I used to have over 600 Bogs in my Blogroll, but one by one they have stopped being updated or have been removed entirely. Meanwhile wargame content is proliferating on other social media. So it has to be asked, are wargaming blogs dying out?
I've seen a definite slow down but there are still plenty of blogs up and running. I think FB has drawn a lot of people away from blogs. The trend for video content on the web has also seen conventional blogs being sidelined.
I've not heard of Substack, maybe I should take a look. You're right though. Blogger needs an overhaul, but that all depends on Google and (much as I'm a bit of a googlephile) they aren't very quick at fixing bugs or updating apps.
Blogs dying out? I still find many more Wargaming blogs with which I can reasonably keep up. While some blogs drop out, I discover new and interesting offerings all of the time.
Oh I'm still busy trying to keep up with just a couple of hundred blogs, I never stood a chance with 600+. That being said I'm more of a lurker so I can browse lost of blogs quickly, pausing in those articles I am most interested in.
Yes, Google are not very quick to deal with issues. Thankfully I don't get a huge amount of spam and most gets filtered for me to moderate (ie delete). And I've only had a couple of Trolls, but nothing too serious. Not bad for 13 years online.
I suspect the time taken to regularly update a blog is the reason that, overtime many blogs have slowed or stalled. Creating any content takes time and commitment, as does reading it.
That said for my part I now have several blogs, but most are rule or period specific websites with more considered posts which are less likely to date. Only two are really a blogs where content is updated more regularly. Even these are relatively considered with short updates by Twitter.
I’ve experimented with YouTube but the commitment required to creating content seems considerable. I suspect that is currently trending but the commitment will reduce widespread adoption except by the very committed.
Long detailed blogs do take time to write, edit and curate and I can see that that gets harder to maintain over a long time. That being said, making videos is not the easy option. This is why I think Facebook, Twitter etc are popular. You can still share pictures and have a discussion but with less time commitment. My feeling is that how you use a blog needs to change as your hobby changes. If you stick to just one period, or one style of blogging then the blog will eventually come to an end as your hobby evolves. Which is why I have allowed my blog to evolve with me. When I started it was daily posts, mostly about RPG's and painting. Then I shifted to more Wargame content, and now a significant portion of my posts are actually links to my videos on Youtube with some additional content along the way.
I shifted to 99% instagram a bit over a year ago; I've got more followers there, get more interaction and can see how well posts do with the insight tools; it's not really a place for longform writing, but I got so much backlash on Blogger over having opinions that I decided the long pieces were not worth writing. Instagram suits what I want from my hobby now, the blog is in Internet terms an aged format. But it will always have adherents....
We have to pick whatever media suits our needs, and if Instagram is a better platform for you then power to your elbow...you're putting yourself and your hobby out there and that can only be a good thing.
I'm a bit late to the party, having started just before the pandemic, but I've really enjoyed running my blog - I think the format suits those of us who like an excuse to ramble on a bit! I'm sure plenty of blogs will continue, they have their own niche and their own particular strengths. Any chance of adding mine to your blog roll? :)
I'm with AKI and TWR... the number of blogs is falling - there's plenty still out there though.. for me, the time commitment is a major factor, and also finding something to comment about that hasn't already been done to death a hundred times, our hobby is repetitive (we paint unit after unit, and play game after game) but not everyone is interested in our particular repetition...
This is why I always say that while we need to think of the audience when writing posts, if we are not also writing for our own entertainment then inevitably, eventually, we loose interest and the blog dies. I hope people will want to read my blog, and watch my videos, but if I'm not enjoying it, what is the point.
G'day Lee - really great topic and I enjoyed this video. I think we have been exchanging blog comments for over a decade - long may that continue mate!
I can only agree with your observations re Hobby blogs. The rise of other media has eclipsed the 'chat' part - indeed Twitter is my main daily Hobby fix. Limited to 120 characters and 4 pics I can see a lot in a short period of time. Focused forums (including Reddit) are also a popular way in finding people focused on the same niche within our hobby. Finding the right blogs takes time
All that said, I cant post a big AAR with lots of pics anywhere but a Blog. MORE importantly, I use my Blog now as my gaming diary and I now routinely record paint recipes I have used so I can refer back to them (I always loose that notebook!). So I can only conclude that my Blog has gone full circle to feed a primary audience of me, with everyone else is welcome. That keeps it relevant, but in a different way.
Looking forward to your next instalment Lee and thanks for this episode!
