Not only am I a blogger, I’ve BEEN a blogger since April 2004; I’m no newcomer! If I may say so, I know whassup with the Blogosphere. I have several hundred blogs in my blogrolls and readers. Not only do I blog for myself, I blog for several clients as well. I read everything I can find about blogging, the Blogosphere, Blog Conferences, and blogs in general, and while it is true that many bloggers are between 18 and 35, I will have to stand up and challenge anyone who claims that the Blogosphere is inhabited mostly by the young. I know for a FACT that there are Blogosphere neighbors who are, shall we say, more than just a little bit to the right of the age timeline median mark.
I know this because, not only am I one myself, I know of definite OTHERS! I’ve blogged with them, commented with them, MET them in Los Angeles and Chicago at BlogHer, talked with them on Skype and Google Chat and even the (remember this?) telephone! We’re on FaceBook and MySpace together, and we often exchange ideas on Linkedin and Twitter. We Digg and Stumbleupon and Reddit, and we think social media is absolutely del.cio.us. Some of us even know about (shhhh) Bit Torrent.
Yes, the Blogosphere is filled with young parents, and young entrepreneurs, all sharing advice and information, but that same Blogosphere is also filled with older people whose children are grown and gone, and whose businesses are thriving, or were thriving – or not – who can offer invaluable advice to young parents and others who are now where older bloggers once were. The Blogosphere, like any neighborhood, is teeming with people who know, and people who need to know! Online, we come together. Online, we can meet and help each other in ways that just aren’t possible in our “other” lives. No matter where we fall, chronologically, we all love to meet each other, and blog expos and blog conferences are some of our favorite things!
We older bloggers are not interested in Geritol, Assisted Living ads, denture adhesive, insurance, orthopoedic shoes, funeral directives, Depends, bland diets, and articles on how to entertain grandchildren. I mean, we ARE, but mostly, we’re not. Please, marketers, do not insult us with such assumptions or stereotyping! Older bloggers are interested in the same Blogosphere “things” as everyone else: where to find deals on SD cards, funky forums, movies, books, laptops, HDTV, wireless digital picture frames, new cars, WordCamps, Amazon, eBay, cool recipes, blog conferences ( a huge percentage of BlogHer participants were over 40!), cool electronics, fashion, the environment, crafts, education, and humor!
Blogs, blogging, blog conferences, and the Blogosphere itself are not inhabited by one age group only. Like any interesting neighborhood, the Blogosphere has neighbors of all ages, ethnicities, backgrounds, personalities, and temperaments.
The important thing is, to be a part of that Blogosphere! There is definitely something for everybody there.
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