Written on February 5th, 2005 at 02:02 am by Darren Rowse

What is a Blog?

Miscellaneous Blog Tips 171 comments

So what is a Blog anyway? This is a question I am asked every week via emails, conversation and Instant Messaging chats. If you’re reading this you may well be asking the same question.

There are a number of ways I could answer this question ranging from the broad to the highly technical.

Before I share my answer to the ‘what is a blog’ question - here are a few definitions from other much wiser people to get us started:

‘A weblog is a hierarchy of text, images, media objects and data, arranged chronologically, that can be viewed in an HTML browser.’ Source

‘A frequent, chronological publication of personal thoughts and Web links.’ Source

‘From “Web log.” 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.”‘ Source

‘A weblog is kind of a continual tour, with a human guide who you get to know. There are many guides to choose from, each develops an audience, and there’s also comraderie and politics between the people who run weblogs, they point to each other, in all kinds of structures, graphs, loops, etc.’ Source

‘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 to update and maintain the blog. Postings on a blog are almost always arranged in cronological order with the most recent additions featured most prominantly.’ Source

‘A blog is a website in which items are posted on a regular basis and displayed in reverse chronological order. The term blog is a shortened form of weblog or web log. Authoring a blog, maintaining a blog or adding an article to an existing blog is called “blogging”. Individual articles on a blog are called “blog posts,” “posts” or “entries”. A person who posts these entries is called a “blogger”. A blog comprises text, hypertext, images, and links (to other web pages and to video, audio and other files). Blogs use a conversational style of documentation. Often blogs focus on a particular “area of interest”, such as Washington, D.C.’s political goings-on. Some blogs discuss personal experiences.’ Source.

So What is a Blog???

Confused yet? Don’t be - its really quite simple. To put it as simply as possible - a blog is a type of website that is usually arranged in chronological order from the most recent ‘post’ (or entry) at the top of the main page to the older entries towards the bottom.

Have a look at the main page of my blog at here for an example. for a different example you might like to look at this one (another of mine).

Ok - now you are a seasoned blog reader - you’ve seen two already at least.

Blogs are usually (but not always) written by one person and are updated pretty regularly. Blogs are often (but not always) written on a particular topic - there are blogs on virtually any topic you can 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 if you want to get the most out of them as a reader. 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 in addition to the main page of this blog - 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.

When I write a post like this one it goes to the top of the front page. As it gets older and as I add more current posts it begins its journey down the page until it disappears from it. This is not the end of its life however, because it goes into the ‘Archives’ of my blog. 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 left of this blog) at the ‘archives’ or ‘categories’ section. There you will see links to all my old posts which you can access either by category. You’ll see a category for ‘Advertising’ - click that link and you’ll see all my old posts on the topic of Advertising with the most recent at the top and the oldest at the bottom.

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, email and a link to your own blog if you have one as well as your feedback, comment, critique, question, essay on why you love my blog, promise of money…. 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. Leave some comments, ask questions and bookmark your favourites. An 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 savy enough to have your own site? You wouldn’t 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 and I could only barely do any of that! But one day I discovered a blog and after surfing from one to another (blogs tend to link up to other blogs a lot) 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, or Westerners, or even for people with their own computers - instead its something virtually anyone with access to a computer and the internet once or twice a week can start up.

Are you still confused? Would you like more information? Below are a few helpful articles on the topic - there are many more on the web - just do a search on your favourite search engine. Otherwise shoot me an email using my ‘contact’ button with your question and I’ll do my best to get back to you.

If you are new to blogging and want some hints on how to get started - keep an eye on my Blogging for Beginners Page for more ways to explore blogging.

One more post you might be interested in - What Is RSS?

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171 Responses to “What is a Blog?”

  • Gaurav

    July 26th, surf zone.3:28 am

    Hi Darren

    How come you keep writing such wonderful posts. I have found your posts to be simple and full of information. It has something for everyone especially this post would help expereinced bloggers as well. Are you a full time blogger?

  • What Is A Blog? at Perfect Blogger

    July 27th, surf zone.8:43 am

    […] And last, but certainly not the least, is a post by Kevin with even more blog definitions for you. […]

  • kathy

    July 31st, surf zone.1:51 am

    I am enjoying reading all about blogging.

  • FiveStar

    August 4th, surf zone.5:59 am

    On the subject of Archives, I click the link and found the old posts on the topic of Advertising. However I didn’t find a month to click. But this site is interesting and I might just start my own blogs.

