Content Sites Buying Up Bloggers

An interesting story in the news, as the Travel Channel acquires a Travel Blog for the editorial content.

from Mashup:

The online component for the Travel Channel announces today that it has acquired World Hum, an online travel magazine blog, for an undisclosed amount.

As part of the deal, Travel Channel visitors will be able to access exclusive content from World Hum’s editors and contributors. The founders of World Hum, Jim Benning and Michael Yessis, will also be regular contributors to Travel Channel’s website.

Having your blog bought by a big site is the blog equivalent of having your startup purchased by Google - it's nice when it happens, but there's always the concern about losing what made your blog unique. The torrents of money usually sweep that away.

What we need, is a system for people who are natural bloggers, able to start up blogs, build audiences, and then transition them over to larger companies who need that help.

Recruiting.com was purchased by Jobster last year, and since then I've been focused on my local recruiting sites and Durbin Media. But what do you do with a blog when you're ready to move on? It seems a shame to end it, but you've put so much of yourself into it, it's often easier to hold on to then it is to let go.

Franki and I face that now. We have so many ideas, but can't get them started because our successful blogs need attention to stay fresh. Kudus for the bloggers at World Hum.

And a cautionary note. These weren't neophytes writing - the two writers of World Hum were established writers who used their blogs to generate more attention. Sometimes the blog is not enough - the personality and connections behind it makes a big difference also.