I have been blogging for almost 12 years now. I started back in 2007 while I was in Bacolod City recovering from a miscarriage. So all I can say that there is a big difference in blogging today versus blogging 10 years ago – A VERY BIG DIFFERENCE!
Online Diary versus Source of Information
Before, when you want to know about what’s happening with your friends’ lives, you only have to visit their blogs to get updated. Today, you only go to their social media accounts and you will get to see all that’s what happened, even their raw day to day emotions, you can all find it there.
When you visit blogs today, you will rarely see personal updates about their lives. Most blogs have become a source of information. You will see a lot of articles that provide a different kind of information about a certain product, place, event or social or emotional issues. Personal blog posts have been seen less and less each year as more blogs go on a different path.
Monetization versus Commercialization
I don’t deny this. In fact, I have written about this many years ago about my motivation why I started blogging. I even include this fact whenever I do BLOGGING 101 workshops. I started blogging because I wanted to earn money from home. So far, blogging has been the most proven and legit form of earning dollars from home. Well, there’s working online, too, but what I meant was earning money from that time I started until now.
Well, you might not see the difference here, but let us look at it closely – the BIG difference! Before, you monetize your blog while talking about the things you like or do. You make your own regular blog posts about your life and you get paid from the keywords advertisers have paid to be inserted on your post.
Today, it is more of commercialization of blogs. More blogs have become an event or PR (press release) blog. If you visit their blogs, they don’t even contain information anymore or balance views or opinions. They talk more about products, the launching of that product, or to make it easier, they just copy-paste press releases to their blogs.
I am not saying that this is all wrong. I always believe “to each his own” but personally, I just find that the essence of why bloggers were called to this kind of marketing is to provide certain views on why this and that matter. Not just to post about something blatantly.
But since this is how it is nowadays, you can’t help but adjust to how things work. So, to keep my blog, less commercialized, I have decided to put up a press release blog. Instead of putting them all here, cause, to be honest, I don’t have the time in the world to edit them (Yes, there’s a need to edit them. Reason: SEO.). I just post them on my press release blog. It will be easier and a win-win situation for everyone.
Blogging versus Social Media Influencing
Bloggers were boarded in the marketing efforts of brands and services because blogs are also websites. They play a big role in search engine optimization. While we all know that blogging and social media marketing all falls under digital marketing, both are treated as a separate entity because both have a different target audience and a way of reaching them.
What am I talking about? Well, let us break this down to little pieces. Before, bloggers were able to monetize because of advertisers. These advertisers want to rank number one on search engines. So they pay bloggers for links on their posts. Then when social media came, things got different. We have seen the rise of influencers. The first influencers were bloggers. From their blogs, they moved to social media and started delivering their content differently. Then the second wave of influencers are the social media influencers, those that rely on platforms mainly like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and even YouTube. They don’t have blogs but they have big followers. They create visual and short content while others via videos.
So before, monetizing your blog was mostly because of search engine optimization. Now, you can use your blog just to expand your influence in your social media platforms.
Making Sense of the Difference
After reading what I have posted, I don’t know if I am making sense. While I am writing this, I am suffering from allergic rhinitis and I think my brain is floating. Hahaha… Oh well, I just hope you get the gist of what I am trying to say – the BIG difference. I know that those who started blogging with me and who is from the Philippines, they can relate or understand immediately what I am trying to say. In other countries, blogging is still a thing in many different ways in digital marketing and so as social media.
But to point out the big difference – blogging today has become less personal and more commercial. I don’t know if you agree, but the blogging landscape has changed. Not all though, there are a lot of bloggers that have kept their voice in their blogs despite the changes in the industry. As bloggers, since we own our platform, we can always choose.
For my blogger friends, do you agree with what I have posted that there is a big difference between blogging today versus blogging ten years ago? If you have taken notice of other differences not mentioned here, you can always add it down the comments below.
Ibang-iba na talaga ang blogging scene ngayon. It’s less about wonderfully and carefully crafted posts. Although I think it’s coming back. Kasi the shorter posts abound in Facebook and IG already.
