A Celebration of Old-School Blogging

September 27, 2012 By Jon 27 Comments

Jayme Soulati

Jayme Soulati and I get together on this week’s podcast to mull over a blog post our friend Mark Schaefer wrote back in July: Is There Anything New in Blogging? No.

It’s a post that’s stayed with me because it perturbed me, and Jayme and I have been meaning to talk about this for a while. So here you go.

I don’t think we get to where I thought we would, but the show turns into a celebration of what many might consider old-school blogging.

Oh, it’s also a bit of a rant about the value in writing, thinking, and engaging in blogging. It’s not just for business benefit or content marketing tactic that we blog and believe in regularly following old-school approaches to blogging. It’s about life long learning. About taking short steps to a big change.

Click the player to listen…

One of my bassets, the imperious Aggie, crashes into the show so apologies for that. I left it in for Jayme !

Aggie. In reflective mood, I think.

We also give shout-outs to our a few of our friends:

Michelle Quillin, Jenn Whinnem, Erica Allison, Gini Dietrich, Laura Click amongst others.

Other Ways to Listen to the Podcast:

You can also find the show on the new Apple Podcast app.

Feedback? Questions? Leave VoiceMail

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Update

Jayme posted a really interesting follow-up to our discussion on Monday October 1, 2012. Please check out Who Knows the Future of Blogging.

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Jayme Soulati

I adore you and Aggie, Jon. It’s always a privilege to be with you on your show, and we’ve adopted a lovely sort of ‘raderie; very comfy…you’re right, we don’t come out and blaspheme the A-listers, but we do, ahem, chastise for making the newbies fearful of success…or do we?

As can happen with anyone passionate about what we each do, who knows what we talked about?? It matters not…I had fun. But, I guess ultimately the judges are your listeners, eh?
Jayme Soulati

OK, woah, I think I ran all over you with the sound of my voice…good grief!! Sorry, Jon!! I’m only half way through and did we even nail the answer to this question…what is the future of blogging? OMGosh. LOL
http://jontusmedia.com/ Jon Buscall

It was a blast Jayme. I think it’s important to question, challenge and encourage. Thank you so much for sharing your views and passion. I hope listeners enjoy it.
Jayme Soulati

What the heck did we talk about??? LOL…that is so funny; who has the answer…what is the future of blogging, Anyone?? I’m laughing.
http://jontusmedia.com/ Jon Buscall

I listened through the whole show on the way into the city. I like your energy and encouragement. Maybe we didn’t nail the question on the head, but I think there’s benefit in the discussion anyway.

Lets see if we get any positive feedback :=)
http://joshuawilner.com/ Josh

No, No, No. I disagreed with Mark and I still do. Blogging isn’t a uniform space and it is wrong to solely focus on what one person says.

I should add that I am writing this comment ten minutes into the conversation, but it is a mistake to think that this ‘nothing new under the sun’ thing is going to be a problem.

We need to take time to determine what our goals are for our blogs because without knowing what those goals are we cannot begin to talk about where things are at and whether there is a problem or not.

After almost ten years of blogging I have heard and seen these conversations over and over again. Blogging is not going to die just because you aren’t doing something “new.”

The difference and distinction is in what we say, how we say it and whether we sustain our efforts.
http://jontusmedia.com/ Jon Buscall

I have to remember that one: “blogging isn’t a uniform space”. Says it perfectly !

I don’t like the blogging is dead approach because it doesn’t lead anywhere. I guess what I wanted to come through is the whole idea that this kind of rhetoric can take people away from the space before they’ve even given it a chance.

Thanks so much for stopping by, Josh.
http://joshuawilner.com/ Josh

Hi Jon,

You are absolutely correct. Sometimes I think people over think what they are doing here and consequently they try too hard. There is a reason why there are multiple publications covering the same news- it is because the space is large.

There are very few differences between a Honda Accord and a Toyota Camry, yet both cars are quite successful. The same thing can and does happen in blogging.
http://stanfaryna.wordpress.com Stan Faryna

The future of blogging is hot magenta (aka fuchsia).

What the heck does that mean?!

The future of blogging is all about unlocking your potential (and mine), building consensus and driving positive change in our world.

It is an inexhaustible mission.

Anyone who says that blogging is dead or dying, therefore, lacks the heart to be the hero, the leader, and the watcher… that each of us was meant to be.

