Written on March 12th, 2009 at 12:03 am by Darren Rowse
Blogging vs Twitter [A few Random Thoughts on the Two Mediums]
On Twitter yesterday Yaro asked me whether I like Twitter more than Blogging.
My reply was of course limited to 140 characters and as a result not overly comprehensive:
“no I like blogging more than Twitter but Twitter is fun and a useful part of the mix of what I do – both have their place”
I thought perhaps it was a topic worth expanding upon here on ProBlogger. While I’ve shifted most of my blogging about Twitter to TwiTip I thought it might be worth sharing a few of the thoughts on how I’m using Twitter here on ProBlogger.
What follows is both a more extended answer to Yaro (and others) but also a collection of thoughts on my experiences of working with Twitter over the last few months.
Blogging Remains My Primary Activity
While I tweet more often than I post to my blog – my blogs remain my primary focus and what I spend most time building.
It may not always seem like it when you look at the 20+ tweets that I produce a day on my twitter account but when you consider that a tweet takes seconds to write and a post can take hours – the blogs I run do take considerably more of my time and focus to produce.
My thinking around this is something that I’ve talked about previously in my description of how I use social media as outposts as opposed to my blog which I see as a home base.
In essence my use of twitter is something I do as a support to my blogging.
I guess the question will come at some point whether I will need to change this approach a little when my Twitter follower numbers go past my blog reader numbers. I suspect my approach won’t change at this point – however it’ll probably present some interesting challenges in working out priorities.
Blogging and Twitter have Different Strengths
Having said that blogging is my primary focus it is increasingly obvious to me that both mediums have their own strengths and that Twitter is able to achieve things that blogging can not (at least for me).
The immediacy of Twitter and the fact that it is a network that can spread word of a story, idea, question or thought quickly around the world to many thousands of people very quickly makes it unique.
For example one of the main ways that I find Twitter useful is getting quick feedback or answers to questions from a diverse group of people. While you can get similar feedback from a blog post Twitter is much faster. On the other hand a blog lends itself more to discussions among readers that are a little more considered, in depth and interactive (between those responding).
Blog are also great for more in depth posts. This post is a perfect illustration of this – when Yaro asked me his question on Twitter I had 140 characters to sum up a lot of different thoughts and experiences and ended up not really saying a lot whereas this post is able to explore the topic in depth.
While some people see the strengths of one and the weaknesses of the other as reason to choose between Blogging and Twitter – I’ve come to see the power of using both in tandem. The key is to know what you’re trying to achieve with your online presences and to understand what each medium can do to help you achieve this.
Twitter and Driving Traffic
I’ve written previously about the topic of Twitter driving traffic to a blog and each time have talked about how much traffic ProBlogger gets directly from Twitter. The figures have increased each time I’ve written on the topic as my own follower numbers grow and of late the numbers have continued to grow considerably.
My Google Analytics stats show that Twitter.com is now the 3rd largest referrer of traffic to this blog (only behind Google and Direct Traffic). This probably sounds a little more impressive than it is – overall it sends around 4% of my traffic (Google is 46% and Direct Traffic is 21%). This doesn’t count traffic arriving from Twitter applications – so the figure is probably closer to 10%.
My other two blogs illustrate that Twitter’s ability to send traffic is varied depending upon your site. TwiTip has over 16% of its traffic directly from Twitter.com and Digital Photography School gets 0.34% of its traffic from Twitter (although my DPS Twitter account has considerably less followers).
Twitter is Quick but Takes More Time to Use Well as Follower Numbers Grow
Actually tweeting on twitter is a relatively quick and easy process. I’ve used a variety of tools in my use of Twitter that have helped me manage the process really well – however as my number of followers has grown so does the amount of time needed to manage the account – at least if I want to remain interactive and engaging.
The number of @replies and DMs that one gets as follower numbers goes up also rises and there comes a point where a Twitter user needs to decide how interactive that they can be.
As I write this my follower numbers are just over 42,500 – to this point I still read all replies and DMs but it is becoming more and more challenging to do and I’m aware that I’m going to have to make some tough choices in the coming weeks and months if the number increases as it has.
