QOT Joins the 9rules Blog Network: Our 2008 Story

The 9rules blog network was one of the best-known invite-only communities of independent blogs in the 2000s, and in 2008 QuickOnlineTips became a member. This post tells the story of how we joined, what 9rules was and what happened to it, and how bloggers can find similar communities today.

Quick answer: 9rules was a hand-picked network of independent blogs grouped into topic communities, with members chosen in short submission rounds. QOT was accepted in Round 6 in 2008 and went live on the network that June. 9rules faded after the late 2000s, and today bloggers build similar reach through newsletter platforms, online communities and collaborations with other writers.

What was the 9rules blog network?

9rules was created by Paul Scrivens, Mike Rundle and others to showcase the best content from the independent web. Instead of anyone joining, blogs applied during short submission rounds (often a 24-hour window), and the team hand-picked the sites it liked. Members were grouped into topic communities such as Technology, Apple and Web Design, and each member site got a profile page on the network.

Being accepted was a badge of quality. Member blogs showed the 9rules leaf logo, and readers could browse the network to discover other good blogs in the same niche.

How QOT joined the 9rules blog network

We first previewed the 9rules member agreement before Round 6 opened, and then the news came that 9rules selected QOT as a member. After meeting all the requirements, QuickOnlineTips went live on the 9rules network in June 2008.

The joining process was pretty simple and quick. After receiving the invitation email, I agreed to the member agreement, which 9rules had published in advance. A 9rules leaf then appeared on every page of this site, and QOT got its own profile page in the 9rules Technology community.

Membership also gave me access to private 9rules forums, and I hoped to meet some amazing people there. I also planned to join Chawlk, a separate community site set up by the 9rules team where members and anyone else could discuss blogging. The next 24-hour submission round was set for August 2008.

What happened to 9rules?

In early 2008 the team had already reorganized, moving community discussion to Chawlk and focusing the main site on member content. In 2009 the network was acquired by Splashpress Media. Over the following years social media changed how readers found blogs, and 9rules is no longer the active community it once was.

Alternatives to the 9rules blog network today

There is no single invite-only network that does what 9rules did, but bloggers can still get discovered through communities and platforms:

• Substack: newsletter writers recommend each other, which works a lot like a modern blog network.
• Medium: publications on Medium group writers by topic and help new readers find your posts.
• Reddit: niche communities can send engaged readers, as long as you take part and follow each community’s rules.
• Collaborations: guest posts, link roundups and interviews with bloggers in your niche still build real relationships and traffic.

The core lesson from 9rules still holds: quality content and a recognizable niche get you noticed. If you are just getting started, read our guide on how to start a blog.

FAQ

When did QuickOnlineTips join 9rules?

QOT was selected in Round 6 in May 2008 and went live on the network in June 2008.

How did you join the 9rules blog network?

Blogs applied during short submission rounds, and the 9rules team hand-picked members. Accepted sites agreed to a member agreement and displayed the 9rules leaf.

Is 9rules still active?

No. It is no longer the active blog network it was in the 2000s.

What is a blog network?

A group of blogs that are listed, promoted or owned together, so readers of one blog can discover the others.