What started as an online diary for lonely people to express their thoughts to nobody in particular (or in some cases, nobody at all) has grown into one of the most powerful aspects of the Internet. For many, it's where we get our news rather than from mainstream media. For others, it's become a full-time job that pays the bills through advertising and sponsorships. Some blogs are worth millions.
This graphic by Flowtown illustrates a time line of where we've been and where we are now. Have bloggers evolved to their ultimate state as alternative journalists, public relations portals for businesses, and venues for general time-wasting? Or, are emerging trends such as micro-blogging and live-blogging going to push their way beyond the traditional "weblog" into a higher state of importance?
Click to enlarge.