The ReTweet is Powerful
The practice of ‘ReTweeting’ has really come into its own over the last 6 months. While people have always ‘re tweeted’ what others have tweeted – a lot more tools and services have risen up around the practice of late. Some see retweeting as a measure of authority of a twitter user – I’ve personally been more interested in its viral nature, particularly when your link is the one being retweeted.
If a link gets retweeted widely it can drive many many thousands of visitors to a blog post.
In the last few months we’ve seen more and more bloggers adding retweet buttons to their blogs in a similar way to how social media buttons are often added to blogs – I’ve done it on TwiTip with a button from Tweetmeme which has worked well but I suspect we’ll see more and more tools released.
Usefulness Remains the Key to Both Mediums
I can’t stress it enough – the key to both success in both mediums is to become the most useful resource that you can to those who you come into contact with online. Solve problems, meet needs, connect with people where they are at and both mediums will come into their own for you.
All in All….
All in all I’m continuing to see the fruits of investing time and effort into both Twitter and Blogging. What about you?
75 Responses to “Blogging vs Twitter [A few Random Thoughts on the Two Mediums]” - Add Yours
Nate @ Debt-free Scholar
March 12th, 2009 12:53 am
Besides, Twitter is not a direct way to make money. It indirectly makes money because it directs visitors to your blog.
Thanks,
Nate
christian
March 12th, 2009 1:02 am
Great thoughts Darren. I have been trying to find a good balance myself. Love being a blogger, but without many viewers, there is little satisfaction in helping others by what I post. In comes twitter… increased my traffic a bit with some new followers however now I find it hard to pull away from twitting and re-twitting.
On the Web with Kim Vallee
March 12th, 2009 1:05 am
Well said. They complement each other. It is not or the other. For a blogger, it is imperative to be on Twitter and also on Facebook. I get fresh ideas for topics, find answers and overall, I enhance my brand by participating in Twitter.
Jensen | CS-weekly
March 12th, 2009 1:07 am
IMAO, twitter is more like a communication tool, while blogging is a media platform with real content.
Eric Hamm | Motivate Thyself
March 12th, 2009 1:10 am
I absolutely agree! Both Twitter and Blogging play off of each other. Without the one, the other loses strength.
The more I utilize Twitter, the more I realize it’s amazing marketing qualities. Sure, I enjoy connecting with friends/family, but as a blogger and Internet marketer, it’s a gold mind of possibility! Eric
Chung Bey Luen
March 12th, 2009 1:15 am
I think blog is still the primary source of content and Twitter is just a channel to interact with your readers/followers and drive them to your blog.
@Susuh
March 12th, 2009 1:19 am
Would be interested in your solution how to deal with the growing overhead that comes along with a growing follower base. Looks currently exponential to me…
Specki4is
March 12th, 2009 1:21 am
While I realise that my comments are coming from a completely different perspective to yours – I would like to say that I would find it as difficult to compare Twitter and Blogging as say oranges an apples – yes they are both fruit and yes I enjoying eating them but they are totally different taste experiences, neither is better than the other, they are just different.
I Blog for a number of reasons, to keep in touch with friends and family, to have the occasional rant but mainly to document my attempts at writing a novel. On the other hand I Twit for fun, I can have a ‘water cooler’ moment without having to leave my desk (or my home!)
Twittering, blogging, texting, talking, different forms of communication, all valid, all useful in their own way – viva la difference!
Jake
March 12th, 2009 1:24 am
Twitter is a great tool for direct interaction with other bloggers. I think it is really interesting some of the discussions and activities that go on through twitter. I’ve been on it for about a month now and love every minute of it.
-Jake
social networking san diego
March 12th, 2009 1:42 am
i would have to agree with you. Great post by the way. I NEED to focus more time on blogging than “tweeting” but i feel twitter is much easier and less time consulting to me mostly cause im always out consulting and training so my “tinytwitter” on my windows mobile comes in hand (i may need an iphone soon)
twitterholic justinrfrench
LisaNewton
March 12th, 2009 1:50 am
I recently restarted my twitter account and am enjoying it, but it does need a time requirement that is sometimes difficult.
