You must have heard the term “blog” or “weblog” and you’re probably thinking “what is a blog and what’s it all about?” Let’s make this clear, when I was in college, a lot of people talked about “blogs” and “blogging”, but back then I never knew exactly what it was, never mind how to go about creating a blogor knowing which were the best blog hosting sites! I had absolutely no idea…
Fortunately, I’ve now published and managed many different blogs, so I can truly say I know what blogging is (check out our free blogging course at the button on the top of the page if you want help starting one).
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Before I give you an in-depth explanation of blogs and blogging, let’s see other definitions for that:
Definition of a blog according to Wikipedia…
You might also like:
- How to start a blog
According to Harvard Law School website…
… but enough of those “geeky” words. Just read my simple and easy to understand definition below.
You’ve probably read blogs more than once, to be honest, you’re actually reading one now.
But let’s get back to the point. What exactly is a blog?
Table of Contents
So what is a blog?
A blog is very similar to a website. I would say that a blog is a diary/journal that is (mostly) maintained by one person – blogger. Usually, blogs are being updated quite often (once a day, once a week, once a month). Blogs can be private, but most of them are available on the internet for others to see.
Blogs have certain topics. My blog’s topic is “blogging” and “how to start one” – I’m helping beginners to start a blog, get more visitors and much more… BUT, it can also have several other topics. Bloggers are usually passionate about a specific topic thus they’ll create one.
Blog posts are the fundamental of a blog. Every blog on the internet consists of different blog posts written by the blogger. Blog posts can contain content (obviously!), videos, images, bullet-points, different headings and so on.
Blogs (and blog posts) can be shared on social networks (Twitter, FaceBook, Google+) and people can leave comments under the blog posts in order to start meaningful conversations.
Blogs can have a LOT of visitors. When your blog has enough posts and it starts to become popular, you’ll start receiving traffic from other sites, social networks and even from search engines.
Definitions that are tied with a blog
Blog definition (n.)
An online journal/diary that is available on the Internet.
Blogger definition (n.)
An individual who is the blog owner. The person who keeps the blog alive (posting new posts, sharing the latest news, information, case studies, opinions, etc…)
Blog post meaning (n.)
An article or writing that is inside the blog. For example, the article you are currently reading is a “blog post” that is written for my blog.
Blog meaning (v.)
To start a blog, to keep a blog, to find a blog – I’m going to find a blog about health and fitness.
Blogging meaning (v.)
The action of maintaining/writing a blog – While blogging, I’m able to share information that I feel is important, helpful or interesting for others.
What do professional bloggers think about the blog meaning?
To make this post more compelling, I talked to 9 very popular bloggers who are doing well and asked them one simple question:
“What is a blog? Please explain it in 3-5 sentences”
As you will see, the answers are not the same as those produced by editors on Wikipedia or Harvard Law School.
… anyhow, here are the answers:
Blog definition according to the pros
“A blog is a channel where you share your thoughts. Think of it as a public journal, diary, or even book. You can share personal thoughts, quick updates, or even educate others on what you learned.What you publish is up to you, but I recommend that everyone try to at least blog for 6 months. Why? Because it is a great way to get feedback from others. In which people can leave comments and give you advice.”
Neil Patels’ guide to blogging
“For me, a blog is more than just a place to post new content on a regular (or, lately, semi-regular) basis.It's a hub for people to share their thoughts around my contributions to the industry (in my case, startups & marketing), and a home for anyone to discover new ideas about those topics.”
Check out his awesome post “21 Ways to Increase Blog Traffic“.
UPDATE: For a more recent article, check out Nadya’s post.
“A blog is whatever you make it!This can be a personal journal to share stories about life, food, travels and other adventures with your close friends and family. Or it can be a booming website with the community and design of the NY Times. It's up to you.The point isn't what, it's when. Try to ditch the perfectionism and start blogging today, and you'll soon be learning more than you could have ever imagined.”
Not sure about your blog’s purpose? Read his 3 Reasons You Need a Compelling Purpose for Your Blog.