  • al3x

    August 5th, surf zone.10:28 pm

    thanks

  • Lee Goodman

    August 7th, surf zone.5:32 am

    Hi Darren, Glad I stumbled on your blogg. I am a realtor and just started a blog with blogger on downtown columbus lofts. I was hoping to use it to get noticed in a natural search with google on various downtown condo projects. For example, The Battleship Building. No luck though. Google never picks it up. Any suggestions.
    Lee

  • gotalktravel.com » Blog Archive » So what the bloody hell is a blog?

    August 18th, surf zone.12:10 pm

    […] It is perceived as a very powerful communication (2-way conversational) tool for the future and no wonder. Blog technology has now matured with easy to use applications that allow a newbie blogger to start a blog within a few minutes. So what is a blog? A blog, short for web log is a type of website that is in the form of a journal with text and images arranged in chronological order. Usually updated on a regular basis, copy is written in a more conversational style containing personal thoughts and views on a particular subject or subjects. Readers are usually able to post comments and there are often links to other blogs and web pages with related topics. For more definitions check out enternetusers. A person who writes a blog is a “blogger” and when you update your journal it is known as “blogging”. For those of you who are reading this blog, according to Wikipedia, you are part of the “blaudience”. And, BlogDay is August 31st every year. […]

  • Digitella

    August 22nd, surf zone.3:35 pm

    Just learning about this and what all the fuss is about…I always thought, why would anyone read what someone else wrote…someone who wasn’t a journalist or author…now I’m hoooked on several blogs, thanks for your site, it is the first I’ve found tha t so comprehensive explains everything. Thanks.

  • louis wesseling

    August 23rd, surf zone.8:34 pm

    Hello! Thanks for your help to a beginning blogger. It is great to learn of other peoples experiences.

  • Avatar

    August 24th, surf zone.7:04 am

    My onw take on it:

    http://bloggeratto.blogspot.com/2006/06/from-format-to-concept-blog-website.html

  • LighthouseWebster » Blog Archive » Week 1 Assignment 1

    September 6th, surf zone.8:14 am

    […] I never thought about how many blogs are out there. Reading this article made me realize how many blogs are out there. I realize now that there is millions of blogs out on the WWW about all kinds of subjects. […]

  • maria pina

    September 13th, surf zone.3:03 am

    Hi, I want to open a blog site and I found yours and am just following along reading your great explanations and feeling better about getting into an area I know nothing about. I am a journal writer and have my agenda in mind. I just need someone to help do the technical stuff which I truly do not understand and I don’t think I truly want to learn, either. Thanks for all this great info.

  • Pamela

    September 14th, surf zone.7:52 am

    I have been impressed with looking at your website & learning valuable info that was hard to come by; you seem to have put things readily into a nutshell. We do not have a website as of yet, my husband and i are still at the point of quibbling over a title, if u can believe that! It is my discernment that a journal is a compilation of everything that we deal with from day to day with varied subject matter. But my husband believes that we must have a single, solitary subject matter with the title of key words that will entice the reader to locate this magical site–i.e. sharing photos of & talking about German Shepherd dogs must include the name, German Shepherd Dogs. If one writes a journal, it will consists of a MULTITUDE of subjects ranging from how you tripped over ur German Shepherd Dog which caused the series of catastrophies from the trip to the hospital to the smelly little man in the waiting room to the cold x-ray room with the bouncy technician to the nasty little nurse down the hall who roughly put your cast on (and no, none of these things have actually happened to me, but…). So how DOES one create a website that is both manageable, yet appealing to outsiders? Sighhh…it suuuure would b nice to start. I’ve a plethora of ideas, a volume of sitcoms and not a clue as to how to place it without inadvertantly being kicked off a site for something i didn’t know i shouldn’t do. lol
    As for you, Kirk, Penella had the right attitude in answering u. As a special needs person, the world really IS at your fingertips. You will be one of the trailblazers allowing others to understand and remedy your needs. As a healthcare worker & teacher, and a person who has health issues herself, and have children with health issues, i DO know where u’r coming from. As a Boy Scout Leader, i continuously teach our children to be aware of others’ needs as they earn their badges. Soon we will be going for a full day’s activities downtown–all of us in wheelchairs with some type of dilemma–”wounds” we have created & “lack of limb/s”. They will learn the meaning of curbs, inaccessible handicap spaces due to others’ insensitivity to others, traffic, not being able to do for yourself, being stared at, close quarters within small shops and large department stores & inaccessibility to shelves–with no one to really help you. Penella said it eloquently when she wrote, “There is growing awareness of Universal Accessibility and able-bodied people have no way of understanding that topic unless someone who lives it talks about it.” So, get there…Talk about it–you’re not a “gimp”–your heart is as big as ours and has just as much love & feelings as the rest of us. No pity pot for u, fella! We’re all in this world together–if you stop, it ends–keep whatever moving parts you have continuously at work–never let your mind go blank. Keep thinking and keep the pencil moving (even if you have to use ur mouth or ur toes to accomplish this goal!) (I once taught a girl how to play chopsticks with her toes–she had no arms) As Penella wrote, “BLOG ON!” Pamela

