Do you remember when you first heard the term ‘blogging’?
If you’re anything like me, you immediately launched your favourite search engine and looked up this new phenomenon.
It seemed to herald a shift in online communications, changing the way we interacted with businesses online, forever.
180 Million (plus) Blogs and Growing…
Since that time, the blogging phenomenon has grown in popularity, as ordinary people realised that all they needed to get their voice out and heard in the blogosphere was a PC and a little time to write.
There are now blogs available on every imaginable subject, and whatever your passion you will find someone out there who matches your enthusiasm and can further your knowledge.
As a small business owner, I love blogging for a number of reasons, and anyone who is a regular here will probably be able to reel them off right now without thinking too hard.
Will blogs be around…tomorrow?
However, I’ve been thinking about blogging and where my business is headed in the future, and I’ve been wondering whether blogging is a real, sustainable part of business development, or whether or not one day it will be superseded by other technologies which increase in popularity and eclipse the blog.
When you look at trends over time, something they all seem to have in common is an initial flair of interest, followed by a steady uptake.
From here, technology can go one of two ways…
It can either quietly evolve and develop to stay ahead of shifting trends in consumer needs, or it can die a slow death and be taken over by more new and interesting initiatives. Just as vinyl was eclipsed by the tape, and then the CD and now MP3s, so other things such as software gets taken over by new products which are sleeker, more convenient, or more effective. VHS tapes were decommissioned by DVDs, and now we can download our films at the flick of a mouse and it seems that DVDs will soon be a thing of the past.
Even in the blogosphere, just as our late adopters are beginning to blog, new technologies are taking over. People are leaning strongly towards video blogging, or vlogging, as a new way of expressing themselves and contacting their customers.
The Tweet is becoming ever more popular among every imaginable type of person from politicians to playwrights, and blogging technology itself has advanced beyond our wildest imaginings from when it was first launched.
Blogging – a thing of the past?
So, is blogging one day going to be a thing of the past?
I don’t believe so.
Blogs are adaptable and flexible, and the platform can be modified to suit people who love to write, love to talk in front of a camera, or simply want to share links with other people who have similar interests. Because of this, I can imagine a future which has a whole new sphere of blogging capability in it, but not a future with no blogs at all.
I’m looking forward to seeing how my favourite technology develops over time, and learning and adapting to meet the needs of my customers as this trend evolves.
What’s your thoughts? Blogging here to stay? Please share your views in the comments below.
I think blogging is around to stay. There may be some changes, etc. But people are having to much fun with it. When you think about it, it is just plain communicating. And we humans love to communicate.
Thanks for the food for thought.
Blessing,
Debbie
Debbie,
I think you are right but we should expect to see changes.
Andrew
Debbie I’m with you..because I think it will be here forever…because the internet is made up of content.
“Black Seo Guy “Signing Off”
Blogging will always be there. People tend to make some new stuff but blogging has been and will always be a trend. There maybe other new stuff going on but blogging is still there. Blogging has not been obsolete even if there are new modern gadgets. Its just that there are many newer ways of doing it.
Tina
I do think there will be changes and those that accept and run with those changes will succeed.
Andrew
Well I think blogging will be a common thing in the future. It’s fun to do blogging!
I agree…it’s fun!
Andrew
I don’t believe blogging belong to the past or will lose its value. people need to communicate and that’s what blogging is all about.
Michael,
I just think there will be different ways to blog/communicate.
Andrew
Blogging will stays and get better and better. More people will use blog to convey information and communicate with others all over the world.
David,
…I just think it will be different…some how!
Andrew
Blogging is definitely here to stay. Mainly because it is capable of adapting to what modern technology throws our way. It is not dependent on a specific medium, so it won’t be phased out. We can blog via our mobile phones, desktop pc, tablets, laptops etc. As long as bloggers keep coming up with fresh and interesting articles to write about, then there’s no need to worry.
ceejay
I think you are totally right…as long as bloggers keep coming up with fresh and interesting articles…and use the changing technology.
Andrew
180 million blogs!! this only makes it clear as to, why we never run out of information. I feel that blogging will never become a passing trend because everyone is interested in procuring information, most of us do not have the time to sit down and watch TV but we cannot stay away from the internet.
Robert,
I wonder what will replace the internet?
Something will…no doubt.
Andrew
There is no question that the internet (and/or future internet-like technologies that we can’t currently comprehend) is the future of information and journalism, currently often referred to as “blogs”. In the same way, dispersing audio information online is currently called “podcasting” but in reality this is the future of “radio”. I’m not sure I’m sold on the term “blog” lasting infinitely… perhaps we will eventually end up with more general terms as EVERYTHING ends up on the internet in the future.
Andrew –
I’m with you on this one – I don’t think blogging will ever be a “thing of the past” either. Sure it might develop and change, and I’m anxious to see how that will happen as well, but I don’t think they’ll ever go extinct!! 🙂
Natasha
Blogging will stay for sure, but I think it will also be changing to more interactivety.