If you were to ask me, I’d say blogging is still in it’s infancy and has the ability to change how we receive/transmit news and information that’s important to us.
But, what about those who have been blogging for years? What is their thought on the future of blogging? When I interviewed Darren Rowse, author of Problogger and co-author of ProBlogger: Secrets Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income
I’ve asked Lorelle (of Lorelle on WordPress), and I’ll ask you. What do you see for the future of blogging? How will it change, and what’s the best way for a new blogger to stay abreast?
Darren answered
Blogging continues to merge with other types of sites. We’re seeing more and more bloggers start forums, add social networks, experiment with microblogging (Twitter) etc. I think this will continue to happen.
This can be a bit daunting for some new bloggers but I think my main advice would be for them to start now and to blog prolifically. You can always expand your blog later – the key is to get your foot in the door, build a readership and learn how to use the basic technologies.
Reflecting On The Answer
Darren, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to participate in this series and share your answer.
When I reread Darren’s answer, and Lorelle’s answer (in my interview with her) I am hopeful. Although blogging is changing, as Darren shared “the key is to get your foot in the door”.
Today’s Assignment
Are you happy you got into blogging when you did?
Knowing what you know now, do you wish you had started earlier?
What do you see as the future for blogging?
Please feel free to share your viewpoint in the comment section.
.
Read other answers in the A.S.K. (Answers Sharing Knowledge) series.
A.S.K. Darren Rowse – Problogger – What Was Your Biggest Blogging Mistake?
A.S.K. Darren Rowse – Problogger – How To Become A Six Figure Blogger
A.S.K. Darren Rowse of Problogger – When Do We Know Our Blog Is A “Winner”
A.S.K. Darren Rowse – How Does A Problogger Deal With Comments
A.S.K. Darren Rowse of Problogger – How Do We Increase Our Readership
A.S.K. Andy Bailey – What Was The Inspiration Behind The CommentLuv Plugin
A.S.K. Liz Strauss – How Do You Inspire Readers To Join Your Community
A.S.K. Liz Strauss – How To Format Blog Comments To Maximize Comments
Photo Credit: Darren Rowse/Problogger
Hi Barbara. I wish I’d started earlier. I do find it all a bit daunting because there is so much information out there and my challenge is to know what to focus on and what to leave for later.
I feel like I’m always playing catch up. For example, not far back I uploaded the WordPress software and new Theme to my upcoming blog. Within 2 weeks BOTH of these already had updates.
As for what I see as the future for blogging I’d have to say that right now I can’t see the forest for the trees, but I’m interested to see the comments on this question.
Davina´s last blog post..Video — Preparation Inspires Self-Confidence
Well I started at just the right time, of course! I could not have started earlier for family reasons – and maybe I wasn’t ready anyway.
I think blogging is a forerunner of an extensive connectivity that will be the norm in the future, perhaps. The technology might evolve to be something a bit different – but lots of people will be doing it, whatever it is, I reckon.
Robin´s last blog post..Bloggers’ Recording Project
I think we must tell the technology from what it can be built with it. I beleive that even if blogging software were to remain unchanged, even if no new feature could be possibly be added to our blogging platforms, still we are in the infancy of blogging.
Maybe blogging will be increasingly become a less individualist endeavour and turned into a real family business; or a partnership between a writer and an expert who might be Chinese; or…
Is a traditional newspaper in electronic form a very sofisticated blog?
I’d ask everybody a question: what can you do with a blog?
Miguel de Luis´s last blog post..Things I have learned in my 3 months of blogging, part 1
Hi Barbara – I wish we had started sooner, but we started when it was right for us.
I think the future for blogging lies in the dissemination of news and ideas, within in specific niches, or in a more general context. There’s a reason every newspaper and television news personality has a blog. We are learning and exchanging in the various communities that we have. Back in the day, we might have subscribed to Time, Life and Look magazines. Now we have other subscriptions.
We are all fascinated by a lit window and want to look inside. The blog allows us to do that. I would be interested to see what others think, too.
Betsy´s last blog post..REAL
Starting earlier would definitely have helped. But as they say, there is a time for everything … the time when I started must have been the best for me, so no regrets.
Reg. all the catching up to do, I don’t think it would have mattered when we start since technology keeps on updating so fast.
