What is a blog is a question I have been asked 3 times in a couple of days.
This post is therefore not for my blogging friend readers but for people who simply want an answer to the question What is a blog?
I do ask though if you are a fellow blogger please add your comments to this conversation. Like anything we use our own jargon and forget there are many people who do not understand this world of the blogger.
So – what is a blog?
If you do a Google search at the top of the searches today was………
Noun
A Web site on which an individual or group of users record opinions, information, etc. on a regular basis.
Verb
Add new material to or regularly update a blog.
I had intended to copy the definition from Wikipedia but it would only confuse anyone who does not know what a blog is. So we will go withΒ my explanation.
What is a blog?
Basically a blog is a website that is usually updated regularly and typically displayed in reverse chronological order. Meaning the most recent post (or entry) is shown first and the others follow in the reverse order to when they were written.
Usually a blog updated by one person although it is common these days for people to have guest bloggers. There are also blogs who have multiple contributors.
Comments
Most blogs allow comments from others and the blogger (person who owns the blog) will respond to the comments. There are some blogs around that do not allow comments but they are rare.
The evolution of blogging
Blogs started in the late 1990’s and started more as online diaries. You will still see blogs like that but in the main now people blog as a part of their business strategy.
My research shows that there are currently more than 100 million blogs with more starting up each day.
The Structure of a Blog Post
There is no one way to write a blog. Many bloggers use a combination of video, text and images. Some also use audio within their posts. You can visit a hundred blogs and chances are they all look different.
There are guidelines to use for basic search engine optimization (so you get found) but that is a topic of it’s own.
It suffices to say for now that the use of images is a good inclusion.
There are also differing opinions on what the length of a blog post should be. I will just say it depends. IfΒ you can say it short and sweet do that but if you need to write more to make your point then that is okay too.
What is the purpose of a blog?….Β is the next question that follows from what is a blog?
Most people who blog do so as part of a business strategy. There are some people who are hobby bloggers but they are the minority.
Most bloggers are there for their personal branding online. Usually they have some other sort of business activity that they use to generate income.
Typically they may be coaches, trainers, freelance writers, network marketers or affiliate marketers…. just to name a few ways people are making money online.
Another question that follows what is a blog is often do you make money from your blog or does someone pay you?
I wish!! – that someone paid me to write posts π
The answer is that many of us sell products we use from our blogs (affiliate products) but in the main the intention is to get ourselves known to sell our other services or products.
A network marketer typically wants to have a presence, deliver value so that people will want to join her/him in their business.
I am part of Empower Network and I also blog on their platform.Β If people join me on that platform yes I do get paid you can check that out here if you would like to join me.
Conclusion – what is a blog.
My final point on the questions what is a blogΒ is that having a blog without other bloggers would be a hard road. The blogging community is a strong one and people support each other. If you are contemplating blogging then you should join a blogging community.Β Visiting other blogs is a good way to start and to learn.
If you found this post of value please share.
Make it a great day.
Sue Price
Skype: sueprice
Click here to work with me personally
PS
FREE! The “Secret Formula” That Took Adam From Being Over $40,000 in Debt, to Traveling Around The World and Making
a 6-Figure Income From his Computer. You can get it at prosperity formula.
Donna Merrill says
Hi Sue!
If anyone is contemplating having a blog, a community is a MUST. Otherwise, you will have a ghost town.
Although I only belong to two communities, I have new people coming to my blog all the time. But this is because I’ve been blogging for almost 3 years. It takes time to build an audience.
When I meet people that want to start a business, they tell me “I need a website” he he….I tell them the difference between that and a blog.
It is great for personal branding and part of our business strategy. And yes, I too wish someone would pay me for writing mine lol.
See you Wednesday!
-Donna
Sue Price says
Hi Donna
Yes it does take time to build an audience. I too have been blogging for just over three years. I was very inconsistent though. Started off well and then lost it so had big gaps – that does not work. But you know that.
It is funny that I have been asked that question several times recently – do you get paid to write. I know you would love it too.
Really it is the mentality of people who have always been employees asking that type of question.
