I asked 10 of my Aussie associates to each ask 10 of their associates/friends (that’ll be 100 in all) – and ask them simply what they thought of blogging and Web 2.0 – did it register with them? What first came to mind? What were their thoughts?
These are ordinary Aussies, some small business owners, some active online and some who couldn’t give a rats arse about the Internet.
Okay. The responses both surprised me but they really shouldn’t have.
Blogging: online diaries, journals, clutter, unreliable, Dear Weblog: I farted twice last night, wannabe journalists.
Web 2.0: Bubble 2.0, Bullshit 2.0, weird business names (gotta agree there), mash potatoes (I’m presuming it’s mash-up), $2 companies.
My favorite response was:
Web 2 Ohhh: a 3am xanax-induced brainstorming session that ends up popping out a brand-spanking new flashy, snazzy, shiny “Web 2.0″ business with all the business and marketing plans all thoroughly completed on pizza-stained napkins … revenue yet to be determined.”
Obviously I picked those that were negative or made fun of it all but that was because 80% were just like that and more.
I get the feeling from my totally unscientific survey that mainstream Australians don’t give a crap about blogging and web 2.0.
Sure there are the early adopters, but I’m a little surprised because I see Australians at the forefront, or close enough to it, of blogging. Think: Duncan Riley, Darren Rowse, Yaro Starak and a host of others I’m too lazy to research and name – but trust me: they’re out there.
It’s a shame because especially in blogging’s case I think it is the ultimate and most cost-effective marketing tool out there for small business – and most small business are short on marketing dollars.
Maybe it’s time to take out the “echo chamber” (hasn’t that become a cliche/buzzword of late) to the backyard and bury it deep and start reaching out to the masses.
Mainstream media in Australia gives blogging and Web 2.0 token coverage at best. I don’t know why. I don’t take the argument that it’s because they see it as a threat – that’s so 2004! Heck, most mainstream media outlets have their hands in some sort of blogging.
Blogging needs to be explained better to the mainstream – the ordinary Aussie small business owner. With Web 2.0, the explanation more so.
Any Aussies reading this? Your thoughts would be welcomed. Have your say. Is blogging gaining traction in Australia or do the majority still see it as the “I ate a packet of Tim Tams last night” online diary gibberish?
Our esteemed publisher here, Matt Craven, tells me that 1.17% of the readership here comes from Australia – not much but it’s third from the top behind America – which I’m presuming takes up the vast majority.
I personally believe there are many more Aussies blogging out there, but it’s just not in our nature to self-promote … but more on that in next weeks column.
PS: For those in the know, The Ashes Day One: the Aussies whipped some pommie butts. ;-)
Martin Neumann is feverishly working on a soft launch of Small Office Herald – an online publication for Aussies working from a … small office! And thus his shameless move into writing his column about Australia and blogging from now on.
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