A blog is a relatively new, although extremely popular form of communication on the web. A Blog is different from a website in many ways and promotes reader interaction that tradition websites do not.
What is a blog?
“If you don’t know what a blog is, you’re not alone; according to the Pew Internet & American Life Project, nearly two-thirds of Internet users don’t have a good idea of the meaning of “blog.” In case you fall within this group, you’re in luck, though - you’re looking at a blog right now.
But this is just a website, right? Yeah, I get that a lot. On several occasions while doing workshops […] people have asked me if blogs are just websites. Yes, it’s true, blogs are a type of website, but there’s more to it than that. “ - learning.now by Andy Carvin
“A blog (a contraction of the term "Web log") is a Web site, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. "Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.
Many blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject; others function as more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, Web pages, and other media related to its topic. The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. “ – Wikipedia
Below are the primary attributes of “blogs”:
- updated on a daily or weekly basis
- blogs are a form of continually updating information like a newsletter, diary or activity log
- blogs can be updated several times a day, once or twice a week or even a few times a month. Most are updated daily/weekly.
- personal communication
- blogs are written by people who want to share their thoughts, experiences and feelings. As a result, they are very informal…often conversational in format.
- reader-driven content
- blogs promote reader interaction via comments and links
- readers drive content simply by continuing to come back to the blog each day
- bloggers (individuals who write blogs) take note of which of their “posts” get more attention and will tend to tailor their topics to meet their readers likes and dislikes
How to read a blog:
- blogs are comprised of “posts”: short entries centered around a specific topic or event the writer wants to share
- “posts” are arranged in reverse chronological order: the newest information is at the top;
- if you return to a blog to read a “post” that no longer appears on the page it is likely because newer more current information has taken it’s place. The “post” is still there but it has been moved off the viewable page by the new “posts”
- check around the outer edges of the blog’s webpage to find links to resources, popular “posts”, other related information and even other blogs the author recommends.
- if you find a blog you particularly enjoy reading, you might consider subscribing to their “feed” or getting updates via e-mail.
- Most blogs will have prominent links to these services displayed on their website. You can read more about “feeds” and “feed aggregators” here.
