Blogging is a fad and by definition, it will eventually run its course and fade away to a small niche. Blogs will be the bell-bottom pants of Web 2.0. The technology of Blogging will not go away, but the style of what we now do on Blogs will change significantly and will be renamed “Klogs” (more on that later).
How can I make such a claim in the face of overwhelming statistics documenting the growth and popularity of Blogs? That’s an easy question. My answer: because this is a Blog post and I can spew whatever opinion I wish and the only thing you can do is try to out-spew me with your own opinion. But spewing opinions is not what is going to undo Blogging – lack of civility will keep Blogs out of the mainstream. Simply put, corporate leaders have not embraced the Blogosphere because many Blogs often spiral down into a pit of venom and character assassination while hiding behind a cloak of anonymity. Many Blogs revel in being snarky because it gets them quick exposure and generates lots of readers and comments. It is all in good fun until someone gets their eye poked out.
Corporate leaders are fearful of Blogs because these freeform formats of fun are too risky for the image of the Company. Sure, many corporations have started a Blog, but most are tame, humorless, boring sites used for product promotion and press releases. The NAR Blog is a good example of that. These are not real Blogs because the writers are not free to say what they think; rather, they must say what the company wants to say/hear.
Because there is not widespread adoption of Blogging on the corporate level – and VERY few individuals are making money off their Blogs – I can only draw the conclusion that Blogging will fade away to the fashion status of bell-bottoms, or at least not reach a significant level in business communications. Without adoption by the business community, Blogging will not have sustainable cache’ and, I believe, has almost peaked in popularity.
Currently there are about 4 Blog readers for every 1 Blog. In the real estate market, 4 “buyers” for every property is great, but in communications, that is an unsustainable number. In addition, Blogs have a very low level of credibility (ironically, I site a Blog as the source of Blogs having a lack of credibility). Capitalist, however, often see beyond such shortcomings and adapt a product for use in a business environment. Thus, I predict that we will soon see phase two of the Weblog and it will be called a Worklog or Klog.
What is a Klog? A Klog is a private Internet discussion site that provides employees, entrepreneurs, and scientist a freeform format to discuss, develop, and debate issues, products and services without the fear that is attached to Blogs. By “private” I mean password or firewall protected from the general public. Businesses may shun the risks associated with Blogs, but they will recognize that the technology – which is simple and powerful – has many valid business applications. Klogs can replace many meetings, connect employees from all over the world to discuss product development, and document the entire thought process. Klogs will be a powerful new business tool for the transfer and storage of knowledge much like Blogs are able to transfer and store opinions. Klogs will not be as fun as Blogs, but that’s why they call it work.
Here’s a Klog image for you to consider: E-mail – “Greg, we have set up a Klog at http:RotaryKlog.net to discuss the failings of Realtor.com to position itself as a valuable asset in the minds of NAR members. Categories have been set up to discuss the topics of long-tail marketing, automated evaluations, and the extortion of members money. Please weigh in on all these topics by Friday and plan to attend the web meeting on Monday at 10:00 a.m. est to discuss our future actions to correct this mess.”
Klogs are already in use. In my office, we have set up a private FaceBook group to allow staff to share business information that is not appropriate to discuss in an open format. Staff is free to share a thought, professional opinion, or idea without the fear of being blasted by some anonymous jerk. I have also set up a Klog for a committee that I am involved with by using a standard WordPress Blog format. The safety of a Klog will promote more people to share their real thoughts which will, in turn, create better thinking. Many people are not as bold as those of us who are willing to share our thoughts and opinions with the entire world. Klogs will be a safe haven for the 99% of humans not contributing to Blogs. They will also facilitate knowledge management in small businesses that can’t afford expensive and complicated technology.
(Note: I consider the BloodhoundBlog to be one of the most legitimate Blogs because almost all those who comment here use their name. Without a willingness to attach your name to an opinion, you are meaningless to me. Blogs like this are the exception to the rule and will serve as a valuable resource for as long as Greg, Brian and the many talented writers are willing to be part of the 1% of humans creating content on the Internet.)
Louis Cammarosano says:
Hi Dave
I think Klogs are being used and will be used more frequently in the future.
What about Twitter?
Will it morph into Kwitter?
January 18, 2009 — 8:33 am
Robert Kerr says:
Blogs will be the bell-bottom pants of Web 2.0.
Internet Evolution, which has made some decent calls in the past re: new technology direction, thinks:
Troubled Technologies: An ’09 Watch List
Anyway, it’s worth a read if you’re staking future income on any of these.
January 18, 2009 — 10:22 am
James Bridges says:
Great points. The conclusion that Blogs will fade is further supported by the fact that many top people making money online still don’t have to use Blogs as a core strategy.
