I follow lots of blogs, most of which are about wargaming. One of these is 'Big Lee's Miniature Adventures', and in a recent blog post and associated YouTube channel posting, he discussed the question 'Are Wargame Blogs Dying Out?'
To watch Big Lee's YouTube posting, press here.
The main thrust of what he discusses is covered in a short statement on his blog:
'I used to have over 600 Bogs in my Blogroll, but one by one they have stopped being updated or have been removed entirely. Meanwhile wargame content is proliferating on other social media. So it has to be asked, are wargaming blogs dying out?'
This set me thinking, and to a certain extent, I agree with his assertion that the growth in wargame-related blogging has appeared to have plateaued off over the past couple of years. I still follow a large number using Feedly, but inevitably some have blossomed for a short time and then become moribund, whilst others continue to appear regularly (or irregularly) whenever the blogger has something that they want to bring to the attention of a wider audience.
Big Lee points out that since blogging started back in 1999, other social media have appeared and to a certain extent have replaced it. This is true ... and I certainly have used some of them for my wargaming. That said, my blogs have been the mainstay of my online presence (My God, that sounds so pretentious, but I cannot think of another expression to use!) and I suspect that they will remain so for the foreseeable future.
Blogging is dead! Long live the blog!
Some interesting social media dates:
- Blogger was launched on 23rd August 1999.
- FaceMash (the forerunner of Facebook) was founded on 28th October 2003. (It became Facebook on 4th February 2004).
- YouTube was launched on 14th February 2005.
- Twitter was launched on 15th July 2006.
- WhatsApp was launched in November 2009.
- TikTok was launched in October 2016.
I certainly don't think they're dead or dieing. Numbers are down for the wrong reasons. It's bloggers getting cheesed off with blogger playing up all the time, which has stopped people posting. Hopefully Google will sort their mess out and make it a more pleasant experience to post and read again.
ReplyDeleteRay Rousell,
DeleteYou are right about Blogger being a bit flaky at times, and I can see why this would put bloggers off. I’ve tried using alternatives (e.g. Wordpress) but they don’t seem to be much better.
All the best,
Bob
BOB,
ReplyDeleteI do not think that there is a decline in the numbers of Wargamers- I've a friend who has gamed for decades - tried Blogging though he withdrew as he wasn't getting anything of real substance from the people who replied to his Blog- seems the art of conversation is to blame- generally people on electronic media talk in half sentences and that is it- hardly interesting when someone replies to you blog with: "Nice"...hardly the basis for being motivated to reply to such 'comments'...anyway, good to hear your back on your feet after the bought with Covid. Cheers. KEV.
Kev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteI must admit that I have been very lucky with regard to the comments people have made on my blog. As you will already know, I always try to reply to comments as I think that it helps to engender a dialogue between the blogger and their audience.
As to COVID … well it’s taking time to shrug off the residual effects, but each day Sue and I are feeling a bit better.
Keep safe and keep well,
Bob
I admit my blog is just as much a way of keeping a diary and recording my figures as anything. Always nice to have as many people commenting as possible, but mine is very much a niche blog - 80% or so is about early Garrison Ancients and Minifigs 'S' Range Ancients - last count 79 followers - but I don't 'do' Twitter or anything so it's my main point of cotact with people in the hobby.
ReplyDeleteRob Young,
DeleteYour reasons for writing your blog seem very sound to me … and aren’t that different from my original plans for my blog.
As to other social media, Facebook has its strengths and weaknesses, as does Twitter … but unlike some people, I don’t use them fervently and obsessively.
All the best,
Bob
One HUGE advantage that blogs have other other media is that they serve as an archive of useful, long form information. I frequently looks for gaming content and find extremely useful blog posts from 10+ years ago. Try that with newer social media. Keep blogging!
ReplyDeleteI agree, each form of social media has it's place, but you can't beat Blogs for in depth material with long term access. Keep up the good work!
