Maven Poll: Is Twitter Making Blog Subscriptions Irrelevant?
By Roberta Rosenberg on Mar 30, 2009 in Maven Polls
photo credit: Margaret Anne Clarke
I’m in the middle of a big launch campaign for a client. He’s been using Twitter very effectively as a means of drawing traffic to his site and blog, as well as build his corporate persona.
I asked him about his blog subscribers and he told me that he didn’t think folks subscribed to blogs anymore. In fact, he has never subscribed to anything.
Is Twitter making blog subscriptions irrelevant?
So I got to wondering how true that was. Maybe early-adopting tech-centric folks don’t subscribe. Maybe marketing types do.
So, it’s Maven Poll time: “Do You Still Subscribe to Blogs?”
Short poll, easy answers. Let me know what you think! Comments encouraged!
Beth Robinson | Mar 30, 2009 | Reply
I’d go batty if I had to follow all of the blogs in my RSS feeder from twitter. I’m subscribed to over 200 feeds and I love being able to scroll down and choose whether to skim or read more deeply. I’m not really an early adopter techie type though.
Beth Robinson’s last blog post..Integrative Thinking Beyond The Opposable Mind
Susannah Abbott | Mar 30, 2009 | Reply
I agree completely with Beth. I usually only have time to check Twitter once a day, and I rarely have time to read everyone’s tweets. By subscribing, I make sure I don’t miss anything.
I’m looking forward to hearing the results of your poll!
TC/The Copywriter Underground | Mar 31, 2009 | Reply
RSS is a much cleaner tech than Twitter, which I think is a cast-iron mess in so many ways.
TC/The Copywriter Underground’s last blog post..The Social Media Quote We Wish We’d Written
Seattle Website Design | Apr 1, 2009 | Reply
Don’t think Twitter will ever replace conventional blogs or subscriptions to them. After all Twitter is it’s own animal. However, as mentioned it can definitely help grow blog and website traffic if used effectively.
@mbjorn | Apr 3, 2009 | Reply
I still read blogs and also often prefer that I can organize and manage them throuth RSS as opposed to the randomness of Twitter. In fact, I subscribe to several MORE because of Twitter.
I love Twitter too. It is conversational and fun!
Trent Blizzard | Apr 8, 2009 | Reply
I am a bit of a crank and have avoided twitter. I just got the whole RSS thing dialed…
my twitter feed is lame, just a conduit for my blog posts. Smart people all around me tell me to use twitter… but I don’t have the bandwidth for a few hundred more characters.
Trent Blizzard’s last blog post..How Do I Find Juicy Links?
Becca | Apr 22, 2009 | Reply
I honestly don’t see that trend. Yes, Twitter is trendy and a nice, quick way to let the world (or your followers at least) what’s on your mind, but it’s just a bit too simple. Writing, real writing, is still where it’s at. I’m talking meat & potatoes, go into a nice description and make me laugh kind of writing. And according to an article I just read, freelance writing as a job is on the rise as well. And a good majority of those gigs are writing blogs. So, no, I don’t think Twitter will make blogging obsolete. Interesting point, though. Thanks for getting me thinking.
Elizebeth | May 1, 2009 | Reply
Twitter is trendy but RSS Rules! My feedreader is like my personal newspaper with feeds I’ve carefully selected. I like a synopsis or executive summary when I’m in a hurry but 140 characters is too short for the subjects I’m interested in.