More blogging lessons

Thomas Pierce and I were discussing how trackback links work.

I will fully admit I’m still a novice when it comes to all the aspects of how blogs work and proper blog etiquette.

However, I think it’s really interesting to see how different people react to advertising messages and how they are either “good” or “bad.”

The reality of life is that, if you can’t make a profit… you can’t stay in business.

If you don’t stay in business… you can’t help anyone.

The attitude that blogs should be clearly non-promotion or without “hype” (which I assume is *any* advertising to the blogging purist) is unrealistic…. it ain’t gonna happen.

What we all need to do is find a happy balance between commercial and content… but to think that blogs won’t advertise is folly.

Look back at email… it all started out as geeks communicating back and forth across networks.

But once something like this enters the mainstream public consciousness, there must be an eventual inclusion of commercial messages and content… or it cannot expand to benefit everyone.

My 2 cents about what will eventually drive blogs.

Once it comes out of the basement and there is demand for people to spend full time providing content to an audience.. it stops being a money-hobby… and as such, it requires MONEY to come into the person publishing the blog, otherwise they can’t support their “habit” of sharing quality information.

Bottom line:

1. Blogs and ads will be going hand in hand.

2. Depending on the audience you’re targeting, the types of ads you run will vary. What’s seen as an acceptable ad in one market will be viewed as a completely ineffective ad in another.

3. I think we all need to respect each other’s opinions and experiments as this medium evolves… but I expect the “purists” will hold on and cry and moan that they have the ONLY answer and anyone who does it differently is WRONG and BAD. (And everyone is entitled to their opportunity to be the topic of a Friday Night Smackdown)!

4. … and that’s how the world moves forward

To Your Success!

Jim