Tech Blogging: An Era Ends? Or, A New Begining!
Interesting conversations have started in the blogsphere over leading tech and marketing analyst Jeremiah Owyang’s blog post,who predicts end of an era for tech blogging. Jeremiah writes that “We’re at the end of an important period. The tech blogosphere as we know it, is over.” In his post he has identified certain trends that can lead, to him, to the end of the Golden Era of Tech Blogging. Here are the trends that are shaping this change:
Trend 1: Corporate acquisitions stymie innovation
Techcrunch acquired by AOL, after AOL acquisition of Engadget in 2005, and Huffington Post in 2011. Read Write Web was just sold to Say Media.
Trend 2: Tech blogs are experiencing major talent turnover
Marshall Kirkpatrick separated ways now focused on building a product and company called Plexus Engine. Furthermore, Editor-at-Large of Mashable, Ben Parr separated ways from Mashable, yet continues to blog and we should watch for his next venture.
Trend 3: The audience needs have changed, they want: faster, smaller, and social
Content needs are smaller and shorter, as I’ve noted in the rise of inforgraphics. Even the content strategy of Mashable is changing, their new direction is more akin to digital lifestyle –not just social media.
Trend 4: As space matures, business models solidify –giving room for new disruptors.
However, Jeremiah summarizes his thoughts by adding, “Despite the Golden Era of Tech blogging to be over, we should expect a new format, new type of content and new pioneers to emerge, forever changing the new media and tech reporting space. I for one, look forward to it and will embrace it, both out of necessity, and with passion.”
In sharp contrast to his post, Sarah Lacy, an award-winning reporter and senior editor at TechCrunch, believes that it is the arrival of the Platinum age for blogging. She says, “Because things are far from dead in tech blogging– and blogging in general. In fact, I think we’re poised to enter one of the most exciting periods yet.”
Extending this conversation further, Marshall Kirkpatrick, says that “…things are certainly changing. There are opportunities for new blogs and bloggers to rise into leadership positions. I thought I’d take a few minutes and offer three bits of advice about things I think could help make the new era of tech blogging even better than the last one. I just think these things would be nice.” Read his article here.
Watch this space for more opinions on the future of tech blogging.
