My inspiration for this post came from my dear, longtime blogging friend, Debbie @ Musings by an ND Domer's Mom, who is not only a gifted...
I have wanted to post about this topic for a while now.
Has anyone else besides me noticed an overall ‘shift’ in blogging throughout the Internet lately?
Some things I've noticed:
-People seem to be blogging less or have stopped blogging altogether.
-The way in which people use this media has drastically changed.
Eight years ago, when I first started on this social media, it was all about forming a dialogue and community. Yet, I’ve noticed that over the past year, blogging seems to be turning into a single experience in which many bloggers are writing posts and then not discussing them, thus, there is no sense of community. And I’m not just talking about discussion on their blog, I’m also referring to them contributing discussion on other peoples’ blog.
Even if a blogger uses their blog as a business, they are not going to generate any business unless they know how to form a strong sense of community and dialogue first. And a perfect example of how I know this is because of a professional blog I read called, Young House Love. Author's, Sherry and John Petersik, get anywhere from 200-300 comments per post and post anywhere from 3-4 times per week, and yet they still take the time to respond to a great deal of those comments. But not only that, the real key to their success is that they know how to form a sense of community by making everyone who visits their blog feel like they are included. Granted, they run a business blog so that's their livelihood. However, I read many professional business blogs who don't even come close to the way Sherry and John have formed a community. I've never seen two professional bloggers work with such dedication and heart. They are truly an inspiration.
Yes, I realize that blogging takes a certain amount of commitment and energy, so perhaps people are getting so busy that they don’t have time anymore. Yet, I think people have always been busy, so I don't feel that is the whole reason.
If a blogger chooses to stop blogging because they have lost interest; takes a break from blogging; their lives have changed in some way so they can't blog anymore; or they simply don’t have anything to say or share any longer, I can totally understand and honor those reasons. But what I can’t understand are bloggers who continue to blog, but blog as if their eating at a fast-food restaurant and dining for one.
Partially, I think it has to do with so many other social media platforms that have been created, which have greatly impacted online communication to a ‘quick social fix’ by using only a few words or posting a photograph. I also think that these social media’s have caused a distraction from blogging because people are so busy socializing, generating more business, and getting more followers through these other platforms that they can’t concentrate on blogging, which is where the meat and potatoes really are.
I think people are getting impatient and bored with blogging because it's not quick enough for them.
I’ve also noticed that commenting on blogs has slowly diminished to clicking the ‘like’ button. All I see lately on a lot of blogs are ‘likes’ and less and less communicating. And I can’t help but think to myself, “Did any of those 20 people actually take the time to READ the post or did they just do a ‘drive-thru’ liking?”
The whole landscape of blogging seems to be changing. What used to be a media of quality online community and discussion is becoming more of a Tweet, a Like, or a form of solo-blogging masturbation.
I know we’re all different, so we are drawn to different online social media’s. But for me, blogging is (and will always be) my favorite form of online socializing because it’s all about quality not quantity. And I also find it extremely creative and inspiring.
Look, I can’t say that I will always blog because there may come a time when I feel the desire to stop. Yet please know, that for however long I do continue to blog, you have my word that I will always blog with a sense community and discussion because that’s what blogging means to me. And that’s what blogging will ALWAYS mean to me.
And I thank you all for being a part of this community.
You are greatly appreciated!
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