Conversations From The Edge

Kate had a post called Who Is Your Blog For? Not For Whom Do You Blog the other day referencing my earlier conversation on Web Standards. John made a great comment that I wanted to highlight because I think it speaks to a really important point. He said,

"Personally, I find that I read more and learn more from blogs than I ever did trying to force myself to read industry publications and such. Sites like MarketingProfs.com are full of good ideas and insightful content but I almost never read them. That's because I'd much rather hear the same idea from a real, flawed human being--even if it may not be as well expressed."

Edge conversations and content are only at the earliest stages of their importance. As the Web continues its process of decentralization, we are going to see more and more control go into the hands of the users. This fragmented dynamic will start what I think will be an entire new world of Web content and Web services.

What will be interesting is to see how this impacts the centre. If marketingprofs as John points out in his context, as a ‘portalized’ conversation (i.e. marketing hub, where 'experts' only can participate) are no longer holding their value, and that value continues to bleed to the edges, what will marketingprof become?

Will sites like this disappear or rather will they morph and change to provide a new value to their audience that is unique and different from the edge?