On the nail Nic. As a ‘mainstream’ media exec immersed in social media, yr take appeals. And wholly understand where you are coming from.

I have social media fatigue, and I am a reader, not a writer, of it!

I have commented before on the ‘disjunct’ btn the blogo/twittersphere & B2B media, & I got quickly shouted down by the blogosphere. The local ‘ears’ in blogosphere are but a small pool, with many big fish. Many decision makers (if not most) r simply not exposed to the conversations taking place in parallel with their own. And they don’t care. They miss out it is true, but there is only so much information that has relevance, and can be absorbed.

I’d like to see how the gap btn opinion makers in the mainstream media (B2B, not mass media), and opinion makers in the blogo/twittersphere can more effectively share their knowledge.

At the moment, its like preaching to the converted in so many instances.

Nic,

It’s interesting what you say. I’ve been reading diverse blogs for almost 7 years and have recently started my own with the belief that I have something to say that others might find interesting.

In some ways I discuss similar thoughts to yours in my very first post at http://blog.ainslie.co.za/?p=5

I find that the blogs that are best to read and truly the most informative are those that have fewer posts, but every post is well thought out and has substance. A case in point would certainly be Michael Lopp over on http://www.randsinrepose.com

Nice Post

‘I blog, therefore I am (important).’

A common malaise.

I think there’s a question that needs interrogating, in order to stay out of the circular trap: ‘Why do I blog?’

For some, there’s a revenue stream involved. And it’s tied to search engine optimization. For these bloggers, money is the driving force, and blogging is a paid job. If their readership decreases, they suffer.

For some, blogging is about sharing their insights. These bloggers tend to have a niche audience who enjoy what they talk about. These bloggers can safely say nothing for a while, knowing that their readers have them in an RSS feed. They can also write about their cat or the egg they had for breakfast, because their readers LIKE the things they write about.

There is a third group of bloggers who are trying to spread their amazing wisdom to the rest of the world. They’re not doing it for the joy. And they’re not doing it for the money either. They’re duty-bound to fix the universe. These are bloggers who’ve ascended to the next level… They’re in the rectal passage. For these folk, diminished readership is more painful than anything. They DON’T have a core following. They’re constantly trying to snatch readers out of the flow. They keep their readers for a tiny while. And people drift off.

I choose the second model… I blog for the sheer enjoyment of it. I LIKE the connections I make. I LIKE that a certain niche audience finds my stuff amusing or entertaining or outrageous or whatever. And I don’t feel pain when I ‘lose’ readers.

What model do you prefer? Are there other models I’ve left out? Have I over-simplified?

@Roy Blumenthal: I think there is another group. And they’re not (yet) bloggers.

They’re trying to understand the hows, whys, and wherefors of the blogosphere (for want of a better word) .. trying to get a take on the conversations that they normally have, and how these can be bounced off, or reworked, or integrated with the blogosphere.

The group I’m referring to (only because I deal with them daily), have many meaningful conversations, mostly in the course of business, and mostly to do with closing business and servicing customers. They use word-of-mouth, face-to-face, tel/cell, email, the web (poorly), print, events, exhibitions … etc.

But they don’t engage in Social Media for the most part.

And they don’t seem to mind that they don’t. They can’t see that they’re missing much.

I, for one, understand their reticence … although I get immense value (content and networking) out of Social Media (in whatever guise it takes).

The interesting thing for me, is that I’m not sure that many of these companies and their execs (context: South African based) REALLY want to engage too closely with their customers and partners … it ‘feels’ too much like hard work.

[Q] Will Social Media Customer Relationships Manager be a new job designation in the years to come?

Hey Nic, I share your sentiments. Good to take a break now and then, and sounds like you needed it. Hope its done you good. On the stats side, have been quiet myself lately and also seen it in the stats, but this has helped to remind me why I write in the first place. Look forward to seeing you going strong again.

I think the biggest problem with the blogosphere in South Africa is that there is little or no collaboration between people. There’s no debate on topics nor is there communication between people.
Unfortunately we have a relatively immature environment. Now in the future it is likely change but only if we make an effort to change that. I seem to remember a few emails where we spoke about collaboration but nothing ever came of it. This is not for lack of trying but I guess keeping ones own blog is very time consuming!

I think you and I should personally get back to that cross blog debate idea and work forward on it. That way we can make some changes in the slightly stagnant SA blogosphere :).

I really think there is potential but this post has opened my eyes up to how bland things have become. The most excitement we have is Rex (which is horrible!) and thanks to you I think we can get some real interaction started.

Coming to 27 Dinner tomorrow so we can chat properly?

Hey Nic - got you there! Been feeling the same of late - but it’s cool - we understand - you are an important part of the SA blogsphere, so see it as a compliment if readers miss you! You’re involved all over the place, and that’s not easy.

Its good to rejuvinate yourself every now and then, and a break always helps with that.

Take its easy man!

Neville - “collective pause” I like that alot. That’s more how I feel I think for sure.

Rouvanne - Ye, you right, I think I underestimate what it takes to be a blogger (part time) and maintain a few things as full time day jobs!

Saul - Yes, I’ll be there, for some reason I thought it was tonight. Let’s chat more then!

Darren - It seems as though there is a lull (collective pause) that many are experiencing, let’s hope we all get over it soon!

Darren Smith - great point, I think there is another type and you have hit the nail on the head. Readers, observers and almost-bloggers are very important to the publishers.

Roy - I think blogging has become a part of my life, so I can’t say which I am anymore. I’m more a bit of all and none in particular really!

Hasina - Thanks.

Chris - Hahaha bad timing on your start in the blog world! Not really though. Thanks, I’ve had a read, hope you keep blogging.

Good Post, I love the writing style, and the “ebb and flow” reminds me of some poem about dover & calais, just by the way

Thanks Dimitrio, Appreciate the compliments. Ye, poetry, haven’t written in years but sometimes fall back on it! hahahaha.

Anyways, see you tonight at 27?

Cool post Nic, I like Saul’s comment too about collab….I haven’t blogged in 10 days purely because I have nothing worthwhile to say. I blog because I hope to help a none tech marketing audience better understand some some new media concepts and communication techniques…I don’t blog to boost my status in the online world. I think too many pick the latter and it ends up being a backslapping-fest with a lot of underlying negativity. That being said I’m a big fan of blogging and promote it regularly to my clients as a new way of engaging your target market.