Tokyo Shift

Internet Karma: The secret to profit in online publishing

Jul 31, 2009 15:23

Note: I get a quota of one cheesy headline per month, so I'm using this one before July is over.

Yesterday, I attended a Tokyo tweet-up hosted by Thomas Crampton at the Foreign Correspondents' Club, where I had the pleasure of listening to some really cool and insightful discussions about social media and the changing Internet. One of the points that came up during the talks was about how blogging in Japan is still very much a one-way journal rather than a two-way conversation.

As the conversation progressed, it occurred to me that many of these diary-keeping bloggers are not unique in how they view online publishing. Journalists working in traditional media have always sent information in one direction as well. But unfortunately, that plan of attack isn't doing so well in the face of current New Media revolution. As everyone is well aware, tech-saavy bloggers are eating their lunch and the cashflow that used to drive publishing is being redirected online. Journalists, by necessity, now have to adjust. Stay with me here, I do have a point...

Unexpected opportunities

I think even in these trying times (drink!) people can profit from online publishing, but not in the way that you would expect. Monetizing your personal blog is not the answer because let's face it, not many people can make a good living from putting Google ads on their blog. The real benefits of blogging lie in putting your passions and projects out in the open and inviting people to converse and collaborate with you.

As long as you have something valuable to contribute, opportunities will come to you if you put your ideas on display for the world to see. No, there's no guarantee of immediate returns on your investment, but it does require you to put a little bit of faith in Internet Karma.

And that's my self-indulgent rant for today. Tune in next time when I reveal that the answer to life, the universe and everything is actually 52 because somebody forgot to carry the 1.

Recent Comments

 

Most Discussed

 

Browse Archive