I’ve definitely had much more success building relationships via my blog, even though it’s fairly new.
Roon
March 12th, 2009 1:52 am
Twitter will never allow in depth exploration of an idea in the way that can be done on a blog. The small post length of twitter only allows for the announcement of an idea, whilst the exploration is done trhrough the combined effort of all the responses.
Robert "Butch" Greenawalt
March 12th, 2009 2:03 am
The spontaneity and pace of Twitter when combined with tools like @Tweetdeck and having tips to effectively use it being provided by @twitip will effectively make a bloggers experience and a readers experience much more complete. Christian I think brings up a valid concern as creating a balance between these two forms of communication can indeed be a bit overwhelming and the balance of course must be dictated by each user and their own disciplines.
Since I’m extremely new with Blogging myself and have managed to acquire a following of sorts as @MRHYPERPCS I also use Twitter as a sort of “Commitment Meter” which is to say that I’m only to happy to endorse my friends and their business blogging or otherwise, ReTweet their information and encourage people to participate in their causes. It’s just who I am and it provides a way for us as a business give a little back. Cheers Darren, enjoyed your post very much.
Rahul Jadhav
March 12th, 2009 2:17 am
Even i share your thoughts. Twitter is great but i love blogging more.
BloggerTinker
March 12th, 2009 2:26 am
I love blogging more than twittering.
Shep
March 12th, 2009 2:31 am
I got bored reading through your post. Think I naturally came to the conclusion that you do twitter better. But its always nice to have a space for your diary right?
John Samuel
March 12th, 2009 2:56 am
I totally agree with you that Twitter can drive traffic to your blogs and also that blogs are useful for a detailed discussion and Twitter is meant for a more precise statements. I like to have a balance between Twitter and Blogging.
Rohit
March 12th, 2009 3:17 am
Well,as you said both media have their own advantages.
But, Twitter is mainly working as another traffic generator for content.Well,you have the advantage of getting quick feedback and replies but the most important use of Twitter is traffic generation.
To add another point,you can’t make money directly on Twitter but blogs can….:)
jan
March 12th, 2009 3:47 am
I love the real time immediacy of interaction in Twitter. Its usefulness is not only limited to its capacity to broaden the reach of your blog and thus to sculpt and promote your brand. It’s a rich resource as well for blog post ideas – valuable links of course are the first things you observe. It’s so out there. But you get to listen to problems, concerns, and emerging hot topics if you stop long enough to listen in on the conversations going on.
And then you go back to your blog – somewhat renewed, bristling with new knowledge or inspiration as the case maybe. And sit down in total solitude to write your post, which is after all your first love. Well, in my case, it is.
It’s complementary then. I’m biased in favor of blogging – after all it’s my first born. But Twitter is fast coming up in my estimation that there will come a point when it will be hard to play favorites anymore. :)
Emily Geizer
March 12th, 2009 3:57 am
I’m fairly new to both blogging and twittering, but found a quick fit and success with the blog that I am not finding with Twitter. I ask questions. No one answers. Still trying to grasp it and am finding your posts (both on Problogger and Twitip) to be very, very helpful! You da man!!
If you ever want some parenting tips and advice, check out my site:
http://www.childperspective.com
I’d be honored!!
Steen Seo Öhman
March 12th, 2009 3:59 am
Well I must agree … Twitter is the perfect traffic driver to blogs, and blogs gives depth to the Twitter dialog.
I was never that impressed with the marketing angle of Facebook, but Twitters abliliy to drive traffic to websites and blogs is fantastic.
I’m here because of a Tweed!
Michael Fowke
March 12th, 2009 4:15 am
A lot of celebrities seem to like Twitter. Maybe because blogging seems too much like hard work.
https://twitter.com/Moneyistheway
Eddie Gear
March 12th, 2009 5:26 am
Hi there,
I don’t really get the point here. I’m lost. I did find the information about Twitter useful though.
Cheers,
Eddie Gear
John
March 12th, 2009 7:04 am
I use Twitter mainly for driving people to my blog. I see it as another promotion tool and social media outlet.
