What’s The Difference Between Websites And Weblogs?
Keywords: web hosting
More and more, people don’t have traditional websites: static things where pages can be added, updated or taken away. Instead, they write new material for their website when they feel like it, and then put it up on one page, with the most recent writing first. These people are running weblogs.
How Did Weblogs Start?
Many people say that there have been weblogs (or blogs, as they’re sometimes called) for as long as there has been a web. Back when there were only a few thousand websites, the ‘What’s New’ page that announced each new one (yes, there really was such a thing!) worked in just the same way as blogs do today.
Early weblogs included Scripting News, Robot Wisdom and Camworld, which all started in 1997. To begin with, blogs mostly consisted of often-updated lists of useful and amusing links to other websites, but it gradually became clear that the format was just as good for distributing longer articles. Blog software started to be developed, and their popularity quickly exploded. By 1999, everyone was talking about blogs.
Why are Blogs So Popular?
In recent years, the blog format has very much taken over from the ‘personal home page’. People seem to find it much easier to just put a kind of public diary online, instead of putting up a little biography of themselves and a collection of articles. It’s more personal, more fun, and more interactive day-to-day.
Businesses have started to open blogs too - in many ways, they’re like a replacement for newsletters. A regularly-updated blog gives customers a great sense of what a business is like, while giving the business a great way to keep communicating with its customers and being useful to them, even when they’re not buying anything right this minute.
In my opinion, the biggest reason for blogs’ popularity is that they make publishing to the web very easy. You don’t really have to know anything about what’s happening behind the scenes: blogs finally make publishing your thoughts for everyone to see as easy as posting to a forum or sending an email. In a way, blogs fulfil the original promise of the web.
Weblog Software.
Today, there’s a lot of blog software out there - if you want a blog, you’re spoiled for choice. What you get will depend on how comfortable you are with technical stuff, and whether you want it to be part of your main website or not.
Movable Type. This is software that you install on your web server. You simply log in and type your post, and it creates your pages for you. Movable Type can be a little complex to set up, but you can use a version called Typepad that is hosted by its creators instead of using your server.
Blogger. You don’t install Blogger on your server - instead, you give it your FTP password and let it upload files to your web server for you. If you don’t have any hosting, you can also host blogs for free at Blogger’s Blogspot. Blogger is owned by Google.
WordPress. WordPress is a free alternative to blogging software. It works in basically the same way as Movable Type, but without the restrictive licensing and with nicer-looking default templates. Many people have switched to WordPress out of frustration with Movable Type and not looked back. You have to host it on your own server, but it’s very simple to set up - don’t be scared!
LiveJournal. LiveJournal is a completely online service, meaning that it has nothing to do with your website, except that you can link to your LiveJournal if you want. LiveJournal is more social than most blogging, allowing you to join communities relating to your interest.
There are plenty of other online services, but they’re all pretty much the same: MSN Spaces, AOL Journals, and so on. You’re unlikely to get taken very seriously if you have a blog at any of these places, although it’d be easy. In the end, it’s all about power versus convenience: the more work you put in to get your blog working, the more likely that it’s going to be what you really wanted it to be. If you’re creating a website anyway, you’d be silly not to put a blog on it.
Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16 year old son. For web hosting go to www.webhostingservicesplus.com
Previous Articles Highlighter:
Choosing The Right Mechanic For Your Sports Car (1)
You may want to seek recommendations from a sports car club, or even ask dealers of your sports car type for their input regarding the area's best mechanics. Remember, a good mechanic can be immensely valuable.
How To Sell Collectibles On Ebay (2)
You'll be surprised how much money you can make if you buy the collectibles that people sell on smaller auction sites like Yahoo Auctions, and then list it on eBay.
Common Factors Contributing To Dry Skin (3)
The purpose of putting yourself to an effective skin regimen is to minimize the incorrect habits of skin treatment and the factors that injure the skin and causes irreversible damage.