“A blog is a magnet that attracts your potential customers if you write high-quality relevant content. Once you have relevant traffic you can then start working on the conversion of this traffic.A blog is also a good reason to learn more about your industry. As you are always looking for new angles to write about you read more and when you're writing you research more about the topic. So it's a fantastic education tool.Finally, it is a great tool for networking. To be really successful with blogging you need to build relationships with a lot of people so you need to network.”
Ian is a social media enthusiast who blogs at RazorSocial.com.
“A blog is so much more than just a written diary or journal these days. Now a blog is a place for sharing knowledge and views, and for connecting with people.It's a place that can become the entire foundation of your online world and a key to unlocking incredible opportunities.”
Corbett created a blogging course named “Blog that matters“.
“Blogs are the new resume, the new business card, the new marketing brochure or advertising billboard and they’re quickly becoming a source of excellent income for many.”
Amy teaches how to blog.
"How we think of blogs has changed a lot in the years.I used to think of a blog as just an online journal to put our thoughts – nothing more and typically they would only be read by friends & family (or nobody apart from a strange stalker).Fast forward to today and our perceptions have completely changed because blogs can be used to expose our thoughts and opinions to the masses. Now we have the tools and technology to make a serious change.If you do it right – a blog can be a tool to drive serious change, build yourself as an authority or build a community of like-minded people to connect with."
Read about his blogging tips at BloggingWizard.com.
“Writing is organized thinking,” as they say, so a blog is just thought leadership at scale. That term slightly annoys me, but I do believe the sentiment to be true! The wonderful thing about blogs is that they offer a universally accessible way to publish such thoughts in segments.Books, essays, and letters (I'm fond of Letters from a Stoic) have always had similar properties, but none had the technological advantage of being able to host such thoughts on a perpetually available medium that can be accessed by anyone, from anywhere. When you think of it that way, blogs really are a special part of the internet. :)”
Gregory reveals how to build blog success with psychology.
“A blog is whatever YOU want it to be or whatever you make it be. It is all about you, your dreams and your aspirations.It is a very flexible content publishing platform that allows you to showcase your passion, your knowledge, your experience, and skills, and find an audience that is looking for someone like you to help them out, inform them, educate them and/or entertain them.”
Marko has a YouTube channel, where you can learn the nuts and bolts about blogging.
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What is blogging? The history and trends
Unofficially, the first blog ever was made by Justin Hall (links.net) in 1994. At that time, no-one actually knew the word “blog” or “weblog”. Actually, Justin’s web property was more or less of a simple website, but it looked like a blog. He posted regularly (still doing it!) about the “stuff” he found on the internet and it was sort of “personal diary”.
The term “weblog” was first (officially) announced in 1997 by Jorn Barger. In 1999, weblog was shortened to blog. At this point, some folks (who had computers and internet access) started blogging, still, it wasn’t popular at all…
Then came WordPress (in 2003) and it changed a lot… Why so? WordPress started to offer FREE blogging platform. A lot of people have found it useful (including me) since it’s really easy to install, maintain and use. More than 75% of the blogs are using WordPress blogging platform.
Let’s see the search trends on Google about blogs, blogging and WordPress:
“What is a blog?” vs “How to start a blog” –
“WordPress” vs “Blogger” (most popular blogging platforms)
What can we say about that graph? For me, it seems that blogs are still quite popular and thousands of blogs are being published on a daily basis.
Currently, in 2020, there are more than 500,000,000 blogs on the internet!
Why do people blog?
Blogs are made and used for many different reasons. I’ll explain that to you shortly. But in the meantime, let’s have a look at all the different reasons people blog.
- To express themselves
- To delivery valuable information and news to other people on the internet
- To make money (Yes, some people are making a lot of money with blogging)
- Self-promotion
- To connect with like-minded people
- To gain knowledge
- To find a better job
- To improve writing skills
- etc…
Your turn...
So what is a blog? Do you now understand what they are, or is there still something confusing? Leave a comment below and I’ll explain it to you once again! 🙂
By the way, if you really liked the idea of a blog and you want to start one, feel free to head over to my homepage where I explain how to set up a blog on your own. There’s no need for technical programming or HTML, so everyone can have a blog:)
Related articles:
- Best blog hosting sites
- Blogging course
FAQs on blogs, blogging and bloggers
What is a blog?
