Since the beginning of time, people have always been predicting the death of things. People predict that the Internet will make magazines obsolete (subscriptions are increasing rapidly). That the iPad will kill the Kindle, and so on. But what’s the people’s standpoint on blogging?
14 year old blogger, Jake O’Callaghan from Web Journey makes his predictions (based on experience) of why he thinks blogging will be around forever.
It’s no surprise that many people today and in the past have predicted (to no avail) the death of blogging. With new innovations such as Twitter and Facebook (which some consider micro-blogging), it isn’t farfetched to say that blogging won’t start losing momentum. Even if it’s only a tiny bit.
But for blogging to die entirely? I don’t think so. Blogging isn’t going anywhere, and you have nothing to worry about. I personally don’t think we have seen much of anything yet. Just imagine where blogging will be a few years from now as more and more people really get into it.
Why Blogging Will Continue to Thrive
There is so much potential in blogging, and much of it has yet to really show it’s face to us. Why do I think blogging has so much potential? I have quite a few reasons why i think blogging will last, and I dare you to disagree with me.
1. Blogging is Fun
Why would you want to stop something you’re having fun with? You never would have started your blog if you didn’t think you would have a good time, so why stop now?
For most, blogging is a hobby. Then, there are bloggers who see it as their job. But just because it’s a job, does it mean it can’t be fun? Absolutely not! Look at blogging however you want, at the end of the day when you go to turn your computer off, you’ll be thinking how much fun you had at “work” that day.
2. Blogging Generates Money
Once again, it’s back to the fundamentals: bloggers make money, and people want money.
Though most bloggers don’t make much, the potential that’s there is enough to motivate millions of people to try (and often fail) to generate at least a part-time income from blogging.
There are plenty of ways to earn an income from your blog. Just check out what Blogussion has to say about it.
3. Bloggers Are Passionate
Not all bloggers are passionate about blogging and their subject. However, these are also the bloggers who end up quitting, which leaves room for the truly passionate. Passion is a powerful thing, and anyone that is truly passionate about something will stick with it.
Blogging with a passion will consistently reward motivated bloggers, and continuously bring in new bloggers who want to have their say about their passion.
Sharing your passion with other passionate individuals, is one of the most rewarding things life has to offer. Blogging is perhaps the greatest medium to achieve this, and therefore will continue to thrive.
4. Blogging is a News Medium
Before the Internet and blogging, people relied on select sources for news, and were limited to the sometimes biased views that the news stations imposed on certain situations.
Now thousands and thousands of bloggers all share their insight on the news. Readers can access many different views (in posts themselves and in the comments), and get a much fuller picture of world events.
5. Blogging is About the Community
The community is truly the most valuable aspect of a blog (which is why it’s so important to build one.
Most people think of content when they think of blogs, but user input is often just as important or more important than the actual articles.
Passionate users love blogs, because they reward them again and again for interacting with the blog owner and other readers of the blog. This reason alone is enough to ensure that blogs will continue to live.
6. Blogging Demands the Truth
I always feel the need to get the best product or service available. It is no surprise that I use the Internet to find the dirt on products. Blogs, specifically as they are the best source for truth I can think of. What do you think?
Whenever I search for a product review or any general information about it, a blog almost always comes up. Bloggers are the Internet’s guardians. They aren’t afraid tell it like it is even if the truth isn’t appealing.
7. Blogging is Cheap (or free)
7 dollars a month, ten dollars a year, and minimal extra costs are all it takes to create a fully efficient blog nowadays. Something that is cheap to start often isn’t taken seriously, and that’s one of the reasons why so many blogs fail. At the same time it allows almost anyone’s voice to be heard; money isn’t much of a factor.
Then, if you can carry over any of your other specialties such as designing, marketing, search engine optimization, you won’t need to rely on others to do it for you. A blog is so cheap because it’s you injecting yourself into it.
8. Blogging is Real
In the media, there are many phonies out there. People say what is politically correct or what they think people want them to say.
Most bloggers don’t just dislike these standards, but completely deny them. Some bloggers cuss worse than sailors, others make up there own words. But in the end, people like realness. And if you’ve ever read an opinionated blog, you will get all the realness you want.
Blogging Survives Because of You
Without you, fellow bloggers, the great big world of blogging wouldn’t exist. As long as you continue to blog, the blogging world will live. It’s just that simple.
Get out there and blog! You are the reason the blogging world thrives.
Where do you see blogging a year from now? 2 years?
In just one year from now, where do you see blogging? Not just your blog, but the blogosphere in general. Do you agree with me that blogging will still be thriving as it is today? Share all your thoughts here.
