Early this year I made a challenge post about if your blog can survive 2009. The post was made specifically asking my readers and partly the blogosphere if they can sustain their blogs up to the end of the year and hopefully for life. Although most bloggers really can, there are several factors though that can still make it the other way around. Blogging is so cheap that any man making a minimum wage can pay for it without having a problem at all! The problem I think lies on other factors like lost of desire and passion, or simply being too busy and stuffs.
Well I was scanning pretty much of the blogs that used to be a loyal reader and some blogs that I used to visit and notice a lot of them have died (literally)… Here’s the long list (blogs in mmo niche) of them (most of you know them) and the reasons and stuffs:
- SuiteJ.com (stopped blogging)
- MoneyBites.com (stopped blogging, heck I even one several contests with this blog)
- BlogSmartly.com (The owner was a promising teenager but for some reasons he just stopped posting)
- SplendidKid.com (The owner was a fellow Filipino. It looks like he either had his blog hacked or database corrupted (no backup), hence has to start over.
- BloggerVenue.com ( The blog was a promising one but he decided to sell it and the new owner just totally sucks.
- TheGermz.com (Another student who has been super duper busy)
- Blogsessive.com (Not died, but decreased his posting frequency to once a month, wtf?)
- MakeMoneyDynamo.com (site had a thousand subscribers. Eventually, it looks like Jason just completely abandoned it… sad)
- Flimjo.com (The guy was one of my first blogs to read because he blogs interestingly about how passive income and the usual misery of having a day job.. Stopped posting for a long time)
- Courtneytuttle.com (Another established blog that seemed to just vanished off)
- InternetBabel.com (I love this blog! Even when there’s a change of ownership I thought the posts were still great. Apparently Dave’s lack of posting and interaction (and theme change?) killed the community. from 60K alexa to 1M+ today, sad)
- TheBlogEntrepreneur.com (Stopped Posting as well)
- Green-Flamingo.com (The guy had struggles with maintaining this blog and have seemed to be tentative since then)
- Blogriffic.com (The owner is experiencing health problems, get well soon Salwa)
I want to keep that longer but that’s it for now. Although it’s been stressed many times that blogging is just blogging and cannot be put ahead of more important things, it still feels sad to see a former blogger/reader stop blogging or struggle with it. The blogosphere is a tight and enjoyable community and that’s the main reason why it’s sad.
For the case of Blogsessive, CourtneyTuttle, DoshDosh, they really don’t need to post everyday, every week and stuffs. These blogs are authoritative blogs and they can go on w/o posting that much and still rank below the 50k mark of Alexa w/o any problems at all. My bet is that they’re getting a ton of organic traffic because they have their blog indexed really deep (both quality and quantity) on search engines.
But in most blogs, it’s really kinda sad. Of course we can’t say a blog is dead until it’s domain is already parked, but a blog w/a dead atmosphere and community is 3/4 dead anyway! The surprising thing is when you ask people time from time, they usually respond saying ‘yes they will be patient and can hold on with their blog for a long time’. At the end it just goes to show you how really unpredictable things are. Today, you’re blog is in top 100, the next month it’s for sale, the next few months its nearly dead, in a year all the content is completely wiped out and the domain is not even renewed. Things move very rapid. It’s profitable, all of a suddent its not. Of course, it’s still nicer if there’s such a thing as farewell post every time a blogger kills his/her blog. But that happens very rare…
What say you? Any other blogs to add in the list? Or if you’re one of the bloggers listed above, any reasons why you’re blog got killed?
I know some of these people and I used to visit their blog regularly and comment there. They also used to be my blog reader too. I visited Blogger Venue, The Germz, Green Flamingo and Splendid Kid.
Its sad but they have their reasons. The only thing we can do is help then out to make a comeback (only if they want to).
.-= Agent 001´s last blog ..How can you do Keyword Optimization after You have Published your Post or Article =-.
That’s why I’m putting a lot of ads on my blog, to generate enought money to survive… thanksfully I get some advertisers to buy some ad space on my blog…
.-= Benjamin Cip´s last blog ..Gr8ecom Webhosting Review =-.