DeleteJozi’s Tin Man,
DeleteVery true! I have saved all my blog posts so that I can search them if I need to … which I have on quite a few occasions.
All the best,
Bob
Mark Cordone,
DeleteDon’t worry, I shall be sticking with my blog for the foreseeable future.
All the best,
Bob
Bob,
DeleteThat's good to know! Your blog is much easier to follow than Facebook &c.
Best wishes,
Arthur
Arthur1815 (Arthur),
DeleteCheers! As long as people continue to enjoy reading my ramblings, I’ll continue to write my blog!
All the best,
Bob
Blogs have a lot going against them compared to other social media. Although Twitter, Youtube and Instagram et al require effort to build an audience, just like blogging, it feels easier to be found in those apps by people looking for a particular topic thanks to tagging. Compare to a blog which has to fight against Google's algorithm to be found. Of course, links from blogs to other blogs gets around this, but other social media has this as well, in addition to the hashtag searches within their apps.
ReplyDeleteBlogs are very easy to start but are more difficult to sustain than the kind of short posts on other social media. I suspect that many people don't like to write as much as some us do and the effort required to make a blog post (including pictures) becomes a barrier over time. Never mind that a lot of people don't read long form posts. Even this comment will turn people off due to its length!
Finally, I think many people start to blog thinking of it as a conversation and the lack of responses and follows becomes disheartening. However, leaving a comment asks more of a reader than a "like" or other react. For those of us who would write whether anyone read it or not, it's not an issue, but for those who are writing because they want to share it with someone else, I imagine it leads to a "why bother?" moment and the dying of their blog. So, you could find a blog, love it, add it, but you've caught it at the end of it's lifecycle. Before you know it, you follow 200 dead blogs.
So, all that said, I don't think the blog format is dead either. I think what we are witnessing is that hobby blogs are settling into their niche. They require a lot of lifting by the author for potentially no or little interaction. Writers, that is, people who would write regardless, will probably always start blogs and continue them (as long as the format exists), whereas others will find they can better express themselves or find more interaction in other social media.
Sorry for the long rambling reply!
Cheers!
- John
John Y,
DeleteI tend to agree with everything that you have stated in your comment. I enjoy writing my blog because I find the act of putting my ideas down on paper (or on screen!) helps me to clarify them. Other social media tends to be more ephemeral in both content and longevity of access, and is great for making quick announcements but not for long term discussions or the exchange of ideas.
There are some excellent blogs out there that don’t get the support they deserve. People read them, but never take the time to write a comment. This can be very disheartening, and may well contribute to those bloggers giving up on their blogs.
I will certainly continue to blog for as long as I can … so please continue to read my posts!
All the best,
Bob
I tend to use my blog as a sort of personal journal/diary and try to post once a week depending what's going on . Think blogs come and go and I follow quite a few , I don't twitter etc although I do follow a lot of wargaming Facebook sites.
ReplyDeleteThe Good Soldier Svjek,
DeleteThat sounds like an excellent plan and should guarantee that your blog will have longevity. Keep up the good work.
All the best,
Bob
Blogging is ridiculed by young people and seen as an old person's thing, which I find reassuring somehow. It means that old people ie a lot of wargamers still use, read and follow blogs created about the hobby. I am envious of wargamers who have created some great podcasts but I still find the typed word has its place a bit like ones favourite book.
ReplyDeleteIndependentwargamesgroup,
DeleteIf younger people find blogging to be a bit ridiculous, then I’m even more determine to carry on!
I’ve never tried podcasting, although I have been interviewed for one. Like you, I prefer the written word … especially if it is accompanied by excellent images.
All the best,
Bob
I was late to blogging and after creating one struggled to populate it with posts as I was unsure what I was doing. Once I determined to use it for my own benefit as a record of progress for my projects it sort of fell into place.
ReplyDeleteI don't use Facebook or other social media, don't get on with them and have no interest in using such platforms.
I remember when people had to create and fund websites; blogger by comparison is simple.