Avani-Mehta´s last blog post..Top 8 Motivation Hacks – #3
I really see blogging a definite “activity” of the future. My son, 14, is required for his English class to start of blog. He will be graded on his creativity, journalism, etc. I am excited that he is upbeat about his latest assignment. So much youth is about online games, etc. that I feel this is a great challenge for him to be able to sit down and actually do something productive in front of the screen. I am currently reading Call it Freedom( http://callitfreedom.com/) by Miguel de Luis to my son’s 2nd grade class. They have really enjoyed his writing.
As for me, yes, I wish I had started blogging earlier. Since my blog is about daily appreciation for life I wish I had many days to go back to read and reflect. I love how blogging places challenges on me. I am very excited to learn what lies ahead for the blogging world. I am still new at this at I am learning from those more experienced bloggers.
Thank you Barbara.
Tammy Warren´s last blog post..The Troubles with Goals
I am soooooo glad I started when I did as no tellin what would of happened if I had started now! My brain cells would of been a poppin with the strain of learning. I am still learning but not at the pace I was earlier. Blogging is constantly changing and IF you do not keep yourself a little informed, you will be lost!
Linda´s last blog post..SeaPower Promises Emission-Free Power and Water
I guest I really need to know more in blogging. There is so much more to learn here. Thanks for the useful article that gives me idea on what to do.
Thanks 🙂
Diana Rupert´s last blog post..Water with Lemon for Weight Loss
I’m just getting into my third month. I so much enjoy what I do that in some ways I wish I’d been doing it sooner, but I know I started when I did because that’s is when I was supposed to start.
I think it is an exciting time and that the tools for the trade are growing in leaps and bounds. That is a little daunting but it’s like standing on a hill, looking at all the beautiful city lights in awe, thinking about the possibilities.
Cheers!
George
Tumblemoose´s last blog post..Cheap Shots
I don’t have any clue whether I started at the right time regarding where blogging is at in it’s life cycle. However, I know for certain I started at the right time for me. Blogging takes a lot of time and effort to do well. Reading, writing, posting, responding to comments, social networking, all of this takes a significant portion of my day. If I had started at an earlier stage in my life, I would have quit by now.
Also, I think waiting until this point in my life to share my experiences is important. It means there is a wisdom and maturity in my stories. I can walk the talk. I couldn’t have done that before.
Urban Panther´s last blog post..Support in a time of need
I wish I were the first person to start a blog! LOL
Blogging is the type of thing where when you’re new to it, it’s cool, but when you’ve been doing it for a year or two, your eyes are opened to the fact that many of what you read out there has already been said and said and said and said again.
Then, like Darren said, you move onto expanding your blog and messing it with other things like a forum, twitter, or some other website which you use to sell products.
I’m not sure where blogs will end up. I suspect maybe they will be around for awhile, however, they will become less and less what they originally were designed for (online journal) and considered more and more as simple websites used to promote products.
Part of this reason is the fact that web designers love blogging platforms because they allow them to create websites on the fly due to the millions of templates out there ready to go.
John Hoff – eVentureBiz´s last blog post..Open Discussion: What Would Make For A Great WordPress Hosting Company?
I’ve been blogging for a couple of years, but just my personal blog that was only read by a few people who knew me. I wish I’d realized the potential of blogging earlier and started by professional blog earlier. I think I’d have been *way* ahead of the game in my niche, although this particular niche is still pretty new and just now taking off. So I really did come in at a good time.
I’ve been active on-line for years, primarily in forums, and have admin’d a few forums in the past. The idea of eventually launching a forum is exciting. The ones out there in my current niche are actually not that well run. The software being used is not very user friendly. I think a good forum in the admin support arena could really take off. That’s the next step I intend to take my blog. I want to build up readership a bit more first.
So all in all, I think this is a good time to start blogging, as long as folks understand there’s a lot more work to it than just posting a few times a week. That’s actually the least amount of time I spend on my blogs *laughs*.
In theory, it would have been better if I started earlier, but it couldn’t have happened. I was busy raising small kids and didn’t even know blogs existed. I know plenty of moms use blogs to help them through the years of raising small children, but for me, blogging became an option only when my kids grew a little and didn’t need me as much.
Hi Barbara – I know I couldn’t have started sooner. But I still feel blogs have a long way to go and I’m glad I’ve got my foot in the door too. I would hate to be starting over from scratch. As you know, it really does take a lot of persistance.
