Privacy with a Blog

Yesterday night I spent all time registering my blog with "Blog Traffic Exchange Directories" and "Blog Search Directories". But then suddenly I asked myself if I want to give strangers such a close view of my life. I post quite a lot of private pictures. That could in the end be harmful to me and my family.

So, after like spending a few hours setting everything up, I decided suddenly at midnight to take, all the links and connections I made, down again. I might decide to split my Blog into two - and just open another one for Public viewing, where I don't have to be too concerned with the privacy.

I also discovered something fun yesterday night:
These Blog Trafficking Websites work like this: You register your own Blog and make it visible and available to others, but in exchange you have to read and look at other Blogs so that they also get counts. That was actually quite fun to browse randomly different websites. That system works with a timer (like 20 seconds or so) where you have to look at it and then you decide if you want to stay or go on onto a different one.

If you want more information just have a look, there are several out there:
http://www.blogexplosion.com/
http://www.blogsoldiers.com/
http://www.blogazoo.com/
http://www.blogadvance.com/

Reports claim, that this system is not really working. OK, you will get more hits and exposure, but in the end the question remains: How many people will keep coming back to your Blog? You don't just want that someone blinks for a few seconds at your blog, but build a community with like minded people.

But I guess you could just as well be browsing Blog Search Engines. There are several out there as well. And there you can target probably better what you're looking for.
http://www.technorati.com/
http://blogsearch.google.com/
http://www.bloghop.com/
http://www.blogarama.com/
http://www.blogcatalog.com/

Have also a look at: http://www.weblens.org/blogs.html . This site has some good information about all these topics and more.