I used to earn a decent amount thru paid links on my blogs, now wala na. I also never really niched down kasi, and post very intermittently.
Pero blogs are here to stay, I believe 🙂
Yeah, I think it has changed a lot. But it depends I guess if you let it lose its personal touch?
Then again, I never managed to monetize my blogs now. Trying but failing. Before though, I also had those keyword inserts you mentioned, sponsored reviews.
Let’s bring back the blogging of old!
True momsh ang laki nang pagbabago ngayon kaysa sa dati all and everything is on competitions. Ewan ko ba heheheh.
I agree with your post. Namimiss ko nga yung mga blogs na dati ko nababasa when I was still starting. Nagstop na kasi sila. Nakakamiss yung mga personal blogs talaga kaya minsan natatamad na ko magpost kasi ako na lang yata ang personal blog. 🙂
The bloggasphere sure has evolved into sonething grand. And now Vlogs seem to be taking over. Blogs before I think is a lot more personal, now (less a few trad souls) it’s mostly for profit.
I agree, Mommy! Very great thoughts about blogging. Been writing ever since I can remember, but has just been blogging for less than 5 years. 😀
its true a lot of things have changed but one thing remains then and now it’s the passion.
I understand what you mean. I have nothing against those whose goal is to become social media influencer, but personally, I think blogs should contain substance too!
Yes, blogging before was very much different than blogging nowadays. When I started attending events, it was exciting at first but after some time, I realized that it is a bit frustrating to write stuff that other bloggers are also likely to write about. So now I am trying to focus more on writing what I want to write.
Wow! I learned a lot from this. Although yes, agree to all of your observations. Celebrating my 1 year of blogging and I have more things to learn.
Thanks for sharing the difference of blogging today vs blogging 10 years ago! I learned a lot. I’m into blogging for more than 3 years only. But I agree with what you said, most of the blogs nowadays have commercialized.
That’s why as much as possible, I try to post personal contents. Though sometimes I feel like nobody’s interested in my personal life. Hahaha. But I just see it (my bog) as my online portfolio (especially with our homeschooling journey).
I somehow agree with you. I have seen a lot of blogs now full of press releases. Unlike before when I was just super fan of bloggers who write their thoughts and personal narratives. The beauty i see in blogging now is that it gives those stay at home moms like me a way to earn.
I feel you, Mommy Ruby! When I started blogging in 2005, it was more of an online diary for me, with my friends as my readers. Back then, it never occurred to me that I would be blogging mainstream and make money out of the stuff that I write. 😉
I remember I started blogging when I read about the story of a homeless mom who earned from blogging, just writing daily about her journey. Honestly, I can’t remember when I started just writing about my life, then I stopped. Almost 4 years ago, I blogged again and my intention was purely to earn and enjoy events. I guess you’re right, madaming nabago and I think it’s because people also need to find ways to make a living like me. 🙂
You’re on point with your observations about blogging then and now, Mommy Ruby. Like you, I also started blogging in 2007, writing mostly about personal stuff, then sponsored reviews and direct advertisers came. I miss those days. I really felt accomplished when I was able to write a really good piece. I used to be so passionate about blogging when it wasn’t so commercialized yet. I wish we could bring back those good old days.
Online earnings before were bigger compared today. I remember earning $250 for a 50word post in Social Sparks. ?
Blogging has really evolved no? Sometimes I miss the good old days when it was just an an online diary and we share whatever we want.
I’ve been blogging for 5 years only but I’ve started with the same ideas as yours when you started. However, I think blogging has changed because it’s what’s being called for, or most bloggers feel that they should be doing for many same reasons. In any case, we are the owners of our blogs, and we have the freedom to choose how we will develop it. Commercial or not, we can make it beneficial for us the owners and the readers as well.
A lot has changed over the years. Minsan, ang hirap narin makisabay, lalo sa social media.
I have been blogging for a decade now and have notice a remarkable change in trends over the years.