What I mean by freedom of choice, is every blogger should be able to write what he or she chooses.
The blogger should also be able to choose whether or not to accept advertising, sell products or services, to commercialize the blog in any way; or not.
That choice should be up to the blogger. The next choice is up the blog's readership, as to whether or not to visit and read the blog.
That is freedom of choice, blogging style.
The topic of blog advertising was raised again by my good friend Yvonne DiVita of Lip-Sticking. She was discussing whether or not blogs should accept advertising.
Yvonne sells advertising space on Lip-Sticking, and she even chooses who advertises on her blog; and who does not.
Over time, the concept of blog commercialization has become a bit of a wedge issue for bloggers. In fact, it appears to be a difference of philosophy as to the nature of blogging itself.
Blogs are not all the same.
That diversity is a great thing for all concerned. Variety is really what makes the blogosphere such a powerful force. A dull sameness of blogs and their content, would kill the medium, before it reaches even a fraction of its full potential.
Note that blogs are still in their infancy as a medium for the communicating of ideas.
They are also new to the worlds of marketing and public relations. Because of that new blog smell still permeating the blogging community, it's only natural that different philosophies will emerge.
Some of us will believe that blogs have moved well beyond being online diaries and online journals. Blogs are now an integral part of many businesses and their websites. That blogging influence in online business is growing.
There will always be online diaries and journals. They are certainly not the definitive blogs, however.
Commercialization of blogging is already here.
Of course, no one says that advertising and sales orientation must be part of every blog. Many bloggers will express their freedom of choice and remain entirely non-commercial.
That is their right. I will always defend their freedom to choose.
There is no set definition of what blogging is, or should be, that can be carved on some granite monument in the middle of the town square. Because of that lack of a clear and final blog definition, blogs are able to grow and prosper as a communications medium. That growth in blogging ideas will take the concept far beyond our rudimentary ideas of today.
No one can say that blogs must be non-commercial.
No one can say that blogs must be money makers to survive and prosper.
There is really no evidence either way, except to say that there are huge successes and failures of both the commercial and non-commercial blogging types.
That is what is expected in a free market of ideas, where freedom of choice and freedom of mouse clicks rule.
As bloggers, one of our greatest strengths is in our diversity.
No one should attempt to impose either a commercial or a non-commercial paradigm on anyone else. Anyone attempting to do either, is not acting in the true spirit of blogging freedom.
I support a blogger's choice to make money from the blog.
I support a blogger's choice to remain entirely revenue free.
Freedom of choice, and freedom of content, are the real power of blogs.
