DISQUS

brent · 9 months ago

Great post Robin. It all depends on why you're blogging and for whom you're blogging. For many it is the new resume. It's a way to convey your knowledge (authority) on a particular topic. If you're using it to stay abreast of a function then it's no less an authority than it ever has been. If you're attempting to climb the ranks of the Internet celebrity-dom then certainly it's getting more difficult to rise above the rest.

That said, good content still has the ability to separate the 'experts' from the rest because it's so incredibly hard to convey expertise in 140 words, let alone 140 characters.

The distinction is that all the new forms of communication are for a new crop of 'authorities.' The connectors. It's easy to promote the material of the real 'experts' or put people who should be talking in touch. We're starting to value the connectors and they are rightfully getting their share of the spotlight.

Or so I think.

GrowMap · 9 months ago

The "authority" is probably being spread across a far larger number of blogs. While that may be a negative for the few it could be a very good thing for bloggers in general and newer quality blogs. While Social Networking is definitely becoming MORE important, I do NOT believe that blogs are becoming "less important".

The balance between blogging and micro-blogging is evolving and those who find ways to continue to do both will be the beneficiaries. Some will stop blogging in favor of micro-blogging and that will benefit those who still do both.

Quality content is not going to be any less important than it ever was - and at least until Social Media sites learn to better package the huge amount of content being created on their platforms those who preserve their most important thought in blogs and drive traffic to them with Social Networking will see the most success.

RobinSeidner · 9 months ago

Interesting take on it. I agree that quality is less important, its more that authority rankings that are purely based on trackbacks and comments aren't cutting it anymore - people respond to blog posts in so many more ways now that people are pushed to posts through social media profiles.

GrowMap · 9 months ago

In the long run quality makes a big difference. It is likely that the better blogs regularly garner more comments and trackbacks and are shared more often on Social Networking sites. Social Media makes it easier for someone who knows what they're doing to get traffic to a new blog - especially one in a specific niche.

Brett Borders · 8 months ago

Yes.