Dare you hope to be the next SuperStar – Blogging Idol?

We launched this blog around the same time that the contest started. Originally this year's competition was for new blogs only --- would put us on an even footing; perfect timing! Although the rules changed just at the end of October to allow all blogs with fewer than 2,000 reader, we still applied. It was a challenge, a chance to get some publicity and a shot at winning some of the $4,500 in prizes --- we have dreams for BWS and seed money never hurts.

At this point, the big guys lead in "new RSS subscribers", the prmary measurement. BWS is #54 out of 78 participants. Our official subscriber count went from 4 to 14, for an increase of 10 new subscribers. Although our feedburner count is 25 (hopefully "live"scoreboard has a censor time delay). Unfortunately, the measure is not by percent of increase but raw number of new readers! Many who enter are in it for the personal challenge and learning experience.

But there will be points added by public voting, which is now open and by a panel of judges who vote on December 1. These votes are based on creativity / effectiveness of the blog's strategy to increase subscribers. Well our strategy has been regular posts that you can use; inviting you to share in the blog's community; and making you the stars by highlighting success stories. Other blogs have held contests, but as the previous posts mentions this takes a lot of time away from producing great content. Even with four writers, we've been hit with extended illness (can a virus travel through Blogger dashboard while we edit posts?). Also one writer has severe ISP/computer problems, so it was good we didn't start a huge contest.

However, we do want to encourage even more readers who can benefit from our posts and discussions to stay in touch the easy way! (also don't want to be too embarassed with our scoreboard position). So we're running a mini-mini-contest where you can win a 125 x 125 ad image designed especially for your blog. You can use the ad in any contests you might win elsewhere or in a paid ad on another blog. The ad for the winner will be displayed in our sidebar for 2 weeks during the month of December, free. The image on the right is the ad we designed and used in a contest that Fransiska won recently.

To enter the BWS contest for a custom-designed ad just

• post a comment to this announcement or to the Blogger Cafe stating you have signed up by email and want to win the ad image. The entry deadline is November 30, 2008.

There will be at least one winner drawn randomly, but we could add another depending on the number of entries. So hurry and don't forget to tell your friends.