Researching blog networks

There are two issues I’m currently researching:

1. Existing blog networks

I run a few blogs, but never really looked at networking them - but recently I’ve begun looking into the idea of integrating them into existing blog networks.

Question is - which ones are available, and which ones could help leverage actual traffic?

A couple of sites I’ve found providing information directly on blog networks includes:

• Blogger’s Blog Network list a list of big and small blog networks, with brief commentaries beside each.
• Blog Network List - a site that provides various methods of ranking and appraising blog networks - could be especially handy with the above.
• Blog Network Watch - doesn’t look like a particularly active site, but could be a very interesting source for datamining.

Bottom line is - I have no idea if I want to integrate content with existing blog networks. But I have a few starters to help research a decision.

2. Setting up a new blog network

No, I don’t have an interest in setting up a blog network like 9rules or b5media - I don;t have the resources (time & money) to dedicate to such a process to make it a success, let alone a plan to justify it.

However, the recent release of Wordpress MU - multi-user Wordpress - means that setting up a site for publishing multiple blogs has become very accessible.

Sure, MovableType already offer this - but I’ve made plain elsewhere my reasons for no longer wanting to touch Six Apart products.

Additionally, the idea of setting up blogs for members at chronicles came up before Christmas while Wordpress MU was still in beta.

Now I can explore setting up a solution - to offer forum members personal blogs, while integrating them into an existing site.

I have members who want a blog, and the software to deliver it in volume. Potentially this means such a project can only set off on the right foot.

Now I need to look into delivering it.