Definition
A frequent, chronological publication of personal thoughts and links.
Information
Blogs, or weblogs, started out as a mix of what was happening in a person’s life and what was happening on the Web, a kind of hybrid diary/news site.
The word “blog” is a shortened version of web logs or weblogs. Besides being shorter and catchier, “blog” seems less likely to cause confusion, as “web log” can also mean a server’s log files.
People maintained blogs before the term was coined, but the trend gained momentum with the rise of automated published systems, most notably Blogger at blogger.com, which lowered the technical barrier to entry for formatting and organizing posts. Now, self-hosted platforms such as WordPress offer new levels of functionality, with a large ecosystem of talented designers and developers serving the varied needs of millions of users.
Despite its grassroots beginnings, blogging has also become a popular platform for business, from companies trying to humanize their brand to solopreneurs seeking to make a full-time income online. But with increased opportunity comes increased competition, and it takes more to stand out now than in the early days of blogging. Still, there are so many more people online today, so the potential rewards are higher for bloggers who break through.
Blogging Tools
These are the basic blogging tools we use at marketingterms.com
Domain Name – Namecheap
WordPress Hosting – WP Engine
Content Management – WordPress
(WordPress) Theme – Astra
(WordPress) Page Builder – Elementor
To go beyond the basics, visit the lists of WordPress and marketing tools.
Articles About Blogging
How to Make Your Blog One-of-a-Kind In a Niche
SEMrush (January 12, 2018) sponsored
What Blogging Has Become
The Atlantic (February 26, 2015)
When Blogging Becomes a Slog
The New York Times (September 24, 2014)
Why I Blog
The Atlantic (November, 2008)
Blogging–It’s Good For You
The therapeutic value of blogging becomes a focus of study
Scientific American (June 1, 2008)
Blogging for Dollars: Giving Rise to the Professional Blogger
O’Reilly Net (August 12, 2002)
What We’re Doing When We Blog
O’Reilly Net (June 13, 2002)
Online Uprising
AJR (June 2002)
Blogonomics: Making a Living from Blogging
PressFlex (May 28, 2002)
Blah, Blah, Blah, and Blog
Wired (February 18, 2002)
Weblogs: A History and Perspective
rebeccablood.net (September 7, 2000)
Related Terms
premium theme, managed hosting
view all terms in the Blogging and Publishing glossary or all terms in the Digital Marketing glossary
