Confused yet? Don’t be - its really quite simple. To put it as simply as possible - a blog is a type of website that is usually arranged in chronological order from the most recent ‘post’ (or entry) at the top of the main page to the older entries towards the bottom.
Have a look at the main page of this blog here for an example.
Ok - now you are a seasoned blog reader - you’ve seen one already at least.
Blogs are usually (but not always) written by one person and are updated pretty regularly. Blogs are often (but not always) written on a particular topic - there are blogs on virtually any topic you can think of. From photography, to spirituality, to recipes, to personal diaries to hobbies - blogging has as many applications and varieties as you can imagine. Whole blog communities have sprung up around some of these topics putting people into contact with each other in relationships where they can learn, share ideas, make friends with and even do business with people with similar interests from around the world.
Blogs usually have a few features that are useful to know about if you want to get the most out of them as a reader. Lets examine a couple briefly.
Archives - You might look at the front page of a blog and think that there is not much to them. A few recent entries, some links to other sites and not much else. However its worth knowing that there is a lot more going on under the surface that might initially meet the eye.
Comments - Not all blogs use comments - but most do. You should create a blog that is not a monologue but a conversation. A reader can give the writer a feedback on almost everything he writes simply by clicking the ‘comments’ link at the bottom of each one of his posts. This will take the reader to a little form where he leaves his name, email and a link to his own blog if he has one as well as his feedback, comment, critique, question, essay on why he loves the blog, promise of money…. etc).
A great way to learn about blogs is to read a few. Leave some comments, ask questions and bookmark your favorites. An even better way to learn about blogs is to start your own. Ok - you might be laughing at me now - you think you are not web savvy enough to have your own site? You wouldn’t know where to start? You don’t know how?
The Secret
There are free blog services that almost anyone could set up in a matter of minutes. Really it is that simple. Literally millions of people blog from around the world. Its not just something for young people, or geeks, or cool folk, or Westerners, or even for people with their own computers - instead its something virtually anyone with access to a computer and the internet once or twice a week can start up.
Are you still confused? Would you like more information? Below are a few helpful articles on the topic - there are many more on the web - just do a search on your favourite search engine.
- Rebecca Blood has written a helpful history of blogging for those who are interested in learning more about the blogging evolution over the past few years.
- Harvard Law has a helpful article titled What makes a Weblog a Weblog.
- Trudy Schuett writes a good article title What is a blog and why do we need one?
- WordPress: Introduction to Blogging
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