A blog is very similar to a website. It can be thought of as a diary or journal that is (mostly) maintained by one person but may also be maintained by a group of bloggers.
What is blogging?
Blogging is the act of creating and maintaining content for a blog. This is usually in the form of the written word, but can also include images, videos or audio.
What is a blog post?
A blog post is a piece of content (also known as an article) inside of a blog.
What is a blogger?
A blogger is an individual (usually the owner of the blog) who adds new blog posts to an existing blog website.
FAQs
What is a blog blogging and blogger? ›
A blog (a truncation of "weblog") is a discussion or informational website published on the World Wide Web consisting of discrete, often informal diary-style text entries (posts). Posts are typically displayed in reverse chronological order so that the most recent post appears first, at the top of the web page.
What is blogger and example? ›A blogger is someone who writes regularly for an online journal or website. A political blogger might provide weekly commentary on current events. A personal blogger keeps a website which may include diary-like entries, photographs, and links to other sites.
What is a blog example? ›Examples of blog posts include beauty product recommendations, travel and vacation trip reviews, and personal blog posts.
What is a blog simple definition? ›A blog, short for weblog, is a frequently updated web page used for personal commentary or business content. Blogs are often interactive and include sections at the bottom of individual blog posts where readers can leave comments.
What is blog and blogging PDF? ›“A blog (short for web log) is a user-generated. website where entries are made in journal style and. displayed in a reverse chronological order. A. typical blog combines text, images, and links to.
Who is blogger in computer? ›1. A blogger is a person who writes content in a weblog, or blog for short. Writing in a blog is often referred to as blogging. For example, if you have a blog on WordPress and create a post about your day, you're "blogging" about your day.
What is another name for blog? ›| weblog | microblog |
|---|---|
| vlog | blook |
| column | forum |
| newsletter | website |
| diary | journal |
A blog is a type of website, 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.
Who is a personal blogger? ›A personal blog is a blog that focuses on the writer's individual experiences and thoughts. Personal blogs are usually written in a first-person perspective, making them intimate and personal. Personal blogs can be about any topic, from the writer's daily life to their hobbies and interests.
Who is a blogger on social media? ›Blogger (n): a person who runs a business by publishing regular online content that inspires, educates, or entertains a particular audience. Let's dig deeper though. I asked a few people that I admire in the blogging community to help me describe what being a blogger means to them. You'll see their thoughts below.
What is a blog introduction? ›
This introduction acts as the thesis of the content – what will be covered, in what order, and what the audience can expect to take away. Few visitors read content from start to finish. Laying out your thesis helps people to find the information they need quickly.
How do you become a blogger? ›- Choose a blogging platform. The first step in starting a blog is to select a blogging platform for publishing your content. ...
- Pick a hosting platform. ...
- Find the right niche. ...
- Select a blog name and domain. ...
- Set up and design your blog. ...
- Brainstorm blog topics. ...
- Write your first blog post. ...
- Create an editorial calendar.
Most people can generally agree that a good blog is one that provides regular, relevant content. It can be informative, newsworthy, and/or entertaining, as long as it somehow enriches readers' lives.
How do you introduce yourself in a first blog example? ›If you're not sure what to write, a have a sample script below you can use: “Hey friends, I've decided to start a blog with the goal of helping others. I've just published my first post! It would mean the world to me if you would click the link, read this post, and then come back here and share your thoughts with me.
What is the history of blogging? ›The early history of blogging
Most experts agree that the first blog was Links.net, created in 1994 by then-student Justin Hall as a place to publish his writing. The site consisted entirely of brief posts, each one sharing a link and some of his thoughts on the content within.
A learning weblog is a learning diary that reports the learning experience, both the learning content and the learning process. Besides, a weblog can also be the result or the learning outcome of a subject. Finally, a project weblog, often authored by a team of students, documents the project progress and findings.
What are the 3 types of blogs? ›Best types of blogs to create:
Lifestyle blogs. Fashion and beauty blogs. Photography blogs. Personal blogs.
- Personal Blog. As the name implies, a personal blog is about the person who runs the blog. ...
- Business Blog. One of the best ways to demonstrate your knowledge and expertise is with a business blog. ...
- Affiliate Blogs. ...
- Niche Blog. ...
