1.2. FEATURES AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF BLOG
To make blogging as simple and effective as possible, blog hosts are constantly developing new features for blogs. Most of the blog come with a Simple-to-use interface commonly known as “Dashboard”. Simple-to-use interface lets you change fonts, bold or italicize your text, adjust text color and alignment, and more. All you need to do is - click “create new post” button – Give the post title – write the content and then click “Publish”. That’s it! That’s what publishing a blog post is all about. Most blog comes with an easy-to-use spell-check feature and a simple way to add tags and categories to your posts.
Blogs can use any layout and can cover many different topics, but they all have basic characteristics in common:
Blog Entry: Blog entries are posted in reverse-chronological order. The order is similar to a backwards diary, running from the most recent at the top of a page to the least recent at the bottom. Blog entries usually include the date and specific time that they were posted (a timestamp). The blogger’s name is usually listed with the timestamp. By default, blogs usually end “Posted by [blogger’s name].” Older blog entries are usually found in an archive. Often the archive is sorted by months and years. The archive links are usually in a sidebar on the page.
Blog Title: Blog entries usually have a title that describes or relates to the content of the entry. Titles are usually set off in a layout with a bold font.
Blog Content: In the main body of the blog entry, you can add words, pictures, videos, audios, links, forms etc. Finally, the content of the post is editable by the post author or the administrator by clicking on the link that states “edit this” which is at the top of the post. If you don’t have a button that says “edit this”, it means you don’t have adequate permissions to edit the blog and you would need to contact the site administrator to gain proper authorizations.
Category and Tag: Blog entries can list categories, assigned by the blogger. When a blog includes categories, you will usually find a list of the categories in a sidebar on the site. One very important feature of a blog entry is the ability to categorize and tag posts so that they can be easily found for future use. Once the blog has been categorized or tagged, users will be able to easily search by category or tag in order to find a blog post.
Search Box: If you look to the right side of your screen you will see the white search box in which you can either type the category or tag name or a few specific words from a post in order to find a post. The search component will search every post which has been added to the blog for the key words you type into the box. In addition, you can view posts by category or tag. To do this simply click on the category name to the right side of the screen. This will allow you to view all the posts in a certain category or tag. You can add as many categories to a blog as you like, so it is important that everyone accessing the blog uses descriptive category or tag names and has an understanding of what each category or tag contains.
Attach Files: Also, with most blog applications the author of a post has the ability to attach files to a post. That way if my post is instructions about how to fill out a specific form, a reader would be able to download the attached form directly from the blog. However, the capacity for attached files may be limited.
Comment and Reply: Readers and the blogger can usually comment on (or reply to) a blog entry. The comments can turn into a dialogue, with the readers and blogger talking together. One can also reply to a comment and start interpersonal discussion or can also reply as a whole to the original post.
Group blogging: One can stay single or turn a blog into a group blog with multiple authors. It's easy to create a team blog, allowing multiple bloggers to contribute to a single blog. You select which team members have administrative authority and those who are just authors. You can also choose to make your blog private and restrict who can view it. This puts you in full control of your blog.
Languages of the world: Blog platform such as Wordpress and Blogger is currently available in 41 languages including English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Arabic, Hebrew, and Persian speakers can use Blogger with Right-to-Left display and formatting. And transliteration is available for five Indic languages.
Earn money: With blog platform such as Wordpress.org and Blogger.com, you can earn money just by posting high quality original content on your favorite topics. Blogger.com has a dedicated Monetize tab that allows you to easily place AdSense ads on your blog.
Template and Design: The look and feel of the blog is also editable, with proper permissions. With most blog applications you can select different pre-set appearances, referred to as “presentation” on WordPress and “skins” on other blog applications. These presets will change the background of the blog, the text and in some cases the layout of the options buttons (such as placing the “edit” button on the bottom of the post as opposed to the top of the post as in the format we have here.
There are various types of blogs in the blogosphere. Due to the rising ideas and extensions of blogs, the types of blog increase day by day. There are many different types of blogs, differing not only in the type of content, but also in the way that content is delivered or written. For our better understanding, we can categories blogs into the followings:
Personal blogs: The personal blog is an ongoing diary or commentary written by an individual.
