Seems there is a long, long way to go before blogs really do begin to have an impact on the wider community.
John Moore over at Brand Autopsy shows the results of a Wall Street Journal online poll indicating that 62% of those polled DO NOT read blogs. I think this would be higher in Australia.
For me, the question is not really how many are reading blogs, but WHO is reading blogs?
The democracy of the web means that we do not need to be all things to all people. If you don’t like what you are seeing or reading, then you can click to the next site. But the interesting aspect of the web is that it also ATTRACTS a certain type of person – the impatient person.
It reminds me of a quote by Howard Barker (the great British playwright) – "Because you cannot address everybody, you may as well address the impatient" (49 Asides for a Tragic Theatre). This is what sets the web apart from other revolutionary communications platforms – it is both a catalyst for change and the method of transformation.
I agree with John Moore’s suggestion … tell 5 friends about the blogs that you read and encourage them to take a look. And the more impatent your friends are — the better!
S.