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Blogging – Relevant or Redundant?

I rarely go off topic on my blog, but I was wondering whether I am wasting my time here.  Eileen rhas some research predicts that blogging is becoming redundant and the new thing to do is microblog on Twitter (I am DeepFat on Twitter) , Yammer et al, as this is the best way to share things instantly. My research indicates that my stuff is being read more and more and I get a lot of positive feedback when I get to meet some of you.  I do use microblogging to keep in touch with what I am doing, but not how to do stuff or why.

Just to be clear this blog is not about level 400 deep dives in to the dark corners of SQL Server. It’s about:

  • (hopefully) useful stuff related to data management and BI, 
  • making sense of how Microsoft’s solutions fit together,
  • when to use what.

I don’t see the point in competing with the excellent technical output from MVPs and the wider UK SQL community, or with all of the essential stuff in TechNet.  When I call out important KB’s, Hand on Labs, WebCasts and events, it’s because these are in my opinion the good ones.

Another point is that I find blogs generally easy to search and I use mine as my personal books on line.  Some of the stuff on here requires considerable research,  as I haven’t always got the answer, so if I am wasting my time here I can free up about 20% of my day for other things.   

My final point is that blogs are quite permanent which is both good and bad.  Good because when SQL Server 2008 is in extended support some of this will be useful to those businesses that haven’t upgraded yet.  Bad because if I make a mistake it’s there until it’s discovered (so far only the odd typo).

OK Rant over, let me know what you think while I get back to SQL Server.

Posted: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 5:26 PM by Andrew_Fryer
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Comments

Bibble said:

I would certainly say that blogging wasn't redundant. More than 60% of my fixes and information these days doesn't come from "official" technical resources but rather from random forum postings and blogs. Most of those blog posts are over a year old or so and yet are still relevant to what I'm looking for.

Micro blogging is useful and fun (and currently trendy) but the likes of twitter etc don't have the same "permanent" feel to them as a blog does. Like you say this does have its downsides but the upswing is that the posts and information is all indexed and filed away for future use for who knows what purpose. How many micro-blogging sites do you read historical data for? Once a post has been made it has a life span of a few days at most.

I understand that most of the stuff on this site is not necessarily hardcore tech info or troubleshooting stuff but the information you post does still have more longevity than perhaps micro-blogging could do proper justice to.

# November 11, 2008 5:39 PM

Andy said:

I agree with Bibble and yourself, microblogging does seem more appropriate for transient data, blogs although they have a temporal aspect do have significant longevity. Blogs also fulfill the role of the lazy man's CMS.

With regards to going off topic, I absolutely hate blogs that do that. Your three areas of topic info are why I read this blog. Please start a separate blog (that I won't read) if you want to tell the world about a interesting donkey you met on holiday.

# November 12, 2008 4:49 AM

Andrew_Fryer said:

Guys thanks for this,  if you are able to share addresses and t-shirt sizes then I can get you SQL 08 t-shirts

Andrew

(afryer @ microsoft.com)

# November 13, 2008 4:04 AM

Eileen Brown's WebLog said:

This made me smile especially in the light of Andrews comments about microblogging the other day. David’s

# November 25, 2008 4:47 AM
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