Allow me to join in the chorus of folks agreeing with Shelly Powers.
Her post is pretty much on the mark, with the noted addition that often context is what makes one person better known than another. i'm quite certain that if i did more aggressive, off-line self marketing (e.g. submitting papers for conferences and doing lectures) i'm sure that i could improve my list standings. Likewise, if i was an officially sanctioned evangelist for the biggest software company on the planet, i'd probably manage to get a few extra readers as well.
Thing is, i don't. i don't often submit papers to conferences because i don't generally go to many. (i probably should, but honestly, i have a hard time personally justifying spending several thousand dollars (factor air, room, conference fees, meals, missed time at work, etc) for a few days to listen to Joe Semi-Random Guy give a general talk about how WonderWidgets made his life shiney and new, particularly since i can usually wait a few days and get the bulk of the discussion off of blogs and conference notes. Other than that, conferences are about social networking, and i REALLY have a hard time billing my company for that.)
Nope, i'll just lurk under this rock with the rest of my eRoach buddies in utter seclusion, occasionally posting up thoughts of rare brilliance, or insight into corporate psychology, but mostly talking about how why i think the only reason we're visited by aliens is so that they can make gay porn videos.
Well, i wuz drivin' along ol' route 13, past where the Johnson place burned down when i saw this bright light and my motor just up an' died. Next thing i knows i'm strapped down to this table surrounded by all them there gray ay-leeeeee-ans and my pants ain't nowheres to be found. Mister, i t'aint never been so scared, but it got worse. Next thing i heards was this thumping base line and one of them weird electrical organ music thingys