The Discussion
Leave a Comment Read Again?Probably my favorite blogging prediction was not a blogging prediction at all. In 1985, Orson Scott Card wrote a book called “Ender’s Game” which predicted a brother and sister team who wrote about politics under pseudonyms and eventually gained such a following with their essays that were distributed over “the network” that they were able to alter the course of the world’s political climate. I don’t want to say he called it, but…
Personally, I don’t think blogging is going anywhere in the next year, five years, or decade, even. I think that blogging will change (I can’t wait to see what web 3.0 has for us!), but I think that any media that allows such complete and total expression and communication. As long as people refrain from “OMG LOOK AT WHAT MY CAT DID TODAY!!!11!!11!!” posts, we’ll be okay for the foreseeable future.
I expect far more interactivity, and if I had to make a prediction about blogging, it’d be this: there will be far fewer ways to hide behind a pseudonym as there are now. Facebook’s “Like” campaign is only the start of an interactive, social web the likes of which will send conspiracy theorists and paranoids running for the hills.
.-= Professor Beej´s last blog ..Looking for Guest Posts =-.
I see blogging growing in popularity, not just for the information blogs provide but because people really like the sense of community. That said, I also predict readers will have less tolerance for crappy writing and spammy looking sites. Bloggers will have to step up their game if they want to stay in, but that’s a good thing in my book.
.-= Jean Sarauer´s last blog ..7 Steps to Banish the Blogging Blues =-.
I agree, if bloggers continue to produce quality content, then blogging will thrive. I think blogs have the advantage over websites because they almost always have more and better information.
Hey Jake! I agree with you in so many ways. Most people don’t blog because they think it’s for stuck-up, gossip queens who only want to whine about their personal lives. As you and everyone else here knows, blogging is much more than that.
People want to have websites but they don’t want to have blogs. But blogging is the best way to get people to a website. As soon as the masses start to figure this out, blogging is going to explode.
In fact, almost all of my closest friends want to get into blogging because I’ve shown them what they can do with it. It’s so cool! Thanks for the reminder
.
.-= Nick Tart´s last blog ..Interview: Lindsay Manseau, Freelance Photographer and Beyond =-.
That’s what I have been thinking about for while. Right now, many people think blogging is for personal stuff. Once the majority of people get informed, blogging will explode like you said.
Hi, I strongly agree with Jake, blogging will last forever specially because of the passionate and liberal nature of the medium. Blogging has enabled everyone to express freely. And no doubt blogging has money
I’m not 100% sure about your point #6 on blogging truth. Not all blogs might tell the truth, if a certain product comes with an affiliate link on it
I know this is not always the case, but it’s important to keep in mind that even bloggers, sometimes might touch up on the truth, to get a few more affiliate sales.
.-= Klaus @ TechPatio´s last blog ..Special Usenet/Newshosting Offer – Discount For Life & Unlimited Downloads =-.
Of course blogging is forever. Humans love to read other people businesses. We are curious beings
We love to learn how they do things, what they have to offer etc, etc. On top of that, it is easy to create a blog to share our passion.
.-= Adam @ SellingManagerEbay´s last blog ..10 Most Effective Ways to Sell Your EBook =-.
blogging is recession proof…..a big enough reason
.-= Tushar´s last blog ..What a Bad Niche Can Do to Your Blog? =-.
We had similar thought for forums but they also shifted to position no 2 after blogging.
So till new things come you can enjoy blogging.
.-= Web Marketing Tips´s last blog ..How to send a Voicemail in a Tweet =-.
Some nice points are clubbed here. Blogging is one of the most and infulencial way to start your own business and helps you to promote your brand new product.
And it is one of the source of income for those who knows how to make money online and most of them are making it
.-= Vivek @ InfoEduTech´s last blog ..Google Announces Top 3 Google Buzz Tips =-.
I agree blogging is here to stay. but blogging will change. Blogging to make money will slowly change since just blogging wont make money.. the bloggers that survive will eb the ones that bring a business mentality to their blogs.
I also agree with Jean, that crap spam blogs with garbage content will drop as bloggers and blog readers become more aware.
.-= John Paul Aguiar´s last blog ..There Is A New Blogging Star Born Everyday, Are You Next? =-.
I also think that blogging would evolve (or mutate) into other forms, but it will not die out.
.-= Julius´s last blog ..How Blind People Identify Color =-.
Really awesome article dude! Your points are valid about blogging, and I do have to agree with you.
.-= Inside the Webb´s last blog ..DotNetKicks Launches a Fresh Design for .NET Programmers =-.
I agree to the fact that blogging will live for many more years but disagree a bit on the reasons you have quoted out here. I am of the opinion that Blogging will live because it does not have competition. Twitter as a micro-blogging platform did threaten it to some extent but spamming has negated that too. So there is no competition to Blogging at all. Had there been a competition which was better than blogging, people would have taken to it and aspects like passion, new-medium, truthfulness, economy etc. would have not been able to help the death of Blogging. (This is is entirely my personal opinion).
.-= R Kumar´s last blog ..How To Expand Your Email Lists To Earn You More Money! =-.
I wonder who is that guy who predicted the death of blogging.
People are making money from blogging and readers are enjoying what tehy are reading.
