'Sweeps Week' Reader Drive

As some of you may or not be aware, treppenwitz has somehow managed to sneak advance into the final round of the JIB (Jewish and Israeli Blog) Awards in both of the categories for which it was slated.

The final round of voting began yesterday and will continue until February 2nd.  You can vote once every three days.

The categories in which this site was graciously nominated are:

Best Life in Israel Blog

and

Best Post by a Jewish or Israeli Blogger (for the post 'Daddy Syndrome').

[Update:  The Jerusalem Post linked to the wrong post for one of the finalists for 'Best Post' and it wasn't noticed until the voting was well underway.  The Post decided that the only fair thing to do was to reset the counter and begin voting again.  I'm told that voting will be extended in this category to allow everyone the opportunity to cast their votes.]

OK, honesty time... I feel a little dirty for campaigning so shamelessly for votes.   But it's really hard not to when so many people are running 'ALL JIBS ALL THE TIME' type campaigns on their sites. 

At least on TV the networks put up their best stuff during 'sweeps week'.  Wouldn't it be nice if we bloggers and journalers did the same during the JIBs instead of taking a week-long campaigning break from the very thing that earned us readers in the first place? 

Unfortunately, as in politics, if the other guy is out flogging the voters one would have to be a bit of a 'frier'* to not go out and do at least a little of the same.

But just so we're clear, many of the other writers in the two categories for which treppenwitz was nominated have been around a long time and have worked hard at making their sites something to be proud of.  They have forged their own unique relationships with their daily readers (many of whom are also treppenwitz readers), and I wouldn't mind a bit to see them win.

What would be a shame is if we finished this JIB season without boosting the readership of the blogs that are most deserving of exposure. 

Dave of Israellycool and the Jerusalem Post have done a fantastic job of putting together and promoting the JIBS (and fielding insane criticism in the process).  What they can't do is encourage people to change their surfing habits.

That's where you come in.

Let's face it... we are all creatures of habit.  Every day we sit down with our coffee (or beverage of choice) and check the same news sites... giggle over the same comic strips... and read the same blogs.  Once in a blue moon we might check out a new site if someone we read and trust gives it a rave review... but for the most part we rarely deviate from this daily pattern.

What I'd like to suggest is that everyone select one or two of their favorite reads from their daily circuit around the Internet and forward the link to one or two well-chosen people who might enjoy those sites.  Some of the sites in my blogroll were introduced to me in exactly that manner (thanks Tess!).  It doesn't have to be treppenwitz (although obviously that would be nice)... just so long as you think the site(s) and the reader(s) would be a good fit for each other.   

This isn't as simple as it sounds. 

Granted, it's not quite as complex as trying to fix up your Star Wars-obsessed high school buddy who still lives in his mom's basement at 41... but there are still obvious compatibility (and credibility) issues to be considered when recommending reading material to friends. 

For instance, I wouldn't try sending a a dyed-in-the-wool carnivore to the PETA site for enlightenment. Nor would I suggest referring a devout Christian Deacon to a website devoted to exploring the edgier side of the BDSM scene in Eastern Europe. 

We're looking to gently expand horizons here people, not prompt calls to the EMTs!

Anyway, that's my suggestion.  A reader drive.  Plain and simple.

If you want to vote for treppenwitz (or anyone else) in the JIBS, the links are there (above) for your convenience.  But if you want to turn a couple of friends on to the blogs/journals that give you pleasure on a daily basis... that would be a few minutes of your morning well spent.

So what are you waiting for?  Go pick out a couple of nuggets from your favorites/bookmarks list... why should you be the only one getting a moon-tan from the blue light of the computer monitor?

* frier = sucker