Blogging Basics: What Exactly is a Blog?
Awesome Content: Set Up For Online Success
When I tell my friends that I’m a blogger they often look at me like I have a strange growth on my face.
They usually have one of these two responses. They either ask me if I share my soul to the internet in the form of an online diary or they tell me that they have no idea what a blog is and they ask me to explain it to them.
What Exactly is a Blog?
I’m glad you asked. A blog is a website with a primary focus on articles. Although many sites use this format to display a diary-like account of their lives, there is a growing trend among bloggers to write meaningful articles about particular topics like photography, web-design, art, etc.
A blog is usually updated more often than a traditional website and is usually arranged in reverse chronological order to show off the most recent articles at the top of the home page and the oldest toward the bottom.
Blogs are often designed to create the feel of a topical conversation. Often you will find a comment form at the bottom of each article inviting you to add your thoughts and to communicate back and forth with the author.
How do I create a blog?
The vast majority of blogs are built using a blogging platform which allows users who have no idea how to design a web site to quickly set up and begin writing. The most popular blogging platforms are WordPress, Blogger and Typepad. Site Sketch 101 is an example of a blog built with WordPress.
Where can I find more information about blogging?
This article is a very brief introduction to the world of blogging. If you’re like most people you probably want more information and more details.
In the next few days and weeks, I’ll be posting some articles that will explain how to start an effective blog, how to gain readers for your blog, how to make money on your blog, and much more.
For more information about blogs be sure to check out some of these articles that have already been published at Site Sketch 101: 5 Irrefutable Qualities of Successful Blogs, Discussion: What Makes Blogs Successful?, 5 Things You Need To Know About Trackbacks, 7 Keys to Becoming A Prolific Blogger, 5 Sure-Fire Strategies For Better Blogging and 14 Ways to Increase Your Blog Traffic.
Custom term paper said:
few months back when i entered blogging world, i read many blogs and was thinking to have my own blog now but didnt had enough $$ to get started as i m a newbie and didnt wanted to get into some probs as blogging is something new which i was going to start.
so i prefered using blogger to start with and many of my frds (newbie too) they also use blogger platform to start their blogging career.
but i will soon shift to WordPress now.
sbcjr said:
Haha… I love that- “…share my soul to the internet in the form of an online diary”! So true, some of my friends tend to think of blogging as writing about myself and a bad invasion of personal privacy.
Great post!
Arisu said:
The “share-your-soul” part made me smile too.
There are sooooo many “I walked the dog today” blogs… sometimes you just google something banal and end in the most weird places XD
Lovely image by the way!! <3
nelson said:
blogging is ultimately ‘all things social’ .
it’s part of the social trend that has hit the internet in the last years . and it is , at least in my opinion , one of the best ‘social gimmes’ out there .
better than any other .
as for the share your soul part … i had the opportunity to read such blogs . and i gotta admit it … i’ve read some incredible thoughts on life , us , etc .
obviously there are the usual blogs which i honestly don’t think belong online . ( the i walked my dog today ) … but if you know how and where to search … you will find some pretty amazing stuff .
in the 3-4 years of blogging i’ve met some incredible people with which i am still in excellent terms .
Tracy said:
I think it’s easy to forget how many people think a blog only refers to a personal diary type site. Many people tell me they don’t read blogs, but they do, they just don’t realize that the site they visit for recipes or deals or advice is a blog!
Great introduction.
Nicholas Z. Cardot said:
You know we all laugh about the ‘share you soul’ part of the article but for some people that is what they are truly passionate about. They want a way to express the activities of their life while perhaps venting their feelings. I have nothing against that and I certainly didn’t intend to make it sound like I had anything against them.
I think it’s important that people understand, though that it can be much different from that as well. Thanks for all the great comments on here.
bielizna said:
It’s very hard write regularly about life and other staff. Internet user dont like when they come on your blog and doesn’t find something new.
nelson said:
@bielizna … a while ago I started a personal blog . just stuff from my life , opinions on … all things … etc .
never really optimized it ( I haven’t even signed it up for analytics , no sitemaps submitted , etc ) …
not to mention that I have written even 10 posts a day …. while at the same time I’ve had 1-2 weeks with no post .