Yes see you my Thursday π
Sue
Harleena Singh says
Hi Sue,
That was a very clear and well-defined post on what a blog actually is π
Yes, most of our offline friends, or even the new bloggers don’t really know what a blog is or how and where to get started. I agree with you there and Donna too, creating a blog is one part, but what matters more after that is how you build your blogging community and maintain it.
Without your blogging friends or the community you create and the relationships you build along the way, you’d really be nowhere. Yes, I’ve often seen blogs without comments too, and some of them do well too – but they are rather boring for me because there is no interaction there. I guess I’d rather visit blogs where people discuss, share, and express their views about what’s written – isn’t it?
Most people start a blog with the purpose of earning through the various ways you mentioned, though for me it’s perhaps to help others through my posts and also to create a strong community. Of course, I get a lot of my clients from there too, which helps me being a professional freelance writer.
Thanks for sharing this with us. Have a nice week ahead π
Sue Price says
Hi Harleena
I am pleased you think I was clear in saying what a blog actually is. I did not realize just how much I had fallen into the jargon of it until I had several friends asking me recently.
I feel for people just starting out as I can still remember being so confused.
Yes we would be no where without our communities. For that reason I felt a little strange writing this post because in the main it is other bloggers who visit me. But then I laughed and thought to myself we are not here just to write for each other π
That is awesome that you actually started blogging to help others with your content. You are such a good writer I am sure you love doing it. For me writing was a real struggle in the beginning. I would never have blogged if it had been for pleasure. The funny thing is now I love it.
Thanks Harleena for your contribution. You also have a great week.
Sue
Barbara Charles says
Excellent breakdowm Sue of what is a blog. I never knew when I first started that blogging was about branding yourself *for* your business. I didn’t get the connection that having a blog and making money were tied in together although everyone told me that. It just didn’t make sense. There was a piece missing.
I imagine that many others think the same way and you’ve explained it very clearly here. Excellent post.
Thanks for sharing.
Barbara
Sue Price says
Hi Barbara
It is funny how most of us were missing some sort of piece when we started blogging. Then we forget there still are a heap of people that do not what a blog is or why we have one.
I have loved seeing your blog evolve in the last year that I have known you.
Thanks for your feedback on the post and for sharing your experience.
Hopefully see you tomorrow?
Sue
Dee Ann Rice says
Sue,
Great explanation of what a blog is.
I remember when blogging first started and my daughter tried to explain to me just what this thing was that was called a blog. I just did not get it. I could not figure out why anyone would want to write something on a website for others to read everyday or even once a week. I did not understand how it was going to promote my business at all.
Of course I eventually understood and saw the value in blogging. Now it is really the preferred type of website for promoting most any business.
Anyone not familiar with blogging should have a really good idea of why blogging is the way to go from your post.
Dee Ann
Sue Price says
Hi Dee Ann
It amazes me that most of us did not really understand the concept when we started or heard about blogs.
Clearly your daughter understood π
Now I forget sometimes that there are many people who still do not know what a blog is or how it can work.
Thanks for your feedback on the post and for your comment.
Sue
Adrienne says
I agree Sue, great explanation.
I was speaking with a prospect today and she and I were laughing because when all of us first find ourselves venturing online there is so much terminology thrown at us that we seriously have no clue what any of it is let alone what it all means. A blog is just one of those many things that is pretty confusing to most newcomers.
Although a blog isn’t a necessity when building a business online to me it’s really a must. As you mentioned, it’s the way to let people know who you are and make those connections. Sharing information that will help your target audience answer those all so burning questions that will solve their problems, well it doesn’t get much better than that.
Meeting the people along the way and forming lasting relationships is what will help take you further. I know most people find it all overwhelming and confusing but if they connect with someone like you then you can either help them learn or point them to the people that can.
Great post Sue and I know it’s going to help any newcomer that still is curious about what exactly is a blog.
~Adrienne
Sue Price says
Hi Adrienne
I am so pleased you think I explained it well. I had done it verbally several times recently and had more questions asked so that gave me the idea.
Yes there is so much terminology in the online world and so much to learn. Do you know if anyone has done a sort of online dictionary? I know in the financial services world there are several to help people understand the jargon.
