Any time a method is shared here, is already dead and its creator has made cash of it.
This method is far from dead. The concept of posting to various StatusNet servers is alive and well and is still being built. The big hitters like identi and a few others have been spammed like crazy by less creative people which has had people crying for security methods to stop the spam but that does not mean that the method is dead.
People need to fight the urge to spam the hell out of any new site they hear of and use things like this in a smarter way.
We have started the StatusMass project at
http://statusmass.com in order to build a network of sites which will run the statusnet open source script. What does that mean? It means these sites will remain dof****w and as we build the number and popularity of these sites we will be able to have a steady network of sites to build deeplinks on.
For those always looking for the new quick fix this method will not be appealing but for those looking for a good long term solution then StatusMass is worth the little effort it takes.
Setting up your own statusnet server/site is cheap and easy to do. You can use an old domain name you have lying around or buy one from netfirm for $1 using the newest coupon code. From there you can get a really cheap hosting plan or even use a free one. Once you install the script you can do some seo work on it or ask for help on
http://statusmass.com.
It may take a few months before we start seeing the real value of this private network but I think it is worth the effort. Put it this way, how much time have people spent spamming identi, or even kickapps sites before that, only to have those methods shut down? Instead of hitting the latest quick fix method I would rather put that time into building links that I know will stick and have value months down the line.
As far as the creator having made cash off of this, I can say that moronic_koas (the creator of StatusMass) did not cash in on this method and since I have taken over I have donated hours and hours of time to try and take this to the next level without ever thinking of it as something to directly cash in on. Sometimes you need to forget about trying to make a quick buck and think long term and try to harness the power of a community for a common goal.
Also, the identi site by itself is still a great way to have a site indexed quickly if you use it right. Create an account, avoid the pitfalls of adding all the high PR groups, etc... that you have read about before. Make a few "normal" posts, slowly add friends and groups and then post something well written with a link. Maintain your account there and use it when needed - don't just spam the hell out of it with links. By doing this you have a surefire method of getting a new site indexed quickly. The best thing you can do is FIGHT THE URGE to go spam crazy!