I live to blog. If I’m not blogging, I’m forming posts in my head. Everything is an idea. I suppose you can call me an old school blogger, but I’m not close minded. I like to consider new ideas and technologies, even if I don’t always get them. That’s why I was kind of taken aback the other day when I was asked if I felt blogging has jumped the shark.
A Whole New Blogosphere
The blogosphere is a lot different than it was five years ago. It even feels different. It’s not the different bloggers, but rather the different ways folks use blogs. I remember when I started out, blogging was more about sharing than it was making money. Now, it’s the other way around. Still that doesn’t constitute shark-jumping, does it?
Let’s examine some of the evidence presented to me…
Blogging is now an entry level writing position
Blogging jobs for very little or no money abound. Many people are seeing blogging as a low cost way to stock a website with content. It’s one of my pet peeves, as blogging is a skill deserving of a lot more pay.
Shark Jump Factor: 5. Now that social media is the big job for 2009, bloggers are treated with a lot more respect. Sure, there are plenty of low payers but smart bloggers know where the money is and how to get the blogging jobs that pay.
Everyone Has a Blog Now
Blogging isn’t relegated to a select few. There are millions of bloggers blogging about this and that. Everyone is an expert and everyone has to weigh in. Even celebrities have blogs now.
Shark Jump Factor: 2 The more the merrier. The blogosphere is a big space and there’s room for everyone, so what if there are more people blogging. We were all “new bloggers” at one time or another. The good news is that bloggers are still helpful and supportive and newbies benefit from the wisdom that comes from the old school.
There are A Lot of Spam Bloggers Out There
More unsavory bloggers are using their blogs to sell products or steal another bloggers content in order to earn advertising revenue. While it’s not as bad as it used to be, there’s plenty of splogging going on still. Since there’s really no way to regulate this sort of thing, spam blogging will happen for years to come.
Shark Jump Factor: 8. Spam is like cockroaches. We can fight it using various methods, but we can’t get rid of them for good.
Blogging Has Become More Mainstream
News agencies have blogs. Businesses have blogs. Celebrities have blogs. Teachers have blogs. Doctors have blogs. People who know nothing about blogging have blogs. Where does it all end? For many, blogging has lost its appeal now that everyone is doing it.
Shark Jump Factor: 4. Get over it, son. Blogging is a terrific form of expression. Visit the blogs you enjoy and stay away from the blogs that don’t appeal to you.
Has Blogging Jumped the Shark?
No. Not even close. Blogging has changed. It’s evolved, but there’s no jumpage here. I liken it to a band that did well locally for a couple of years before having a breakout album with several top ten hits. The purists will always say, “I liked the old stuff better.” Things change, it’s a way of life. We can gripe or we can embrace. I choose the latter.
