Comments on: If Everyone is Doing it, Is it Really Cool Anymore?

By: John Evans (Syntagma)

John Evans (Syntagma) — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 11:49:08 +0000

Saturation point always comes before the people involved realize it. Blogging about blogging has been saturated for up to a year, I think.

If I go to my feed reader, glance at the headlines and get a sinking feeling, that’s good enough for me. I’m outta there.

I yearn for something fresh in the field but fail to find it on a daily basis.

So, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, do it yourself. :-)

By: Aaron Brazell

Aaron Brazell — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 00:49:25 +0000

What saturates a market is when same group of people say the same thing in the same manner and in the same opinion.

Better said than I did. Well done, Minic.

By: Martin Neumann

Martin Neumann — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 23:49:27 +0000

Good points, Aaron. I see it as when a market gets saturated the cream will rise to the top and the rest will fade away – sometimes very quickly. So I guess now is the time for those who blog about blogging to try and rise above the pack.

But lets take a look at “blogging about blogs” – are you talking about the “how to” type of blog or the “newsy” blog.

For the “how to” type of blog YES, it’s very over-saturated.

But for a pure blogging news blog, I still think there are spots left up for grabs for those willing to do it right and stick to it.

By: Minic

Minic — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 22:38:05 +0000

I am actually everywhere, contributing content where possible.

What saturates a market is when same group of people say the same thing in the same manner and in the same opinion. But as long as I see differences in news delivery, it is totally fine with me. I still visit all of them (except for The Blogging Times) :)

By: Aaron Brazell

Aaron Brazell — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 21:32:57 +0000

I guess my argument, Martin, is not whether there is an audience. Quite obviously that’s the case or there wouldn’t be so many blogs. My argument is that I think there’s a tipping point and if we haven’t reached it yet, we’re quickly approaching. Most “blogging about blogging” blogs are quite good. But when the market gets saturated, quality and reader interest will surely fall. The law of diminishing returns.

By: The Blog Columnist » Bloggers that Blog about Blogging, Blogs and the Blogoshere and our lack of Cojones

Wed, 21 Feb 2007 12:54:20 +0000

[...] Aaron writing over at his Technosailor blog writes a thought-provoking post – If Everyone is Doing it, Is it Really Cool Anymore? [...]

By: Martin Neumann

Martin Neumann — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 12:18:00 +0000

What you got to understand (especially you Mikee) is that bloggers blog for different reasons – we all come with different skill sets.

Lets take me: I’m a professional journalist by trade who has decided to use his craft in the blogging industry (apart from other activities I do).

I enjoy writing/reporting about the blogging industry (as well as other sectors) and as long as there is an audience for it, each to their own. The audience decides whether my blog about blogs and bloggers (or any blogs really) live or die – as well as the others in the circle jerk. :-)

Over-saturation – yes! But that’s in every industry. The good will survive and the rest will fade away. Nothing new there.

The “circle jerk” comment comes from the lazy bloggers who simply report and never include their opinion – that I agree is boring.

Mikee – expect an opinion piece on some of your comments here over at my blog some time soon. ;-)

By: Aaron Brazell

Aaron Brazell — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 21:07:01 +0000

To be clear, you’re probably responding to Christopher and not me. But yeah, I actually agree with both of you…

By: Mike Rundle

Mike Rundle — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 17:41:27 +0000

~~Aaron~~ Chris, I was talking about starting a company that’s focused on using blog technology in new and interesting ways (Technorati, Newsvine, Daylife, Buzz Metrics, etc.) and then growing it successfully. It’s always been harder to create something of value rather than simply speculate about other’s creations. Something about “those who can, do, those who can’t, blog about other people doing it” :)

By: Christoph Voigt

Christoph Voigt — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 15:33:31 +0000

I dont agree with you Mike. It’s so easy to start something of value on your own, even as a company. The biggest problem companies do have in terms of using new technology (like blogs and RSS) is that many companies are either to big to get a simple thing like blogs rollin’ or/and they dont see the benefit of using this technology. I’m working in the IT of a worldwide operating company special chemicals company and the main reason we’re not using new technology is because the executives have no idea blogs and RSS exist. instead, we’re using outdated and not-really-maintained mailing lists.
Another reason for companies not using blogs on the internet (not talking about intranet here) is that it is so much work to maintain. not every co-worker is qualified to post stuff on the net. Moderation is not a proper solution too.
I’d say there are probably more “blogs on blogging” than there are actual companies doing cool things with blogs, and it’s because the easiest way to make your voice heared is to make a fool out of yourself.

(the text above does concentrate on “common” companies – not internet-based companies that create their revenue from the reader/user of their website)