I really think blogs are becoming the new website. And as Darren says, bloggers are adding many other features, such as forums. I think the important thing is that we don’t try to do it all at once.
Cath Lawson´s last blog post..Do You Have Business Questions?
I can’t remember when I started blogging, I had a few blogs before the one I have now but always ended up deleting it. No I don’t wish I would have started earlier than I did, whenever that was…I’m in a comfortable place right now and maybe, maybe a bit more mature, so I like the me that I am right now blogging. I think blogging will reach a peak and then slow down for some, but with each new generation, there is always someone there to take it to the next level, so I’ll leave it to them. Twittering is pretty fun and I love when people twitter their blog posts….maybe blogging will go that route in the future….
NaTuRaL´s last blog post..Oh, Sense Less One
I was a dummy to have stayed so long with my old blog server that never had the option of Comments. (I would be the one to make them see the light, right? Ah, not quite.)
But that’s all water under the cyber bridge now – here I am today with nothing but a bright future stretching out like a month of Thursdays before me. And I see the future as nothing but fun and a chance to connect even deeper with other bloggers I’ve already come to consider friends these past couple months.
And who knows how things will evolve?
One thing is sure, I’ll read every one of your posts, Barbara, to keep abreast of the latest blogging tricks and trends – which reminds me, I still have to get that Stumble Upon thing up and running.
Thanks.
Jannie´s last blog post..And “The Real Jannie” is…?
October, 2004, is the first evidence I have of a blog post of mine, but I was tinkering with blogging before that.
Knowing what I know now, I would have gotten more involved in commenting a lot earlier.
Blogging will be around for a long time and, for each person, will be whatever the bloggers and the readers make of it for themselves.
Mike Goad´s last blog post..Eyes of the Great Depression 006
Yes I am happy I jumped in when I did because it marked a transition to even more authentic work for me. Having your voice out there is a wonderful development tool.
The future of blogging – I like to think that more and more each of us will be connected to our target audience as our voices become more authentic and our paths become more clear. There is already a lot of noise in the blogosphere. I think the future bodes well for those of us who are genuine. I see a shaking out that encourages the junk and robot blogs to fall by the wayside as technology increases in its ability to authenticate.
Tom Volkar / Delightful Work´s last blog post..Small Business Startup Checklist
Hi Davina – I hear you about the updates. Blogging appears to be ever changing with new and better ways to “do it” at each turn. Doing what I can with the amount of time I have is how I handle the changes.
Hi Miguel – You’ve raised great ideas. Can you imagine? A family business centered around a blog? How great would that be? And, I wonder, is someone already doing that?
Hi Betsy – Just like you, I’m seeing more and more newscasters telling the audience to “blog with me”; everyone from Larry King, to Anderson Cooper and Greta (on Fox). And yes, subscriptions and how we received them, are changing. Will magazines as we know them eventually become extinct?
Hi Robin – Definitely! Lots more people will be blogging. Oh, how exciting it will be to watch.
Hi Avani – Yes, “there is a time for everything”. With technology forever changing, those of us who blog will be forever challenged. And I think that’s a good thing.
Hi Tammy – You’re welcome. How exciting that you son’s assignment if to start a blog. Can you imagine the possibilities those children could have if they continue on with it after the assignment is over?
Hi Linda – I hear you. Blogging is constantly changing. Even when I look back to when I started nearly 20 months ago, a lot has changed. Like you said, staying informed is very important.
Hi George – Well put, “it’s like standing on a hill, looking at all the beautiful city lights in awe, thinking about the possibilities.” We all many great opportunities ahead of us, don’t we?
Hi Panther – Ah, the voice of maturity. I hear you. Isn’t it amazing what we can teach from our own experiences? In some instances, it’s priceless.
Hi John – You’re right. We do read a lot of duplicate information. But you know what? Even when I land on a blog that repeats what I already know, I like reading how the author puts their own spin on it. And…I love to read how young people (and some not so young) are so excited when they “discover” something that makes a difference in their lives.
Haha! Can you imagine if you had been the first blogger? How different your life would be.
Hi Vered – It sounds like your timing was perfect. Now that your girls are older, blogging is giving you a chance to bond with other adults on a time frame that suits your family life.