While I understand people have moved from blogs and forums to FB I personally see this as a retrograde step and won't be joining them.
Neil
Neil Patterson (Neil),
DeleteI think that bloggers who blog for themselves rather than to publicise themselves and their hobby tend to be more successful because they are not driven by the need create posts every day.
I use Facebook and Twitter, but the majority of what I read is very ephemeral. The exception is the PW Facebook page, where the exchange of ideas etc., is excellent.
All the best,
Bob
Blogging works for me as it allows me to post AAR's, thoughts etc in more detail that other types of social media. I wouldn't dream of doing the same thing say on Facebook. Vlogging holds not interest to me, mainly being taught to speed read whilst studying 'A' Level history. I don't have the patience to sit through a podcast, Vlog etc when I can scan a Blog post and see if I want to read it in more detail later.
ReplyDeleteSteve J.,
DeleteI agree that a blog is far and away the best way to share battle reports. It can be done on Facebook … but I prefer the better flow one gets with a blog.
Podcasts and YouTube channels have their uses, but the quality can be very variable. The worst are just overlong diatribes, whereas the best a short and to the point.
All the best,
Bob
I think you might be a wise man making a manual binding of your blog posts for posterity .. we could lose out internet based blogger compendia overnight .. but I sleep well knowing yours is also safe in a paper version :)
ReplyDeleteGeordie an Exiled FoG,
DeleteI began saving my blog posts after John Curry made a comment about saving stuff for posterity. He wants to ensure that the ‘History of Wargaming’ project has plenty of resources in its archives for future wargamers to access.
All the best,
Bob
Back in the very early 2000s, the wife a a friend, who was a science fiction writer, used it the same was as The Good Soldier Svjek mentioned. I thought the whole concept was a little silly, but I have come to appreciate it as my online journal/diary as well. I get very few comments on my blog and that is fine. My blog is not up for racking up followers, I use it to chart my progress in the various aspects of my hobby, and occasionally, to voice what's going on inside of me in general.
ReplyDeleteI would love to post more, but life seems to get in the way. More often, I like to see what others are doing and get inspiration from them (including your blog).
The big issue with something like Facebook groups is they are so hard to go back to find earlier posts. They are updated so often, older posts seem to be buried. With blogs, I can look up an individual's earlier post and re-read it again.
--Chris
Chris,
DeleteI think that blogging for yourself rather than for an audience is the best course to take. If other people enjoy what you write, they will follow and comment; if they don’t, then you have had the opportunity to marshal your thoughts and to write them down … and once that is done, it is more likely that your ideas will come to fruition.
Facebook and other social media has its uses, but I agree that blogs are much easier to search.
All the best,
Bob
Remember rec.games.miniatures.historical pre-1999? Progress!?
ReplyDeleteJust Jeff,
DeleteI never used it, but I gather that it still exists. Amazing!
All the best,
Bob
In the composition/communication field, there is something called a "Rhetorical Context" which applies here, I think, and might be a better way of thinking about the blog vs vlog than an "either:or" or one replacing the other. The rhetorical context suggests that written communication/communication is defined by three components: 1. Audience, 2. Purpose, and 3. Form: put another way, 1. who is the intended reader/audience (and what are the author's assumptions about them?) 2. what is the purpose of the communication? 3. what form does the communication take in order to meet the purpose and audience? Apply the rhetorical context to blogs and vlogs: 1. same audience (probably) 2. differing purposes (although overlapping) 3. different forms. In short, I don't see it as an either: or.
ReplyDeleteEd M,
DeleteThanks for your comment. I’d never heard of ‘rhetorical context’, but your explanation makes lots of sense. I suspect some of us have been looking at blogging etc., in that way, but not realised that it had a name.
All the best,
Bob
I like the combination of pictures and text in blogs. I follow a good few, like this one. My own blog is more for my own use, mostly for posting pics of miniatures I have painted, and posts are not very frequent because my painting is not very fast.
