Zemanta is a widget that offers bloggers context-sensitive advice on...well, I guess you could say on what more to blog about and how!

It pulls up pictures and text, usually that of other blogs on the same or similar subjects, using the keywords in your own entry. So my writing about Drupal will bring up pictures of the Drupal mascot, DrupalCon photos, and blogs and articles about the CMS by other people. Zemanta presents these as links that can be embedded, or content that can be quoted or displayed, within my own entry. The idea is that by linking my blog entry with those of others' I will somehow build up my own readership...but I'm not sure why anyone would want to quote or even link to their competitors' content!

So far, in a week's use, I've not been compelled to use anything that Zemanta has suggested. The stuff it serves up is mostly relevant, but I just haven't noticed anything particularly interesting that would seem like it could add much to my own writing. Its image suggestions are by far the weakest aspect of its overall service. It relies on images in the public domain, or otherwise available for use without license. As you can imagine, that's a fairly limited set of visuals on any given subject.

The textual links are related stuff other people are writing about. So what? Okay, good to keep an eye on the competition. But that's all? I could have as easily googled the keywords myself, thank you.

I'm really not sure what Zemanta brings to the table. Like I said, I've only been using it for a week, so maybe there are aspects of it that I've not discovered yet. But until then, I don't see how Zemanta could increase one's traffic, except maybe in an incidental way, just being a part of the Zemanta network of blogs that are tossed up and served to fellow bloggers. But, again, those fellow bloggers are blogging about the same topic; why should they help promote another's blog -- a competitor's blog on the same topic? I really don't get it. If anything, "subscribing" or using Zemanta only promotes...Zemanta!

However, it must be noted that they are really cool and don't force you to display their logo or name anywhere. So that's very nice, truly classy. I'm really sorry I don't know of another good reason or two to use them.