There is something going on in the tech blogosphere and while in the age of journalism some might consider bloggers as nothing more than snotty nosed little upstarts who think they know it all. In the age of the internet however where time is compressed into nanoseconds blogging at the age of 10 is much like the young man or woman who is trying to figure out who they want to be in life.
The fact is we are well past the snotty nosed kid point regardless of what establishments like the Gray Lady or the WSJ might like to think. As it is we have blogging networks that can equal anything put out by the mainstream media both in readership and income. Whether it be the TechCrunch’s, Mashable’s, ReadWriteWeb’s or GigaOM’s if it happens in technology they are going to be the makers or breakers. They post a headline and the Techmeme train starts collecting passengers to ride on the big boy’s coattails. They are the successes all wrapped up in well phrased headlines.
Chances of anyone of the so-called B-List; or lower, bloggers being able to match their success and fortunes are next to nil. Whereas in the beginning a single person with enough drive and Red Bull in their system could chart their course to success. Now people like that just get hired by the one’s who came before them. This is how the blogging A-List maintains their lead by co-opting anyone who looks like they could do something new and better.
This is why you have people like MG Siegler (aka ParisLemon) being snatched up by VentureBeat or Mark ‘Rizzn’ Hopkins getting snagged by Mashable or even Jason Kaneshiro (webomatica) working at the Blog Herald. This is why I expect any day that some smart network is going to make Louis Gray an offer that will be right up his alley; or one that will do whatever they can do to entice Frederic from The Last Podcast to come work for them.
There is a growing talent in the B-List group of tech bloggers that are just beginning now to make waves that worry the current tech blogosphere leaders. These are very talented writers who have decided for whatever reason to make blogging a full time career or at the very least a strong part of a secondary income stream.
But I’ve begun to notice something about the B-List bloggers over the last little while and for the longest time I couldn’t really put my finger on what it was; but I knew I was beginning to feel an undercurrent of change within the B-List. Sure we still had the big headline and break the story first mentality that made the A-List blog networks the big names they are and very wealthy in the process. For them it was all about getting that story out there first and get those page views which meant better advertising dollars.
Once you step outside that rarified world of jet setting conferences around the world or lavish startup parties where only those with the power to really influence the early adopters get the front row tickets you begin to get an inkling that there is something else going on. Bloggers outside of the rarified world of the top tier are beginning to re-evaluate what this whole blogging and social media thing is all about and how they want to have their part in it perceived.
When you have some-one like the venerable Robert Scoble taking a step back to re-evaluate what is going on you have to start seeing the signs that there is a shift happening. When you have that shift being expressed by Jason Kaneshiro from webomatica in such a way that he finds himself examining what he wants his role in the blogosphere to be seen as the signs should be getting larger. For Jason it is no longer the Techmeme train he wants to be catching as it goes by. No … for him it is now becoming more about the technology that means something to him – something that he can sink his teeth into and make it something of real value for his readers.
As well we have excellent bloggers like Alexander van Elsas who writes provocative pieces that make you realize that blogging isn’t about just the headlines and the hottest new startup or the coolest new gadget. No – Alexander makes us; both readers and bloggers, stop and realize that blogging is also about bringing in depth information about the subjects we are writing about to the table. He shows us that we can go beyond the headlines and instead we can be credible sources of solid background information and news.
The blogosphere is changing – it is growing up and while there will always be those like TechCrunch or Mashable that will be the first with the story and making the majority of the money there is a another part of the tech blogosphere as well that is just now starting to come into its own. These bloggers that are a part of this new era of blogging may not make all the money and neither will most of them become big names but they will be the ones that readers know they will be able to go to for the full story.
During this shakeout as the new blogosphere resets itself with new boundaries and new players, some will stick with always trying to get a front row seat on the Techmeme train because they believe this is their road to success. Others though will decide that success for them has a different meaning and it will be these bloggers who will show the true meaning behind citizen journalism.
Damn Steve, you are on a roll. I whole heartedly agree with just about everything you have said. Man, the way you sum it up, these A-Listers are like corporations that are acquiring or purchasing their competition. While the boys and girls at the top can play this game known as FIRSTIES, there can be another sub section of bloggers who stop to smell the roses and then provide length, in depth researched pieces. These are the bloggers that will reach a pinnacle of success in their own right.
Every recipe for blogging success is different for everyone. Find the right ingredients though is more than half the battle. Glad to see you are looking at this from the big picture and giving us a few of those ingredients for success.
Damn Steve, you are on a roll. I whole heartedly agree with just about everything you have said. Man, the way you sum it up, these A-Listers are like corporations that are acquiring or purchasing their competition. While the boys and girls at the top can play this game known as FIRSTIES, there can be another sub section of bloggers who stop to smell the roses and then provide length, in depth researched pieces. These are the bloggers that will reach a pinnacle of success in their own right.
Every recipe for blogging success is different for everyone. Find the right ingredients though is more than half the battle. Glad to see you are looking at this from the big picture and giving us a few of those ingredients for success.
Steven, if that's one of the two feature posts you were wondering about “is it worth it?” then I can't wait to read the other one. This is a really good look at what's going on, but more importantly it points us forward. I also agree with the thesis that there's a significant “niche” to fill by people who think before they write something. This post really resonated with me and I'm glad you took the time to write it. Totally worth it
Steve,
I couldn't agree with you more. Over the past few months, I've been attempting to shift my blog, markevanstech.com, to more analysis and new ideas as opposed to chasing the news.