ReplyDeleteI don't partake of FB, Instagram, Twitter, et al., and certainly have no interest in creating video content myself.
I may be "older", but I'm not dead yet. (cue Monty Python clip) :D Anyway, blogs will continue to be the mainstay of my hobby interaction online for as long as me and them are still around.
Fritz-Badger,
DeleteI always try to find appropriate images to use on my blog as I think that a balance of text and images makes my blog more appealing to my regular blog readers.
Being older does not imply that one is decrepit (although there are some younger people who equate the two!); rather, being older gives one experience and judgement … which is probably why we don’t commit to the more ephemeral social media.
All the best,
Bob
I hope not, I just started blogging again after a 3 year absence :D . I had to start over as my goggle accounts confounded me and I'm locked out of my old one. I've relied on posting to Facebook and Instagram for the last few years, but it's not the same. I continued to miss that deep dive into hobby feeling I get when I try to write an article for my blog. The few interactions I've had as a result of blogging are far more interesting and serve me better than a, "Great job", or "-insert fire emojis-" I might get somewhere else. It's a personal jourey in hobby. I blog for myself so I have a hobby archive although it is nice to meet people along the way. The challenge is not to get to wrapped up trying to write, "The Great American Hobby Article" and write nothing as a result of finding it too daunting.
ReplyDeleteHorridperson,
DeleteIt’s great to read that you’ve returned to blogging!
Blogging for yourself is rewarding and it is more permanent than other social media. Getting comments is great, especially if they are detailed and helpful … just like yours!
Good luck with your blog.
All the best,
Bob
Interesting video by Big Lee there Bob and he makes some good points. As a blogger of over 10 years I find that page views have fallen away recently somewhat but that it's a very useful record of everything that I have painted during that period. Being primarily a painter I find that if I post images on a period specific FB group I get way more likes and comments than the same content on the blog, over 100 likes is typical and the comment interaction I find gives me a real boost. I have been thinking recently how best to advertise my painting service as blog views are so low and have considered a dedicated FB page as the way forward. Still, I agree that the good old blog has it's place and I will continue to update once a week as usual.
ReplyDelete‘Lee,
DeleteThanks for your very interesting and balanced comment. In your case, having a Facebook page makes lots of sense if you want to advertise your excellent painting service. By linking your Facebook page to your blog you can maximise the number of ‘hits’ the latter receives.
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob...Interesting post and comments. I do not "do" any form of social media so can not comment on Facebook etc. but I started blogging just to find out if anyone else used woodscrews as soldiers. Of course no one does !!! However, even for my ultra niche subject, I have built a small but loyal band of 13, to date, followers who do comment from time to time. It certainly helps motivate me when I get comments. I enjoy writing but do agree a lack of comment can be off putting as it was for me in the early days. I follow only a select handful of other blogs regularly but from time to time I look at the list of those you follow just to see what's going on. Like most others I do my blog more for my benefit than for others but it is really nice to get feedback, it is just nice to know someone is reading our ramblings. I sincerely hope this very useful aspect of our hobby continues and encourage all bloggers to keep going. Regards.
ReplyDeleteTony Adams,
DeleteYou’re not missing much by not indulging in social media … but your niche blog is certainly worth following.
It’s nice to have people make comments about one’s blog as it makes one feel that one’s efforts have been worthwhile. However, quite a few people will visit and not leave a comment, so if you keep a tally of the number of ‘hits’ on your blog, you might be moderately surprised at how many people are reading your blog.
All the best,
Bob
I must admit that my blogging efforts have tailed off during the pandemic.
ReplyDeleteI used to blog my show visits, about ten or so times a year but since shows dried up for a while that stopped in its tracks.
I managed a couple of shows in 2021 but they were low key visits with a short timespan so didn't produce much in the way of a blog content.
I also used to post about recent paintjobs on my figure collections but they slowed down a lot too. I have been doing some commissions for friends and haven't photo recorded any of them. Also, some of them have been 6mm figures which my photo skills don't do justice with.