Microblogging: Microblogging is the practice of posting small pieces of digital content—which could be text, pictures, links, short videos, or other media—on the Internet. Microblogging offers a portable communication mode that feels organic and spontaneous to many and has captured the public imagination. Friends use it to keep in touch, business associates use it to coordinate meetings or share useful resources, and celebrities and politicians (or their publicists) microblog about concert dates, lectures, book releases, or tour schedules. A wide and growing range of add-on tools enables sophisticated updates and interaction with other applications and the resulting profusion of functionality is helping to define new possibilities for this type of communication.[1] Examples of these include Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr.
Corporate and organizational blogs: A blog can be private, as in most cases, or it can be for business purposes. Blogs used internally to enhance the communication and culture in a corporation or externally for marketing, branding or public relations purposes are called corporate blogs. Similar blogs for clubs and societies are called club blogs, group blogs, or by similar names; typical use is to inform members and other interested parties of club and member activities.
By genre: Some blogs focus on a particular subject, such as political blogs, health blogs, travel blogs (also known as travelogs), gardening blogs, house blogs, fashion blogs, project blogs, education blogs, niche blogs, classical music blogs, quizzing blogs and legal blogs (often referred to as a blawgs) or dreamlogs. Two common types of genre blogs are art blogs and music blogs. A blog featuring discussions especially about home and family is not uncommonly called a mom blog and one made popular is by Erica Diamond who created Womenonthefence.com which is syndicated to over two million readers monthly.[2] While not a legitimate type of blog, one used for the sole purpose of spamming is known as a Splog.
By media type: A blog comprising videos is called a vlog, one comprising links is called a linklog, a site containing a portfolio of sketches is called a sketchblog or one comprising photos is called a photoblog. Blogs with shorter posts and mixed media types are called tumblelogs. Blogs that are written on typewriters and then scanned are called typecast or typecast blogs; see typecasting (blogging). A rare type of blog hosted on the Gopher Protocol is known as a Phlog.
By device: Blogs can also be defined by which type of device is used to compose it. A blog written by a mobile device like a mobile phone or PDA could be called a moblog.[3] One early blog was Wearable Wireless Webcam, an online shared diary of a person's personal life combining text, video, and pictures transmitted live from a wearable computer and EyeTap device to a web site. This practice of semi-automated blogging with live video together with text was referred to as sousveillance. Such journals have been used as evidence in legal matters.
Reverse blog: A Reverse Blog is composed by its users rather than a single blogger. This system has the characteristics of a blog, and the writing of several authors. These can be written by several contributing authors on a topic, or opened up for anyone to write. There is typically some limit to the number of entries to keep it from operating like a Web Forum.
In addition to the frequency of updates, the thing that distinguishes most blogs from ordinary Web pages is the inclusion of forums for readers to post comments to which the blogger might respond. The degree to which dissenting views are tolerated depends on the publisher, but most Web sites must regularly prune “spam”—insertions of commercial and pornographic ads into the text of an apparent comment or the use of insulting and defamatory language. Trackback, an Internet function, facilitates communication by allowing bloggers to monitor who is reading and discussing their site. In turn, bloggers often post a “blogroll,” or a list of other blogs that they read and respect. Blogging is a conversational activity that seeks to create a community or reflect an existing community.[4]
[1] ___, "7 Things You Should Know About Microblogging" (www.educause.edu: 17/4/2013),http://www.educause.edu/library/resources/7-things-you-should-know-about-microblogging.
[2] Casserly, Meghan and Goudreau, Jenna, (www.forbes.com: 18/4/2013), http://www.forbes.com/2011/06/23/100-best-web-sites-for-women-blogs-2011.html.
[3] ___, “Blogging Goes Mobile” (www.news.bbc.co.uk: 18/4/2013), http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2783951.stm.
[4] Michael Aaron Dennis, "blog." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Ultimate Reference Suite. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, 2012. (CD-ROM).
To make blogging as simple and effective as possible, blog hosts are constantly developing new features for blogs. Most of the blog come with a Simple-to-use interface commonly known as “Dashboard”. Simple-to-use interface lets you change fonts, bold or italicize your text, adjust text color and alignment, and more. All you need to do is - click “create new post” button – Give the post title – write the content and then click “Publish”. That’s it! That’s what publishing a blog post is all about. Most blog comes with an easy-to-use spell-check feature and a simple way to add tags and categories to your posts.