As you know on the tech side I am still a novice but really that is by choice. And I do understand much of the terminology – just not how to do it π
I agree there are ways to build a business online without a blog. I know several people who have seriously good businesses with websites selling stuff and they stay totally incognito by choice. Sometimes I think that might have been a good way to go. But really I am a social person like you.
Also as you say making relationships online is a great thing. I love that I have met you and others from the other side of the world that I now call friends. That is cool.
Thanks for your comment and feedback here Adrienne.
Sue
Sylviane Nuccio says
Hi Sue,
That’s a great explanation you gave here of what a blog is. Frankly I didn’t really know what a blog was until I started blogging on Blogger as per instructions I’ve received when I started working online as a network marketer in the mid 2000’s
Yes, blogs started as online diaries but it really blossomed to what it is now. Blogs are by far my favorite type of websites, because they are so full of great information, and fresh ones at that.
– A blog can help you to get known by your potential customer/clients and by the public in general.
– A blog can teach you how to write, communicate and how to be a giving business owner who can spread his knowledge for free and for the good of others.
I love blogging to the core. I think that if you don’t like it, you won’t blog for long. You’ve got to develop a real love for blogging and for your blog. I know I do.
So, that was my two cents π
Sue Price says
Hi Sylviane
Ah you are a veteran online (well compared to me). I never knew you started on blogger so I just found out some more about you.
I did not really know that blogs started as online diaries until I did the research for this post. It is an interesting development really.
I too prefer a blog as a website. I changed my husbands over to WordPress as a sub-domain of mine. I have made it pretty much into a static website but this way I can update it and do not need to get a tech guy like I used to have to make any small change.
Yes a blog does teach us how to write. For me given my background I had a very formal business way of writing. It took a bit for me to change my style and now I so prefer writing like I speak.
Thanks for your awesome comment here Sylviane and for pointing out some more benefits of having a blog.
See you tomorrow I hope.
Sue
Viola Tam says
Hi Sue,
I agree with many other readers that this is a great blog post. You have made another contribution to educate others about what is possible. Earning money online need not be so mysterious π
WOW, more than 100 million blogs! I did not know that. I blog because I want to have a presence online. I have since learned that having a community is crucial. We share knowledge and ideas in our blog. What good is it if there is very few people visiting us? Having a community means that great contents can be share on other social media platforms. Helpful tips like this blog needed to be shared.
I have also recently found out that if our blog content is not user-friendly on other devices such as the Smartphone or iPad, we are missing out on reaching out to the masses. Sorry I do not have statistics on this. Maybe someone can contribute?
Thanks, Sue!!
Viola Tam – The Business Mum
Sue Price says
Hi Viola
It still shocks me how little so many people know about the online world. I thought by now most people know what a blog is but it seems not.
I too was surprised at that stat re the number of blogs. That is way more than I thought.
I think another benefit of our blogging communities is we learn from each other. I keep learning more things I should be doing with my blog which is good and bad. Meaning good I find out some things to protect my blog but bad it is more work to do. π
Now you have just reminded me of one more thing and that is that they need to be read on mobile devices. I keep reading that and must address it. Adrienne Smith has blogged about it as have some of the others who comment here. I do not know the stats either but it is very high and increasing all the time.
Thanks for the comment Viola. I hope you have had a good week.
Sue
Silviu says
Hi Sue,
What really matters is to raise questions from time to time, to make people think. Interesting. So many people use blogs but if you ask them “what is a blog?”, they cannot give you an easy answer. Also, they think this is a kind of site and that’s all.
However there are differences between a blog and a site:
1. A site is more static – a blog is more dynamic
2. I site is less interactive – a blog is more interactive
3. A blog needs a blogging platform – a site does not need a platform, just an html editor.
4. On a site you have total control – on a blog you don’t have total control. And so on.
I think the most important purpose for a blog should be personal branding. Hobby and entertainment? It moved to social media. Slowly blogs become something very serious and people start using them as valuable tools for their business.
Have a nice day
Sue Price says
Hi Silviu
Ah thank you for the addition of your points 1 -4. Perfect and yes they are clear differences.
I was a bit like the people you refer to who cannot give an easy answer. When the first friend asked me what a blog is – they why I do it etc made me think. The next time I was more prepared when I was asked.
I must confess until a few years ago I did not know blogs were used as they are today. It was a big learning curve for me.
