Is This Blog Dead? Wired Magazine Says So!
I came across an article at Wired this morning that argues blogging is no longer a viable form of self-expression, having been replaced by Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and other forms of social media. The author argues that the classic blogger of old - sittin' in his underwear on the couch in his basement eating a bologna sandwich - has been displaced by slick, professional blogs like the Huffington Post and Politico.
I suppose the author has a point, but I guess it really comes down to what you perceive as the purpose of your blog. If you blog to be heard, to become a thought leader on matters of importance to the culture - or even your social circle - then Paul Boutin may be correct when he argues that your voice is being increasingly drowned out by the professional blogger. But if your goal is simply to build and strengthen your personal brand, I'm not so sure. Tools such as Posterous democratize blogging and provide a mechanism to quickly establish a web persona. If this is your game, then blogging is just another tool in your social media toolkit. You blog, but you also have a Facebook page, twitter channel, Squidoo lens, and Flickr photostream. Each tool is equally important in establishing your brand. And until I see the Huffington Post blogging on "Tim Leonhardt", it's my job to fill that gap.
Read the article and then leave your comments - I'm interested to see your thoughts!