Recently on my blog: How to insert foot into mouth. OR Unlock potential, build consensus, and drive positive change.
http://stanfaryna.wordpress.com/2012/09/28/how-to-insert-foot-into-mouth-or-unlock-potential-build-consensus-and-drive-positive-change/
Pingback: The future of blogging is hot magenta. And other social media DOHs. « The unofficial blog of Stan Faryna
http://newenglandmultimedia.com/ Michelle Quillin

Hey, Jon and Jayme! Can we get a link to Mark’s original blog post? Or should I just Google it? I want to see what this was all about before I comment. (I love hearing you two talking across the world and sharing your conversation with all of us — aren’t we blessed to live in such an exciting moment in history?)
http://jontusmedia.com/ Jon Buscall

Hmm, did you miss it ? It’s the orange hyperlink in the introduction to the post “Is there anything new in blogging” http://www.businessesgrow.com/2012/07/31/is-there-anything-new-in-blogging-no/
http://jontusmedia.com/ Jon Buscall

That’s a great comment Stan! We all need the heart to be the hero !
http://twitter.com/rdopping Ralph Dopping

So agree Josh. Caveat: I have not even listened to the podcast yet. Your comment is critical to anyone that lives in this space. The thing that astounds me is that social media and blogging as an example is a platform. That’s it. The platform will not go away. The creativity of its use will evolve with the bloggers as her/she experiements.

The people who purport its death are likely bored or have run out of ways to maintain their creativity. The vehicle will not die.
http://twitter.com/rdopping Ralph Dopping

Guys,

Love this conversation. Blogging is a journey! Bang on. Jayme, your passion is fantastic and you guys did explore a ton of great points.

Couple of response points:

I don’t agree that there is a barrier to entry. The most important part of what you are saying is that the key is time.
The other point that I think is important is engaging on the blogs that are important to you. Commenting on big blogs does increase your exposure to many more people which can bring you some valuable growth.

Thanks guys!
http://twitter.com/Soulati Jayme Soulati

you are right and look at you commenting all over whilst on holiday! Thanks for listening, too?
http://twitter.com/Soulati Jayme Soulati

Spot on, Pal. You’re right and great point. We’re each at different points of the pathway; it’s natural for the leaders to want to know what’s new and next.
http://twitter.com/Soulati Jayme Soulati

I’m writing on this for Monday. Can you send me the two links from my 2 other appearances? If you get a chance.
Pingback: Who Knows The Future of Blogging? | soulati.com
RogierNoort

Nice conversation Jon and Jayme. I do agree that new bloggers should not be discouraged when seasoned bloggers can’t find anything new.
In fact, I believe it’s the new and fresh blogger who will come up with new and improved ways to blog.

In order for any new blogger to flourish he or she can learn a lot from Mark and you and others that have success (I know I am still learning all the time):

My point is, for them to grow beyond they might have to come up with new ways to attract people and new ways to blog.

I think Mark was just disappointed about Blog World.

By the way, I think interactive podcasts are the forward. A podcast is a listen only (extended) blogpost.
A discussion with several (well behaving) people might be more interesting, if doable.

No to find you on my Podcast app…
http://jontusmedia.com/ Jon Buscall

Hi Rogier,
Don’t quite follow. What do you mean by interactive podcasts? Do you mean roundtable discussions like The Bean Cast or live chats ?
http://newenglandmultimedia.com/ Michelle Quillin

Duh! I must’ve been tired and distracted! Thanks, Jon!
http://twitter.com/RogierNoort Rogier Noort

That’s my lack of proper English, finding the right words… The Bean Cast is indeed kinda what I had in mind (maybe with less established guests). Guess the ‘podcast’ becomes more of a radio show with a couple of guests (maybe with less established guests). Yeh, roundtable… not that original then I guess (needs a good moderator though).
Maybe I just don’t listen to enough podcasts.
I liked Diggnation and I liked your podcast, maybe something in between.

I’m not helping making things much clearer, am I?

I do believe video and audio are a way forward, we just have to find it… And that would be a great topic.
http://jontusmedia.com/ Jon Buscall

Thanks for your feedback. Appreciate it :=)

It would be a good idea but I’m looking at the technical issues. Recording multiple voices on Skype can be a bit of a problem because of the varying levels. But I think I’ll see what I can do.
RogierNoort

I never tried anything like that, other than a chat with two other people from various locations.
Maybe Google Hangouts can offer a solution.., I believe we are in a similar timezone. I could always help with a try out… (just Google me, I’m not hard to find).
Pingback: Are Blog Subscribers the Only Success Metric? by @soulati | Spin Sucks
http://www.businessesGROW.com/blog Mark W Schaefer

Funny. I thought I had replied to this but now I don’t see my comment. When I expressed frustration in my original post, it was not aimed at content. It was aimed at the underlying technology. Day by day, the effectiveness of blogs as more people turn to smart phones as their primary source for web content. Ever try blog commenting through a smart phone? That is my concern. What “delivery mechanism” will step up and liberate long-form content again? I don’t see it on the horizon until screens cease to exist and every wall becomes an output device. Then we will have very, very big blogs again. : )