I agree the hobby and entertainment people have mainly gone to social media.
Thanks Silviu for your valuable comment.
Sue
Pramod says
Hey Sue !
There are many blogs i follow but none of them explained and covered this topic. I’d like to check out the blogs that are like diaries ( as you’ve mentioned in the history of blogs) ..If you know some , please share them with us .
-Pramod
Sue Price says
Hi Pramod
I do not know of any blogs that are personal diaries. I just found out how they started when doing my research. I have seen some occasionally online so if I see one again I will send you a link.
I have a friend who traveled around Australia and kept a blog in this way but I will need to find the name of it.
Thanks for commenting here.
Sue
Carlie Hamilton says
I no longer have any available online, but you could check out livejournal.com. There are plenty there, though many may be protected.
Sue Price says
Thanks for that info Carlie. I would have loved to have seen yours but I know you have moved on in your journey.
Thanks for the response.
Sue
Kuldeep says
Hi Sue, on every visit to your site I find awesome post with great info…….. this post is also very informative and helpful. Thanks for sharing.
Sue Price says
Hi Kuldeep
Thanks for your feedback, I appreciate it. Have a nice day.
Sue
Arleen says
It is nice that you took the time to really explain what a blog is. I have to say when I first started getting into blogging which has only been about three months I couldn’t understand why I reading you need to have a blog site. I had one previously for about three years but it was selling products. Today we are trying to write interesting articles that will relate to business. With that said in order to get the readers to come to your site, the need to join a group is key. Some groups are better than others in reciprocating, but when you find the right group it makes all your efforts worthwhile.
Sue Price says
Hi Arleen
Wow I had no idea your blog was so new. It seems to me you are a seasoned blogger.
I have seen blogs set up to sell products which is just a different use of WordPress really. I know of several people who have online stores that way.
I was like you and did not understand why I needed a blog. I am sure it is why I have had people asking me why do it recently. It is not an obvious strategy.
Yes you are spot on we need to be part of a group, or groups to get comments and build our traffic. It takes time and is a commitment to visit others. I have found the same as you. Some people reciprocate and others do not.
Thanks for your comment Arleen.
Sue
William Butler says
Hello Sue,
You may be interested in what I saw on television yesterday.
There is a bloggers convention, mostly for women bloggers http://www.blogher.com
Yes, there are bloghims as well π
It also happens to be a highly popular website.
Kind Regards,
Bill
Sue Price says
Hi Bill
Thanks for the link to the conference. I just had a very quick look it is an interesting site and I will give it more time later.
Thanks for giving us that information.
Have a great day.
Sue
Dan Black says
Great breakdown and answer to what a blog is. I’ve been asked several times but did not provide such a great answer like you did. I’ll be sending this post to a few different people.
Sue Price says
Hi Dan
Thanks for that. I had to think when I was asked and when it happened several times in a week I decided it was a sign π So this post.
It is not an easy concept to explain to someone who knows nothing of the online world except Facebook.
Thanks for your comment Dan.
Sue
Dan Black says
Its a great post topic. You did a fine job about explaining it.
Sue Price says
Thank you Dan. Thank you so much.
Sue π
Carlie Hamilton says
I’ve been blogging since a blog was a personal online diary, at least that was what the concept was for me.
Now blogs have exploded. I really believe that if you have a business a blog is one of the best forms of marketing. What is a better way to assert your authority and expertise, connect with your audience and sell your stuff.
Sue Price says
Hi Carlie
Ah so you were a personal diary blogger. I was asked by someone who commented earlier for an example. Maybe you could answer Pramod π
Well said on the use of a blog for businesses. Yes to assert your authority and expertise are great reasons to blog.
Thanks for finding me here and for your comment Carlie, I appreciate it.
Sue
Susan Velez says
I never really thought about joining a blogging community. I totally agree with you though, I have noticed that since I started blogging and doing it myself no one stopped by to visit my blog. It looked so lonely.
What blogging communities would you recommend? I don’t have a lot of free time, so would they require a lot of time?
Sue Price says
Hi Susan
I am apart of one which is a Facebook group and people are pretty good at reciprocating with comments.
I have been in more formal groups but they did not work for me.
