Some Thoughts on Blogging Today...
Can you imagine being read as Carole and Margene are? Or like Wendy, or Stephanie? I know I'll never have their kind of traffic here on this blog, but the friends I've met along this journey have become lifelong (I hope!). I worry over them when I don't hear from them, and celebrate their accomplishments and happy life-events, too. My friend Dave is morphing from many blogs down to one and changing his focus to weaving from knitting. I've enjoyed following him, learning a lot along the way, about spinning and dyeing, interior design, quilting, Boston, and of course, Miss Lulu and Dusty. I'll be following him to his weaving blog (and crossing my fingers he doesn't enable me into another craft along the way! lolol).
But I'm finding some interesting things these days. We're all a little stressed over the economic crises we're constantly facing, our time constraints seem to be expanding, leaving us less and less to surf and blog, and we're probably most of us noticing that other things (Ravelry, Plurk, perhaps?) are drawing readership from our blogs, too - at least I've noticed my readership is down.
Is blogging on it's way out? Are social networks taking their place? Do you think you'll give up blogging? Pare down what you currently do with your blog?
My blog pals mean a lot to me, and I hope we don't lose this vehicle of expression. I'm just putting this into the ether to see whether anyone has any thoughts on all this...take it where you want to in the comments (or not).
My annual charity knitting event is tomorrow...I wait all year for this delightful day of knitting excess! I'll be helping with the set-up tonight, but I do hope I'll have photos to share tomorrow...
(((hugs)))
But I'm finding some interesting things these days. We're all a little stressed over the economic crises we're constantly facing, our time constraints seem to be expanding, leaving us less and less to surf and blog, and we're probably most of us noticing that other things (Ravelry, Plurk, perhaps?) are drawing readership from our blogs, too - at least I've noticed my readership is down.
Is blogging on it's way out? Are social networks taking their place? Do you think you'll give up blogging? Pare down what you currently do with your blog?
My blog pals mean a lot to me, and I hope we don't lose this vehicle of expression. I'm just putting this into the ether to see whether anyone has any thoughts on all this...take it where you want to in the comments (or not).
My annual charity knitting event is tomorrow...I wait all year for this delightful day of knitting excess! I'll be helping with the set-up tonight, but I do hope I'll have photos to share tomorrow...
(((hugs)))
posted by Nana Sadie at 11:58 AM
17 Comments:
I know my commenting is down because I'm super busy and I can hit a wider audience via Ravelry or Plurk. But that doesn't mean I don't read... :D
Blogs are still number one with me, but several people have moved over and are missed. It will happen, but true friends stay true.
I love my blog and the ones that I read, too. I'm not going anywhere!
I love reading your blog and find it interesting - but rarely comment. So please don't give it up!
KarenAK in Oregon
I don't think Ravelry or Plurk are able to take the place of blogs at this point. I have so much more to say than either can handle. I think that for the most part blogs are around to stay. I'll be following Dave as well and I know I'd miss you if your blog went away!
It's funny you should write this today; Enchanting Juno just asked a similar question, about whether Ravelry is taking over some of the roles that blogs used to play. Maybe it's because I'm still only a year and a half into my blog (I joined Ravelry at almost exactly the same time), but it seems to me to be a different beast, and to fulfill different needs; I like the writing part, and I like reading about people's lives, which Ravelry doesn't do for me. I don't enjoy forums like I enjoy reading blog posts. But that's just me, and we all know that mileage varies! It'll be interesting to see where it goes...
I intend to keep blogging, and I'm trying to get in the practice of posting more regularly. From my blog stats on Wordpress, I get a lot of hits when I have a new post (more than 100 the first day), but I usually get 5-15 comments. I think there are a lot of lurkers.
I don't understand Plurk, and I had M look at it, and I still didn't get it. I think it would be far more than I want to put out there.
I do really enjoy the friends I've made, and if they are a relatively small number that's OK.
I'll be here as much as I possibly can!! When in Asia I may lose you from time to time but I'll always be back! I enjoy keeping up with you.
I'm not going anywhere! I love my blog, though I'm definitely trying to shift the focus to a more positive/arty slant. I like Ravelry too, but my knit blogs are an essential part of each day!!
Ravelry has made differences in my blogging habits - before Ravelry I used my blog to post pictures and info about my knitting projects. I now tend to put all that on Ravelry. I do enjoy reading about other peoples' lives and postings that really do not have a place on Ravelry. So...I plan to keep up with both and I sure hope you do too!
I'm not a fan of Ravelry or the other forum-type places. I love my blog, your blog, and blogging in general. My blog is totally uncensored by anyone else's standards, too. But, most importantly, I use it for my original intention: a place for me to chronicle and document my creative path, and it's done just that.
As for readers, I know there are TONS of lurkers, but just a few comments from my regular friends.
Great post! it really gets the brain cells working.
I agree with other concerns and other sites pulling people away from blogging. I've decided to blog at least once a week, and try to catch up with all my blog friends once a week as well. I've given up on Plurk though, and have decided to mostly lurk at Ravelry except for the two groups that I mod. I just don't have the time and energy for much more and still have time to craft, and all kid/family things that we do.
I think Rav, Plurk, etc have affected many knitting blogs but I think blogging in general is here to stay. There is more flexibility with a blog and more of a true place for self-expression.
PS: didn't get a chance to tell you today but I really like your hair!! Very youthful and flattering.
Blogging is still my favorite, too, by far. I don't like forum type things very much and I think Ravelry takes more time than blogging.
I love your blog and enjoy reading it even when I don't always leave a comment ;)
ditto my pal the Knitting Linguist --and please don't stop blogging!
I may run behind in my reading, but I don't think I'll ever stop. Nothing can really take the place of blogs. The written word is irreplaceable as are you. :-)
Knitting Linguist is right, blogging and Ravelry are two different beasts. I would really miss blogs if Ravelry took over, and it has to some extent. I read more than knit blogs though.
Ravelry is great for the Project Eye Candy but its forums will never replace blogs for me. I'm not even entirely happy with folks who have more than one blog. Put it all in one place! I like the multi-faceted interests of people.
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