What Is a Blog?

 

 

social media conversation

A blog, or weblog, is a certain type of website that includes regular entries of text, graphics, or video, commonly organized by date in reverse chronological order. To blog means to add content to such a site. Blogs are considered non-traditional publication media or participatory journalism, because of the user-generated nature of the content. Bloggers often write blogs that are read by other bloggers who comment on their blogs.

Blogs are different from traditional websites in that the software allows for content to be added and updated easily and frequently by someone with the experience it might take to send an email.

Blogs are, by definition, on the Internet. They help form the weblike and socially networked structure of information through comments, blogrolls, linkbacks, and backlinks. The linking of one blog to another to cite articles or recommend a good blogger has become both part of the human culture bloggers share and part of the algorithm used by search engines to determine quality content in this user-generated content venue.

Originally blogs were thought of as online journals in that the entries or blog posts added to form a growing collection. The subjects blogs cover — personal thoughts, business advice, political commentary, news, science, education, crafts — are as varied as the people who write them. Wikipedia says this about the types of blogs:

There are many different types of blogs, differing not only in the type of content, but also in the way that content is delivered or written.:

• Personal blogs
  The personal blog, an ongoing diary or commentary by an individual, is the traditional, most common blog. Personal bloggers usually take pride in their blog posts, even if their blog is never read by anyone but them. Blogs often become more than a way to just communicate; they become a way to reflect on life or works of art. Blogging can have a sentimental quality. Few personal blogs rise to fame and the mainstream, but some personal blogs quickly garner an extensive following. …
• Corporate blogs
  A blog can be private, as in most cases, or it can be for business purposes. Blogs, either used internally to enhance the communication and culture in a corporation or externally for marketing, branding or public relations purposes are called corporate blogs.
• By genre
  Some blogs focus on a particular subject … Two common types of genre blogs are art blogs and music blogs. A blog feaurting [sic] discussions especially about home and family is not uncommonly called a mom blog. While not a legitimate type of blog, one used for the sole purpose of spamming is known as a Splog.
• By media type
  A blog comprising videos is called a vlog, one comprising links is called a linklog, a site containing a portfolio of sketches is called a sketchblog or one comprising photos is called a photoblog. Blogs with shorter posts and mixed media types are called tumblelogs. Blogs that are written on typewriters and then scanned are called typecast or typecast blogs; see typecasting (blogging).

As blogging software becomes more versatile and complex, possibly only certain truth one can rely on is that every blog is a website, but not every website is a blog.

Here’s how some folks define a blog …

@Crubalo : “It’s a platform for sharing info, knowledge and experiences with others. ”
@auburnelle : “Using Common Craft: http://www.commoncraft.com/blogs .” [see link]
@gassho : “bright liquid oogling goo … crowdsourcing this ain’t :).”
@AdamKingStudio “An open, yet personal platform for sharing, informing, and interacting.”
@donovantalk : “One thing a blog can be is a series of (300-400 word) mini-editorials. It can also be a rolling river of links and posts.”
@DaveMurr : “B – Begining a community, L – Letting the conversation happen, O – leaving the welcome sign On, G – Giving more than you take.”
@carole_hicks: “An online diary. Random thoughts. A place to pour out your heart and reveal yourself. A place to promote others.”
@MindofZ: “There are so many kinds. A blog is someone showing the world who they are. Or a part of themselves anyway.”
@TimboReid “Online sharing = A Blog.”
@DavePollard “blog (1): diary/journal chronicling its author’s stories, thoughts, or learnings, available for others to ‘subscribe’ to. blog (2): social s/w tool that enables blogging but can also be used to ‘publish’ e-newsletters, or as online learning tool etc.”

How do you define a blog?

For more information see:
Princeton WorNet
Wiktionary
Wikidpedia
gender It

SEE ALSO:
What Is Social Media?
What Is Social Networking?
What IS a Social Community?
What Is Online Social Media Conversation?

What Is a Blog?

Got more to add? C’mon let’s talk.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!