January 18, 2009 — 12:43 pm
Arleen Yobs says:
Dave, I think you are ‘RIGHT ON’ and not so ‘FAR OUT’ in your theory of the blogosphere!! …Even though I do really love my bell-bottoms after almost 40 years!! 😀
January 18, 2009 — 1:37 pm
Dave Phillips says:
I thought I had made up the term “Klog” (and I sorta did), but further research found a five year old post that used the phrase K-log to discuss the business use of Blogs. Check out the post at http://blog.mathemagenic.com/tags/klog+blogs-in-business
Also http://blog.lib.umn.edu/blogosphere/the_spirit_of_paulo_freire.html
January 18, 2009 — 2:51 pm
Louis Cammarosano says:
@Dave
Did I invent Kwitter as a derivitive of your near invention of klog?
January 18, 2009 — 5:29 pm
Dave Phillips says:
Louis, you get credit for Kwitter assuming the folks at Litter Kwitter – a cat toilet training system don”t mind. Check it out at http://www.kwitter.com.
January 18, 2009 — 7:01 pm
anonymous says:
Louis, your point is accurate in that blogs will decrease in # not for some inherent defect in the platform of blogging, but for the reality that most realtors SUCK at blogging and are pathetic writeres with no combination of personality and value to offer the readers. The overwhelming majority of RE bloggers are wasting their time.
for those of us who are good at it the sky is the limit. the amount of business–collar grabbers–that can be generated is amazing as well as the warm leads from well ranked websites w/ great consumer tools.
In 2007 I made $320,000 from my blogging. I followed up with almost none of the 1000+ registrations at my website. so blogging will be seen as fad as many realtors admit to themselves they don’t know what they are doing. I am posting anonymously because I posted commission earnings. However anybody can email me.
Although I would love to mentor some consultants in blogging if they would do it on my domain for their own geographic area, and then pay modest referral fees after closings. But life is so busy, it’s hard to get that off the ground….The one guy I had stopped even though after 3 posts we had started getting rankings for the keywords.
Those who have mastered any particular method of connecting with the consumers will continue to use them successfully for many years to come from blogging to postcards.
January 19, 2009 — 9:06 am
Sharon Hollas says:
My website guy has told me repeatedly to post new information on my website as often as possible. I haven’t really seen the results as of yet, but it’s still early days.
I’m still a little skeptical, but it is certainly a benefit to be on top of the local area. This knowledge of course comes with the research I put into my posts.
Sharon Hollas – Real Estate Agent Surrey
January 19, 2009 — 10:27 am
Joe Lane says:
Dave,
I respectfully disagree with your argument. Your premise is “blogs will disappear because they are a fad,” however, the points used to support your argument suggest there is no fad. For instance, if the readership isn’t there, and corporate leaders are afraid of blogging, etc., where’s the fad?
I do agree blogs will fade away, but not for the points you use. I believe blogs will fade away like everything else in the past faded away. I think the only things I’m doing now that I did several years ago are eating, sleeping, and skronking! :o)
January 19, 2009 — 5:51 pm
Dave Phillips says:
Joe, are you suggesting my writing is just text based skronking? 🙂
January 19, 2009 — 6:50 pm
Joe Lane says:
Hmm, I guess it depends on how ya define skronk! […in what may be a vain attempt to keep this thread on the up and up, I’ll go with the third option of #3]
January 19, 2009 — 9:23 pm
Julia says:
Interesting point, although I think blogging will always have its place in the online community. Klogs sound perhaps more beneficial in the corporate world, but I don’t think blogging will ever die out completely – there are always going to be people with niche interests that want to discuss those interests with others.
January 21, 2009 — 1:25 pm
Marc Grayson says:
huddle.net sounds close to your model for private collaboration and discussion (with inclusive online meetings around the corner)
January 22, 2009 — 3:23 pm
Susan says:
I tend to think blogging will be around..perhaps in different forms and styles. The niche, narrow focus blogs and websites seem to be the way to go. Is Twitter a Klog? I have often heard it referred to as mini blogging….although its usually not anonymous.
January 24, 2009 — 4:14 pm
CJ says:
Good discussion points Dave. I have often pondered the future of blogging and the amount of time good professionals take to keep all current. However, the one delineating point that doesn’t get discussed very often is “Who are we writing for?” I would like to believe providing information for consumers is a service that will never go out of favor and there is a definite need for different types of blogs to satisfy a very hungry consumer (blogs, microblogs,etc.)
I can see how KLOGS could become part of the professional to professional stage for blogging. The need for private vents and business sharing can make us better.
To me there is a more important question on the table. That is, “What is the next online media technology to satisfy the real estate customer?”
February 1, 2009 — 9:54 pm