I have been very busy decorating the kitchen diner and a bedroom which has been exhausting.
Finally the pandemic has halted home gaming visits by my chums so no victories or defeats to report.
Hopefully over the rest of 2022 and onwards things will return to a bit more normal (whatever new normal is going to be).
Jim Duncan,
DeleteThe pandemic has affected us in all sorts of ways. In my case, the lack of cruises to report on meant that I wrote a lot less than I would normally have written.
I’ve missed seeing photos of the figures that you have painted. I only wish that I could paint as well!
I don’t envy you doing decorating. I’ve done quite a bit over the years, but I’m not sure that I could do much nowadays.
Here’s to a better 2022!
All the best,
Bob
I don't think blogging is finished, or even on the way out. But I do suspect that you have to be a certain type of person to blog regularly over a long period. It has to be done for your own satisfaction, rather than for approval by others. I have done three blogs for about 12 years, and have no intention of stopping in the near future.
ReplyDeleteOne is a record of my campaign, and I usually post twice a week. This is no great problem, as I work on the campaign most days and the current work feeds the blog.
The second is of a more general wargame nature. I post once a week, and find that more difficult to do. Until recently I avoided any cross reference with my campaign blog. But I found it increasingly difficult to say anything new, particularly as my only wargaming derives from the campaign. A few months ago I started posting an update on the campaign. But I tried to pass comment on the weekly campaign post, rather than just repeat it. And I get a lot of inspiration to comment on rule amendments, or develop something that happened during the current game. I could not do either of those on the campaign diary blog, which is just a record of the campaign.
The third is a record of my other hobby, hill walking. I run a group for our U3A which walks each week. I take photos of the walk, and post them on a weekly blog with a commentry of the walk itself.
In your case you have so many wargame interests that there is lots to blog about. You also post interesting personal items, such as visits to places of interest. And I notice that, unlike me, you do not restrict your posts to one a week. I am particularly impressed with the amount of response you get from your many followers.
I hope, and believe, that blogging is not in decline. Though I suspect that there will always be a lot of short lived blogs, as folk run out of ideas and realise there is a real life out there.
Paul Leniston,
DeleteI really enjoy your wargaming blogs, and like the way that you use one to record the battles of your ongoing campaign and your other to add detail and comment. It makes perfect sense to approach what you are doing in that way, and I only wish that others appreciated it as much as I do.
I am naturally a rather garrulous person, and approach my blogging in the same way. If something interests me, I’ll blog about it … and just hopehat regular blog readers will enjoy what I have written.
Judging by the responses I’ve had to this blog post, blogging still has a place within the hobby of wargaming.
All the best,
Bob
I just started my blog only last year. It's been going slower than when I started, but I still have plenty of activity to document. I have become enamoured of a couple youtube channels and would love to do a video battle report some day, but no idea how yet. In the meantime, I am trying to at least post occasionally about what I'm reading or making even if not about actual games.
ReplyDeleteJennifer,
DeleteBlogging is like most forms of written communication. The more you do, the more you learn, and the better you become. You’ve made a good start; just keep at it and blog something as often as you can.
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob, I see you mention using Feedly to keep up to date with other blogs. Just wondering why you don't use the built-in Reader in Blogger itself? https://www.blogger.com/dashboard/reading
ReplyDeleteDonjondo,
DeleteIt’s a matter of habit. I started using Feedly because it gave me better access to non-Blogger blogs, and I’ve stuck with it.
All the best,
Bob
Ah ok that makes sense. I stopped being a frequent reader of blogs when Google Reader wound up. Then I discovered I had access to a Blogger account with the added benefit of allowing me to follow blogs again with little extra fuss. Anyhoo, blog on Macduff!
DeleteDonjondo,
DeleteI have looked at using Reader, but I’ll stick with Feedly for the time being.
All the best,
Bob