I am asked every week via emails, conversation and Instant Messaging chats to define: "what is a blog". If you’re reading this you may well be asking the same question. Here are a few definitions from other much wiser people to get us started:
"A blog is basically a journal that is available on the web. The activity of updating a blog is “blogging” and someone who keeps a blog is a “blogger.” Blogs are typically updated daily using software that allows people with little or no technical background maintain the blog. Postings on a blog are almost always arranged in chronological order with the most recent post or entry."
A blog is a type of website. Blogs are often written on a particular topic-there are blogs on virtually any topic you 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. 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. For example, at the time of writing this post there are over 520 other pages or posts below the surface that I've written over the past few months. It sounds like a dusty dark place but its really just like a filing cabinet that is easily accessible in a couple of ways. You can read my "archives" simply by looking on the "sidebar" (over on the right of this blog) at the "Blog Archive". There you will see links to all my old posts which you can access.
{Archives stores all of your posts so that they will always be there for others to read.}
Comments-Not all blogs use comments-but most do. This blog is not a monologue but a conversation. You can give me feedback on almost everything I write simply by clicking the "comments" link at the bottom of each one of my posts. This will take you to a little form where you leave your name,your email and comment, critique, question,... etc. Try it now. Scroll to the bottom of this page, click "comments" and fill in the blanks with a little introduction to yourself.
A great way to learn about blogs is to read a few. And 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 know where to start? You don't know how?
My Secret-Let me share a secret with you-three years ago I knew nothing about blogs, I had never used the Internet for anything more than email, surfing and chatting to friends. But one day I discovered a blog and after surfing from one to another for a few hours I was hooked and wanted to start my own. I found that 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-instead its something virtually anyone with access to a computer and the Internet can start up.
If you'd like to start a blog, Darren Rowse has written a book --ProBlogger the Book- which is specifically written for new bloggers. How about 'sticky blogs'? Do you know what they mean? I did not know prior to reading the book. Darren is the most respected professional blogger in the world. He's got over 321,000 subscribers to his blog about blogging, the largest readership of any blog in our industry. He's a true pioneer and as anyone who has met the guy knows, he's very humble. I hope you find it helpful.
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P.S. WOW! Just find out Darren Rowse other blog Digital Photography Schoo l with 1,000,000+ subscribers. That's COOL!! Thaks for reading, Lana & Jack
Click here: Darren Rowse blog
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