Dear Reader
I’m sorry. I have full blown blog-fatigue. I came back to work after a glorious holiday and although I absolutely love what I do, I would still rather be able to sleep late, drink Prosecco at lunch and walk around on the pavements of Berlin while people talk late into the night discussing Art, History and …..Art-history.
But here I am, in a very dry Joburg (my lips and stuffy nose can attest to this), going through the last convulsions of winter, having to deal with payroll and accounts and schedules. I am totally uninspired, even though our beautiful patients have given me enough to write about just this morning alone.
Just because I am unmotivated, apathetic and without imagination today, does not mean I get to renege on my blogging, so I started wondering about blogs, and I realised that even though I have diligently written one each Tuesday for the past few years, I only read one other blog (and that one is my brother’s, so I’m not even sure that counts).
I asked the world wide web why people read blogs, and this is what it came up with, in this order:
- Information and Education
- Personal Connection and Community
- Inspiration and Motivation
- Entertainment
- Staying Updated
- Practical Advice
The reason I don’t read blogs is clearly because I get my fix of the above through Book club, TED Talks, Reuters, my humungous family and YouTube teaching me how to propagate a hydrangea and crochet a frog.
I started to wonder however, whether someone should trust a chef if he didn’t taste other people’s food so to speak, so I asked our trusted information provider of late (yes, ChatGPT) what the most popular blogs are. (Side note, my mother of 84 asked AI to write an answer to a question about a Bible verse in Galatians. I am not sure what the answer was, but my mom has now concluded that AI must be Christian as the answer was filled with facts, wisdom and quotes …..Another sidenote, I first asked Chat GPT what the most popular blogs are in SA, but they were mostly about people with very little clothing, posting pictures in between a few words here and there, or diaries about pregnancies and heartburn. The most interesting one was written by a lady who somehow manages to look sultry and sexy during Ramadan).
I expanded my search criteria to the most popular blogs worldwide, and my trusty ChatGPT assistant spat out the following:
- HuffPost (formerly The Huffington Post)
A fabulous news and opinion website, which, on the downside is a secondary source and so might not be totally reliable.
- TechCrunch
Focuses on technology news but also startups, and Silicon Valley. Known for its in-depth analysis of tech trends and startup culture.
- Mashable
A global media platform covering digital culture, social media, technology, and entertainment.
- Gizmodo
Yet another blog about technology, it focuses on technology, gadgets, and design, offering reviews, news, and commentary on the latest tech developments.
- Lifehacker
I’m going to read this one! It offers tips, tricks, and hacks for improving productivity, managing time, and simplifying everyday tasks.
- Engadget
ANOTHER technology one. It provides the latest news, reviews, and insights on gadgets, consumer electronics, and tech trends. (Not for me, thank you).
- TMZ
This is like the Huisgenoot on steroids, filled with celebrity news, gossip, and entertainment coverage, known for breaking major stories in Hollywood.
- The Verge
Yip, you guessed it, technology again, but here it covers it with a bit of science, art and culture and throws in the odd opinion piece.
- Business Insider
Although the main focus is not technology, it is still about tech but adds business, finance, and economic trends, with a focus on global markets.
- Medium
A platform where writers, journalists, and bloggers publish articles on a wide range of topics, from personal stories to professional insights. This sounds like it is worth a read.
And now for some interesting facts about blogging, which I never knew:
- The term “weblog” was first coined by Jorn Barger in 1997. It was later shortened to “blog” by Peter Merholz in 1999, and the term quickly caught on.
- As of 2024, there are over 600 million blogs on the internet, with millions of new posts being published every day. This makes blogging one of the most widespread forms of online communication.
- Blogger, launched in 1999 by Pyra Labs, was one of the first blogger platforms and was bought by Google in 2003 for an undisclosed fortune.
- Many bloggers, (sadly I’m not one of these), earn mega bucks through their blogs. Popular monetization methods include affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and ad placements. Some top bloggers earn six-figure incomes annually (again, not me).
- Blogs play a crucial role in search engine optimization (SEO), which was the reason I originally started writing them. Websites that regularly update their blogs tend to rank higher on search engines.
- Lifestyle and tech blogs are popular, but niche blogs focusing on specific topics like beekeeping, breastfeeding, minimalism, or vintage fashion are extremely popular. These niches allow bloggers to connect deeply with a particular audience.
- Despite the rise of social media and video platforms, blogging, rather strangely, remains a resilient and popular medium. Many blogs have been active for over a decade, evolving with the digital landscape.
- WordPress (which I also use) powers around 43% of all websites on the internet, including the vast majority of blogs. Its versatility and ease of use have made it the go-to platform for bloggers, who are not always that tech savvy.
- Platforms like X (formerly known as Twitter) and Tumblr, popularised the concept of microblogging, where users share short, frequent updates. This trend has influenced traditional blogging, with many bloggers incorporating shorter, more frequent posts. (This is quite cool! I remember I was often told by my mom that I have to tell my story in five sentences. She was the 1980’s Elon Musk!)
- Blogging is a global phenomenon, with blogs written in nearly every language and catering to diverse cultures.
And there you have it…. a blog about blogs. I might not have felt terribly inspired but by writing this, I feel that I have actually learnt a thing or two. Thank you for reading… please don’t unfriend me.