Ask HN: Why is Smashing Magazine so successful?

I have previously tried my hand at blogging, and though the focus wasn't design, but more technology based stuff. This was back in 2006-07. My projects never took off / gained traction.

Smashing Magazine started in 2006, Tech Crunch started in July 2005, and Mashable was launched in July of 2005 as well. These sites became pretty well known by 2008 to a wider audience than just design and news enthusiasts.

There are literally millions of people churning content, so what is it that is making these <and some other> sites so successful, besides being early players in the market ?