My Prediction on the Future of Blogging

Hmm for a certain portion of the pointless blogging yes. The thing is, facebook itself is trying to become more like a blog, it got all it's users based on the principle that you made connections with people who you knew and trusted, or at least had some association with you however briefly, then you are happy for them to know what your thinking or doing. But facebook has realised there isn't much money in that, so instead it wants to pump out all that bloglite content onto the net where it can monetise it with ads. Individually you might not make much money with your blog Andy but facebook reckons it can by pimping out your thoughts only it has billions of thoughts, billions of pages on every topic imaginable, stick some ads on and even with terrible click rates they'll make money, it's the law of SPAM, if you can sprout out enough meaningless garbage but a handful of people click on it, it's worthwhile.

But in doing that it essentially breeds mistrust, I don't want EVERYONE to know what I'm doing, just the people I know. For that I have well... a blog. So facebook is what it is a contacts management system grasping for a business model.

And as you've said blogs about your opinion, or that cat you saw or the meaningless dross of life don't make money, not for you now on this blog or on facebook, the only thing that makes money is partly answering peoples questions. Giving them a little bit more information than they had previously and then hoping that they click on an ad which they think will give them the answer they're looking for. That's how you make money from a blog.

has written 11 comments

Clearly it must be a generational thing, as I subscribe to several blogs and enjoy READING the short essays. I don't "get" Facebook -- except that I do subscribe to one Facebook RSS feed that pushes -- again -- short essays by a specific writer -- my way.

It would appear to me that the world soon will be divided into those with and those without the patience to digest a book. At some point this will go one more step - and the world will be divided into those very few with and those very many without the patience to develop original thoughts into coherent theses.

Andy-Hobo-Traveler occupies a unique space, providing very short essays that conceptualize one man's perceptions of everyday life within a world-wide context.

Gadget from has written 916 comments

"It would appear to me that the world soon will be divided into those with and those without the patience to digest a book."
- RCP

I believe this is correct, coupled with people empowered by Facebook.is a reality that cannot be ignored.

lometogo from has written 12 comments

Andy,

You may be much more knowledgeable than I about these things but I SO HOPE you have it wrong on this one.

I don't consider myself a web illiterate but I just DON'T get Facebook and have totally given up on it. It's just such a difficult monster to understand, navigate, and manage FOR ME.

And the fact that old high school classmates that I had no interest in 50 years ago are bombarding me wanting to be my friend shows me how meaningless it is for me.

I am in agreement with the comment above about those who have and those who don't have the patience to digest a book.

And frankly, I am in the former camp........give me a book with some substance rather than this Facebook drivel about the latest IQ test or celebrity poll.....YUCK!

I love your blog, Andy, please keep it up....

Much love,
Terence
Davao, Philippines

Asiabill from has written 258 comments

When I looked into mail order business years ago the break even mark was 3 so any sales above that was income so how's advertisement link clicking compare to that? Although many computer / internet saavy people are convinced that products and services are marketed cheaper on-line in most cases I find the opposite. In theory, the prices should and could be cheaper because the "middlemen" are eliminated but in reality anyone who is too busy and lazy to canvas and research the prices and quality of the goods and services will pay more on-line because of its convenience. One exception in recent years are local airlines here in the Philippines and last year Hawaiian Airlines where I have been buying airline tickets on-line for less than we have been paying for 20 years. Generally, internet and computer users have higher educational backgrounds, intelligence and incomes then non users so creates its own type of customer base so overpricing is not exposed and is paid for the sake of privacy and convenience. .

My wife and I divided up humanity years ago by "those who read" versus those who don't. But that doesn't mean that those who read are some kind of cohesive group or brotherhood because so much disinformation or misinformation manipulates facts and truth to certain groups' private agenda. I am not saying that "book worms" have superior knowledge because sometimes people so full of knowledge can be boring when determined to share their knowledge with others and they tend to be introverts. People who don't read can be very knowledgable about many things by hands on learning and doing which lead to them being too busy or hyperactive to sit down and read.

When it comes to sharing budget travel information I find that native English speakers do not like to read but get it verbally by interacting with other travelers and innkeepers. And non-native English speakers do NOT want information verbally, at least not from an innkeeper but prefer to read it from a travel guidebook. Basically non-English speakers are leary and distrustful of any locals, whether they are foreigners or natives and those who speak English as their first language prefer the personal attention whether there is a private agenda or not.

So Andy, seems like you may need to step up to the plate and be arrogant and vain enough to organize the thousands of daily blogs you've already written to create some sort of book. Or your invest your savings into operating a hostel or guest house creating enough of rental income that still enables you to continue traveling perpetually. Hhhmmm?? Decision Decisions? Such is life!

has written 205 comments

ANDY IS SO WRONG AGAIN ! QUOTE Daily readers are a horrible source of income....huh ?

Don't you think your regular readers with a almost perfect I.Q 0f 93 know how to tip you ?

Keep smacking us around like rather than pushing our curiosity and we can CLICK

elsewere...ya know what I mean cracker )

We get it not sure if you do.

P.S. Is Guinea Pig better than KFC or what ?

I got to go back and get a few cooking lessons in Quito.

Thais eat anything and I am guessing up at the sad Karen,Burmese camps Guniea pigs might be a great source of food and income. Weather is not too bad heat wise except may,june and the area is perfect lots of kids to look after them and not get hurt like big animals..... lots of hills caves to pen them in ......plus very limited area for people to roam because they are refugees.

Chuck WoW Guniea Pig Farms look for the sign CFC

Seriously I am sure chickens are cheaper but the ammonia smell of 100 chickens will kill you and a 100 Guinea pigs can hardley be smelt. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udKqRegDdT4

Andy-

Resistance to facebook:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/05/14/MNIO1DEDJL.DTL

Mark