History Has a Way of Repeating Itself
A recent article in the NY Times went on in detail about the digital sweatshop — bloggers who work at home paid to write by the post. It held up the deaths of two bloggers and the heart attack of a third. Then it followed that with quotes by big-name bloggers to underscore the point that blogging isn’t good for our health.
Other bloggers complain of weight loss or gain, sleep disorders, exhaustion and other maladies born of the nonstop strain of producing for a news and information cycle that is as always-on as the Internet.
It distressed me to read this, because I see the reality behind it.
But it distressed me more, because I see the misperceptions glaring back.
We need to see reality to make healthy choices about stress.
Though it uses the word, emerging the article makes blogging sound like a fully grown industry. It’s not.
Business Pioneers — A Blogging Gold Rush
Blogging is not an industry no matter how we dress it up or talk about it. An industry has a structure that has established itself with conventions and models that prove themselves time. We’re still living in “carve a path” pioneer times. The business of blogging is still trying to prove viability.
Lately it seems I meet three sorts — blogging gold rushers, business pioneers, and those who watch.
During the gold rush, some folks went with dreams of striking it rich by panning the water and having luck. Some folks chronicled the adventure. Some folks watched. Business pioneers — folks with plans and business models — built places for people to eat, sleep, buy goods, and get entertained. Fewer folks, business pioneers with determination and long vision, built railroads, communication systems, dams, and business empires. Some folks worked for companies who were doing those things. Some of those workers got paid well. Some did not. In between them all were shysters who came to make fast cash and run.
Some folks won. Some folks cheated. Some folks reported events. Some folks lost. Some folks didn’t participate at all.
Where are you in this blogging gold rush?
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Have a plan! Work with Liz!!
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Great post, Liz!
This offers some food for thought. It’s amazing to me the number of people who are surprised that I make a living blogging. I agree that it’s definitely not an industry – yet. But those of us who get out in front and forge the way, I think, can do quite well. But a plan is required.
Hi Miranda!
No doubt that folks are making a living. Also no doubt some folks are dreaming a life on a blog. Forging the way involves hard work, investment, and a plan. π
I’m so with you on that. π
Interesting post. Blogging Gold Rush? Well, to put it in scale, if the gold is in California, I just left Nebraska after determining the path I wanted to take which took planning, listening to others who have gone before, the courage to take the first step, the determination to continue despite hardship and a vehicle (Niche) to get me there.
For me, Blogging is only one avenue as I have several adventures in the works an am not pressured into a ritual that is detrimental to my health. Yet.
Hi Wiebs!
You’ve got the Gold Rush in great perspective. Glad to know that you’re looking at what’s gone before and heading out with a solid plan.
I have a feeling you’re one of the enterprise builders. π
I found my first gold nugget from AdSense yesterday, and now I’m hooked. But I don’t think I’m in danger of blogging myself to death in the foreseeable future. Anyway, ’tis better to have blogged and lost than never to have blogged at all.
Hi Hunter,
I don’t think you’re in much danger of blogging yourself to death either. I hear too much life in your comments. π
I don’t want to make money off of blogging directly, I want a place to get to know readers and talk with them, on my blog or theirs, or elsewhere. So my blog is really a meeting hall, where people can share pieces of themselves and advice or insights.
And I have no idea where that puts me in the gold rush. Probably on some stage coach rumbling around keeping a diary and talking to anyone interesting I meet! π
Interesting topic, Liz, and a remarkably “real” way to look at it. OK; let’s see…
I suppose I’d consider myself an enabler more than anything (although that may not be completely apropos, either). I do enjoy helping others grow and learn – along with a laugh or two along the way.
As for the Gold Rush, well, I’ll probably come moseying in sometime, but I’m not too concerned about when. For what I’m lookin’ for, I know it’ll still be there waiting for me.
Personally, I use a blog to provide my customers and visitors with a place they can count on for some quality content without the mess.
The problem with the world today is that everything is turned into some insane theory.
If you are blogging to earn a living then you should use the blog as a place of business.
I follow guys like Woody at WoodyMaxim.com, James at JamesBrausch.org and many others who are far from dying from blogging:-)
Fisk Gawsen
It seems that I’m the blog pioneer in my city, county, and possibly my state (well, maybe not the state).
A local reporter couldn’t find anyone to interview about blogging, serious blogging, outside of me. That made for a fantastic article about me and a great accompanying photo.
So in this gold rush, I’m at the top in my area. Someone who read the article is surely planning to take my place.
Shirley
I think it’s exciting to be pioneering the concept, and at the same time frustrating justifying time spent to others who have a negative pre-concieved idea about it all. Thinking ahead to the other side of it all when we…yes…us, will be the experts or living off of our blogs or other fantastic things, I am glad I took the leap of faith.
I had never seen a blog when I first started.
Hi Ria!
Two great metaphors — a town hall and a roving diarist — you’re an important part of this Gold Rush. You’re recording life as it is. π
Robert,
That sounds like a teacher, a mentor, or an old sage rancher watching from his front porch. π
I like the image of you moseying. π
Hi Fisk!
I agree that if you’re blogging to earn a living, then your blog is a place of business. Yeah! The folks you mention have serious models and serious plans. You picked great ones. π
Hey Shirley,
No doubt! Your whole family has carved path of original destinations. It doesn’t surprise me that you were the only serious on the reporter could find. You are a pioneer of the best kind!
Hi Mother Earth!
We all have our naysayers. I think it’s what drives us that counts. π
Hi Liz,
I loved your analogy of the gold rush. I think it’s very true. For me, I’m still trying to figure out where I fit into this gold rush. That’s why I’m an apprentice, trying to learn from people like you π One thing I know for sure, though, I’m not going to just watch. I want to participate!
– Dave
Liz,
I have heard some very prominent people say blogging is already dying. That may be too extreme, but…
As a way to dip in, find big nuggets, and race back East with the loot, I’d say that’s passed. It seems to me that most folks who’ve been around even a short while recognize that at best, you’re going to have to stake a claim and look for longer-term rewards. These days even traffic is tougher to come by. Where once StumbleUpon and Digg could rain visitors on your head, these days, not so much.
I don’t monetize my blog, so if the gold rush is over, okay. (I noticed today that Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett think there’s still six figures to be made in it, presumably by people other than themselves or their book won’t be worth much… hmm.)
If blogging generally has become so watered down that good thought can’t get passed around, I think that’s a shame. Someone wrote to me the other day that they thought the “industry” was undergoing a shakedown. Maybe.
The gold rush metaphor is perfect, but trying to figure out where in the rush we are? That’s the trick.
You said “the business of blogging is still trying to prove its viability.” I think it has proven that just like the gold rush, for most people it isn’t viable as a “business,” but (unlike the gold rush) it’s very viable as an element of a larger business plan.
Regards,
Kelly
Hi Dave!
Glad to have an apprectice out there! We’re all apprentices on the Internet, aren’t we? Keeping a beginner’s mind is the trick of it.
I think you’ll make something out of this Gold Rush. π
Hi Kelly!
You’ve said so much worth talking about. I think the whole blogosphere has changed so much in the last year. When we were at SOBCon07, there was no talk of Twitter or the rest of them. Now people are talking about how to handle so many.
It’s time for lots of folks to start looking at what they’ve been panning for.
I think it has proven that just like the gold rush, for most people it isnΓ’β¬β’t viable as a Γ’β¬Εbusiness,Γ’β¬Β but (unlike the gold rush) itΓ’β¬β’s very viable as an element of a larger business plan.
I particularly like that you said that.
I think you’ll be ok. π You have a great blog here.
Hi Jenny!
Thanks!