Here's a serious question for you to ponder on a Monday, spurred by the same question having been asked of me recently by a member of the Irish Fest team:
Has Tir na Blog run its useful course? Should the doors to Uncle Bloggy's Story Hut be closed? Should the Irish Fest blog be sent to pasture?
I'm not a Facebooker, nor a Twitterer but I'm not living in a cave either. I know that the Irish Fest Facebook page is going great guns and I'm sure that most people go there for their Irish Fest information and seldom stop by Tir na Blog. Nothing wrong with that. Things change. But it does beg the question: do we need both? We've abandoned our My Space page. Should the blog follow suit? On May 12 this blog will turn 7 years old. I've been writing it for more than 6 of those seven years. I'll keep doing this for as long as it's useful to Irish Fest and as long as people want to keep reading it. But what's the life span of a blog in these rapidly changing times? Are blogs in general passé?
I write this for you guys, and I know from the little site-meter thingy that a fair number of you check in each day for a minute or two. And I know that Fest Week, those numbers spike dramatically. But those numbers are fairly static from year to year. We've plateaued, obviously.
Now I'm not fishing for compliments here, truly. I'm looking for honest feedback. Is it time, after the 10 year Irish Fest is done for Tir na Blog to be done with it? Let me know what you think.
Your Guide to the 17th Annual Kansas City Irish Fest at Crown Center. www.KCIrishFest.com
About Me
- Danny Regan
- Danny is a founder, past president, and creative director of the Kansas City Irish Fest. He lives in Kansas City, Missouri, the greatest city in America. He's authored Tir na Blog since 2006.
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18 comments:
I'm not a Facebook'r, so all of the info posted there falls on deaf ears for me. Uncle Bloggy is my regular source of Irish Fest info.
My vote is keep it going, if for no other reason I find it wildly entertaining.
Also not hooked in to Facebook and twitter. I vote to keep the blog going....unless Uncle Bloggy needs a break.
I am on Facebook, but get the majority of my Irish fest info from the blog, via reader. With FB changes I don't always see info in my stream.
I second Anonymous #1. This column makes me giggle. I can't always get on FB when I'm at work but I can come here. I say keep it.
When Ivers was announced on March 30, 14 people "liked" it and two people commented on the Facebook post. You get so much more traffic on FB.
I check the blog daily, always find it amusing or informative. I'm don't use open social media, and don't plan to start. I also send Dan email links from time to time about things Irish, which he has used on Tir na Blog. In other words, I'm here on the computer machine laughing my head off whenever there's a new Festicle. Don't go away, Dan!
You are the news outlet of KCIF. The blog is a social media outlet that complements Facebook and Twitter, and reaches a dedicated audience that loves and appreciates your ingenious humor. In addition, your SEO is high. People can find/stumble upon KCIF through you. And for some, your humor is the first introduction to the festival. My two cents: keep on keeping on.
Mahoney
I also am not a Facebook slave or Twitter tweeter, so my only access to KC Irish fest is the blog. The blog is informative and highly entertaining. I check almost daily and when I was recently away from my computer for an extended period it was the thing I missed the most. I'm sure it is a heavy duty for Uncle Bloggy, but I really do appreciate it.
The vision, imagination and humor that made you so invaluable (and now so missed) on the IF Board, shine through on the Blog -- please don't stop Uncle Bloggy please don't!! You give us the inside track in an entertaining way that FB really can't capture or compare to. Blog on!!
While I DO use Facebook and Twitter, I also read this blog daily. Unless you really must stop, please don't. This is where I get info and news about KCIF, as well as all things Irish.
Besides, who would fetch Uncle Bloggy beers for storytelling?
I'm another one of those who doesn't use Facebook or Twitter (who knew there were so many of us?!), but I DO check the blog at least once a day, either from my computer or via the KCIF app on my phone. So I'm definitely in favor of keeping the blog.
You are a great writer Dan, and your tongue in cheek yet informative approach is great. That said, now that I've become Facebook obsessed, I FORGET to come here sometimes. I forgot my own blog for a couple years at least though, so what does that say?
You CAN'T end Tir Na Blog! I always look forward to it!
You better not stop writing this blog Regan. Then I might have to resort to giving you a good arse kicking. Even if I couldn't do it myself, I'm sure I could find a few volunteer designated arse kickers to fill in for me. Facebook and Twitter definitely have their places, but so do blogs. Blogging is still quite the rage. This blog is way more in depth than anything that could be posted on Facebook or Twitter; not to mention that your blog posts are freaking hilarious and very well-written.
Well, I think it's all been said!
I look at the KCIF phone app as well, and am definately a FB fan, but there is something about seeing the Blog. It just has more impact esp closer to KCIF season.
Stay where you are.
Geez, I thought the KCIF Monkey wrote this blog?!?! So who has been eating all those bananas?
You better keep writing it then - otherwise we'll have to con some other retired Director to do it. And frankly, I'd rather hear from the monkey.
I can't quit you, Uncle Bloggy!
-SWlash
No offense to whoever updates the Facebook page, but the blog is so much funnier and entertaining. I check it every day even when I'm traveling (except when I'm in China as you can't access any blog or Facebook). I hope you keep it going!
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