Clearly, some bloggers are considering anew what to do with their online presence. Just this week Steve Knight noted that he is becoming more engaged with Facebook, than with his blog. Steve is not abandoning the blogging platform, but noting the way his interactions on Facebook are gathering more obvious discussion and interaction. John Smulo and Jason Clark announced relaunches of their blogs — John’s is looking much sharper and cleaner, Jason’s is yet to be delivered but will carry a change in direction for his writing. And, sadly, Duncan McFadzean has announced the end of his blog.
It’s a familiar pattern, some engage more with other social networking platforms, some revise and redevelop their blogs and some decide blogging is not for them. I highlight these four bloggers in particular because they are what we could call “mature” and established users of the medium. It feels, to me at least, that there is a significant churn in the blogging world. Lots of blogs I follow have been slow in 2008, more than any other year bloggers have not just gone on hiatus, but pulled up stumps completely. On the flipside, I’m seeing some serious energy being invested in new blogs, redesigns and even relaunches.
I suspect we will see even more of this over the next year as social networking options like Facebook and Twitter grow in both their audience and range of applications. I still have serious reservations about both platforms, but can see for me how they are better solutions for lighter tasks, like link and quote sharing. Moreover, the grind of regular blogposting and tiny blog audiences will continue to have it’s toll.
As for me, I’m pretty content at the moment. I’m happy with the current design (especially the way it performs on the iPhone). Sure, the audience for the this blog is tiny, but it has helped me establish and sustain some valuable connections. But, there is a looming problem — this blog was originally relaunched on the back of a specific set of problems and goals and those have, pretty much now been met. I’ve tried a few times to rethink those without a lot of success. I know the time will come to have another bite at that, but that time is not now.
Fernando Gros is a guitarist, composer, photographer and writer based in Hong Kong. Born in Santiago de Chile, Fernando grew up in Sydney and has also lived in London and Delhi.
Design by Graph Paper Press
Subscribe to entries
Subscribe to comments
All content © 2010 by Fernando Gros
Interesting analysis, Fernando! I’m honored that you consider me a “mature” user of the blog medium. That’s very encouraging. As hopefully was clear from my latest blog post, I am energized by interaction and conversation — and that is why I’m excited by what Facebook is doing right now.
I definitely still believe my blog has a place in the communication ecosystem, but more and more I’ll be posting things on Facebook and engaging in discussions over there (because that’s where the conversation seems to be the liveliest). My blog is perhaps becoming the public broadcast system for my other thoughts and ideas. That’s something I still want to have, but it means my posts there will be less and less frequent (but hopefully more and more “meaty” and “rich”). We’ll see …
Why does it have to have a goal or solve a problem?
Isn’t it enough to have something to say? For me, blogging is cathartic. I find it gives me the opportunity to express myself, flesh out ideas, etc… Truthfully, I blog for myself as much as for anyone. And if forty or fifty nice people a day like to go along for the ride, so be it.
I do use social networking platforms. I have a facebook, a Bebo, a Myspace. The former is the only one I pay attention to. I refuse to go on Twitter. I can’t imagine anyone being that interested in my life… LOL
Hey Steve — later this year I’ll get round to posting about my problems with the word “mature.” Problems aside, there is a difference, in my eyes at least, between bloggers who have thought and thought again about what are doing with the medium. Certainly for me part of the struggle with blogging is that it has never really delivered on the “conversation” thing — at least not on the blog itself.
For a lot of people the lack of a goal is a real problem. It’s hard to stay motivated without either a sense of challenge, or of growing skills or some sort of target.
I guess for someone people just having their say is enough. I’m not made of that stuff though. Socially I don’t speak unless I know people are listening.
I’ve been on the brink for a while, but I think I’m getting a fourth wind. It mainly has to do with time, energy and ideas for me. When I sit down to write a blog post, I realize I could be working on an article for publication. So lately, I’ve been trying to do more double-duty where possible.
Another hindrance quite frankly is I feel like I can’t really say what I want, unless I’m ready to get completely hammered by commentators. I really don’t like nasty comments, enough sometimes to keep me from writing.
2008 the yr of blogging go-slow…