Blog Definition:
A blog (also called a weblog or web
log) is a website consisting of entries (also
called posts) appearing in reverse chronological order with the most
recent entry appearing typically include features such as comments and links to
increase user interactivity. Blogs are created using specific publishing
software.
Variations
of the term blog:
·
Blogging: The act of writing a post
for a blog
·
Blogger: A person who writes content
for a blog
·
Blogosphere: The online community of
blogs and bloggers
The World Before Blogging:
There was a time when the Internet
was just an informational tool. In the early life of the World Wide Web some 20
years ago, websites were simple and provided a one-sided conversation. As time
went on, the Internet became more interactive with the introduction of
transaction-based websites and online shopping, but the online world remained
one-sided.
That all changed with the evolution
of Web 2.0 (thesocial web) wherein user-generated content became an integral
part of the online world. Today, users expect websites to provide a two-way
conversation and web logs (or blogs) were born.
The Birth of Blogs:
The earliest blogs started in the
late 1990s as online diaries. Individuals posted information on a daily basis
about their lives and opinions. The daily posts were listed in reverse date
order, so readers viewed the most recent post first and scrolled through
previous posts. The format provided an ongoing inner monologue from the writer.
As blogs evolved, interactive
features were added to create a two-way conversation. Readers took advantage of
features that allowed them to leave comments on blog posts or link to posts on
other blogs and websites to further the dialogue.
Blogs Today:
As the Internet has become more social, blogs have
gained in popularity. Today, there are over 100 million blogs with more
entering the blogosphere everyday. Blogs have become more than online diaries.
In fact, blogging has become an important part of the online and offline worlds
with popular bloggers impacting the worlds of politics, business and society
with their words.
The Future of Blogs:
It seems inevitable that blogging will become even
more powerful in the future with more people and businesses recognizing the
power of bloggers as online influencers. Anyone can start a blog thanks to the
simple (and often free) tools readily available online. The question will
likely become not, "Why should I start a blog?" but rather, "Why
shouldn't I start a blog?"
Learn More About Blogs and Blogging
from About.com's Guide to Web Logs:
About.com's Guide to Web Logs will help you
navigate the blogosphere from starting a blog tomarketing and
monetizing it. Don't be intimidated. Take a look around this site to learn
how to publish your own blog and be a part of the blogging community.