily “firsts” in their respective fields). But uniqueness DOES count for something too, as does connecting with an audience, and rssHugger - a blog directory and rss reader - accomplishes both.

I was struck initially by the way the message of the site is presented. It’s not ultra-corporate looking like most blog directories or RSS feed sites; rather, it resembles a personal site. And the message is spelled out for you, clear as orange text on a black background, on the “About” page.

rssHugger is the brainchild of Collin LaHay, an Internet marketer looking to grow his portfolio. His site is a meeting ground for bloggers and readers, but in a more defined way - bloggers must pay, or do some promotional blogging, to get listed. Readers, in turn, are treated to a better quality reading experience because not just any blog can get listed on the site (they currently maintain close to 800 RSS feeds).

It’s this point that really makes rssHugger stand out. The purpose of the site is to stress quality over quantity, so that those who deserve exposure rises - whether through valued readership, Google PageRank, or search engine results - will be duly rewarded. And it’s a cause we can believe in too, which is why we’re spreading the word.

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