I have been keeping a close eye on and participating in the discussion going on about the new “mass messaging” feature added to the MyBlogLog community site. I’ve found this pretty fascinating so far because as I first watched the idea of the personal computer take form all those years ago, through the idea of a graphic User Interface for the PC (Apple’s Lisa, Macintosh, OS2, Windows etc), through the advent of the World Wide Web and all that has come from it and my own discovery of blogging…now I’m find myself engrossed in watching and participating in the formation and continuing evolution of the blogging “community”. Still a very new thing and understandably going through the usual growing pains except this time the community itself is having a strong influence on the “do’s and don’ts” of it’s own community.
To me, the idea of the blogging community site such as MyBlogLog, Blog Catalog and Bumpzee for example is still too relatively new on the scene for anyone to have a really good idea about the beginning, middle and end of the actual process yet. In regards to what the actual purpose of these communities is for, in my observation, is still very much a work in progress with more learning ahead for everyone. It simply hasn’t had the time to evolve enough to have formed any sort of standard formula for success as yet. There’s still a lot of trial and error to be done and how can you know if something works or not if you don’t give it a try? You can believe me when I say that the community will give all the feedback that is needed to successfully round out a new feature or to dump it altogether.
This is something all bloggers should be looking at since the idea of community has always been one of people helping each other out and although we can’t exactly attend a some blogger’s barn raising or other such old fashioned community effort in this day and age, we certainly can have a seat at the “town meeting” in regards as to how our blogging community is laid out.
Technorati tags: Mybloglog, mass messaging, messaging, community messaging, email, spam
I like the idea of having a voice in how the community is laid out, but too many cooks in the kitchen can spoil the soup.
MyBlogLog is the social network source that I use most, but I belong to many other social network sites to expand me search for people to network with.
Just because I like MBL, another person may not. So I have to check out the other sites to find them.
Things are still evolving, but what a great time to be involved.
BeachBum
Hi BeachBum (what a great moniker),
Oh, it is definitely a great time to be involved at that. I’m one of those boomer type bloggers (obviously from the way I dated myself in the post) that rode the crest of computer technology as it evolved starting in the very late 70’s. And the one thing I’ve missed terribly is being part of the evolution of something truly new…something that wasn’t just an improvement or update if you know what I mean.
And I know what you mean about too many cooks but occasionally (but not near as often) the old “stone soup” remedy works to an advantage as well. We shall see won’t we? It’s great to be interested again.
Previosly bloggers could only follow each other via comments or emails but with MBL and similar networks you get that real feeling of having a community, being part of something you can see and touch. I’m so used to some of the faces under “Recent Readers”
and it makes much easier to stay in touch
It is a great way of having a social life on the internet. A great way to make new friends along the way. I have only just got into all the blog side of it but i am enjoying it so much and am learning lots along the way.
Jasmine xx
Welcome to Just Thinkin’, Yuri. Glad you dropped by.
I know what you’re saying about having the Recent Readers widget living in your sidebar. I’m not sure my blog here would feel right if I didn’t have those folks “peeking in the windows” so to speak. Kinda’ feels like the neighbors dropping by.
These blogging communities have really rounded out the art of blogging a lot. Added something that was missing it seems.
Hi Jasmine. Welcome to my corner of the world. Sorry about the mess…the cleaning service called in sick (yeah right).
I’ve become pretty fascinated with these new blogging communities and watching them change and grow as time goes on. It’s going to be very interesting what they turn out to be over the next year or so.
So you’re just getting started in the blogging end of things? Well much luck to you. It’s a lot of fun and a whole lot more. Let us know how you’re doing if you can.