Hi Catherine – You’ve hit a nail on the head…”we don’t try to do it all at once.”. With blogging, we could easily spend our whole day on one thing or another. Finding the right balance is key.
Hi NaTuRal – That’s right. Blogging is changing, and as both Darren and Lorelle mentioned, microblogging (Twitter) is catching on. Although it’s a great way to communicate, I don’t think 140 characters can tell the stories that blog posts do.
Hi Jannie – You’re welcome. I agree. We can make wonderful friends via a blog. With blogging, our world definitely expands.
I can’t guarantee I’ll keep you abreast of all of the blogging trick and trends, as I’m not too techie, , but I will keep you thinking. 🙂
Hi Jodith – You’re right. There is a need for a well run forum in your niche. With your expertise, you could be phenomenal. And yes, posting can be far less time consuming that other blogging activities.
Hi Mike. Hey, I like your new avatar. 🙂 I know what you mean about learning the importance of commenting. I was late on learning that, too. It’s a powerful tool in blogging, isn’t it?
Hi Tom – Blogs are a great way to connecting with our target audience, aren’t they? I know with your business, you blog has been a huge benefit.
Hi Lance – Blogging is amazing, isn’t it? And like you said, very exciting.
Hi again Miguel – The secret is out. 🙂
I should have started earlier. But that said, I’m still glad I did start when I did, and for everything that has happened because of blogging. It’s been an amazing few months, and it just seems like each day brings something new! Very exciting stuff, and very exciting times to be in!
Lance´s last blog post..Sunday Thought For The Day
Hi Tammy, thanks for the great link love! 🙂 🙂 🙂
(Now, you know who’s behind callitfreedom.com)
I strongly believe that there’ll be always some mechanism to publish our thoughts whether it is microblogging or multi-blogger blogs or video blpgs. It may not necessarily be called blogs, but do we really care about the name?
Blogging and Web 2.0 changed the world in a way that people started publicizing everything that they thought, sometimes they went too public – that trend might continue.
In another ten years, all humans on this earth will have a unique RFID kind of identifier, a space on the web (which would also have his onlnie diary or blog) and relationship between him and others (regarless of the number of levels) can be easily traced!
Hi Diana – Hopefuly you didn’t think I was ignoring your comment, It ended up in my spam folder and I just I fished it out.
You’re welcome. Yes, there is a lot to learn about blogging. Fortunately we’re all at different levels, so there will always be someone to learn from.
Hi Ajith – You’re right. Blogging has changed the way we publish. Although some have gone too far, I’m guessing there will always be room for those who continue to want to help others.
Hi Jeremy – You’ve raised a good point about blogging may not taking off for many years. Look at email. When it first came out, (some) people were hesitant to sign on. Now, nearly everyone has an email address. I wonder how many years that process took.
Hi Barbara,
I think I have to agree with George. I wish I would have started sooner (on a self hosted site), but the timing is right for me right now.
My niche has a lot of blogs out there, but only a few that are really considered top notch. I keep looking at the personal finance niche and I keep thinking about how I can get the personal development niche to the same place. Yep, I have pretty big dreams.
As for the future, I think a lot more people will start blogging and a lot more people will learn how to use RSS. I can imagine most of the top blogs having 100k plus readers and smaller niche blogs having 10k plus. I think advertising revenue will continue to flow into blogs as it flows away from standard channels such as newpapers and magazines.
I honestly don’t see a critical mass happening until more like 2020. It takes a long time to see people adopting this type of technology and I am excited about the future.
Cheers,
Jeremy
Jeremy Day´s last blog post..The Complete Noobs Guide to the Economy
I’ve started blogging earlier but I’m not sure if it would have helped much because I was in a niche that I was not passionate about. Blogging has been fun so far but I did not realize that there can be so much work with just one site. I hope to look for ways to reduce the load in time to come.
Evelyn Lim´s last blog post..My Vision Board Tops Amazon’s Bestseller List?
Emails were first created in the 60’s. Ray Tomlinson was the first to use the “@” symbol in 1971. You would probably agree with me that the first widespread use of email was through AOL in the 90’s. Hotmail, Yahoo, Netscape, all had some of the first email systems that were used on a widespread basis.
Now for blogging. First time the term blog was coined was in 1997 by Jorn Barger. Although one could argue that people were making “blog type” websites before that. Blogs have been compared to the original BBS and Usenet systems but they arent what blogs are like today.
