What is a BLOG (and how do I get one)?
You have probably heard someone say to “check out my blog” or have seen news programs, TV shows and friends and family say they have a blog online. Well, what IS a blog anyway?
Short Answer: A blog is an internet webpage that is easily updated with articles and pictures. The word “blog” is short for “web log.” That is, a web log or blog is an online journal. While journaling was the original function of a blog, they are now used as websites by themselves due to their ease of use. They are ideal for family newsletters, hobby sites, travel sites, teaching sites and even business sites! In fact, Witchy Tech is actually a blog.
Want to know more? Want a blog of your own? Read on!
Long Answer: Think of a regular website as an advertisement in your newspaper. The advertiser can put up images and words and there it stays every week, until the ad is taken down and a new ad put in its place. This involves changing out the pictures and rewriting the text, and possibly changing the size of the ad which would affect where it is placed in the newspaper. A blog is more like the editorial page of the newspaper. Not only can someone say whatever they wish, but the entire layout of the paper doesn’t need to be changed to accommodate the new articles, AND people can respond and talk about what you’ve written!
Because it is so easy to add content to a blog, it is ideal for hobby sites and family newsletter sites. A blog has a built-in “dashboard”…a place for the author to go to type in articles and upload pictures from their computer, without having to make or remake the webpage. Just like a newspaper can add letters to the editorial page without changing the format of the page, a blog can add articles within the framework, or template, of the website.
This makes it ideal for sites that require frequent updates, like a family newsletter site. For example, we live very far away from family and it is difficult to write letters and send pictures to them all. But I would still like our family and friends to know what is going on in our lives and hear what is going on in theirs. In order to keep the grandparents and aunts and uncles “in the loop,” I post the latest pictures and news on a blog for them all to see. I just log into my dashboard, click “write a post” and that’s it! I do the same for Witchy Tech, and my husband, Mr. Wonderful, regularly updates his hobby blog the same way.
Incidentally, Mr. Wonderful doesn’t know anything about making webpages, but he does know about his hobby! Would you like to share your hobby, growing kids or grandkids, travels, your thoughts, or your online community in a blog? It’s EASY!
How do I get a blog of my own?
Well, you can get one for FREE! You do not need to own a webpage or pay any money. The best services I have used are Wordpress.com and Blogger.com. All you have to do is sign up and follow the directions. Even a non-technophile like YOU can do it!
Witchy’s Tip: Try to limit your blog’s topic and theme, and update on a regular basis!
Did you find this article helpful? Did it give you this confidence to make a blog of your own? Please let me know in the comments section! I would love to hear from you!
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Great and informative article Witchy, I always enjoy reading your blog.