The other day I wrote a little bit about cleaning up the blog. I feel the need for these periodic cleanings. Just like I want to keep my house fairly neat and tidy, I do the same with the blog. In the course of that post, I mentioned blog buttons. And I raised a question: are blog buttons even necessary any longer?
That got me wondering about just what has changed in blogging since I started this blog over 4 years ago:
1. Templates available for bloggers. There’s so much more available now than there was 4 years ago. Back then, the template on Blogger was just that. One template. And it was limiting. Very soon after that, Minima Stretch appeared and then a host of other templates followed. I think there were only a few fonts available, as well. I imagine the same thing is true of WordPress. With these newer templates, there is much more potential for flexibility in your design. You can take the reins. That’s empowering.
2. Tools and Widgets available for bloggers. Now you can add Popular Posts, a Search Engine, links to all sorts of things, Social Media Icons, labels. Back in the day, which was actually only 4 years ago, you could add an archive of your posts, a link list to other blogs, photos, Google Friend Connect and that was about it.
3. What’s In, What’s Out:
Advertising of any kind was frowned upon. Unless you had a blatantly commercial blog, you didn’t advertise. I’m sorry to say that I was one of those bloggers that believed that including advertising changed the whole feeling behind a blog in a negative way. I didn’t like it. Somehow, over the course of these 4 years, it became acceptable. And for many, including myself, a necessity. The economy tanked. Bloggers began to seek out advertisers, whether through BlogHer or AdSense or through other small business owners. Now, more often than not, I see ads on the blogs I read. We all put a lot of time and effort into our blogs. Why not be compensated?
Buttons. A few years back, every blogger had a button made (usually by a blog designer) and added the button and the corresponding code to the blog’s sidebar. We exchanged buttons and displayed them on our sidebars. I remember having a whole bunch of them. Gradually, as my blog evolved, I moved them to a separate page and, eventually, phased them out entirely. Hence my question of last week. Should I even bother to include my new blog button? I’m thinking no.
Awards. Awards were very popular. I distinctly remember my pleasure at receiving my first award from another blogger. The routine was to pass the award on to a certain number of bloggers. Sometimes you had to answer a question. Sometimes you didn’t. In the beginning, I followed the rules, but I soon decided that I didn’t feel comfortable singling out only a few bloggers. So I would pass it on to everyone reading. Or I would mention the award and thank the blogger for sending it to me and not pass it on. As with the buttons, we would add the awards to the sidebar. Eventually, I got tired of the clutter and moved them to a separate page. And as the blog evolved, I no longer included them in a visible link. (They’re still here, but just for me.) Have awards gone the way of the dinosaur?
Parties are still going strong. Weekly memes are still going strong. I used to take part in them. I found that, for me, they were limiting. Since I post every day, I almost always write about what is in my head on that day, at that moment. If I have to also worry about a meme, I lose my spontaneity. But I know many of you participate in these. They are a wonderful way to meet other bloggers and expand your blogging horizons.
4. The sheer amount of blogs out there. There are so many more blogs out there now than there were four years ago. Some bloggers have been at it for much longer than 4 years – imagine how the landscape has changed for them!
5. Photo Editing Sites – Was Picnik even around when I first started? I don’t think so. Photoshop was available, but that was about it. I never edited my photos in the beginning. Maybe I cropped them but that was about it. Now, though we’ve said goodbye to Picnik, there are a host of other sites out there. I’ve written about many of them and they are all including in the Blogging Tips link below my header. We can be much more creative with our photos now, as well as our headers and blog design. I learn more and more every day because there are so many more options available.
6. There’s a lot more information available for bloggers now. I mentioned in another post that I often tweak my html. I’ve found that there is a tutorial or answer out there for just about every question I might have. 4 years ago, I was fairly cautious about tweaking my blog and I certainly wouldn’t have dreamed of messing with my html. But Blogger has made that easier and the generosity of other bloggers has provided a wealth of information.
7. More and more bloggers are moving to WordPress, which was a rarity four years ago. As bloggers become more and more confident, they want even more control over their blogs – and who can blame them? They aren’t overwhelmed by coding and are feeling empowered enough to make the leap.
I’m sure I’m leaving out some changes. What have you seen come and go since you’ve been blogging? How has blogging changed for you?
I haven’t blogged much in the past year and looking around now, I agree that so much has changed but I think a lot of it is for the better. ;-)
I agree, a lot has changed. Some for the better…some, not so much.
