1Bukola Ekundayo | Ms. Pixel

I don't think most people realize that blogging requires a commitment. While some short-lived blogs can deliver value to its readership most remarkable blogs have been able to grow and evolve with their readers over time. My favorite blogs tend to be updated frequently. And I tend to remove 'dead' blogs from my Google reader.

Is my experience a typical?

November 8, 2008

2Taylor Davidson

The gravitational pull of successful blogs will naturally be towards becoming larger, more professional and business-like blogs simply because of the time commitment that successful blogs create. Success breeds success, which requires time, passion and money to sustain: thus the trend towards becoming larger and "monetizable".

The long tail has to have a head, right?

@Bukola: although I delete dead blogs from Reader, I find it's the perfect way to keep updated on infrequently updated blogs.

November 9, 2008

3Charles

Even though a blog is "dead", it still might be what someone is looking for. In amateur radio, if you stop broadcasting, people can't get your old content. On the other hand, there's nothing stopping people from accessing old blogs.

It's all digital, and it's all additive. Dead blogs do nothing but add to the mix. In that sense, I don't even think it's fair to call them "dead". They're just part of history.

November 9, 2008

4greg christman

i feel like Bukola, Taylor, & Charles all make interesting points. I agree w/ Bukola that producing a blog blog does & should take a solid degree of commitment. Similar 2 Taylor I tend not 2 delete infrequently update blogs. If i delete one it's because the content just doesn't speak 2 me. I also like the idea of all blogs in one shape or another contributing 2 the overall digital landscape. To me blogging represents the opportunity 2 communicate in a powerful peer 2 peer context that continues 2 satisfy both my heart & mind. peace! http://www.reelspit.com

November 10, 2008

5Carl

I think it all comes down to the motivation of the blogger. Some enjoy doing it for their own personal enjoyment and that will always keep it alive and grow.

However recognition certainly has a part to play in this. More and more people blog/twitter to achieve some kind of social media celebrity status. When it doesn't come they bugger off or contribute less. Whilst this does state the bleeding obvious here is an interesting study into what makes people contribute on Youtube http://www.hpl.hp.com/research/scl/papers/crowd/crowd.pdf

November 12, 2008

6Jennifer

I believe the majority of blogs that go abandoned are due to lack of necessity. Most people make a blog, use it for about a month to pour out their feelings and then when they no longer need to vent, they lose interest and abandon them.

November 17, 2008

7Jim Dornan - Network 21

The market audience of each blog will determine if fresh content is required for that topic.
A blog about a biography of someone who lived 200 years ago, or recipes does not necessarily need fresh content.
A blog of what's cool, latest news, financial market tips obviously does.
A blog on a small network with 1 or a couples of posts may be just as relevant 3 to 5 years after it was written.

January 4, 2009

8Emil

I have to agree, blog does require lots of time and commitment, however try to understand that as your everyday job and it will get much easier.

Thanks,
Emil

March 26, 2009

9Dan @ Brew Your Own Beer

I have quite a few blogs that would be considered abandoned as I sort of lost interest in them. But the great thing about the internet is that even though I haven't posted on them in years, they're still out there and other people can find them and maybe even get some use out of them. I still get some traffic on all of them, so at least I can take solace in the fact that they're helping someone.

October 20, 2009