I predicted this over 2 years ago but neglected to write it down.
With the emergence of all the blog networks, acquisitions, content partnerships and venture capitalists, etc. rapidly moving into the blogging space, we’re seeing polarization.
Independent bloggers, the people who built the blogosphere in the first place, are having a harder time growing a blog readership than ever before. As soon as someone’s voice gets loud enough, the bigger players cock their heads and take notice. That individual voice is then added to a “content channel” as part of a bigger network.
I guess one could equate it to the A-Listers of a few years ago, but that was more about polarizing readership, not the writers themselves.
Now I’m not necessarily saying this is a bad thing, but it depends on how you look at.
For me and my tiny group of sites, I’ve always believed in providing individual bloggers with the platform and the support so they can develop and showcase their own blogging voices. In my mind that’s ideal.
But then the larger network appeal is just too tempting and my blogs become a jumping off point to something perceived as better. Their voice is then absorbed, not showcased.
If that’s what bloggers want, who am I to argue? Plus, I absolutely love it when people tell me I provided an opportunity for them to go on to bigger and better things. But it gets kind of lonely when you watch people get out of your 6 year old Toyota and hop into that Porsche, where you never hear their voices again over all the engine noise and glitz.
But I digress.