My sense many of the bloggers now re-assessing their goals/priorities have been at it for awhile, and may be looking for something else now that the novelty has finally worn off. It will be interesting to see how things evolve.
Mark
Thanks Jeffro for the kind words and while I am not sure whether I have provided any ingredients for success I do think that there are some interesting times ahead for both bloggers and while a lot of folks aren't talking about this aspect of it there is going to have to be a change in the mindset of advertisers as well.
Ya this was one of the two features I was referring to (but funnily enough this one will be leading into another one as well – so I guess the count is still at two to come
).
It is nice to see that even on a limited basis – as I never expect much of what I write to gain any traction outside of a small circle – that some folks appreciated the thoughts. Even if Duncan Riley considered it more of time to “man the yawn buckets” – http://twitter.com/duncanriley/statuses/787708091 ….
I am glad the post resonated with you and even happier if it provided even one blogger such as yourself with a new way forward that is more gratifying. That in itself made the post worth writing.
I have been a reader of Mark Evans Tech since I first stumbled across it a little while back. It is one of those blogs that I look forward to see a new post show up in as I know that it will be something worth reading. To a certain extent it is blogs like yours that is what got me thinking along the lines of what I wrote about – so I thank you for that and I truly hope you keep up with what you are doing there.
Steven I already replied using the comments of FF. Should ave done it here, because it really belongs here. I'll copy it over here, sorry for the doubling.
Steven, a great article, and I'm honored I'm in it
Hope I can keep living up to these expectations! On the subject that you were referring to. I have stopped reading most of the A-list bloggers. I always start with people that can conceptualize, analyze, be funny and write well. The “breaking news” factor is of no interest, especially since everyone seems to be copying from the same sources, making it not so “breaking” after all. The A-list still has the traffic, but traffic will become less important. -
vanelsas thank you for taking the time to repost your comments here even though as I make my way through my “getting started” routine I would have come across the original on FF and answered there as well. For me Comments here and FF have become interchangeable and sure I would like the majority written to the blog but the fact that a comment is made regardless of where only helps to broaden the conversation.
As with Mark Evans Tech blog I came across yours as a result of FF and it has as well become one that I always look forward to seeing new posts being written and like Mark you and your writings were in part an inspiration for the post I wrote – I have no doubts that you will keep up the quality that makes your blog in my eyes one of the must reads.
Ya this was one of the two features I was referring to (but funnily enough this one will be leading into another one as well – so I guess the count is still at two to come
).
It is nice to see that even on a limited basis – as I never expect much of what I write to gain any traction outside of a small circle – that some folks appreciated the thoughts. Even if Duncan Riley considered it more of time to “man the yawn buckets” – http://twitter.com/duncanriley/statuses/787708091 ….
I am glad the post resonated with you and even happier if it provided even one blogger such as yourself with a new way forward that is more gratifying. That in itself made the post worth writing.
I have been a reader of Mark Evans Tech since I first stumbled across it a little while back. It is one of those blogs that I look forward to see a new post show up in as I know that it will be something worth reading. To a certain extent it is blogs like yours that is what got me thinking along the lines of what I wrote about – so I thank you for that and I truly hope you keep up with what you are doing there.
vanelsas thank you for taking the time to repost your comments here even though as I make my way through my “getting started” routine I would have come across the original on FF and answered there as well. For me Comments here and FF have become interchangeable and sure I would like the majority written to the blog but the fact that a comment is made regardless of where only helps to broaden the conversation.
As with Mark Evans Tech blog I came across yours as a result of FF and it has as well become one that I always look forward to seeing new posts being written and like Mark you and your writings were in part an inspiration for the post I wrote – I have no doubts that you will keep up the quality that makes your blog in my eyes one of the must reads.
[...] for the full story” A reflexão é de Steve Hodson e o artigo de onde transcrevo a citação, The Adolescence of the Blogosphere, merece leitura cuidada dos nossos A-listers, B-listers e até C-listers. Data: 12 Abr 08 16:23 [...]
[...] Hodson over at Winextra is also having a great conversation about where the blogosphere is going. That makes two excellent conversations happening on a Sunday that are worthy of [...]
The relentless obsession with wealth accumulation and celebrity means that i don't really recognise any of what made this article stop and think.. For us and our community we care little what the A listers think.
Mate…
You nailed it with this article. I couldn't agree more with some of your points. You managed to be positive about the future of blogging without resorting to lamenting about the good old blogging days and the decline of the web etc etc… something I'm seeing a lot of lately..
I am pretty new to blogging myself, and for a while most of the websites in my FeedDemon where those 'a-listers'. However it didn't take long before I began to grow bored. I really didn't care about seeing half a dozen blog echoing the latest firefox news.
Anyways now I have discovered greater bloggers such as yourself, Louise Gray etc.
Thanks for the good words Laurence they are greatly appreciated.
Thanks for the good words Laurence they are greatly appreciated.
[...] do Paulo Querido: ler “The Adolescence of The Blogosphere“, de Steve Hodson. Vou ler. Depois digo alguma [...]
[...] Querido advises the reading of “The Adolescence of The Blogosphere”, by Steve Hodson. [PT] [...]
[...] The Adolescence of the Blogosphere "The blogosphere is changing… These bloggers that are a part of this new era of blogging may not make all the money and neither will most of them become big names but they will be the ones that readers know they will be able to go to for the full story." [...]