This is just a short break from the series I’m writing to say that the “Next Blog” button located on the Google Blogger toolbar is worthless.
When clicking this thing, you should be taken to a random blog each and every time. There are hundreds of thousands of blogs, if not more, on the Blogger system. There’s no reason why I shouldn’t get an unique blog every time I click that “Next Blog” button. Instead, I’m sent to the same 7 or 8 blogs over and over again. Half aren’t in English, and the other half aren’t interesting or I wouldn’t keep “Next Blog”ing past them.
I mean, seriously. If I click “Next Blog” and the blog I see is something I don’t like, and is also a blog that doesn’t have the toolbar, I click the “back” button and then click the “Next Blog” button again. Why is it that if I do this, I’m taken back to the same blog that I just navigated away from? Then why does it happen 3 times in a row or more?
Also, why is it that I’m taken to blogs whose written language is in something I couldn’t even guess at? Blogger incorporates language settings, so why aren’t they being made use of?
The “Next Blog” button has a lot of potential as a content discovery method, but only if the way it’s implemented is greatly improved. Every few months I give it a whirl, hoping for some improvement, and every few months I’m disappointed.
Google is a giant and the world leader when it comes to search and content discovery, so why are they failing at such a simple implementation of technology? Is it really that hard to set this thing up so that you get a different blog every time you click it?
Bradley Farless 
@RONW: I never even thought of that. That would be an interesting implementation of the “Next Blog” button. A list of similar blogs…
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on UTube, clicking on a particular video directs you to more similar videos on the next page's sidebar. I don't really understand why that's never been the same with the “next blog” button, which I've given up on already.
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@Rowena: Wow! 125 to 150!? I don't have anywhere near that many and I still seem to have trouble keeping up with them all sometimes. ^_^ You're a pro!
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@rinaz: I've used StumbleUpon before. It can be a lot of fun! ^_^ It Stumbles on more than just blog content though. Maybe I should start using that again…
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I've really never bothered with the next blog button…but only because I've already got enough to read! My feed subscriptions average around 125 to 150, but I'm pretty diligent about keeping those that blog on a regular basis. Hmmm…maybe I should check out the next blog button.
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I was kind of surprised at the number of advertorial type blogs that pop up as well. Almost every other blog that I got sent to was about shopping, buying clothes, or promoting some crap product.With all of the blogs out there you'd think it would send you to new ones every time.Also, there are quite a few blogs that aren't worth reading, but that's a matter of personal opinion. Still, you'd think you'd see a greater variety with that “Next Blog” button.
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I haven't checked out blogger for a while since migrating to my hosted blog.You might want to check out stumbleupon.com – you could choose the theme and language that you want to check out and if you like what you see, you give a thumbs up so that the website can give you recommendations on what you like about.But in the end, I guess word-of-mouth recommendation works well for blogs.
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You totally speak my mind!I was also sometimes doing this, but it seems like you're going in circles. Where's the good blogs? It's mostly some crap about business or some other adverizing. And yea, some blogs you clearly don't want to read, come back. How's that possible?
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