What is a Blog?

If you’ve been on the Internet for some time, you no doubt have run across someone’s blog. Maybe you’ve even considered becoming a blogger - someone who keeps a blog - yourself but just aren’t quite sure what they are or how to go about even starting one.

This article will help you understand what a blog is and give you some insight as to how to start one yourself.

First things first, a blog is a type of web site that is updated on a regular basis, by you, the blog owner. Your blog content can range from just keeping a “journal” of sorts on your personal life, it can be on your business, it can be about your pet, it can be about your house; in other words, a blog can be written about any topic you choose; it’s entirely up to you.

When you keep a blog, you are considered a “blogger”. When you write a blog post, or in other words, update your blog with content, you are said to be “blogging”.

Blogs are usually kept in chronological order. This means that your most recent post is at the top of the page and your older posts are at the bottom of the page.

When you make a blog post, this takes precedence over your last post and the last post you made moves down the page.

Most often you’ll see an archive listing of posts. What you see on the initial blog page is not the entire content of that blog. Typically the archives are located to the right of the most recent blog post and by clicking on one of the links within the archive section, you can then view posts made in prior months.

Most blogs also allow people who read your blog to make comments on your posts. As the blog owner, you are given the option to offer this to your blog readers. Sometimes you may not want anyone to post a comment on a post you have made and sometimes you do. Most blogging software programs give you the ability to change this on an as needed basis.

Millions of people blog from all around the world. If you’d like to check out some blogs yourself that may interest you, I suggest you take a look at Google’s blog search. This gives you the opportunity to find all kinds of blogs from all over the world and it’s a great way to get a feel for what other people are talking about in their blogs.

If you’re ready to get started blogging yourself, here are some blogging software programs that can get you started:

WordPress - one of the most popular free blogging programs available

Blogger - another free popular blogging program

LiveJournal - Free and paid versions

Xanga - Free

TypePad - From $4.95 / Month - offers free trial