Is the Google Talk chatback widget/badge/gizmo a taste of things to come? Commenting is something that lots of people think is necessary on a blog, for it to be a blog. However, IM is something everybody understands, and isn’t that a preferred way to communicate with the blogger who’s post you just read and find widely entertaining/offensive, or just easy to react to?
– IM him then. Tell him off.
– He’s not on my list!
– Do it on his blog.
– How?
– With the Google Talk badge, stupid!
Google’s new Google Talk badge isn’t anything particularly new, there’s been IM widgets and badges for your blog available for quite some time. It’s nothing new, but it’s official.
Should IM integration into blogs be seen as a way to move the conversation from the blog comments, to direct communication with the bloggers, and is that a good thing?
Personally, I don’t want to blow the doomsday horn for comments on blogs. IM and comments are two different things, the latter being a way for a public discussion where others than the writer and original commenter can pitch in. However, should direct IM functionality be common on blogs, it surely would mean less comments, since a lot of questions – which may seem direct enough when asking them – would be an asset in the comments, if nothing else so for the fact that the answer would be available for all, meaning that less people would have to ask.
I won’t put a Google Talk badge on my blog. Don’t annoy me with direct questions, that’s my take. My time is valuable. Others might view it a different way.
What do you think? Direct IM on blogs, what impact will it have, and would you consider enabling it yourself? Or use it?
Feeling stuck in self-doubt?
Stop trying to fix yourself and start embracing who you are. Join the free 7-day self-discovery challenge and learn how to transform negative emotions into personal growth.