What is Blogging? Blog History & Statistics
How to Start a Blog and History of Online Blogging
Sep 2, 2009
Blogging grew over the past decade into a passionate hobby and even a lucrative business for some bloggers. It is likely most people have heard about blogs and blogging but for casual internet users the terminology may be confusing.
Understanding the history behind blogging and current blog usage will help explain why this powerful medium continues to grow rapidly. For new bloggers, deciding to use a pseudonym and finding best blogging platform are important decisions.
What is a Blog?
Pioneering blogger John Barger, author of the Robot Wisdom weblog, states weblogs first appeared in the late 1990s as a way for web users to log and share links to interesting websites. Weblogs were simple web pages published on the internet, typically by a single individual. These early weblogs provided a running list of entries, usually in chronological order from most recent to oldest. This concept showcasing the freshest blog content first remains true today.
Over time, the name weblog became abbreviated as 'blog' and the popularity of the medium grew rapidly. As the interest in reading blogs increased, the nature of blogs evolved from providing a list of links to showcasing lengthier writing on subjects of interest to the blog author. Blogs are now a personal journal through which any person can express their thoughts, feelings, political views or hobbies.
Blog authors and blog readers are growing in number. According to a study conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project in July 2006 entitled Bloggers, it is estimated 12 million Americans maintain a blog while 57 million Americans, about 39% of internet users, read blogs. The number of blog readers grew significantly between 2005 and 2006.
What is a Blogger?
Just as weblogs morphed into blogs, webloggers became known as bloggers. Bloggers are the people who write and publish the content displayed on the blogs. Bloggers come from all walks of life and are viewed to be an even mix of men and women. With the younger generation often the early adopters of new technology, it's not surprising that an estimated 54% of bloggers are under the age of 30.
Bloggers most often write to exhibit personal creativity, share experiences, and stay in touch with friends or family. Many blogging platforms allow many formatting features like adding videos and photos which help bring mere words to life. A smaller percent of bloggers do so to motivate or influence how others think, while only 7% blog as a way to make money.
According to the Pew study, it is believed 52% of bloggers use a pseudonym. When sharing personal thoughts and viewpoints, a segment of bloggers wish to remain private while publicly sharing information. In his August 21, 2009 CNN article "The Coming-out Stores of Anonymous Bloggers," John D. Stutter writes of 35 year-old mother Virginia Montanez who claims she was fired the day after she revealed her identity as the popular Pittsburgh blogger, PittGirl. Fearing similar retribution or just avoiding the spotlight, a large number of bloggers prefer to remain anonymous.
A blog trend emerging in recent years is with corporations seeking to capitalize on the medium. Many businesses now create blogs as part of a company's website. Corporate blogging is thought to create a direct, and often more personal, connection between consumers and businesses. Blogs are written by employees and can allow consumers the option of asking questions.
How to Find a Blogging Platform
Technological advancements over the past decade have created a new breed of blogs. Blogging platforms are the software used to create, edit and publish a blog on the internet. The blog platforms come in both free and paid versions, ranging in both technical difficulty and functionality.
For first-time bloggers, a free blogging site offered by Google's aptly named Blogger platform are an easy entry point. It's as simple as creating a user name and password, then logging in to select a blog template and begin publishing. Wordpress.com also offers a free version. These platforms are an ideal option for those with limited technical knowledge as there isn't anything to download and no knowledge of internet programming required.
More advanced users may opt to explore more robust platforms with greater functionality. Platforms with greater functionality and customization usually come greater need for technical skill and require some form of payment. Popular advanced blogging platforms include Wordpress.org, Movable Type, and TypePad.
The blogging platform decision should come down to the "three C's": Cost, Complexity, and Capabilities. A new blogger should review the information provided on each platform's site and also review blogs currently using a particular platform. An inquiry email to a blog owner will usually result in a lengthy list of pro's and con's to take into account. Ultimately, choosing a blog platform comes down to how much it costs, how easy it is to maintain, and which functionality the blog platform offers.
Blogging can be a fun and rewarding experience, as well as a great way to meet and interact with new people. Before publishing a blog, a new blogger should consider whether or not to remain anonymous and review popular blogs as examples. With free blog platforms readily available and quick to set up, it can be a cost-free investment requiring only time and passion.
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