Web blogs and blogging - creating discussions and new content
Blogs and blogging are one of the current biggest trends online whether used to simple tell a story or build customer and internal communication.
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. Blogs generally represent the personality of the author or the Web site.
Blogs often offer commentary or news on a particular subject, such as food, politics, business or news; some function as more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to its topic.
There are various types of weblogs, and each differs in the way content is delivered or written. A blog can be defined by its incorporation of media: a blog comprising of videos is called a vlog, one comprising of links is called a linklog, or one comprised of photos is called a photoblog. A blog can also be defined by its genre. For example, if a blog is mainly about business it can be called a business blog. A blog about travel could be called a travel blog etc.
Many different systems are used to create and maintain blogs. Dedicated web applications can eliminate the need for bloggers to manage this software. With web interfaces, these systems allow travelers to blog from anywhere on the Internet, and allow users to create blogs without having to maintain their own server.
Blog creation tools and blog hosting are also provided by some Web hosting companies, online publications and Internet portals. Some advanced users have developed custom blogging systems from scratch using server-side software, and often implement membership management and password-protected areas.
Advantages of blogging:
- Enhance internal communications
- Strengthen your customer relationships
- Relatively cheap to set-up and run
- Search engines love blogs
- Blogs convey authority
- Feedback can be good (and bad!)
- Openness
- Easy to use
Disadvantages of blogging:
- Business blogs will be seen as a reflection of your company so be careful who writes and what is written.
- Often those people who have most to say don’t have enough time to write blogs. So, the real expertise within the company lays hidden.
- Content must be interesting or won’t get read.
- Hard to maintain. Writing coherent content can be difficult and time-consuming.
- Feedback can be bad – management of posts is required
Web blogging is generally simple and inexpensive. There is no HTML to learn and no new software to download and install. With Blogging, you have it all - connections, security and mobility.