If you spend any time on the internet, you've probably seen quite a few
examples of the relatively new web site format known as a blog. Ever wondered
how to get your own? Read on...
What is a blog, anyway?
Blogs, short for web logs, are personalized online journals users can post
to as often as they want to share thoughts, news, updates or whatever crosses
their minds with the world. Internet browsers can discover blogs on just about
any topic imaginable. Some blogs are just for fun; some are sounding boards for
political or societal expression; some are informative and function as active
forums for a particular subject or area. Though the topics vary, the common
aspect of a blog is the ability to post regular updates with ease.
Who blogs?
Everybody! Most blog providers are free and easy to use, so anyone with
access to the internet can set up a blog in minutes. There are blogs by
waitresses, mechanics and stay-at-home parents; blogs by industry professionals
in every conceivable job category (the most popular of these are
"insiders" who anonymously expose what goes on beyond the public eye
in their particular industry); even a host of celebrities and media
personalities have set up blogs allowing fans a personal glimpse into their
lives.
Why should I blog?
Many blog users simply enjoy the ability to share their thoughts with people
around the world. Some use blogs to transmit information in a manner that makes
it easy for search engines to find; since many blogs are updated daily, their
content is more likely to be picked up by spiders (those little electronic
pulses that crawl the web looking for new material to list on search engines).
More often, blogs are becoming a new promotional venue for authors, artists,
musicians—anyone looking for fans or converts. You can use your blog to
communicate, promote a product or an idea, or just connect with people around
the world who share your interests. And best of all: blogging is fun!
How can I blog?
Setting up a blog is fast, simple and free. The majority of blog hosters
provide service that is no more complicated than setting up an e-mail account.
Blog providers generally allow you to customize the look of your blog,
including background, font size, colors and link lists; let you choose whether
or not to allow reader comments on your posts; offer the option of joining
various blogging groups or communities; and provide easy tools for creating
multiple-user blogs (so, for example, your bowling team can set up a blog that
all members can post to from their home computers). No knowledge of HTML coding
is necessary. All you need is a valid e-mail address, a user name and password,
and a catchy title for your blog, and you're in business!
Where can I get a blog?
There are several service providers that host blogs. The most popular,
Blogger, is run by Google (no surprise there) and has millions of users posting
daily. The links following this article point to some of the most popular and
easiest to use blog hosting companies.
Happy blogging!
External Links:
Blogger - The largest, most popular blog host with a large selection of customizable tenplates, user groups and more.
LiveJournal - Another popular blog hosting community.