BlogRush is shutting down its service. The basic idea was to have a widget that showed blog posts from blogs that were similar to your own. One basic problem I saw with the network was a very limited set of “categories” that your blog needed to fit into. It seemed that you needed to be laser focused on that category, else you were not allowed the privilege of joining the BlogRush network. ((Am I bitter?? Hehe. Yes, I was turned down three times.)) Blogs are generally not laser focused. DeepMarket is mostly about the stock market, but I also like to talk about the economy (tightly related) and technology (loosely correlated) and charity (?? not related ??) and P2P lending (kind of sorta related) and LoL Catz (okay, now we are off in left field).

The point is – each blog entry is its own little world and has a unique theme. Which leads me to Arkayne. Arkayne is also widget based, but it focuses on linking blog posts to blog posts. So, if I write about Polar Bears on my stock market blog, Arkayne will find another Polar Bear blog post on my blog, as well as on an external blog (if you turn on that feature). My Polar Bear post could have links from environmental blogs, hunting blogs, fur coat vendor blogs and Sarah Palin’s blog. Diversity of blogs, but at the blog post level – a common theme.

I never did get to try out BlogRush, but it has gone extinct exactly for the same reason I have recently left the EntreCard service – low-click through and low quality traffic. You can see the Arkayne widget in my individual blog posts – check out the service – it is in alpha/beta phase now. Apply for an invite (or ask me for one in your comments). I think Arkayne will quick fill the void that BlogRush is leaving – I know they did have a large following.