That’s just sad Melvin… I have a theory… That the rate of blogs being born everyday is directly proportional to blogs that do kamikaze. lol 😀
.-= Liane YoungBlogger´s last blog ..In The World Full of Scam Products, Who Do You Trust? Don’t Get Mugged Online =-.
Thats a almost right theory. People leave blogging due to lack of motivation, lack of time and many a times when they get bored or get pressured from studies or work.
.-= Agent 001´s last blog ..How can you do Keyword Optimization after You have Published your Post or Article =-.
Hmm…! Some people leave people because cannot afford the cost of blogging.
But watch out do not overdo the ADs placement.
.-= Agent 001´s last blog ..How can you do Keyword Optimization after You have Published your Post or Article =-.
If they were all in the “make money online” niche, maybe they just found out that they can’t keep on writing about that subject forever – and nothing else? 🙂 I don’t know, but I can’t see how it can be possible to have a blog+income and blog about making money with blogging…
.-= Klaus @ TechPatio´s last blog ..Danish Company Ready With 3D Revolution For Flatscreens =-.
Cool post Melvin,
SuiteJ is coming back very soon, I was talking to him the other day. He stopped because he has just been crazy busy building custom sites for people.
I stopped blogging on one blog and moved focus onto another as well as reviving an older niche blog that I am slowly trying to build into an authority…. This blog world is fast moving.
My Blogging Tips blog currently makes 0 money, I think it may be time for me to start monetising and making it.
Thanks,
Forest.
.-= Forest´s last blog ..Musically Motivated Monday – Thou Shall Always Kill!! =-.
It would be nice if there were some links. I had to copy-paste the URLS. Anyway, I sold my MMO blog last year (2008) for the reason that I’m so busy with my day job 😛
.-= Developerholic´s last blog ..Utters WordPress Theme =-.
I’m not sure putting a lot of ads on the blog is the solution friend. 🙂
Hahah, kamikaze, unique term to make use of..
Ya it’s sad when so many bloggers put so much work and effort into creating a blog and a community and then the blog and community die unfortunately.
I guess other priorities take hold at certain points in people schedules and lives so blogging is left but hopefully only for a short while and not forever.
.-= Blaineblogger´s last blog ..Use Socialoomph AKA Tweetlater to Schedule Your Tweets For Later =-.
Very interesting Melvin. Man thats a list I dont want to be on. I find blogging very interesting and fun. I started my blog about 2 months ago and have meet a lot of great people in the blogging community so far and there are so many more to meet. You are right it doesn’t cost too much to keep a blog, but it does take time. I try to post as much as I can and I wish I could post more cause as I said I really enjoy it. I guess the key is if you are passionate about it you will stay motivated.
.-= Jim Hardin´s last blog ..Meta Tags =-.
Well here’s my said, “Tomorrow is promise to nobody” You can make thousands of promise every single day, but even if your broke them, you won’t be serving death in front of you, what you will face is lost of reputation and money.
I have been blogging since August 2008 and had pass the one year mark… and I’m still loving to write stuff and improving not just my blog but even to myself.
Hopefully, my blog will last unless… somehow I gone crazy !
.-= The Bad Blogger´s last blog ..The Bad Blogger Reveals His Disagreement To Farrhad’s 5 Reasons Why Entrepreneurs Must Attend School ! =-.
There are so many more I used to regularly read that have turned into either a) complete garbage or b) have been completely abandoned. I’m sure each person has his own reasons, though.
As for my blog, it’s sitting there waiting….
I never heard of most of these blogs until now, I can see how a lrge percentage of bloggers fall off.
.-= Extreme John´s last blog ..Blog Milestone Celebration Time =-.
Hi Melvin, you got a point there. Blogging is time consuming and you need to sacrifice a lot to be able to continue blogging regularly. I’m an 11 day day old blogger and reading this article won’t stop me from blogging but I’m hoping I survive my first year.
Z
.-= ZXT´s last blog ..8 Ways to Improve your Alexa Ranking =-.