Daniel Scocco
March 12th, 2009 7:35 am
I say Twitter Less, Blog More! http://www.dailyblogtips.com/twitter-less-blog-more/
Christie
March 12th, 2009 7:41 am
I love Twitter, but I consider it a complement to my blog, certainly not a replacement. I have “met” so many cool people on Twitter, which has expanded my world. Gotta love that, but if I could only do one for the rest of my life, I would definitely pick blogging.
Isaac
March 12th, 2009 7:52 am
I have a site of twitter-friendly DVD reviews that I’m building (DVDweets – catchy, huh). Anyway, I’m working right now on growing my followers (@DVDweets) and as the numbers grow, so does the traffic. It’s cool. But you have to use Twitter as social network and not as an article spammer. Promote things your write, but also respond to people and talk about other things.
Allison O'Neill
March 12th, 2009 8:09 am
Darren how do u manage 2 twit accounts easily? I’m struggling!
Mohammad Afaq
March 12th, 2009 8:23 am
I don’t have to think for the answer when someone asks me this question. My answer is blogging. I am just using twitter to promote my site. Hope I can grow up my interest in social networking some day but I don’t like to social network.
Useful post anyway. I Appreciate it
——————————————————
Mohammad Afaq
Zach Everson
March 12th, 2009 8:47 am
But how do you make money from Twitter?
Damini
March 12th, 2009 9:44 am
I haven’t began using twitter yet. I have to look into this (tweeter)
Darren Rowse
March 12th, 2009 9:59 am
Zach – some people make money directly from Twitter by doing paid tweets or inserting sponsors messages or affiliate links – my personal preference is use Twitter to earn money indirectly by sending people to your blog or selling yourself in some other way (as a consultant, speaker, author etc).
Joey
March 12th, 2009 10:16 am
Thanks for your thoughts, Darren! I’m very new to twitter and just learning how to use it. I’ve been blogging for a while but am nowhere as successful yet as other bloggers as yourself. It’s always great to hear about such thoughts and tips from you and other great bloggers, both here and on Twitter.
More power to you!
HDTV Plasma Televisions
March 12th, 2009 10:18 am
for me, its better blogging than to twit :)
Lee Ka Hoong
March 12th, 2009 10:51 am
I just think that blogging is better than twitter. I have a twitter account and but still yet to do something there. I’m still looking for the way on how to get traffic from twitter. Anyway, I still prefer blogging more than twitter. :)
Regards,
Lee
earnword
March 12th, 2009 11:20 am
i prefer blogging because i can make money. Twitter also good. But its different world from blogging.
ZK@Internet Marketing Blog
March 12th, 2009 3:09 pm
One thing which I like about twitter is you do not have to think much … you have to think just 140 words and maximum times in such 140 words there is a tinny URL.
But yeah satisfaction wise blogging give me more satisfaction than twitter … its something I can remember if I post something good with great words composition.
Albert
March 12th, 2009 3:34 pm
Twitter is only for chatting in my opinion and will always stay like that. They are two separate topics like instant messaging and Facebook. The 140 character maximum will never replace Blogs, ever.
Jade Craven
March 12th, 2009 4:49 pm
Darren – I can honestly see twitter becoming an even greater stress for you in the future. Your profiles just going to keep rising and you do have a reputation for being really friendly :) Someone like me (relatively unknown) can easily keep up with the followers but there has to be a point where you create boundaries. I think it would be useful to create a different list of rules as well as provide alternate methods of communication.
A few ideas:
– Hold a weekly/fortnightly Q&A on ustream. Tell people that you wont answer their questions on twitter, but will during this Q & A.
- Streamline the guest post application process, so people don’t pitch you on twitter.
- Somehow eliminate the RT’s from your reply column in tweetdeck. Same with Mr tweet.
Another option I think could work is seperating your personal tweets from your problogger account. That way you could provide more interesting articles – similar to what @Mashable does – but give people an alternate if they want to know X’s latest exploits ;) And you could specify how much time each day you could dedicate to each account.
:) This has been a topic that I’ve really been thinking about lately, as you can probably tell. I’ve really been focusing on creating systems/processes that make my day easier, while still providing quality to others. I think creating the processes now can prevent a lot of problems.
