Image credit: David Beaulieu, About.com

Recently, I've encountered several really cool blogs that haven't updated in months - sometimes years.

Like homes caught in the midst of the bad economy, these blogs were abandoned for whatever reason by their creators. Many times there are no explanations, no caveats, no links to a new and improved blog, just a lot of content from cyber yesteryears. It's a shame, too, because many times the archives offer a wealth of incredibly important information - some that still pertains to cyber marketing today.

Some of you might be wondering what all the fuss is about. Seriously, someone stops blogging, who cares? There are millions of other blogs out there waiting to fill the niche.

Fact is, some can't fill the niche provided by these dead blogs. Some niches died, but the archives are incredibly valuable for research. Without some notice, it seems like the blogger just vanished - gave up in the midstream and left everyone hanging - which is not good for the blogger's brand.

If your blog is dead or dying, there are a few things you can do for current and future archives readers:

Tell readers why. Create a final post telling folks the blog is dead. Make it simple. "I don't have time to blog anymore." "I want to focus on writing." One book reviewer did a very blunt post three years ago about being completely burned out by the pace and work it took to review books for his blog. Another blogger wrote that his blog was for a class project and would only be up for nine months.

Link to new sites. Some bloggers switch platforms, but for whatever reason, are unable to carry their archives over. Make certain there is a prominent link to your new cyber home so future readers will know where they can find you.

Leave the archives. If your blog is dead, it is still a good idea to keep the archives active - especially if you write reviews, provide downloadable products to readers or host other guest bloggers. This is easy if it is built on a free platform like WordPress or Blogger, but some may not want to pay hosting to infinity for a dead blog.

Sell it. If you have a devoted readership, you may be able to sell your blog to someone with the time and energy to take it to the next level.

Give it away. For blogs with several contributors, it is a good idea to check with everyone a few times a year to be sure the blogging schedule still works. If not, the blog may die, or individual bloggers may leave and others take their place. If you are the site administrator and no longer have time for those duties, it is a good idea to find a replacement, rather than close the blog without discussion.

Here are a few good articles on dead blogs:

How to Kill Your Blog Successfully (ProBlogger)

How to Know When to Stop Blogging (Lorelle on WordPress)

Have you ever killed a blog? How did you do it?