I’ve also written about microsoft’s new deal with yahoo while at the same time writing about my last sexual experience .
the point is … it is basically … any little crap that comes through my mind .
and … obviously i didn’t get many readers . but I do have about 30 every-single-day-readers that have even emailed me personally telling me that they love my blog and I shouldn’t stop , or that my thoughts had given answers , or etc …
my point is that it can be done … obviously not for money … or for fame … but you can achieve a pretty special connection with a small group of people through a personal blog .
but again … the content has to be real – not original , but real ( for ex : my last post was a very short story about a discussion between God and a guy ) … I really doubt that there is anyone interested in how or when you walked your dog .
bangchoy said:
blog just place for refreshing…
but its also can used as “pocket” to make money online… is it??
btw, nice article
akira07 said:
If you can treat blogging as a refreshing activity, it’s good. Because you’ll never boring in blogging. You should be proud, because for some people, blogging is a burden and boring activity. Keep it like that.
Love your word about pocket
Arisu said:
People with that attitude shouldn´t be blogging at all.
If you don´t enjoy it, why would you do it? Money? There are many other ways to get it, ways that they may even enjoy.
Cause I don´t think there´s a “professional blogger” that doesn´t love what they do.
Arisu said:
There are lots of people in the internet, all of them with different interests and points of view. And there are blogs for all of them, but some personal blogs are the best examples of what not to do -and I think everyone has seen those- XD
bielizna said:
@nelson you make me think, and yes you have right. I love people with passion ;]
Nicholas Z. Cardot said:
bielizna » Nelson is good at thinking outside of the standard ways of doing things and that is really good. He always makes me think too!
riish said:
blogging for me is being heard and learning as well from others. I find it real great when I’ve heard many information which I’ve never known before. And as my part, I have to share also what i learned or what i know. If there is that desperate person in the blogosphere that pulls the bloggers from quitting blogging, that would be me. A blog is really an important account that one should take a step into. And oh, i think, a personal blog is not a bad idea. right? as long as one enjoys(without the thought of money making thingy), there’s nothing wrong about it.
Nicholas Z. Cardot said:
riish » There’s definitely nothing wrong with having a personal blog. For some people it’s exciting to them to be able to simply express themselves and share their lives with other people. I also agree about learning and growing. Blogs are a growing source of information. I learn as much from blogs as I do from reading books.
akira07 said:
Wow, it’s so basic about blog. Well, every people have own definition of blog.
As for me,
Blog definition is “A Home/Office in Internet World”. We can choose, wanna make it as a place to tell our story, tella bout yourself, etc (make it as a home) or using it for making money (make it as a office).
I have about 6-7 blog and mostly is created for making money.
I’m start blogging 1 years ago (when i’m also start to do MMO)
Arisu said:
Akira>>
Many web designers have made their blogs into they portfolios, and people has made online shops for their products, so thinking of your blog as an office it´s not that crazy ^^
scheng1 said:
Now there’s hardly any difference between blog and website. Some people use blogs as a marketing tool, similarly to a website.
My Latest Blog Post: Free online fortune telling
Ed said:
for me a blog is something personal you try to make better everyday. you use it to try to help people or entertain or educate
My Latest Blog Post: Watch Star Wars Episode 4 On Your Command Prompt
Faz said:
I started a personal blog on blogger 4 years ago because everyone I knew had one (lame I know hehe) & since then I’ve given a lot of thought to the purpose of my blog. I’ve moved to wordpress (love the journalist theme) and I know use it to share what I’ve learned about photography and content development.
I find that it’ most important to find the purpose of the blog. Learning about the best steps to keep a blog going and keeping it work is most exciting.
I’m definitely following this blog
Cheers,
faz
Kok Siong Chen said:
Four months ago, i really do not know any about blogging. Everything has changed after i met a helpful blogger, Ka Hong Lee. He teaches me a lot of blogging knowledge. Until now, he is still the blogger i will always follow.
I am so happy to join the blogosphere. Thanks!
My Latest Blog Post: Cri du Chat Syndrome – Human with Cat-like Cry