Hope it helps. And I’m very thankful that I’ve been able to connect with you on twitter over the past year – its made me relate to your blog content differently.
Bibokz
March 12th, 2009 5:24 pm
Twitter is powerful tool that could make your blog grow. For me i like blogging… its my money maker machine.
Robin Capper
March 12th, 2009 6:01 pm
I tweeted this some time ago:
“Blogging is for what you can’t say in 140 characters, Twitter shows how much you can!”
http://rcd.typepad.com/rcd/2009/03/why-blog-why-twitter.html
ilaxi
March 12th, 2009 6:24 pm
I like both – Blogging and Twitter. However, Tweeting for three different websites for promotions sometime irks. Moreover, the Twitter code appear common on sites. To manage 2 different accounts it means RT or @…..Should this work, I wonder….Darren, can twitterfeed be a solution here?
mary e. ulrich
March 12th, 2009 6:44 pm
Twitter is starting to make me feel like I am being run over by a train. It just keeps coming and I can’t keep up.
I understand your idea of using Twitter to drive people to your blog, makes sense–just is overwhelming.
John Sullivan
March 12th, 2009 6:46 pm
According to recent statistics
100% of the people that come to my blog are cool
99.99% of the people on Twitter are lame
you fiqure it out LOL
PM@Payment System
March 12th, 2009 9:16 pm
I like Blogging to express,my though, my idea,my passion, my pain and my gain,my study and my sharing and for twitter.I use to say,Hei “I have this and that,come and see.”Just follow me.to get what I found fun Here….’tinyurl etc..
Edwin
March 12th, 2009 9:20 pm
As I see it, for professionals that blog, Twitter is a welcome addition to communicate.
Patrick Britton
March 12th, 2009 9:41 pm
Twitter is more laid back and real. Allows people to open up and be themselves.
You can decide if that’s a good thing or not.
Mike Seddon
March 12th, 2009 10:16 pm
Since I’ve started using Twitter in the last month I have found that it is actually quite useful in tracking down useful information that I have been able to turn into blog posts.
Like you I treat my blog with more focus than Twitter and to find that Twitter helps feed my blog content (and also sends it traffic) is reward in itself for continuing with Twitter.
D. A. Shaver
March 12th, 2009 10:24 pm
Google Analytics says Twitter is my number 2 referrer and these visitors also go to an average of 5 additional pages.
FrankGW
March 12th, 2009 10:35 pm
Twitter = sound bytes
Blogging = the chance for in depth learning and understanding
Yes, I am a senior citizen.
http://www.blogginglifeextension.com
Just an old mainframer caught in the web
Gemma Went
March 12th, 2009 10:55 pm
I’m a new user of Twitter and already can see the benefits. I do think, however, that it should be a tool that supports your other activities, namely your Blog.
Susan/Together We Flourish
March 12th, 2009 11:07 pm
The best description I have heard of the relationship between Twitter and blogging is to look at Twitter as the party where you go to meet people. Once you meet those people, you invite them to your home which is your blog. I wish I could remember where I read this to give that person credit.
Agent SEO
March 12th, 2009 11:34 pm
I think blogging is more about driving sustained traffic and the articles should be well thought out so that they hold strong over years and not just days or seconds…
Twitter is more for quick blurbs…its kind of like the 5-hour energy drink in comparison to blogs
tim
March 12th, 2009 11:51 pm
I was pondering the difference of follower numbers on your problogger and digitalps twitter accounts. One thing I noticed was that on the problogger account, there seems to be more human activity (you actually post comments and links) whereas on the digitalps there is more automatic updates from the blog.
Just a thought.
Nicole/Madlab Post
March 13th, 2009 1:36 am
I am just getting the hang of twitter and find it very fun to use at times. It can easily make you get carried away tweeting things and reading posts that other people tweet. I am not too familiar with the retweet task and am not sure if I know how to retweet anything. Blogging is better (at least currently) because it allows me to get more in-depth and offer detailed posts which works for me because I usually need more than 140 characters to post most of the topics that I write on.
Since I post on movies, what would a film festival screening look like on twitter? It would be a mess so blogging has an important place online.