  • boogie Logarts

    September 18th, surf zone.4:03 pm

    Hi Darren
    as you said you start from surfing chatting and sending e-mails etc etc
    well I do the same ,as of now I’m thinking on how to make money on line on which some people are successful and they kept is secret,lately I was thinking about blog and trying to learn about blogs and yet until now I dont still understand ,Im asking if you can help me to creat a blog and how to use it,well of course all of us want to be successful in life.
    that is what I want is success,
    boogie

  • Gireesh

    September 19th, surf zone.1:42 am

    Hi, I am Gireesh from south India..thank you for your blog..it makes understanding the concept of weblogging not too difficult..even for someone like me…
    I do have a collection of stories which is unique to this area..do you think anyone would be interested in them..I mean would it be a stupid idea if i tried ‘ stories’ as a subject for my blog..? or would it be a stupid idea … do people do such things..???

    Kindly advice

  • anand poddar

    September 19th, surf zone.2:07 am

    hello,
    i want to know about blog in details and i want to start doing it.
    i am at present a business man and have compleated my bcom and mba.
    i have also done crm at xim,management course of import and export management
    i want to help and earn
    can u suggest me something
    u have my id
    i will be helpful in that way
    thank u
    anand poddar

  • Jon

    September 23rd, surf zone.6:20 am

    Thank you for all your information. I’ve been blogging for about a month now, and thanks to you, I’m convinced I can get paid for it.

  • Robert West

    September 24th, surf zone.8:28 am

    Thanks for this website……..it is a great resource for blogging success!

    I know I have something to blog about and enternetusers is going to help me succeed in helping people.

    Thanks again,
    Robert F. West
    Founder of Wellnest.biz- “Keeping You In The Know On Wellness”
    www.wellnest.biz

  • GAYATHRI

    September 27th, surf zone.9:07 pm

    hi,
    i am very intrestd to know more about blogs and how do you use it and why do we use it.I am doing M.sc visual communication second year in chennai,india.as i have heard this term quiet a lot of times i m plannning to do a thesis on this subject.i will be greatful to you if u kindly help me regarding this subject.though i have come across this term many times i am still not aware of what is it.

  • GAYATHRI

    September 27th, surf zone.9:13 pm

    i kindly require your help to initiate my thesis on blogging.i would like to get in touch with you to know everything about blog.i will be greatful to intimate with you.are there any chances for me to get in touch with u.if u are interested to help me call me to to the following number:09884534550 and my e-mail id is iamgayi@yaho.com.will be awaiting for yopur intimation.and also kindly let me know whether there are any chances for me to get in touch with you please.
    thank u

  • Derek Pryde

    September 28th, surf zone.8:52 am

    Hi, Re : what are blogs ? Excellent informative post.

    Blogs are a great simple way for anyone who’s not up on html & website building to have their own site they can post to easily.
    Search engines like them & pick up on them quickly if you post regularly.

    Here’s a couple of mine:
    Help Stop Needless Suffering
    theotherside1 free music

  • Andrew

    October 14th, surf zone.1:04 am

    I only started blogging three days ago and this site has been so useful and informative, I’ve already built up a base of 200 visitors a day and started making money through adsense!

    Thank you so much! If anyone would like to visit my blog you can check it out here: http://andrewwills.blogspot.com It’s all about filmmaking, and my experiences on various sets.

  • derek

    October 22nd, surf zone.1:34 am

    I want to set up an archive system for my vlog webpage - I’m not using wordpress or any other blog system…
    is there a simple way to add the functionality of wordpress (auto archive, mailing lists, blogroll) with a regular webpage?

    I’m not using wordpress, simply because I have a specific way I want to layout the page for video. How does rocketboom do their archives? Anyone know? I’m a newbie - any help is greatly appreciated.

  • xtel

    October 26th, surf zone.5:49 am

    hey there..

    been reading ur blog.. it said to put a comment so there it is.. the concept of the blog that helps others to get their blogs the right way.. real cool.. :) keep it up

    xtel

  • Amanda

    November 3rd, surf zone.3:20 am

    Thanks for all the great tips for beginners. You have inspired me to start a
    blog. It is going to be on weightloss. I decided to use wordpress. Its looks like the best way to go. I have not put anything on it yet but I will soon. If you want to check it out it is http://www.lostfatcity.com/
    Once again thanks for helping out us beginners.

