9rules, one of the more beautiful designed blog networks is going to don a new avatar soon. The new site, codenamed Ali, as in Muhammad Ali will have new features, bug fixes and a brand new section aka “9rules Live” as posted by Mike Rundle.

Though 9rule Live might sound something more like “Instablogs Live“, which has been a major hit with our small but very active Instablogs Community, but I think it would be a bit similar to Netscape Tracker. Netscape Tracker gives you an updated data of new members, new comments, new submissions etc.

9rules is surely growing at a fast pace, with their round 5 submissions had the largest set of applications. They surely need much improved way of browsing through the community members, posts, notes etc, with even increasing members and posts.

Better integration of all these features will definitely drive more traffic. One thing I would like to recommend is regarding rankings of users according to his/her quantity of notes submitted. I understand this is kind of an incentive for its members who are participating and posting more notes, but I think they should code rankings page in such a way people with most popular posts/notes, receiving number of comments on the threads/notes started by them can come higher up in the rankings.

Another thing which most blog networks are missing is importance of comments and reader participation. Everyone is devising one way or the other to syndicate posts/stories across their network. Even the new B5media page is highlighting posts across the random channels. But many a times, comments are much better than the post themselves. And people posting good comments should be given more recognition and incentives. Blog networks should move more toward readers, and should think new ways for the readers who leave comments to feel more welcome.

Anyways, I am really anticipating the new 9rules. I m sure it would again boast with great set of features and improvements, and my best wishes to them.