Belkis
March 13th, 2009 4:23 am
Blogging should always be a number one priority. Twitter and other social media tools just gives you another way to driver traffic to your site which is the whole point of having followers. Sometimes I think people forget this. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and reinforcing mine.
J. Money
March 13th, 2009 6:06 am
I’m all about the twitter. if you have a nice site like I do (personal finance), twitter allows you to be more free and add some more personality behind the blogger….it also allows me to say random comments just for the hell of it ;)
Victor Velasquez
March 13th, 2009 9:47 am
Solving Problems with Twitter (A mini case-study)
This is not about the “Plane Down on the Hudson” or the “China Earthquake” kind of “moment,” but, nevertheless, this is an example of how Twitter helped us solve a problem we had run into in Mexico almost as quickly as it came up:
http://www.nearsoft.com/ns/blog/Twitter-and-Yammer-at-Work.html
Barbara Ling, Virtual Coach
March 13th, 2009 7:34 pm
Both have their uses. I use Twitter for social networking, and blogging to share my views/ideas/teach my customers/etc.
My son recently had a tick on his neck – a simple tweet for help gave me lots of suggestions on what to do. Couldn’t have done that with me blog.
Viraal
March 13th, 2009 8:25 pm
Well I believe that, although, both blogging and twitter have their own strengths and weaknesses. I do have a feeling that twitter has an edge above blogging due to its inherent strength of getting followers very quickly.
A blogger might have to face with those days where he might face blackouts and does not have anything to share but while using Twitter I haven’t faced such an issue. There is always something to share. Also, it can help you to engage in real time conversation with your followers which is a better experience than replying comments on the blog.
Nicole Hernandez
March 13th, 2009 8:43 pm
I suck at Twitter. Seriously. I find that social networking in general is something I really have to work hard at because I am not a social person by nature and putting out the effort to be is exhausting to me. Twitter is more difficult that most for me to keep the conversation up because of the url shortening thing. I’ve worked in tech way too long to go clicking on links without being able to tell where they go – so I don’t … which means I’m not commenting on things people post referring to them.
Of course, it could just be my age ;) I don’t ‘text’ either.
Blogs… that’s the bread and butter right there. Articles, well thought out or spontaneous, filled with deep contemplation or mild bits of insanity, that’s where I enjoy spending time.
jan
March 13th, 2009 9:56 pm
@Nicole Hernandez:
“I’ve worked in tech way too long to go clicking on links without being able to tell where they go – so I don’t … which means I’m not commenting on things people post referring to them.”
You can use Tweetree. It displays shortened URLs in full below the twit. You can thus see beforehand if what you’re about to click is of great interest to you or not.
In my experience with Twitter, I have yet to meet a user who posts link with malice or bad intention. Otherwise, he or she can only hurt his reputation or brand.
Of course, you can just test the waters by following people you personally know or individuals who have unassailable reputation online. And take it from there – adding occasionally people recommended to you by people you trust.
ITrush
March 13th, 2009 11:47 pm
Blogging takes all my time also and next is tweeting..
Pushkar
March 14th, 2009 12:05 am
Twitter is very useful for those who have large following, but for others with very little following it isn’t the most useful tool. Also your country of origin or region plays a big role as your blogs are more focussed to a particular region. Twitter is good for European & US blogs not for others due to limited number of twitter users in other parts of world.
Bhargav Bavarva
March 14th, 2009 5:21 am
As you said and also rohit agree that both media have their own advantages.
I thought, The blogging work well only when blogger have good immediate reply that not happen with all blogger except many include you too.
So to say that both have its advantage and disadvantage vary from person to person.
Nicole Hernandez
March 14th, 2009 8:43 am
@jan
That would definitely make me feel more comfortable using it, but they seriously need to build in a way to have one link display without regard to the character count.
On the trust issue I was thinking more in terms of the rare people who will purposely send out malicious links, and the inevitable which is that somebody creates a virus that spreads itself by tweeting shortened links. Things like twhirl are installed software, and we all know what has happened in the past with viruses and installed email programs.
