9rules, our blog network, has had a redesign and introduced many new features which make the site look and feel even more Web 2.0!

Last year, 9rules Notes launched. This was a tool which allowed both members and non-members to post content straight to 9rules. I think it is quite forum yet has many Web 2.0 aspects (such as tagging). This made 9rules much more than an aggregator and private forum but more of a social site. The new version of 9rules, Ali, brings even more social features to the site while still focusing on high quality blog content.

9rules Ali introduces friends, topics and points to the site as well as a feature which allows 9rules’ members to be distinguished from non-9rulers who are simply members of Notes.

Friends and points are in an area called my.9r. The friends feature allows you to, simply, add friends amongst other 9rules’ notes members. You can then pick out your top 9 (probably taking the mich out of MySpace’s top 8 ) friends on 9rules. Points are a feature which you can award, and are rewarded with, to other members. Standard members only get 9 points to share to start with, however, you can receive points off other member’s or the 9rules’ staff.

A feature of the new 9rules is that you get a profile page, like this one, which displays your points, notes, friends, blog, del.icio.us bookmarks, Flickr photos and also your last.fm recently played tracks.

9rules also has a feature called topics which appears to be quite similar to 9rules Search. You type in a topic, and it returns related blog entries, 9rulers and notes.

This is a promising relaunch and it brings many needed features to 9rules. I believe it is important 9rules does not grow too much, though, ro it’d lose its exclusive feel.

Tags: 9rules, web2.0, blog networks, web 2, web 2.0, web2