I've been thinking about the types of blogs I read and it dawned on me that most of them fall into three fairly distinct categories. Each type of blog (and blogger) serves a unique purpose. I thought I would run this up the flagpole and see who tried to burn the flag. I present to you this simple model of blog categorization.

The 3 Categories of Blogs

Producers: These are blogs that create original content (for the most part). The posts you see tend to be a little longer although that doesn't have to be true. I would count my own blog as part of this category. Producers are the source of much of the original material.

Reviewers: These blogs take topics that are originated elsewhere and put their own spin on the material. Often they will expand the topic or take it off in a different direction. The hallmark of these blogs is that they don't simply point to the source material; they riff on it somehow.

Pointers: These blogs serve to connect readers to content found elsewhere. Sometimes these are aggregators on a single, well-defined topic area. Sometimes they can be quite broad. Usually, there is very little (or no) commentary on the linkages.

Each of these types of blogs is important in its own way. You need them all. The blogosphere needs them all. Unless you are one of the handful of premiere bloggers, your work is most likely servicing the long tail. By recognizing and appealing to these types of blog categories, your reach is expanded beyond your own web page or RSS feed. This type of interconnectedness is the lubricant of information diffusion across the semi-permeable membrane of the blogosphere.

Can you think of other types of blogs that deserve to be included here?

I'm interested in your thoughts.

Technorati Tags: Blogs, Blogging, Blog Categories, Blog Types, Producers, Pointers, Reviewers