Snake owner resources
March 14th, 2009 3:15 pm
When I check my stats I think I might get 2 or 3 people a month coming to visit any of my sites via twitter. Granted I don’t spend all day spamming it, nor do I have thousands of followers but if I had to rely on twitter for traffic I’d just give up.
I’d be interested to know how many people have actually used twitter as their primary means of developing traffic as opposed to adding on to what they already have. Nothing wrong with doing that I’m just wondering how effective twitter is for getting the marketing engine rolling from a “dead stop”
Josh Hurlock http://twitter.com/JoshHurlock
March 15th, 2009 2:59 pm
Darren,
Thanks for the post. I like blogging better because this takes more time and is, thus, more thought out. I find blogging easier to convey my thoughts than Twitter. I like Twitter, though, to tweet out blogs I am reading, such as yours. Keep up the solid work.
Moise Levi
March 15th, 2009 7:16 pm
Ok people ; first, the facts ;
I am NOT a tech expert like those you can find at techcrunch, engadget, gizmodo, and others.
I have been blogging for years ; now on blogger (owned by Google) (GOOG) , and in the past via Geocities.
Blogging is quite simple ; you open an account via Google’s gmail, then it allows you to create a blog via Blogger. It only takes around 15 minutes. Then ? you can start to set up the “monetize” button by adding ads sold by Google. You get a free blog ; you do all the writing, and Google sells you adspace and makes all the money :)
Advertisers today prefer to see their ads on niche blogs rather than buying key words …..
It makes sense ….. that is why most of the ads on my blogs relate to finance :)
Now comes Facebook ….. and Twitter ….
But let’s see how Facebook is quietly taking over ……
I have been using Facebook for a while now and I finally see what they are REALLY doing.
A few days ago, they once again changed their format.
The blog you are reading here can be seen on my Facebook account (seen only by my friends), with ads ONLY belonging to Facebook….
In the past, the RSS feed into Facebook was only uploading my posts in a simple format.
Now these posts are available with ads from Facebook.
I Tweet as well on Twitter ; guess what ? My Tweets go to my profile on Facebook, and you can add your comments on my profile …… you can also comment my Alpha Global posts ….
Bottom line ?
The blogger creates the content via Blogger and Twitter
The content goes straight to Facebook …. and the advertisers know that a person on Facebook spends more time there than on Google search ????
With all the applications available on Facebook, why do you need to go elsewhere ?
Like I said, I am not a tech expert, but Google (GOOG) is facing some real challenge here.
And the blogger ? he/she does not make a penny by driving content to Facebook
As of today, I STOPPED uploading my contents (Blogger and Twitter) to my Facebook profile.
Chad Horenfeldt
March 16th, 2009 3:40 pm
I agree with you and wrote on the topic in a post called “Social Media Success Stories”. Essentially my blog was fed by Twitter retweets. Twitter is another channel to promote my thoughts and content. It’s been a lot of fun as well.
@chadhorenfeldt
Joe Alban, L.Ac.
March 17th, 2009 2:25 am
I think for me, Blogging is much more important. Twitter does not help me to build trust with my clients. As an acupuncturists, people care less about one line ideas and links than explaining what is going on with my TCM philosophy, how to do some exercises, or choose some healthy food. Although, I recently read your post on Twitip about Tweeting for acupuncturist, I think that blogging for the moment, is more powerful because you can take you time to explain something.
Work From Home
March 17th, 2009 7:48 am
It’s like comparing lemons and oranges, the two are completely different, and Twitter in large part can really be an incredible distraction and waste of time.
appleblogger
March 17th, 2009 12:41 pm
i guess, twitter still famous. But people fine with blogging way.
ECStewart
March 19th, 2009 12:03 am
I view Twitter & my blog (site) like tea & cake.
Twitter is the watercooler where I have community tea. It’s when I invite them to my home for cake (blog/site) for consume meaty information.
Thanks for the Tweetmeme button info -I’ll have to check that out.
David Andrew Wiebe
April 12th, 2009 2:32 am
I think you hit the nail on the head. I don’t have much to add to this post. Twitter is fun, but blogging is fun too, and both serve a purpose unique to each other.
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