So lets compare 1997 to 1971 because that seems like the best comparison. It took email 25 years to get to a point where you could say it had widespread usage. At a similar pace blogs will reach widespread usage around 2023. But, one could argue that the web moves faster now and the adoption of blogs will be faster.
Guess we just have to wait and see.
Cheers,
Jeremy
Jeremy Day´s last blog post..The Complete Noobs Guide to the Economy
Hi Barbara. It would have been great to start earlier, but I didn’t even know what a blog was. haha. So I’m glad I started when I did.
It can certainly be overwhelming, but like Darren said, just start and add a little at the time. Nothing succeeds overnight. Sticking to it and keeping yourself educated on what’s new and pushing forward is the key. There’s no telling where blogging is headed. Forward is all I know.
Jennifer´s last blog post..A Source of Huge Frustration
Hi Jeremy – Thanks for coming back and giving us the information on emails and blogs. I found that very fascinating. I must agree with your last sentence, “the web moves faster now…” What a joy it will be to watch, AND be a part of it. WooHoo! 🙂
Hi Jennifer – Yes, starting is the key. From there we can lean more as time permits. Together we’ll all move forward.
I am always a bit scared to write in here because I feel like such a noob compared to the people that frequent your blog but I am going to brave it.
I love blogging and started it at the right time. I dont contribute any where near as much as I gain from the blogging community. I see blogging becoming as natural in our everyday routine as texting has become.
melanie´s last blog post..Coffee and a chat…
Hi Melanie – Welcome to the BWAB community. Please do not be scared to comment here. I love hearing from new visitors. You did hit the nail on the head. We do gain a lot from the blogging community, and that’s hard to duplicate.
I’ll be by to read some of your work later today. Hope to see you again soon. 🙂
Oh I forget I really love your tagline, “It’s MY Blog, But It’s All About YOU”
Just too awesome!
Yan
Yan Shall Blog´s last blog post..Ask My Readers #2 – Read At Your Own Risk
I think it is true that we gain a lot from the blogging community and I think one of my biggest goals as a blogger is to foster a sense of community.
I can’t say I have any regrets on starting my blog when I did, life is what it is. In a sense though, I’ve been blogging since before I even knew what the internet was, starting with my first “newspaper” made with scraps of carbon paper my dad would bring from the office, to zines in high school and my family and friends email newsletters.
Tracy´s last blog post..Retail Therapy
I think the future of blogging is more self-businesses and blending profits with passion.
I think more people will sell what they know and sell their services or productize themselves through information products.
In today’s world, there’s a global market of little nodes on the Web where individuals can change their lives.
J.D. Meier / Sources of Insight´s last blog post..Design a Routine for Exceptional Thinking
I do wish I had started blogging sooner. But I’m happy to be blogging now. I think the trick is to have something to say. Finding my voice is what my blog has ultimately done for me.
Squawkfox´s last blog post..10 Ways to Build a Resume Like a Professional Resume Writer: The Do’s
I wish I had started much sooner. I am just now discovering the joys of writing almost everyday. It is an amazingly quick and efficient way to share your knowledge, views etc.
There is however quite a steep learning curve especially in the web 2.0 realm. I just can’t get my head around twitter!
Hi again Yan – Thank you!
Hi Tracy – Welcome to the BWAB community. I just clicked over to your “about” page. Five boys? You have your hands full.
Isn’t that the truth? We all have been “blogging” for most of our lives. It just wasn’t called that. 🙂
Hi J.D. – I hope that’s what happens – bloggers productize themselves through products online. With you being in the tech world, I’m sure you’re seeing a lot more than we’re even aware of.
Hi Squawfox – Welcome to the BWAB community. Blogs are great for sharing our voices, aren’t they?
Hi Three Dog Blogger – Yes, there is a lot to learn. My advice. Take it one step at a time and enjoy the journey. Twitter is something I haven’t learned yet, either.
I am fairly new to blogging (6 months young) sometimes I feel like an old veteran like I’ve been around for so long. The amount of learning that comes with blogging is amazing. Darren also said “learn how to use the basic technologies” I still have trouble figuring out what are the basic necessities and what are luxuries to add later. It can be very overwhelming.
Dee Langdon – BloggerNewbie´s last blog post..The Elusive Comment