What Does the Future of Blogging Hold?

I have to admit that this Retailing class is the first time that I have ever heard the word "blog" or the action, "blogging" before. I just didn't realize that there was a name for it, but now that I think about it, I have seen different blog sites before. Reading those articles was insightful for me, so I now feel like I can comment about this subject. I really do feel that blogging will still be around, in fact, I think that the idea of blogging will grow each and every year. It's a great idea, and an easy way to get your ideas and thoughts out. Personal websites have been around for quite a while, and from what I can see it is basically the same idea. People share their personal ideas, and often keep a regular journal of their life. It is an easy way for their friends, and family to stay in touch with their lives even when they can't see or talk to them on a regular basis. Instead of writing separate e-mails to all of your friends you can simply create a daily blog which family and friends can regularly check and make comments on. They can make their own blogs for you to check and comment on as well.

Businesses can use blogging to benefit their products and services by allowing customers to write about their personal experiences (hopefully benefits) with their company. They could even check the comments before they are posted to make sure that they are positive towards the company and not negative. Personal blogging can affect businesses in either a good or bad way depending on how people comment about them. Businesses cannot control what people write outside of their website, so in a sense they have more to worry about now. If it is a good company that sells quality products, then they don't have anything to worry about. However, if it is a junk company that takes advantage of their customers that will become obvious sooner with blogging. People will want to tell others if they had a bad experience with a company. I think that this is a good thing, because it will be harder for bad companies to survive like this.

Who knows how blogging will change over the next 5 years though... I like the CNN article interviewing Mena Trott. I think that mobile devices will become more common in the future. Whenever you can do more with one device, and eliminate another makes life much easier. Trott strongly feels that blogging will keep growing, but no one knows exactly in what way.