What Is A Blog & How Does It Work In 2024
“What is a blog?” has remained a trending search query on Google over time. Can you give a flashback to the first time you heard “Blog”? What did your brain interpret it to be like? What was your reaction?
You may be familiar with a blog; in the same way, some people come across it regularly but don’t know what it is, while to some people, this is their first encounter.
To achieve the purpose of this post, I would like to start from the basics, which many people will neglect, and with that, you will get the complete list. So, let’s start by answering the fundamental question.
What Is A Blog All About?
A blog is an abbreviated word for a weblog, a discussion or informational website published on the World Wide Web. The content of a blog typically includes text, pictures, videos, animated GIFs, and other hard-copy documents. Posts are typically displayed in reverse chronological order so that the most recent post appears first at the top of the web page.
A blog is almost the same as a website, but the only difference is that a blog is like an online diary or a journal managed mainly by one person. The author writes about many things that depend on their area of interest. For example, my blog, Mackiestdon.com, discusses how to start a blog and make a living. Usually, a blog is updated regularly (Once a day, Once a week, or Once a month)
Words That Goes With Blog And Their Meanings
- Blog (noun): A blog is a public journal, diary, or even book often made publicly available online.
- Blog (verb): To start a blog, to manage a blog, e.g. “I want to blog.”
- Blogger (noun): A person who owns and manages a blog by updating it regularly.
- Blog Posts (noun): An article or a write-up in a blog that a blogger publishes.
- Blogging (verb): Writing or updating a blog post.
A Brief History Of Blog Trends
It’s generally recognized that the first blog was Links.net, created by Justin Hall while he was a Swarthmore College student in 1994. Of course, at that time, they weren’t called blogs, and he just referred to them as his homepage.
The word “Weblog“ was coined in 1997 and was attributed to Jorn Barger. The term was created to reflect the “logging the web” process as he surfs the internet. “Weblog” was shortened to “blog” 1999 by programmer Peter Merholz.
During these early years, a few different “blogging” platforms cropped up. LiveJournal is probably the most recognizable of these early sites.
The Growth Period
The early 2000s saw a period of growth for blogs. In 1999, according to a list compiled by Jesse James Garrett, there were 23 blogs on the Internet. By the middle of 2006, according to Technorati’s State of the Blogosphere report, there were 50 million blogs.
For a detailed history of blogging, below are my recommendations:
- https://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2011/03/a-brief-history-of-blogging/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_blogging
Reasons Why Most People Blog
Different people have different reasons for blogging, so let’s explore the most common reasons why some people start their blogs.
- To Create Awareness: Many blogs are started with the zeal to tackle a particular social problem, so the blogger tends to present his side of the story.
- Advertisement And Brand Promotion: Some companies see it as a valuable medium for informing their customers about their latest products and getting their product reviews.
- To Connect With Like-Minded People: When you write on a specific topic, you gain the attention of some people who have the same thoughts as you. You can improve your knowledge from their opinions via the comment section.
- Self-Promotion: Blogging in your area of interest will allow you to showcase your skills to potential employees who may visit your blog.
- To Gain Knowledge: Writing in your area of specialization will make you dig deep into learning more about it and, in the process, acquire more knowledge.
Benefits Of Blogging
- Become Your Boss: Thousands of bloggers make a living by helping people with their daily activities.
- Freedom: Being a blogger helps you manage your daily activities in a way that pleases you; for example, you can sleep and wake up when you want.
- Create A Brand: Many potential bloggers are known for their blogs. For example, Harsh Agrawal was known for his popular blog Shoutmeloud, Pat Flynn for his popular blog smartpassiveincome.com, and so many others.
And that’s it! I’m more than confident that you fully understand what a blog is, and the decision is left to take whether you would like to start one today or not. Check out my other post on things to consider before starting a blog.
If, by some unfortunate circumstance, you get stuck or have any questions for me about this post or anything at all in this blog, get in touch with me or leave a comment below. I’ll help you out with any problems.
Cheers !!!