I’m fuckingly busy with school. I can’t do blogging + hospital duty + studies at the same time.
well dude I have been visiting your blog and notice you are just displaying one post. Why not, scatter all your best posts for in the front page? I mean you had some really great writeups that can be very valuable to your readers. It would add value and more interaction instead of just a post on a front.
and so you should’ve just sold your blog or have done something with it that compensates you
Anyway, the domain was sold for some bucks. My backup was corrupted. My hosting expired.
well kinda sad but glad you got compensated somehow. things like that are stuffs we can’t really control and i was with Intern last trimester just like you up to August starting June. I think i was posting once per 2 weeks and traffic was dying as well.. but luckily I was able to adjust and stuffs.
good luck, i know you’re going to come back soon. 🙂
It must be hard for a blogger who loves blogging to stop. But that’s life, sometimes people have to make bitter choices because of circumstances. I guess that’s what happen to those blogs.
Btw thanks for coming and commenting on my blog Melvin. Cheers 😀
.-= Isaac | GoBlogger´s last blog ..How to Find Your Winning Difference =-.
I guess, you are right about surviving 2009. However, I believe the perseverance ain’t something you can buy in. These are times & many more to come ahead in future too. Not all the good ones & promising ones would be able to accompany us. However I believe completely that they can if they to. It’s another between the lines quality for a blogger. What do you think?
.-= Chris Peterson´s last blog ..Factors which can influence RSS Feed Subscribers of your blog =-.
I have been seeing a lot of bloggers loosing their passion on blogging lately.
.-= Diabetis´s last blog ..Diabetes Reversal Report Review =-.
i am trying to start a new blog. but i find it hard. school really sucks. can’t manage my time well.
I agree, placing too many ads on a site can be a turn off.
.-= Make Money Online´s last blog ..What is RSS Feed? =-.
Guess who is still alive 😀 Rajaie left blogging as well… netfool is posting quite less but WE are going strong 😀 😀
.-= Rockstar Sid´s last blog ..New Apple iPod Camera Video Gadget =-.
Wow so many people stopped blogging!!! I don’t understand why so many people stopped blogging?? I don’t want to be one of them.lol
.-= Ricky´s last blog ..OMG!! My Twitter Account Got Hacked. [How to]Restore Hacked Twitter Account =-.
My blog posts have certainly slowed down, but it’s been due to so much going on and also focusing on my other niche sites.. BUT, I’ve got a lot in my head that I need to get on there… but I never see my blog going away 🙂
.-= Jake´s last blog ..What? Over 500 Percent Increase in Subscribers? =-.
Well, kamikaze…..or seppuku (which is more suitable since seppuku is suicide, rather than kamikaze which is dying and taking down the enemy with you.)
.-= The Envoy´s last blog ..Mannahatta =-.
What’s your take on SEO blogs? You know those blogs simply for make money online who just concentrates on blogging about the latest google trends without really putting some really nice content on it?
.-= Millionaire Acts´s last blog ..2009 Top Philippine Companies =-.
TheGermz.com was sold by the owner on forums.digitalpoint.com
I wish I bought it.
maybe they leave because of financial reason or time consuming reason. Maybe the are way too busy with their stuff, or make more money without blogging on their schedule.
.-= mytheory´s last blog ..Dofollow Article Directories =-.
I like Blogsessive a lot. I hope the owner takes up a more regular posting schedule… I have a blogging buddy who sold his MMO blog. I have since stopped subscribing to it. The quality of posts dropped since the new owners took over.
.-= jan geronimo´s last blog ..You’re the World’s Coolest Blogger If Only… =-.
Great blog . So much great information .
It’s sad when any good thing “dies”. We’re downtrodden when our favorite restaurant closes or when we can’t find that hangout spot we frequented back in college because they’ve closed their doors.
I think blogging is the same. Sometimes the money coming in isn’t quite enough to justify the time spent working on the blog, or the passion for the blog is turned elsewhere and sometimes the season for running a great blog is just over for someone. And yes, sometimes people don’t survive that first year to even make it past the “successful” mark because they didn’t realize how much work it was going to be.
As faithful readers of a blog, we’re saddened. But for the owner/writer of the blog it could be a slew of good or bad factors that caused them to move on to something else. So I think we should take into consideration that for some they had a good run and now it’s time to say a nice goodbye and say “well wishes on your next endeavor”, be it blog or something else.