MyBlogLog Current Visitor

A few days ago I posted about some More New Web Magic by the Intense Debate crew on my personal blog ToddSampson.com.  As it turns out, the Intense Debate team created their magic by monitoring the MyBlogLog Reader Roll for the most recent reader and using that information to pre-fill the blog URL in their sign-up form.  This is a really cool hack.  However, as of today, there is a much easier way.

The MyBlogLog tracking script (which is auto-magically included with the MyBlogLog Reader Roll) is now making the following global Javascript variable available:

"mbl_current_visitor"

This variable will return the 16-digit MyBlogLog Member ID for the person visiting the site.  If the person does not have a MyBlogLog Member ID, is not logged-in, or has "blocked" themselves from displaying on the site the Javascript variable will be blank.

As reported by Marshall Kirkpatrick on Read/Write Web, and unveiled at last weeks's Search Sig event, Kent Brewster has already put this new feature to great use in his wicked-cool application BlogJuice. Kent's app gives a taste of the power combining the current reader on your site with the MyBlogLog API can have.  I can't wait to see more of these fantastic hacks; and the even cooler ones that will be possible with our soon-to-be-released new features.

Note:  The MyBlogLog API is currently an invite-only beta.  To apply for an invite, click here.

Comments

[Chris]

I love the creepiness of the photo. Are you there? I am watching you.

[Jon]

Well thanks for taking all the mystery and challenge out of our trick. j/k

I have to give credit where credit is due though...the guys over at Lijit (http://www.lijit.com) are the ones that gave us the idea. Glad you liked it though.

So when are you putting us on this blog?

[Eric Marcoullier]

Hot, yo.

[Todd Sampson]

Hey Jon. Sorry for making things too easy. ;)

And thanks for calling out that the Ligit guys give you the idea. Todd & crew over there are doing some really cool stuff -- especially with the new MyBlogLog API. See it in action on Todd's blog:

http://falseprecision.typepad.com/

- T

[Olivier D. alias ze kat]

Thank you. It was my major reason I couldn't create my own Readers widget :o)

Hum... Think something... To create Instant LiFE-Line lifestream demo for current reader :o. .oO(if MBL add feeds URLs into API results)

[Mike Grishaver]

Very cool. Looking forward to playing with this!

[Joe Lazarus]

This opens up a ton of new personalization possibilities for the API. Nice work.

[Toimoi]

Very cool !
What a progress. I Can't wait to use it

[Floroskop]

Hello!
I think this try.