This week reading:
Shirky. C. 2002, Weblogs and the mass amateurization of publishing. [URL: http://shirky.com/writings/weblogs_publishing.html] Retrieved on 23th September 2011.
First, what are weblogs? A weblog or web log, refers to a web site that contains information arranged in reverse chronological order and the site owner or users contribute the sources and information (TechTarget 2000).
The article discusses weblogs affect the ways of publishing written works and influence the ways we generate income by using weblogs. Weblogs are effective tools to publish information, news, and weblogs also can be used as an online diary. May weblogs such as Google's Blogger, WordPress are free, and getting more prosumers or produsers use weblogs for publishing their creative works then, get revenue. Here are some points need to be highlighted:
1. "Mass amateurization is the web's normal pattern"
Mass amateurization? It sounds difficult to understand right? Basically, it refers to nowadays the weblogs can reproduce and distribute unlimited written works with a low cost or even free. Then, no gatekeepers to filter the works so, the quality of works would become not so professional like the traditional publication such as newspapers.
2. "We want a world where global publishing is effortless"
However, weblogs are important due to we can share information by no costs and entry level. Anyone of us can create and distribute any information included personal thoughts via weblogs. Moreover, weblogs are not like the traditional media, weblogs can reach a wider audiences with a lower cost. Weblogs do not need any printing to be distributed through out the nation and networks are no border, any information shared through weblogs can flow throughout the networks and everyone from anywhere is able to read it.
3. "Weblogs can serve as indirect methods for revenue"
So, here comes the most interesting part: how we can generate revenue by weblogs? The article gave a few examples, such as Amazon affiliate program, and asking for donations. Amazon affiliate program enables weblogs owners to get revenue by promoting books from Amazon within the weblogs. Owners need to agree to put a widget that consists of book list so when readers visit the particular weblogs, they might aware of the book list and click on it. After that, weblogs owners could receive revenue based on the clicks.
Amazon affiliate program
Amazon Associates, What is the amazon associates program?, Amazon.com [ URL: https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/gp/associates/join/getstarted ]
Image retrieved on 23th September 2011.
In addition, like Google also provides AdSense to let Blogger users generate revenue while blogging. It also works similar like Amazon affiliate program. Once the owners opt for AdSense, an online advertisement will be placed in their blogs and they get the income based on the clicks on the advertisements too.
Paypal donation button. Users can generate their own Paypal donation button. For more information visit:
MaMa's Helpdesk 2011, How to create Paypal donation button when donation option is not visible, blogspot. [ URL: http://mama-helpdesk.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-to-make-paypal-donation-button-when.html ]
Image retrieved on 23th September 2011.
The article discusses another way to generate revenue is asking for donations such as Amazon and Paypal tip jars. Certain weblogs are self sponsored to provide paid information or materials such as music. Thus, they need donations from readers to maintain their weblogs. Readers could pay the donations to the weblogs owners by credit cards or Paypal money.
Due to weblogs can reach widest audiences throughout the networks and advertisement exposure is higher therefore, many organizations would advertise on weblogs. Furthermore, advertising community is formed to let advertisements to be published on suitable weblogs and let the weblogs owners to get revenue, for example Nuffnang Malaysia.
In conclusion, weblogs can reach mass readers or audiences. Everyone can distribute their works through weblogs, weblogs require no entry level, no barriers to publish works, and most important weblogs are mostly free service. Weblogs are ideal platforms to let us share written works and whatever we like. Besides, we could get revenue while we blog too.
Reference:
TechTarget, 2000, What is weblog?, SearchSOA [ URL: http://searchsoa.techtarget.com/definition/weblog ]
Viewed at 23th September 2011.
Hi Cindy
ReplyDeleteIndeed we can generate income through personal blogs these days. The best part is like you mentioned, it doesn't cost us a single cent to open and create a webblog.
Other than the ways you mentioned to earn cash on blogs, i would like to add on another way which i'm aware of.
In Malaysia for example, there are many well known bloggers around. Usually when their blogs are being discovered by some big multi international companies, they will get in contact with the bloggers and ask them to write and blog posts on their products,such as laptops, facial washes, mobile phones and etc. All these are paid for. The bloggers might not even have tried or used the prodcut before, but they are being paid for all that. This is due to the loyal and new readers that access to their blogs on a daily basic, therefor, such advertising method is very profitable and efficient to the companies.
Hi Ali,
ReplyDeleteYa, thanks for adding the new point. It is true. Some companies pay for the written works. It is like those reviews we read through blogs right?
Xin Yee, from you post, what I can conclude were weblog can reach a big amount of audiences but the quality of the information were become informal and not really truth due to the exact information. Although the information is less of information compare to exact information but people can rather get it without any charges than buying the exact book to get the information. It's easier for us to find information and without charge but it is not fair for those publisher. But no choice, us(user) always want and get things with a low cost and better is free of charge.
ReplyDeletehi xinyee, great info, and i do agree that webblogs can have a mass big audience but the information we really want might not be accurate too. just like we finding "good food in penang"...so some blogs might say asam laksa, some would say chicken rice?....well people would get confuse and we are bound to hav confusions..but in a way webblogs do educate people more things and new information that simply act as learning tool too!
ReplyDeletehi, Cindy
ReplyDeleteThanks for the explanation of weblog.
I would say although some of the information in blog, wrote by the blogger, maybe not accurate. But it always act as a guide or direction for us to go for the correct one.
Hey Xinyee, great post, compact and filled with facts. I like how you have brought up the issue of commerce into this topic. In my blog I stated big names can mostly likely generate better sponsorship and advertising coverage for the corporation, but your example of nuffnang and google clicks reminded me how these self-sufficient websites has given not only the authors of these blogs but advertisers to place their product/service to the market. It also has a localized flavor, thus making more sense to promote in a certain demography instead of blasting it world wide without getting much in return.
ReplyDeleteGreat point you have there! :)