Three Factors In Choosing A Body Shop For Your Sports Car (4)
The first factor is the reputation of the body shop. Check with other sports car owners, your regular mechanic and others to find a body shop known for its quality workmanship and fair pricing.
How To Stick To Your Diet Away From Home (5)
Even if it's not on the menu, they may be able to whip something up especially for you if you've called in advance. Phoning early can also provide nutrition information for certain meals, if you need this information.
How To Protect Your Sports Car (6)
Maintaining Many sports cars are damaged while actually being repaired. Although it may seem counterintuitive, the garage is a primary source of scratches, dings and chips for many sports cars.
Picking The Carpet That Suits Your Lifestyle (7)
It works in a variety of rooms since the multi-colors and multi-layers help hide traffic and stains. Level loop and Multi-Level Loop: These two types of carpets are made up of loops (with level loop, all the loops are level, whereas with multi-loop there are different levels of loops).
How To Choose An Affordable Web Host (8)
Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16 year old son. For website hosting check out www.affordablededicatedhosting.com
Should You Trust Online Sunglasses Dealers? (9)
In most instances, the answer is a resounding "yes", but buyers are always warned to trust their instincts. If you come across the must have set of shades that are at a fantastic price, you may have just found an incredible deal.
Audio Options For HDTV (10)
For these reasons, Dolby Digital Surround has become the standard for HDTV. Many television manufacturers substitute their own surround sound systems, but they cannot live up to the reputation and performance of Dolby.
Newer Articles Highlighter:
Get Your Own Putting Green (1)
It is important that you use a mower that pinches off the grass rather than chopping it. Look around for the best deal on these mowers. Maintenance time should not be so time-consuming that you can't enjoy your private putting green.
How TO Buy A Foreclosed Home (2)
This may be an acceptable offer to a property owner who doesn't want to end up losing all of the equity that has been invested in the property. Some pre-foreclosure property owners may offer bargains to a persistent buyer.
How To Care For Oily Skin (3)
To prevent clogging, cleanse at least two times a day but do not scrub hard, as you will hurt your skin more than helping it. A slight pressure from your fingers is friction enough to slough off the dull, dead skin.
The Perfect Diet And Basic Weight Management (4)
Clean your car. Wash windows. Wash your dog. Check out exercise videos, cassettes and workout books from the public library and put some of their ideas into action.
Would You Like To Learn How To Roll Your Own Cigar? (5)
The goal of the school is not only to teach people how to roll the cigars but also to teach them the history of the industry in Ybor City. This is accomplished by providing the students with a textbook accompanying the class that covers the history of the cigar industry in the Ybor City district.
Toys For Newborns (6)
Even though it may be a year before your baby starts really showing how interested they are in the toys you have given them there are still tons of toys that your baby under one year will not only enjoy but will also help with their hand-eye coordination and motor skills.
Ideas For Toys For Babies Nine Months To Twelve Months (7)
The last items on our list for now are is building blocks. Blocks will be a staple toy that babies will enjoy for years. Wooden blocks, Lincoln logs, Big Legos, and other similar blocks will provide hours of creative, motor skill building fun.
Intensify Your Home Theater Experience With HDTV (8)
The closest thing this could compare to is digital satellite. If you want to go this route it is important that you get in touch with your local cable company to find out if it is even possible to do so.
Use Local Distractions To Help You Stick To Your Diet While On Vacation (9)
Remember, a successful diet is a lifelong lifestyle modification. You need to be able to incorporate healthful eating out activities into your routine. What happens if you DO stress?
Unforgettable Television Sports Cars From The 1970s (10)
Joe Mannix' custom Oldsmobile Toronado from Mannix Though Joe Mannix began his crime-fighting career in the 1960s, the hour-long drama bearing his name survived into the 1970s. His customized 425 1966 front-wheel drive convertible Oldsmobile Toronado featured a slew of high-tech advances including a short-waver radio receiver and a hidden compartment that often housed his sidearm.
Permalink to What’s The Difference Between Websites And Weblogs?