It's a Little Too Late Now, Blogger -

Dear friends,
Are blogs still relevant? I have noticed less and less traffic to my blog this year and I am wondering if this is a trend. I think Blogger really blew it when they limited readers to only those with Blogger or Google accounts. I lost so many faithful readers that day because not only do I post here in Blogville, but also on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Any readers from those venues would not have been able to comment or follow.

This past week when I went to write my post,  I have noticed a message from Blogger.

Coming in Late April! 
All visitors will be able to view your Blogspot domain blogs over an encrypted connection by visiting https://.blogspot.com. Existing links and bookmarks to your blogs will continue to work. As part of this change, the HTTPS Availability setting will go away, and your blogs will always have an HTTPS version.

I am sure most of you in Blogville have seen the same thing? But I wonder is it too little, too late? 

I noticed the shift a couple of years ago when many of my blogpals started posting more on Facebook than in Blogger. Slowly their posts went away until today they are solely on Facebook. Why? Well, for one thing, Facebook takes less commitment. You are either on posting a status or you are not. It does not require planning what to write about or how much to write. It is meant for the here and now in 100 words or less.

A lot of younger bloggers have defected to Twitter, SnapChat and Instagram. Why? Because Twitter, SnapChat and Instagram are  more immediate (and transient). Audiences can bloom overnight and with little effort. They can also fall by the wayside just as quickly. I guess for them it is more about instant acknowledgement and gratification. Then they are off to do something else.

But does it have to be that way? Blogger grew as a place to share ideas and events. It is a place to share immense joy and intense pain. It has also been a place of advice, information, and support. None of this can truly be dealt with in a short blurb in a quickly expanding page. If you don't read it today - too bad so sad because it will be gone to the bottom of an infinite "page".

I'm kinda out of ideas to be honest. I have watched my fandom take a huge hit when non Blogger people were eliminated. And despite this turnaround by Blogger, I don't think the readership is coming back. A blog is a little bit like a restaurant. Once people are forced to stop going there (say for reconstruction) they seldom come back. They find someplace new to satisfy their cravings or they change their cravings. In any case, they cannot be counted on to return.