The commenting groups do take time. Many of the people who have commented on this post are part of my group.
The other thing to do is just visit blogs regularly and people will visit you in return.
If you want to join the group I am in let me know.
Sue
Mayura says
Hi Sue,
I always love the initiative or basic idea behind the stuff π The word blog originates from “weblog” which is actually keeping a log online. Exactly like a personal diary.
It always amaze me when I see blogs that updates frequently but has no comments or much interaction there. Once I asked a blogger about that, and she said it’s just she likes writing online and that’s it. That’s really cool!
Indeed! Having no audience or community will hardly move us through the competitive blogosphere. Personally, I like having audience talking about stuff and all that too. Love to hear opinions and some noise out there. Yeah, I’m expecting some from my blog π
We can see how bloggers support each others by visiting each others’ blogs, no? π I like it when it’s all about extending relationships. But I strongly against for the ideas of 1-to-1 commenting, you share – I share and that kind of techniques though Sue. It just increase the counts and I wonder how someone be satisfactory knowing that he / she comes here just because I commented on his / her last post, not because he /she found something interesting in mine. Ugh… That’s not blogging for me.
However I never wanted my blog to be a pain for me Sue π So I just enjoy blogging. It’s not primarily focused on business or making money or such. I’m glad that I don’t have to push myself, post more frequently, research about keywords, worry about marketing and do all the stuff to be ahead of the competition. That’s a relief!
But I admit that it has been helping me a lot to build an authority online over the time π It wasn’t on my list when I get started and I was just excited to have my own online space to share what I learn. Then I found really nice friends whom I love to hang out with, and as I love technical and design aspects, blogging has so many adventures listed for me that I never run out of.
Now I just love it! π
You have a wonderful weekend Sue π
Cheers…
Sue Price says
Hi Mayura
I did know that about the word but omitted to say it here so thanks for that addition. I did now know much more about the history though until Mr Google helped me. π
I know what you mean about blogs without comments. Mine was like that when I first started. For me it is like talking to yourself (well I do that sometimes too lol). I do know a couple of people though who just blog for fun and do not care if anyone sees it or not.
I am like you I love it when there is a conversation happening on a blog. I also love people like Silviu that say some controversial things that spice up the conversation. Just now I have had three people on this post come back again and we continue the discussion.
I understand what you are saying about people visiting out of obligation rather than because they want to. It happens. I am part of a blogging group with some of the people who comment here. As it turns out I love all their blogs and that is okay. I have been in a couple of other groups over time where I did not even want to comment on the posts as they were not interesting to me.
I visit most people who come to my blog. Usually not right away I schedule times to visit.
I am sure blogging has built and will continue to build your business Mayura. There are many of us bloggers who are not technical. I can tell you Sylviane who you just helped is so grateful and you met her through blogging. She is telling everyone about you. π That is good so you blogging is for your branding, Simple really.
You do awesome tutorials and I think you should think about doing some products. I think you will over time. What do you think?
Thanks for your comment Mayura and you have a lovely weekend too.
Sue
Viola Tam says
Hi Sue,
It is interesting how a “What is a Blog?” post would lead to so many great discussion threads! Isn’t that interesting?
I guess the people who are contemplating starting a blog would benefit immensely by visiting this blog. I am going to share again!!
I was told by a Facebook friend that I would have my own blog. Little did I knew then that establishing a blog from ZERO is hard work. My recommendation is to have the set up done professionally – with the right plugins and other features.
And…. there are A LOT to be learned beyond the actual writing of the blog posts!
Blogging is an interesting journey that I ended up loving now that I have the basic facilities in place π
Thanks, Sue!
Viola Tam – The Business Mum
Sue Price says
Hi Viola
Yes I am quite surprised the conversation here but am also very happy about it.
Oh I am so with you on recommending others pay someone to professionally set up their blog. It took me so long and I lost focus on my business for quite a while because of it. It would have been a much better result for me to be focused at producing and pay someone. Live and learn as in all things.
It is a learning curve as you say to even learn to write for a blog but we do not need to go through the rest of it. Unless of course someone is a tech person but you are are not.
Thanks for coming back here and have a great weekend.
Sue
calvin says
Thanks