Hi Paul, yes its a weird phenomenon. I feel like I know you from your regular contributions yet we are on opposite sides of the planet and never likely to meet face to face. The wonder of the Inter-web!
Twitter is definitely by next main social media. It has a bit of a reputation as a "cesspool of angry trolls" but that has never been my experience. Maybe that is because I limit my interactions to the much more civilised environs of the wargames community!
I also have had only good interactions on Twitter, and now that I think about it my Blog interactions have only ever been positive too. Indeed, I met my closest local gaming mates through our blogs, and as you say it is usual to have'blog buddies' around the world. I have in fact managed to meet several of them over the years and hope one day to meet up with the infamous Rejects crowd! I think one only has to look at the fabulous and super encouraging AHPC community to see what can be achieved with like minded folks
So as an alternative theory, perhaps what we have seen with the reduction of blogs is a winnowing. And those who remain are the ones that we might be have connected with as the most like-minded remain and others move on. I blog a lot less than I used to now, but I dont see me giving it up entirely for now.
If you're ever in the UK let us know, I'm sure Postie would love to put on game and have you over. We often have fellow bloggers join us for games and have built up a considerable 'Rejects Alumni' of past guests.
Interesting post Lee. Blogs dying out! Blimey... I've only just started! I think it depends on what individuals want to get out of and put into the public arena. For some short and quick, for others longer and slower. What's important is that there is a community for sharing own great hobby.
Absolutely. We all need to pick the media that suits us best and then put ourselves and our hobby out there. I'm long past caring what my colleagues and peers think of me, I'm very comfortable with who I am and I want to share my love of the hobby (in all its guises). If I hadn't done that I would never have met the Rejects, or the many hundreds of other friends I have made within the hobby community.
An interesting read. I mainly write my blog for my own satisfaction and I have the time to do so, I also appreciate when people do comment or enjoy a certain piece. My own blog list is very small compared to many and I either 'know' the people involved or they interest me more than normal. I am a member of several Facebook hobby pages but find them more of a quick fix while blog posts have far more depth which I prefer.
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I've seen a definite slow down but there are still plenty of blogs up and running. I think FB has drawn a lot of people away from blogs. The trend for video content on the web has also seen conventional blogs being sidelined.
ReplyDeleteI still add 'new' blog to my roll, but like you there has been a scaling back I think.
DeleteAlthough places like Substack have emerged for the written word. I wonder if the traditional blog just needs a platform makeover.
ReplyDeleteI've not heard of Substack, maybe I should take a look. You're right though. Blogger needs an overhaul, but that all depends on Google and (much as I'm a bit of a googlephile) they aren't very quick at fixing bugs or updating apps.
DeleteBlogs dying out? I still find many more Wargaming blogs with which I can reasonably keep up. While some blogs drop out, I discover new and interesting offerings all of the time.
ReplyDeleteOh I'm still busy trying to keep up with just a couple of hundred blogs, I never stood a chance with 600+. That being said I'm more of a lurker so I can browse lost of blogs quickly, pausing in those articles I am most interested in.
DeleteI suspect the lack of support from Blogger on sanctioning spammers has put a lot of people off, but personally I still much prefer blogs to Facebook.
ReplyDeleteYes, Google are not very quick to deal with issues. Thankfully I don't get a huge amount of spam and most gets filtered for me to moderate (ie delete). And I've only had a couple of Trolls, but nothing too serious. Not bad for 13 years online.
DeleteI suspect the time taken to regularly update a blog is the reason that, overtime many blogs have slowed or stalled. Creating any content takes time and commitment, as does reading it.
ReplyDeleteThat said for my part I now have several blogs, but most are rule or period specific websites with more considered posts which are less likely to date. Only two are really a blogs where content is updated more regularly. Even these are relatively considered with short updates by Twitter.
I’ve experimented with YouTube but the commitment required to creating content seems considerable. I suspect that is currently trending but the commitment will reduce widespread adoption except by the very committed.
Long detailed blogs do take time to write, edit and curate and I can see that that gets harder to maintain over a long time. That being said, making videos is not the easy option. This is why I think Facebook, Twitter etc are popular. You can still share pictures and have a discussion but with less time commitment. My feeling is that how you use a blog needs to change as your hobby changes. If you stick to just one period, or one style of blogging then the blog will eventually come to an end as your hobby evolves. Which is why I have allowed my blog to evolve with me. When I started it was daily posts, mostly about RPG's and painting. Then I shifted to more Wargame content, and now a significant portion of my posts are actually links to my videos on Youtube with some additional content along the way.
