What is a Blog?

A blog (also known as a weblog) is a Web publishing tool that allows authors to quickly and easily self-publish text, artwork, links to other blogs or Web sites, and a whole array of other content.

Blogs are set-up like conventional Web sites, with navigation links, and other standard Web site features. Blogs have one standard characteristic, however: the posting. Blog postings are text entries, similar to a diary or journal, which include a posting date and may include comments by people other than the author, photos, links, or other digital media.

Postings are often short and frequently updated. They appear in reverse chronological order and can include archived entries.

Blogging for Business

Relatively unknown until the recent advent of easy-to-use, free publishing tools and a rising tide of publicity, blogs can be thought of as regularly updated Internet journals allowing Web users to publish to, connect with and hold an interactive dialogue with a worldwide audience. By the fourth quarter of 2003 there were an estimated two million bloggers worldwide — and the numbers are steadily rising.

Blogging solutions automate the work of publishing content onto the Web, including HTML editing, template development and layout. Blogs are based on a sequential publishing metaphor: the core structural element is a time-stamped entry. Most blogs are postings of thoughts, opinions and links to related news articles, other blogs and Web sites, but the list of B2B blogs and business-oriented Weblogs designed to support business is growing exponentially. Enterprise use of blog technology can target a range of activities, from project management and BI applications to customer support.

For more information on blogging, please click here...