    Thank you!

  • Oz Designs

    November 7th, surf zone.6:46 am

    Thanks very much for this.

    A lot of great information there.

    Regards

    Darryl

  • SesameSeedBun

    November 14th, surf zone.7:36 am

    Thanks for your informative blog topic. I had been thinking about creating a blog. Now with inspiration from your article. I rush headlong into the cyber mix.

    I will succeed.

    I will be heard.

    Thank you… and look out, ’cause here I come…

    SSB

  • May Ong

    November 14th, surf zone.4:58 pm

    Darren

    I came across your Blog when I typed in Best Blogs in Google Search. Somewhere there, I stumbled across your Blog.

    At first glance, I thought, this is just another guy who tries to teach others how to Blog and at the same time, there will be back-end promotion and sales/recommendation, etc.

    Then I thought, what the heck but go through a little deeper inside your posts.

    I went into What is a Blog? How Blogs Make money Online, Blogging for Beginners.

    I like logging for Beginners the Best! It was exactly what I was looking for. Good old open, honest comments and advice from a Pro Blogger.

    I was not able to find a Pro Blogger who can help me in my own country yet. Most do not even offer to share their know-how and knowledge, but you are Different!

    Amateur Bloggers like me do not have technical know-how to ‘tweak’ our blogs so I subscribed to your Newsletter and hope I will be able to get more Tips from them.

    Good job, Darren! Love this Blog!

    May Ong
    acresdiamond.blogspot.com

  • Sue

    November 17th, surf zone.1:22 am

    Hi,

    Well I just got this do it yourself website from Homestead specifically to write blogs but I just don’t know how to set it up. According to what you have said above, it isn’t necessary to be technical, but I really think it is since I am totally lost. Any advice you can give me would be very appreciated. I want to set it up so that people can comment just as yours is. Thanks and happy blogging!

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    November 21st, surf zone.6:14 am

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  • Want to Learn More About Blogging? Here’s a Great List of Resources from Pronet at Confessions of an Infomaniac

    November 25th, surf zone.10:17 am

    […] I am also a big fan of enternetusers. The articles on What is a Blog and Blogging for Beginners are great for newcomers to the blogging world. Darren Rowse, the brains behind enternetusers, has put together a great deal of articles about blogging and earning money with blogs that I say it is a must for any blogger. I subscribe to both his newsletter and RSS feed. […]

  • Mert

    November 25th, surf zone.10:01 pm

    Thanks a lot for the useful information. I recently started my own blog, but i am still not able to make it look like yours. There are some templates, but they are limited. Any idea ? Do i have to change the html codes of my website?

  • Violent J

    December 7th, surf zone.7:13 am

    This info seems to be pretty helpful. I’ve come across potential employment with blogging, so I’m trying to understand what its all about and how to use it most effectively. I’m still trying to figure out first what to put on my blog to give people any reason to view it, and, next of course, how to get people there. I’ll continue to browse this site for help. Thanks. (P.S. Aren’t the comments supposed to be listed in reverse chronological order too?)

  • student

    December 8th, surf zone.9:07 pm

    Lasik eye surgery:
    In this world a lot of peoples are suffering from the eye diseases that’s why everyone must have the knowledge about Lasik surgery. Lasik surgery is refrActive surgery for myopia on the anterior surface of the cornea and the entire optical system of the eye. It is the best amongst all eye surgery that is most effective with less pain, fast result. People says it “Lasix”, but it “laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis.”

    So, you must have the complete knowledge about Lasik eye surgery:
    , where we should go for the surgery. Does lasik surgery have the side effects or any complications after the operations, how much time it will take to complete, how much cost it have. So, now you can know all of this by the blog. You should go for a experienced surgeon after consulting with eye consultant nearby your place.
    Complications:

    I will tell you one thing that eye lasik surgery have minor complications which is very less and it can be removed suddenly, also does not harm no more, so forgot about complications.
    Cost:

    Cost of the operation changed timely also depends upon your eye vision. Generally, 500$ is charged for the operation, but varies on eye conditions.

  • student

    December 8th, surf zone.9:11 pm

    Consolidation loan student when multiple Title IV loans are combined into one loan for ease of payment. Payment in full is made to the original lenders and combined into one single loan. Minimum scheduled payment amounts are usually smaller compared to when the loans were separate. In most cases, the repayment term is extended and the interest rate is figured by a weighted average.

