Bloganomics
I was thinking about the economy. And blogging. And how the economy effects blogging. And how blogging effects the economy.
Hence, blogonomics.
The economy sucks. People are losing jobs and not getting new ones. Investments have tanked. Food prices have skyrocketed. Without disposable, carefree dollars to spend, businesses suffer. And when we don’t have enough money to just go to Target for no reason other than amusement, what do we do? Ah, we blog.
Now some blog for money — although there are a scarce few who actually make a living at it. Most blog for community. Some blog for attention. Some people blog to share their opinion and some people blog because they want others’ opinions. Most are a combination. Some people make enough money blogging to cover the cost of their blog, if there is one. Most people spend more time on their blog than they could ever be reimbursed for by a few Google or text ads. For people who make real money blogging, I wonder what it really pays per hour if they were to figure out how much time it takes to write and post and respond to comments and comment on other blogs and Digg, Facebook and Buzz your posts all over the web. Probably not much more than flipping burgers at McD’s, but without the transfats.
But blogging does contribute to the economy, I believe, because so many of us get amazing information from other bloggers. If we are going to spend our money, we might check out a review site or ask our favorite blogger for an opinion. To Kindle or not to Kindle? PC or Mac? Sprint or AT&T? Bloggers share discount codes and recall information, recipes and restaurant reviews. In this time of careful spending, we are relying on our cyber friends for information that we might not be able to get from our next-door neighbor.
Besides the obvious reward of writing to be read and meeting new and wonderful people, I’ve learned about fabulous products through blogging — through clicking those varied colored links. I’ve also learned about books and movies. All places I love to spend my money – even when I want to do it more wisely.
Bloggers, for the most part, are taken at their word. Our purpose, no matter the topic of our blog, is to share relevant, truthful information so that everyone benefits from something one person knows.
I think Wall Street — and perhaps the State of Illinois — could take a page from that book, I mean blog.
Gotten any great deals or insights or made any purchasing decisions based on something you learned on a blog? Book? Movie? Restaurant? Car? Share.
Oh, and I guest-blogged over at The Urban Muse today. Not only are bloggers smart…they’re hospitable. Read The Suburban Muse here.
I think I’ve bought some books based on blog reviews, or at least checked them out at the library. Not so much restaurants or movies – though I have bought a movie ticket to go to the theater after reading a review on a blog. So yeah, I’d have to say blogging does its part for the economy, too.
Books, yes, quite a few. Films, just a few. I think that’s it. But for community, it’s priceless.
I mostly get book suggestions on blogs, since the blogs I follow are mostly writers.
blogs are awesome for book suggestions
and LOL I love your blogonomics!