It’s something I enjoy doing….posting and reading.
It does take up a lot of my time, though. :)
Claudia, it wasn’t until you pointed out a lot of the differences that I realized how things have changed a quite a bit in the blogging world. One of the things I’ve realized that just about anyone can blog about anything they want – there are many niches to fit in. And I personally have found less judgement by commenters these days. Ann
I’ve only been blogging just over a year, so I haven’t noticed any changes in that time. I share your feelings about blog awards. I am so grateful that the person who gave it to me thought of me, but I hate things that leave others out. Too often blog awards become like cliques–people giving them to their friends ad nauseum. There’s also an element of the chain letter in some blog awards, which bothers me. I still post about them with a thank you, but leave it at that. I wish blog awards would go the way of the dinosaur! ;-) Jennifer
I started reading blogs about 5 years ago. You are so right ~ blogs have changed so much since then. When I started blogging 2 years ago I had no clue what I was doing. Everything was trial and error. Our friend Brenda helped me link up to my first party. Brenda was such a big help to me and she spent a few hours on the phone with me teaching me the basics. Her help and friendship were invaluable. Blogging has evolved and I agree it is better than ever. I certainly think it is more sophisticated. The only thing I don’t care for is the cliques, but then they can be found outside the blog world as well. I will keep blogging for the fun of it and the many wonderful friendships I have made.
Big Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
I have learned as I went along. I tend with some trends to reject them out right. I did recently get accepted to BlogHer and am happy about that. I spend a lot of time on my blog and a little reward in money I do not see a as a bad thing.
It’s fun to look back and see how much is different…it’s happened so gradually, that I hadn’t even noticed some of the changes over the years! There definitely have been trends…
Claudia, your blog always in so inviting. I like a cleaner blog, too, but am not sure how to even add a widget on the sidebar now (like the Pinterest) without messing things all up. I’d love to fix my nav bar along the top, but then again, have angst about totally losing things on it. Any tips?
Happy bloggin’!
xo
I’m glad to see the bird on the right now facing the lamb. It didn’t seem right the other way, to me, this is more pleasing.
I have not been blogging quite as long as you, but there have been many changes!!! I am a creature of habit, and change is hard for me.
You are so right, there are so many blogs out there now. It is mind boggling!!
: ) Kris
A very nice overview. I too debate whether to add the advertisers or not. I rarely every notice them on folks blogs so they don’t seem to be much of a distraction anymore.
I agree with you on a lot of points. I never did care for the awards thing. I am glad to not see it hardly at all now. I also do not like it when there is a contest and in order to become eligible you have to do 10 different things to get your name in the hat! That’s exhausting and who wants to do that? Lots of changes, though since I started over 3 years ago. I don’t post as much as I would like to but I still enjoying seeing all the ideas and talent that is out there! I have made good friends too! ~Hugs, Patti
I just keep plodding along and making changes as I need them. If I can’t figure something out I google it and generally can find instructions. I like all the changes. They have made things easier for me :)
Laura
I am a creature of habit also. I love to blog when it comes natural that day but I also like to take time to sit and read others on my list. So many have so much to say and everyone is unique as what they say and do. I also have learned that others have disabilities but they go on.You learn from them and they become inspiration to our souls. When I see the paintings and the photography and art from these people who are disabeled. I have nothing to complain about. All that talent out there is a blow mind buster. We sure know God is in control to lift those people up for a light to us. You just want to go back and read and see.
Oh gosh, there have been a lot of changes. I do love all the new layout options and designs. I never figured out how to make a blog button myself. (Yes, I am computer challenged.) I am still missing picnik very much, even though I have found another editing site that will do some of what I want it to. Sorry, but I never look at the ads on blogs. (or on facebook, or in e-mail etc…)
I’ve only been blogging for a little over a year and before that I didn’t even know what a blog was. Sometimes going to blogs and seeing all the parties is overwhelming and it seems a bit competitive to see who has the most mind blowing project. I have to admit that I do like clicking on the little thumbnails and discovering other bloggers. There are so many creative people in blog land. I occasionally will join a party but not that often. The ads don’t bother me unless they are annoying pop-ups. I’ve enjoyed reading your blog since day one. I discovered you last year when you were sharing about the baby robins and instantly could relate to just about everything that you wrote about. I love visiting your website Claudia.