  • How to make a blog Part (1) « Blog maker

    December 10th, surf zone.1:27 pm

    […] Let start from basic. What is a blog? For my point of view, a blog is a medium or personal web page that you can express and share your thoughts and ideas,give information to public and buy or sell your products and ideas online.It could be everything depend on it creator. There are many definitions about the meaning of a blog.If you want to dig deep, check enternetusers blog for more. […]

  • themom

    December 13th, surf zone.10:42 am

    6 months ago I only knew “blogs” were something kids referenced on tv shows my kids watch…….NOW, I am a full-time “blogger”!

    If you’re not blogging, you really should just go for it….it’s actually quite easy and fun!

  • cool it

    December 18th, surf zone.5:33 pm

    i m too confused but excited.

  • Javed

    December 22nd, surf zone.10:03 am

    I am on it, thx for the info.

    Cheers.

  • Jersey

    December 29th, surf zone.4:20 pm

    Thank for making this valuable information available to the public.o

  • Aakashdeep Rathod

    January 6th, 2007 12:42 am

    Dear Friends,

    You all are very serious about your carrier and Field, I am new blogger, i want to be publish my blog for helping our world.

    Thanking you
    Aakashdeep Rathod

  • Husain

    January 12th, 2007 12:44 am

    there are other post from my profile which u can see, but i aint making a cent from this adsense thing. Please help me. there is another one which is gemsoflife1.blogspot.com/. but i am not earning any revene i dont know what to do. Please help

  • Husain

    January 12th, 2007 12:44 am

    http://bushvssingh.blogspot.com/ this is the other one.

  • Husain

    January 12th, 2007 12:45 am

    gemsoflife1.blogspot.com/ and this one is on my own expeience

  • Inside Fatherhood » Work From Home By Becoming a Blogger - Learn How From enternetusers.net

    January 15th, 2007 1:04 pm

    […] If your first question is what the heck is a blog? Make sure to read Darren’s article: What is a Blog? […]

  • Aaron Harris

    January 16th, 2007 4:07 am

    This Info seems powerful!

    We already run a successful business but have never ventured into the area of blogging, so it’s great to read about it.

    I have a question about our business and blogging…

    We rent out people’s car doors as advertising space for our company…basically we send them a car door magnet with our company logo on it, then we pay people to drive around town..so they make a passive income, and we get exposure. Do you think a blog on this would work? Here is the site http://www.carmagnetbusiness.com

  • Sharon

    January 31st, 2007 6:26 am

    This blogging is a great idea. I’m now trying to get rich from the blog I develop.

  • Donald

    February 4th, 2007 2:58 am

    …seems to be a great informative website. I’ve been looking for just that.
    I want to post to a blog of my own which will include a link to a website, all of which I hope will promote a book I’m writing.
    Is it okay to use my blog for commercial purposes? I believe at one time blogger.com discouraged this, but they have instigated a new version of blogger, and no mention of this rule appears in the terms of usage.

  • Jesus Guerrero

    February 6th, 2007 8:20 am

    I know at least about two people that without any experience about blogging, they created their first blog using Blogger. One of them, my wife.

  • horace blanding

    February 7th, 2007 1:38 am

    not so much a comment but a question. how do i get started and how will my blog get recognized?

    horace

  • psythehero

    February 9th, 2007 6:29 pm

    Would be interested in using wordpress and finding out how to set it up properly. Any tips would be handy. I would be happy to give you some secrets in return about adsence and adwords :)

  • Brendan

    February 9th, 2007 7:06 pm

    My wife has been doing blogs for the last year, for me it is a new interest (actually since i notice that she was starting to make a little money from adsense) but now i am getting hooked. I am glad taht i found this site it is in my favourites, i visit several times a week. I think this could be addictive

  • Sheryl

    February 24th, 2007 3:42 am

    This is a test to make a comment.

  • Terr

    February 25th, 2007 12:18 pm

    Hi, test comment. I want to be just like you :)

  • Tip- to Build Blog Traffic « The Game Called Life

    March 1st, 2007 6:25 am

    […] There is a guy that has a site called enternetusers.net. He is constantly coming up with new ways to create Money on blogs Traffic on blogs and all sorts of helpfull hints/tricks. Here is some of his blogs What is a blog?. How Bloggers Make Money from Blogs Blogging for Beginners […]

  • work and travel

    March 4th, 2007 8:00 am

    blogging is a great idea for the ones who want to share their experiences on a specific area.

  • calvin james

    March 9th, 2007 4:06 am