.-= paul | entertainment tonight´s last blog ..Meet jovic Sael at the Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition 3 =-.
This is really awesome Post Jake. I strongly agree with Jake & John, blogging will last forever but blogging will change.
Thanks for sharing this great Post bud.
Unless and until new things come you can not Guarantee any thing.
If we will get better than blogging than this is going to be outdated.
.-= Web Marketing Tips´s last blog ..Rand Fishkin: Search Engine Landscape 2010 =-.
Great! Great! Great! Post.
I never think blogging is going to die, at least not in the next few years.
The number of bloggers are increasing everyday with various other means to succeed. I think only passionate and smart bloggers will succeed.
Thanks for the great post,
Onibalusi
Great post Jake! I am with you man, personally I think the blogging world has just begun and it will only continue to grow and grow.
.-= Glen´s last blog ..5 Security Tips For Your Forum! =-.
5. Blogging is About the Community – I’ve always said it and will continue to do so. If you don’t want to be bothered with your community, build static websites and move on.
6. Blogging Demands the Truth – I always use the internet too, but my first (and usually last) stop is asking those I already trust for recommendations.
.-= Dennis Edell | Direct Sales Marketing´s last blog ..What are YOUR Top 3 Social Sharing Recommendations =-.
Even though the online world is fast-paced and it seems like “blogging” is an old concept, it’s still relatively new. There’s tons of people I know who don’t even know what the term “blog” means!
…And if something were to ever replace it, it wouldn’t be Twitter and Facebook. I use Twitter, and I also blog. The two serve entirely different purposes. You can’t replace your house with a car, and vice versa. You just use both.
.-= Jonathan Beebe´s last blog ..The Simple But Effective Product Launch =-.
Blogging makes the people closer, creates a community, in which we share our interest, our hobbies, our passionate, makes friend with other people around the world =D
.-= shiho´s last blog ..Greg Maroney – Wind Chimes (2005) =-.
I think blogging will grow. So many people like sharing their opinions and blogging is the perfect platform for that. Share your views, knowledge, interact with others, have your own little spot that ‘s all about you and your stuff.
I mean these days even babies and pets have blogs! So I don’t see the popularity going anywhere but up.
.-= Tokio´s last blog ..What Do You Want? =-.
This question was raised when microblogging becames popular, but I agree with the article, there´s a lot of reasons people give blogging preference.
.-= Nathan Rodriguez@Dentista Gratis´s last blog ..BCAA Plus =-.
Good points friend. Blogging is growing day by day and many new people are coming into the field of blogging now. It could also be rated as one of the best available jobs. You could enjoy writing, convey info to others and also make money from it.
.-= Bimal Roy´s last blog ..Jailbreak iPhone 3G/3GS 3.1.3 Firmware Using Spirit =-.
I believe blogging is just at its very beginnings, it has a lot more to show in the future…
Dear JAKE O’CALLAGHAN,
I agree, if bloggers continue to produce quality content, then blogging will thrive. I think blogs have the advantage over websites because they almost always have more and better information.
Thanx.
It’s terrible if blogging is stopped
.-= Mr.7´s last blog ..??ng kí và s? d?ng free domain dot.tk – cài ??t tên mi?n vào host =-.
Blogging will continue the same way that talking to your friends will continue and the same way school will continue. People like to express themselves, be expressed to, and learn (despite how people acted back in high school).
Whether or not one specific blog will remain depends on the author, but blogging in general has nowhere to go. The only negatives to blogging that I ever hear is that there’s “too much” of it and that’s never been an indicator of something destined to fail.
You have to keep in mind, too, that although blogging in the corporate sense or on the level it is today is new, blogging itself has been around for quite a while (in internet years).
“Blogging is Real”–i really love that. few things are. and i guess it’s a kind of a blessing that it still is around and thriving. it’s one of the most amazing forms of media. great post! and i cant believe you’re still 14..you’re probably what? barely in high school? lol..amazing!
Lots of people want to blog now because it is so much easier (as long as you have gone past the setting up process). Previously adding new content or news to a website is very tedious, even with a CMS like Joomla, Drupal, Postnuke, etc
.-= Michael Aulia @CravingTech.com´s last blog ..Creative ZiiSound D5 Review =-.
Ya, I think eventually all the bloggers who have passions will live on and all the “blog for money” blogs will die off.
I cannot see blogging as a job even thinking of a enjoying/funny job. I have 2 blogs, one is for fun and one is for promote my company, and I cannot write in the same way on both. When I am writing without the pressure of the business is totally different. Cannot compare.
I think that this is just the beginning, we haven’t seen the real big days of blogging! I love the fact that I live in these days! Keep up the good work!
.-= Alexa´s last blog ..Another page =-.
The number of bloggers are increasing everyday with various other means to succeed. I think only passionate and smart bloggers will succeed.
Thanks for the great post,
.-= Aarrod´s last blog ..Apple iPad 3g =-.
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