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Memeorandum is a black box

Started by mathewi · 1 year ago

There’s no question that Gabe of Memeorandum.com has created a tremendous resource (there’s an interview with him at Don Dodge’s blog) but I must admit it baffles me sometimes. I considered not writing this post at all because it will probably sound like I&% ... Continue reading »

4 comments

  • Don Dodge

    3 years ago

    Mathew, I have wondered the same thing. The algorithm certainly has logic, and does a good job of surfacing interesting content, but how it does it is a mystery.

    Like you I have been on Memeorandum several times, and I never completely understand why...or why not. Here is a perfect example. A few days ago I posted an interview with Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist. http://dondodge.typepad.com/the_next_big_thing/...

    He is a well known guy and craigslist is one of the most trafficked sites on the web. The interview never made it on Memeorandum. Today I posted an interview with Gabe Rivera of Memeorandum and it made it quickly. http://dondodge.typepad.com/the_next_big_thing/...

    The difference? Links from A-List bloggers.

    Actually, I think the Memeorandum algorithm recognizes both links in (from popular bloggers) and links out (to popular stories). You need one or the other to get noticed on Memeorandum. In reality that is a pretty good way to measure what people are interested in reading.

    So, even though my interview with Craig Newmark was excellent, it didn't gain enough attention to get noticed. That is life.
    reply
  • Mathew

    3 years ago

    Thanks for the comment, Don. I figured that links from and to A-listers was part of the "secret sauce," but I assumed that there must be more to it than that, because even some of the ones I've had that were high up didn't have any links from A-listers. That must be some crazy voodoo that Gabe is running over there :-)

    I sort of wish there was a way of bringing undiscovered or little-known sites and links to light -- not just mine, but others too -- kind of like the "interestingness" category at Flickr. I know that's probably difficult, if not impossible, but it's one of the things I like about the web the most.

    Anyway, thanks for stopping by. I like those interview features you do, by the way.
    reply
  • mark evans

    3 years ago

    mathew, don:
    i'm totallly with you on the mystery of memeorandum. there are discussions about net neutrality where i have posted passionately and extensively but not appeared on the site. then i'll link to a businessweek story, for example, and - presto - i'm on the list.
    reply
  • Mathew

    3 years ago

    It's weird, isn't it? Maybe there's some element of randomness in there, and I'm trying to make sense of something that can't be quantified. Anyway, it sure gives bloggers something to furrow their brows about, that's for sure :-)
    reply

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