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Google Kills Blogs with Blogger Beta
12.11.2006
By Ronald Lewis | var a = 0; if(a == 0) {document.write('Leave a comment');} else if(a == 1){document.write('1 comment');} else {document.write(a+' comments');}
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> high-impactThat is my impression of Google's Blogger Beta service. Yes, it's free -- and a damn good blogging service, too! However, since converting my blogs to Blogger Beta several weeks ago, someone decided that it would be smart to append your blog's default URL in the RSS feed with default.html.
Ummm, why? I have my blog claimed on Technorati, which tracks 60 MILLION blogs each day. And guess what's happening now? Technorati hasn't seen an update in 24 days (same is true for Feedburner which manages ALL of my podcast and blog feeds), because it doesn't know that I'm actually publishing anything! Essentially, I now have TWO blogs of the same! What sense does THAT make? And why would I WANT to claim the same blog TWICE? Damnit, Google!
All blog search services such as Technorati and Google Blogsearch extract pertinent details about your blog from its XML/RSS feed. One key tag is one which relates to the blog's default URL. Before blogger beta, Technorati and other services were AWARE of my blog updates. Now? Forget it, because everything is being published as originating from http://www.ronaldlewis.com/blog/default.html instead of http://www.ronaldlewis.com/blog.
"That sucks, dude!", is an understatement. It's an UTTER INCONVENIENCE and one which should have NEVER existed in the FIRST place!
The big deal: Blogger is home to a CRAPLOAD of bloggers! As these bloggers convert their blogs to Beta, they'll be faced with this painful issue as well. Not only does this affect updates on Technorati and other services, but it also ANNIHILATES your blog's rankings and positions, too! Oh, happy day? I don't think so! Not good, Google!
The fix? DROP default.html OR allow bloggers the ability to change the default URL of their blogs. Easy as pie!
Google: Please fix this. I've already posted about this, and nothing has been done. Why do I need to blog about this just to bring attention to a SERIOUS matter that will impact THOUSANDS of bloggers?
Did I mention the IMPACT of this?
Labels: Blogosphere, Google, Internet, Technology