- 5. News Blog.
Web media is a form of communication that uses audio, text, and visuals on the web. Some examples of web media are videos, photos, and graphics. It's content you own by personally creating it. Some examples of owned content that are popular today include podcasts, websites, blog posts, and videos.
Is blogging a business? ›Blogging isn't just fun and fulfilling—it's also one of many paths to entrepreneurship. If you think like an entrepreneur when you start your blog and aim high when it comes to growth, you can build a valuable audience that can help power your business for a long time to come.
Why is blogging so popular? ›
A blog gives you a perfect opportunity to get your name out and to promote yourself or your business to others. It is also easier to promote one blog than to promote various websites, resumes or to try to explain what you do; a blog allows them to see for themselves.
What is social blogging? ›Social blogging, sometimes called microblogging, is a subsection of regular blogging that uses posts with shorter word counts and more media. Hallmarks of social blogs include: Short sentences. Single images. Links.
What is the opposite of blog? ›...
What is the opposite of blog?
| bloc | log |
|---|---|
| blot | blob |
| clog |
A blog can feature wide variety like text, pictures, animated gifs etc. The person who runs the blog is called 'blogger' and an activity of posting some meaningful information on the website is known as 'blogging'.
Is blog and blogger same? ›A blogger is someone who loves to document their life experiences with you. Bloggers post on their various interest areas like food, art, designs, creativity, apparel, business, finance, and much more. They love to share their thoughts, views, and ideas and post them in the form of a blog on the internet.
What are the two types of blog? ›- Personal: You can make it about you.
- Thematic: You can make it about a subject.
A blog is very similar to a website, where one can find content regarding any topic in a written/text format, along with images, gifs, etc. A vlog, on the other hand, consists of video content published on any topic. There are various blogging and vlogging platforms out there that support both paid and free domains.
Who is a blogger on social media? ›Blogger (n): a person who runs a business by publishing regular online content that inspires, educates, or entertains a particular audience. Let's dig deeper though. I asked a few people that I admire in the blogging community to help me describe what being a blogger means to them. You'll see their thoughts below.
What is another name for blog? ›| weblog | microblog |
|---|---|
| vlog | blook |
| column | forum |
| newsletter | website |
| diary | journal |
Blogs give you something to share and talk about on your social media channels. Another great reason for starting a blog is to help your social media. A blog article gives you something to talk about and share. Choose topics that people are likely to share and post them on Twitter, Facebook, Google + and LinkedIn.
Who found blogger? ›
...
Blogger (service)
| Type of site | Blog host |
|---|---|
| Founder(s) | Evan Williams, Meg Hourihan |
| URL | www.blogger.com |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Registration | Optional, Free |
- Choose a blogging platform. The first step in starting a blog is to select a blogging platform for publishing your content. ...
- Pick a hosting platform. ...
- Find the right niche. ...
- Select a blog name and domain. ...
- Set up and design your blog. ...
- Brainstorm blog topics. ...
- Write your first blog post. ...
- Create an editorial calendar.
A blog is a specific type of website. But blogs are regularly updated with brand-new content, while what people normally refer to as websites are typically static and aren't updated very frequently. Sometimes blogs are also part of a bigger website.
Who is a personal blogger? ›A personal blog is a blog that focuses on the writer's individual experiences and thoughts. Personal blogs are usually written in a first-person perspective, making them intimate and personal. Personal blogs can be about any topic, from the writer's daily life to their hobbies and interests.
Who is a blogger on YouTube? ›Simply put a vlogger is a “video blogger”. A person who records themself talking about their life or business or anything really and uploads it to various video sites (Video Blog) such as YouTube.
What is vlog full form? ›But what is a vlog? Vlog stands for a video blog or video log, and refers to a type of blog where most or all of the content is in a video format. Vlog posts consist of creating a video of yourself where you talk on a particular subject such as reporting or reviewing a product or an event.
What is blogging what are its advantages and disadvantages? ›Blogging can be categorized as a journal but online. In a blog, the writer can give his thoughts, opinions, ideas, knowledge, etc based on the content he provides. One can write different types or categories of blogs. Advantages: There is no technical knowledge needed to start a blog, so anyone with an idea can start.