Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Some would say a blog is the first thing to think about when starting an online business. It keeps you connected with others of similar interests and shares a perspective about the business you operate.

Well, I was searching for information about affiliate networks and software. I found a SuN thread titled, “Affiliate Marketing 101: Understanding the Basics” discussing that very subject. In order to capture the true discussion of the forum, I tried to follow the “article” link, only to find the blog entry about affiliates is no longer present. Not even in the “archive” folder.

I did find another page on the SuN network titled, “Affiliate Marketing 101: Understanding the Basics.” Notice the same title? Maybe the first “article” link should have went here.

Regardless, blogs do go offline. I know I have discontinued my own blog. What if people were linking to it? Now their discussion is pointless.

Anyway, blogs aren’t going away, but I still don’t understand their purpose in most instances. Typically they are just no namers screaming or civilly discussing topics which they have no expertise. Oppinons are great, but aren’t they like um… Aaaaaa… areolas? Everybody has one… or two.


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Vincent Wilcox (a.k.a. KRAKR)
Drummer
My band: Letters Make Words

Y`know that expression, "vanity plates?" Used for car license plates. That`s a blog.

Thank you for bringing this up!  I thought it was just me.  My opinion is on a more personal level. 

#1. I cannot figure out why everybody thinks they are funny.    If you are not funny in person, then you are not funny in print.  All of a sudden, everybody thinks they are a comedian.  Wrong, so wrong.  There is a reason they put locks on a diary.   Maybe basic America doesn`t want to seek psychological help, so blogging is the alternative.  

#2.  I hate it when my google search results include numerous blogs.   Is there any search engine that will allow me to EXCLUDE blogs from the search results?   

Dianne

beachdi... "Maybe basic America doesn`t want to seek psychological help, so blogging is the alternative." I think you`re onto something! As for your #2 comment... Yes! That would be great. I am happy that people are able to express their thoughts and comment on cultural topics, but when I am looking for information (that`s the #1 purpose of the Internet) I am not interested in reading "opinion column" blogs about the topic.

CraigL... um... I have vanity plates. "KRAKR" (you all can figure it out.) I guess that says it all about my personality.


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Vincent Wilcox (a.k.a. KRAKR)
Drummer
My band: Letters Make Words

V - Can I say I have no idea what you`re talking about? Your link went to the thead, which went to the article.

I saw no blogs anywhere on any of that.

I still think you are pretty unfairly lumping all blogs together. There are some great ones with some great information out there. Do all websites suck because there`s some really bad ones out there?

Yes nhgnikole... the linking situation has been corrected on that thread. (one reason for this post)... And no. I don`t think all websites suck because there are some really bad ones. If you think I am being unfair... well that`s the world. I just hope those of you writing blogs don`t stop maintaining them. 

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Vincent Wilcox (a.k.a. KRAKR)
Drummer
My band: Letters Make Words

Well geez, don`t confuse us!

Blogs are the same as anything ... 95% of TV is a bunch of crap too, but occasionally you can find some really great, funny or informative shows.

Like Dirty Jobs. That Mike Rowe, what a crackup!

But do I give up on finding him because all that`s out there is a bunch of reality shows? No.

And of course I say all this like I have had the time to watch more than 10 minutes of TV in the past month ...

Outdated links are a problem with any site, blog, forum, static, articles, news, whatever. Somewhere along the line, something needs to be updated ... so a 5-year-old link stops working. That is what the search feature is for!
Do you still sell EVERY product you once had? Then I`m sure someone might be linking to something on your site that no longer exists.

nhgnikole... I didn`t confuse "you." No need to be so defensive. My comment wasn`t about your blog or the other great blogs out there. My comment was only about why "I" dislike blogs. Ease up on the throttle girl.  The blog business will never die. It has too much going for it. 

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Vincent Wilcox (a.k.a. KRAKR)
Drummer
My band: Letters Make Words

V - I was kidding.

The problem is that people say "oh, it`s a blog" and don`t read it. (Kind of like, oh, she`s a web designer, what a ripoff ... right?)

But really spreading a negative association with what could be a powerful tool if done right ... this just hurts it in the long run because it makes people unwilling to try. Like the association above with someone taking the association of all blogs trying to be "funny" and "personal" ... when in all honesty, they are not all this way.

It makes it so I have to stop calling it a blog. Even if it is. What it really is ... is a content management system. Some people use that to blab on about a guy on the subway with boogers hanging out of his nose. I use my 2 blogs to help and educate small business owners with good content and relevant information.

In any case, I`m doing Carnival of the Capitalists this week .. if you want to see what blogging CAN be, check out some of the submissions!

nhgnikole... It is true that stating or recognizing failures in a system could make people turn away from that system... or they could develop one that doesn`t have the problems that people point out.

All in all, I might be the only one who dislikes the way blogs are being used today. I still have the option of making my point of view known, and seeing others might have to say about my opinion. After all, I can`t talk about how I dislike blogs as part of a business concept on my own blog. I haven`t got one. 

You could have started your defense of blogs by stating... `well, those bloggers who do good work will likely keep their blogged topics available. Some may even update the blog based on new information, as time goes on. There is no doubt there are some minor problems to blogging but think of the benefit and communication it brings.`

In other words, tell me why you do like them as apposed to telling me why I shouldn`t make negative blanket statement about blogs. For example, what reasons are you interested in reading the common person`s blog?


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Vincent Wilcox (a.k.a. KRAKR)
Drummer
My band: Letters Make Words