The Twitter Effect
Posted Wednesday, March 5, 2008 at 6:44pm in Blogging, Media |
Are you a blogger? Are people not commenting on your blog posts like they used to? Is your traffic down a little? Don’t take it personally, you’re just experiencing the Twitter Effect. Everyone’s having similar experiences too, so don’t worry.
Seriously though, I have a sneaking suspicion that Twitter’s killing the blog star. Maybe I’m being a little over-dramatic here but there’s certainly a new distraction in town and blogs in all shapes and forms are being neglected around the globe. What were previously considered the ‘be all and end all’ murderer of the PR profession, blogs are now a bit like the abandoned child who was once the apple of his daddy’s eye. Poor things.
Reminds me of a man and wife that’s been married for a few years and the spark has faded a little. They still adore one another but, hey, you can’t stay in and watch TV together all of your life. You need to go with the guys or gals to drink and flirt a little. The blog will still be there when you come home. No worries.
Everyone’s going through it. Hugh Macleod, once a prolific blogger hasn’t written anything in seven days. “That’s not a long time”, I hear you say but given that he used to post mulitple times daily, it is. Take a look as his last blog post also. My mate, Youngie, lives on Twitter and doesn’t blog half as much as he used to but he tweets like a trooper for both personal and business reasons too.
Thing is, Twitter’s great for quick and personal communication and sharing. I love it. But you can’t make your point in a long, articulate and constructive manner with links to external sites and all the SEO benefits that come with it, like you can with a blog post.
It’s probably beneficial to try to get the best of both worlds.
14 Comments
hugh macleod
Wednesday, March 5, 2008 at 7:04pm
I suck at updating my blog when I’m on the road….
Ed Lee
Wednesday, March 5, 2008 at 7:15pm
@stedavies - what are you doing posting to your blog?! get back to the tweetter-tubes.
in all seriousness, on BMBY, traffic is up and comments per post are up as well. all is good.
ed
Matt Brett
Wednesday, March 5, 2008 at 7:24pm
It’s true, but I see it more of a distraction to blog authors than readers. As you pointed out, some people have slowed down their frequency of posts. I’ve found that I’ve slipped a few times myself, all the while still feeling like I’m writing lots since I’m Twittering all day long.
Paull Young
Wednesday, March 5, 2008 at 7:40pm
Interesting points mate, and I make no secret of my love for Twitter at the moment.
If I didn’t Twitter, would I blog more often? Maybe a little bit more…
If I didn’t have a job, would I blog more often? Hell Yeah! 5 times a day.
Twitter fits into my busy lifestyle more. I can keep half an eye on it during my work day, get into a conversation while waiting for a bus, see what’s happened in Australia overnight while still lying in bed in the morning.
When I write a blog post I need to sit down for an hour or so and work it out. Living a New York City life, that time is hard to find.
It’s horses for courses though, and I have no doubt it’ll all be changed up again in 12 months time.
Piaras Kelly
Wednesday, March 5, 2008 at 8:45pm
Meh Twiiter is like group IM for me than blog replacement
Richard Bailey
Wednesday, March 5, 2008 at 9:08pm
Great stuff (that has brought lots of comments).
Interesting for me because I’m a digital immigrant who doesn’t tweet. And because you managed the whole post without mentioning Facebook. So last season…
David Brain
Thursday, March 6, 2008 at 1:14pm
Me too Steve . . as you well know.
Stephen
Friday, March 7, 2008 at 12:47am
Thanks for comments everyone. Fair points and ones I can’t argue with.
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Martin Diano
Thursday, April 3, 2008 at 11:54pm
We’re looking for a guest blogger who wants to take on the issue of how Twitter is impacting public relations. Happy to hear from you…
Martin Diano, Editor - The Wall Tweet Journal
Stephen
Friday, April 4, 2008 at 9:04am
Great blog name, Martin.
I don’t think I’m best qualified to write about how Twitter is impacting PR. Not entirely sure it is to be honest. I’m sure some PR people would argue against that though.
giota
Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 10:44pm
Very interesting points raised there!!!
I believe that blogging and Twitter are different things. Yes a lot of people are turning to the use of twitter and i believe they do that because they dont have the time to spend in order to write post, answer comments, make research. Twitter is the easy way to talk and find almost anything you want!! Of course there is a limite is characters but this doesnt influence anyone. I beleieve that blogging is on crisis but those that want to raise question on important topics and ask for other opinions and answers should keep on using blogging and if have free time use twitter to have fun.