DeleteI shifted to 99% instagram a bit over a year ago; I've got more followers there, get more interaction and can see how well posts do with the insight tools; it's not really a place for longform writing, but I got so much backlash on Blogger over having opinions that I decided the long pieces were not worth writing. Instagram suits what I want from my hobby now, the blog is in Internet terms an aged format. But it will always have adherents....
ReplyDeleteWe have to pick whatever media suits our needs, and if Instagram is a better platform for you then power to your elbow...you're putting yourself and your hobby out there and that can only be a good thing.
DeleteI'm a bit late to the party, having started just before the pandemic, but I've really enjoyed running my blog - I think the format suits those of us who like an excuse to ramble on a bit! I'm sure plenty of blogs will continue, they have their own niche and their own particular strengths. Any chance of adding mine to your blog roll? :)
ReplyDeleteDone. I look forward to reading your ramblings!
DeletePerhaps you ought to stop by for a visit to mine as well?
DeleteI'm with AKI and TWR... the number of blogs is falling - there's plenty still out there though.. for me, the time commitment is a major factor, and also finding something to comment about that hasn't already been done to death a hundred times, our hobby is repetitive (we paint unit after unit, and play game after game) but not everyone is interested in our particular repetition...
ReplyDeleteThis is why I always say that while we need to think of the audience when writing posts, if we are not also writing for our own entertainment then inevitably, eventually, we loose interest and the blog dies. I hope people will want to read my blog, and watch my videos, but if I'm not enjoying it, what is the point.
DeleteG'day Lee - really great topic and I enjoyed this video. I think we have been exchanging blog comments for over a decade - long may that continue mate!
ReplyDeleteI can only agree with your observations re Hobby blogs. The rise of other media has eclipsed the 'chat' part - indeed Twitter is my main daily Hobby fix. Limited to 120 characters and 4 pics I can see a lot in a short period of time. Focused forums (including Reddit) are also a popular way in finding people focused on the same niche within our hobby. Finding the right blogs takes time
All that said, I cant post a big AAR with lots of pics anywhere but a Blog. MORE importantly, I use my Blog now as my gaming diary and I now routinely record paint recipes I have used so I can refer back to them (I always loose that notebook!). So I can only conclude that my Blog has gone full circle to feed a primary audience of me, with everyone else is welcome. That keeps it relevant, but in a different way.
Looking forward to your next instalment Lee and thanks for this episode!
Hi Paul, yes its a weird phenomenon. I feel like I know you from your regular contributions yet we are on opposite sides of the planet and never likely to meet face to face. The wonder of the Inter-web!
DeleteTwitter is definitely by next main social media. It has a bit of a reputation as a "cesspool of angry trolls" but that has never been my experience. Maybe that is because I limit my interactions to the much more civilised environs of the wargames community!
I also have had only good interactions on Twitter, and now that I think about it my Blog interactions have only ever been positive too. Indeed, I met my closest local gaming mates through our blogs, and as you say it is usual to have'blog buddies' around the world. I have in fact managed to meet several of them over the years and hope one day to meet up with the infamous Rejects crowd! I think one only has to look at the fabulous and super encouraging AHPC community to see what can be achieved with like minded folks
DeleteSo as an alternative theory, perhaps what we have seen with the reduction of blogs is a winnowing. And those who remain are the ones that we might be have connected with as the most like-minded remain and others move on. I blog a lot less than I used to now, but I dont see me giving it up entirely for now.
If you're ever in the UK let us know, I'm sure Postie would love to put on game and have you over. We often have fellow bloggers join us for games and have built up a considerable 'Rejects Alumni' of past guests.
DeleteInteresting post Lee. Blogs dying out! Blimey... I've only just started!
ReplyDeleteI think it depends on what individuals want to get out of and put into the public arena. For some short and quick, for others longer and slower. What's important is that there is a community for sharing own great hobby.
Absolutely. We all need to pick the media that suits us best and then put ourselves and our hobby out there. I'm long past caring what my colleagues and peers think of me, I'm very comfortable with who I am and I want to share my love of the hobby (in all its guises). If I hadn't done that I would never have met the Rejects, or the many hundreds of other friends I have made within the hobby community.
DeleteAn interesting read. I mainly write my blog for my own satisfaction and I have the time to do so, I also appreciate when people do comment or enjoy a certain piece. My own blog list is very small compared to many and I either 'know' the people involved or they interest me more than normal. I am a member of several Facebook hobby pages but find them more of a quick fix while blog posts have far more depth which I prefer.
ReplyDelete