The IT Skeptic - Comments for "The blogging bubble"

Aren't you lot blogging

Visitor — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 15:22:01 +0000

Aren't you lot blogging about people blogging about blogging? Hmmmm.

why blog about blog

bigapplezlp — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 01:55:39 +0000

I see your point. It's a good one.

That makes me think why there a lot of blogs out there talking about how to use blog to make money. Like you said, there aren't many magazine about how to publish a magazine.

Reasons I can think of:

1. Blog is a new industry. Not many people know how to make money out of it. As you said, even your blog didn't make a lot of money. And making money is a major interest of many bloggers. There is a need, there is a provider.

2. Bloggers themselves are the largest body of readers of blogs, if not the only readers. That's sharply different than the publish industry. Editors and authors are far less than the readers.

After the business model of blog is mature and a wider audience can be reached by blog, we will see things change.

as if magazines were all about the publishing industry

skeptic — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 07:50:01 +0000

I'm not sure you get my point. It seems that so much content out there on blogs is about blogging or the internet. It is as if magazines were all about the publishing industry.

This blog is already a mildly successful magazine (except commercially). When the bubble bursts and the frenzy dies down, people will still want to read about ITIL and IT. But the many blogs about "how to make money on the internet" and "how to blog" and "how to SEO" etc etc will wither and vanish.

With a bit of luck so too will all the blogs about "today Charlene said something so, like, you know..." or "I'm changing my medication because..."

Blogging is a new way of publishing

bigapplezlp — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 04:21:28 +0000

You made some good points about the negative sides of blogging. But, you failed to realize that blogging is just the new way of publishing. Instead of waiting for some Editor to pick your writing and publish it on newspaper of a magazine, you can publish your throught immediately by yourself.

Eventually, your blog becomes the magazine or newspaper edited and published by yourself. The similar business model of publishing can be followed in blogging industry. As long as you have enough good stuff in your blog, people will come to read it like they would spend 50 cents to buy a daily newspaper. At least blog is free.

The wisely put ad won't hurt your blog as long as the ads are actually related to the blog content. When we think of the ad, we always think of something annoying. That's because of the old model of ad: mass marketing. Broadcasting the message to all the audience. We are smarter now. Just think of the google ad. It picks the ad most related to your content. We have to realize there is some need for the ad. When we would like to buy something or find something, we need information. Ad IS information. As long as they are put in the right place in the right time, they are useful information.

So, cheer up and continue blogging!

$1 cheque

skeptic — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 20:54:37 +0000

You are exactly right about that $1 cheque, and I love the earlier example. I've described in the past how this blog is an experiment in web commerce and how spectacularly unrewarding it is. I'm working on more rewarding models.

So I don't exaggerate to get revenue, I just like to stir people out of their torpor :)

Self referential tech

Barry — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 20:28:24 +0000

Interesting point, though you exaggerate a bit. I suppose that helps getting readers and bloggers to link and read your ads.

I've seen this phenomena several times in the past, especially when a new software type appears. For example, in the late 80's multi-media presentation software appeared: Aldus Persuasion, ThinkTank More, Microsoft PowerPoint. The main customer for these products (I was in the business) was other technology sales persons.

This was followed closely by media companies who where schlepping those new light (at 9 lbs, plus accessories or 16lb) laptops to sales presentations.

The multi-media features excited the media types and more and more capabilities were developed. For example, in 1992, QuickTime.

Blogging is annoyingly self referential, but it's not as bad as the rest of the social networking phenomena.

Since its all about narcissism anyway, why should this be surprising.

The only slightly odd factor is the expectation of making money from this.

I can't wait for that $1 check!