I started blogging in earnest in 2001. I have learned a few things and now I have distilled some of those in this post over on Gigaom, and what I think blogging might become in years to come.
Let’s face it — in the past 12 years or so, the idea of blogging has been bastardized by one and all. We continue to confuse blogging as using “WordPress” or using phrases like “told me” or “I asked.” It is news releases repackaged and republished, and it is a vast sea of editorial sameness. What started as a way to break away from the tyranny of the established order — formats and rules — has been brought to its knees. Blogging is much more than that.
And while I embrace every new social platform with gusto, I find it frustrating that my point of view is spliced across various networks. I think the blog is the one that ties it all together — a central location where you fit together all the Lego pieces. In many ways it is no different than what blogs used to be in the beginning. Instead of them being a starting point of the journey, they are now the final stop, a digital home in our social media meanderings.
My full post is here and it might be worth your time if you have interest in media and blogs.
The best thing about a blogger is their mind. The way of using the different networks is like being John Mayer. Solo, a capella, a trio, full band, full instrumentation, add a symphony orchestra, just playing in the studio, or singing in the shower, writing, recording, marketing and promoting; he is a musical real life blogger even if it’s not him putting it on the internet. But, that is whata blogger is, like any other artist, someone living their mind and life out loud in the world, even if just on the internet.
So many options. Bringing it together is the devices …. the management team, personal goals and desires for experiences and opportunities, the record company, spontaneous jams and recordings … But at the end of the day, John Mayer is the only one thatcan bring it altogether, he has to make all the decisions and create the flow of his life blog, and that happens at home — however that may be defined by him.
To find a social media hub online is easy, you just pick a home, as there is already so many apps that can do that and go and connect everything on your favorite space. For some of us, we need to design and build our own “homes.” And that’s where the game of blogging personal visions in implementation will create a nu chapter of iNet fun ….
Well said.
I love this!
Thanks
” a digital home in our social media meanderings.”
This is so true. I am a digital strategists and I can tell you that there is no place in the real world that is as noisy as how social media can get. I am not saying that is a bad thing, but sometimes, you will come to a point that you will need to find some space in your online-digital life and that is what my blog has provided me.
great post
Reblogged this on Demented Musings and commented:
“… a digital home in our social media meanderings.”
Let’s face it! There is nothing out there that is so noisy as social media can get. I am not saying, however, that it is a bad thing; after all, there are thousands of good things about social media (That is the digital marketing person in me talking). But seriously, sometimes you will come to a point where you can be just yourself, and that is what my blog has given me– my own home in the digital world.
PS. This is a great read.
looks like you and Kottke are thinking about similar things today.
I really like your thoughts but then how do you find people of same interest? How do you make sure people reach you like you reach out for them?
I have been blogging for about 5 years and feel so upset with it : (!
Speaking to the point of being spread out on… well… one of your posts somewhere, I wasn’t even sure where to comment on this. So I picked here. It’s probably more a comment on all of the posts I read about this subject tonight. So, hey! You’re the lucky winner!
I’ve really been loving these posts on the state of blogging. I feel like I’ve been saying many of the same things conversationally recently as what I’ve seen you, Kottke, and Matt Mullenweg writing. I started blogging in ’97 at the tender age of 13 (okay, so it was online journaling, blog wasn’t a word at that point) so, I while I lack the notoriety that the rest of you have. (After all, I’m just some random lady who’s written a personal blog since she was a teenager.) I’ve lived the history of the medium right along with you.
I still like the blog for the same reasons as you… I like to think of it as my metaphorical home on the Internet. It’s where I hang my hat, it’s where I prefer to display my writing. Using Facebook or Twitter kinda seem analogous to hanging out at the bar for me… Oh sure, I can meet people there, but most of what’s said isn’t of much depth. And quite frankly, writing for a bigger publication blog gives me a case of the howling fantods at this point. I’ve kept it small for a reason.