To Blog or Not to Blog: Are Blogs Becoming
More Popular than Forums, Newsletters and E-zines?
By Vishal P. Rao
Blogging is hot, and seems to be becoming hotter each month.
Although blogging originally was dismissed, by many
successful publishers and other online "gurus", the truth is
that now, a few years after the "blogging trend" began,
there are actually more blogs and more bloggers online than
ever before. Blogging, obviously, is "here to stay"!
Actually first documented in 1997, Web logs initially used
the abbreviated version: wee-blog, with a Web log editor
referred to as a blogger. Since then, all types of Web logs
(blogs) and blogging software have emerged, giving rise to
this lucrative and dynamic market.
Now, everything from advertising blogs to zoology blogs
exist, with every topic in between apparent online.
Political blogs are rampant, and groups of bloggers across
the globe post regularly on every topic imaginable.
What does a blog supply that an e-zine, newsletter, or forum
might not? What has skyrocketed the popularity of the blog
over the past several years?
The answers are really quite simple:
1. Blogs are more highly interactive. Posters get to see the
results of a post immediately, as the post appears
simultaneously after posting. Posters also don't have the
usual moderation that appears in forums, where posts may be
deleted without warning. Usually, in blogs, more freedom is
given, and posts are usually accepted no matter what the
content, or the topic.
E-zines and newsletters, with their one sided presentation
of views, have decreased in popularity with the increase of
the popularity of blogs.
2. Blogs are easy to maintain and easy to start. The sheer
volume of choices is staggering! Everything from "blogging
software" to "blogging services" are available, and even a
novice blogger will find blogging quick and easy to do.
3. Blogs are "Search Engine Friendly Food". Search Engines
love blogs, because of the constantly changing content that
appears daily. Search Engines are constantly "searching" for
new content, and blogs meet this requirement splendidly!
4. Blogs are actually a lot of fun! The entertainment
aspects of a blog cannot be dismissed. A great deal of
"voyeurism" exists on blogs, where other bloggers
continually monitor discussions, both pro and con concerning
an issue. Discussions on blogs can be "heated" and
interesting, with much repartee occurring daily! Blogs are a
rousing form of media, indeed, with many bloggers returning
repeatedly throughout a day to view new posts.
5. Many blogs are capable of syndication. Syndication is a
great way to ensure that your writing and your views are
exposed to as much of the general public as possible.
Syndication is many times included in blogging services now,
and this has drawn individuals to the art of blogging
continuously.
For an example of a blog service that features syndication,
please visit: http://www.typepad.com
6. There are no lists to maintain, or spam filters to worry
about with blogs. This is one reason why so many writers and
publishers have turned to blogs. E-mail delivery of
newsletters and e-zines has become difficult over the past
few years, with the advent of spam filters. Blogs are not
delivered, and therefore, no methods of defeating filters
are needed, and no "non-deliverables" occur, which has been
the bane of writers and publishers prior to this.
7. Blogs are economical. Since no lists are maintained,
there are no list server costs. Blogging software and
blogging services are also very reasonably priced, giving
good value for the money spent monthly consistently. Some
blogging services charge others to "read", while others
charge writers to "write", but overall the monthly charges
are rather minimal either way.
8. Blogs are educational. There are such a variety of
informative and educational blogs available now, that a
search for any subject usually turns up hundreds of
offerings. Differing points of view on all subjects are
offered routinely, giving a reader or poster an "insight"
into the hearts and minds of other bloggers.
Blogs also, to be successful, however, need to contain the
same elements of a popular newsletter or e-zine:
A. Compelling, well-written content. No one, either online
or offline wants to read materials that are poorly written
or difficult or boring to read.
B. Updated material. Just as in newsletters or e-zines, if
material is not updated continually, then the audience
eventually dies.
C. Rousing topics. Topics of interest to a wide range of
readers succeed more than topics that appeal to very few, or
are rather dull topics.
D. A nice layout and visual appeal. A blog is akin to a Web
site for written materials, and just like in the design of a
Web site, every care should be made to have the blog be
visually appealing and friendly to visitors.
Newsletters, e-zines and forums, of course, will remain. But
as you can clearly see, blogging, bloggers, and blogs
themselves, have definitely added to the "online experience"
and will possibly (and hopefully) be around for decades
more!