Blogs can use any layout and can cover many different topics, but they all have basic characteristics in common:
Blog Entry: Blog entries are posted in reverse-chronological order. The order is similar to a backwards diary, running from the most recent at the top of a page to the least recent at the bottom. Blog entries usually include the date and specific time that they were posted (a timestamp). The blogger’s name is usually listed with the timestamp. By default, blogs usually end “Posted by [blogger’s name].” Older blog entries are usually found in an archive. Often the archive is sorted by months and years. The archive links are usually in a sidebar on the page.
Blog Title: Blog entries usually have a title that describes or relates to the content of the entry. Titles are usually set off in a layout with a bold font.
Blog Content: In the main body of the blog entry, you can add words, pictures, videos, audios, links, forms etc. Finally, the content of the post is editable by the post author or the administrator by clicking on the link that states “edit this” which is at the top of the post. If you don’t have a button that says “edit this”, it means you don’t have adequate permissions to edit the blog and you would need to contact the site administrator to gain proper authorizations.
Category and Tag: Blog entries can list categories, assigned by the blogger. When a blog includes categories, you will usually find a list of the categories in a sidebar on the site. One very important feature of a blog entry is the ability to categorize and tag posts so that they can be easily found for future use. Once the blog has been categorized or tagged, users will be able to easily search by category or tag in order to find a blog post.
Search Box: If you look to the right side of your screen you will see the white search box in which you can either type the category or tag name or a few specific words from a post in order to find a post. The search component will search every post which has been added to the blog for the key words you type into the box. In addition, you can view posts by category or tag. To do this simply click on the category name to the right side of the screen. This will allow you to view all the posts in a certain category or tag. You can add as many categories to a blog as you like, so it is important that everyone accessing the blog uses descriptive category or tag names and has an understanding of what each category or tag contains.
Attach Files: Also, with most blog applications the author of a post has the ability to attach files to a post. That way if my post is instructions about how to fill out a specific form, a reader would be able to download the attached form directly from the blog. However, the capacity for attached files may be limited.
Comment and Reply: Readers and the blogger can usually comment on (or reply to) a blog entry. The comments can turn into a dialogue, with the readers and blogger talking together. One can also reply to a comment and start interpersonal discussion or can also reply as a whole to the original post.
Group blogging: One can stay single or turn a blog into a group blog with multiple authors. It's easy to create a team blog, allowing multiple bloggers to contribute to a single blog. You select which team members have administrative authority and those who are just authors. You can also choose to make your blog private and restrict who can view it. This puts you in full control of your blog.
Languages of the world: Blog platform such as Wordpress and Blogger is currently available in 41 languages including English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Arabic, Hebrew, and Persian speakers can use Blogger with Right-to-Left display and formatting. And transliteration is available for five Indic languages.
Earn money: With blog platform such as Wordpress.org and Blogger.com, you can earn money just by posting high quality original content on your favorite topics. Blogger.com has a dedicated Monetize tab that allows you to easily place AdSense ads on your blog.
Template and Design: The look and feel of the blog is also editable, with proper permissions. With most blog applications you can select different pre-set appearances, referred to as “presentation” on WordPress and “skins” on other blog applications. These presets will change the background of the blog, the text and in some cases the layout of the options buttons (such as placing the “edit” button on the bottom of the post as opposed to the top of the post as in the format we have here.
There are various types of blogs in the blogosphere. Due to the rising ideas and extensions of blogs, the types of blog increase day by day. There are many different types of blogs, differing not only in the type of content, but also in the way that content is delivered or written. For our better understanding, we can categories blogs into the followings:
Personal blogs: The personal blog is an ongoing diary or commentary written by an individual.
Microblogging: Microblogging is the practice of posting small pieces of digital content—which could be text, pictures, links, short videos, or other media—on the Internet. Microblogging offers a portable communication mode that feels organic and spontaneous to many and has captured the public imagination. Friends use it to keep in touch, business associates use it to coordinate meetings or share useful resources, and celebrities and politicians (or their publicists) microblog about concert dates, lectures, book releases, or tour schedules. A wide and growing range of add-on tools enables sophisticated updates and interaction with other applications and the resulting profusion of functionality is helping to define new possibilities for this type of communication.[1] Examples of these include Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr.
Corporate and organizational blogs: A blog can be private, as in most cases, or it can be for business purposes. Blogs used internally to enhance the communication and culture in a corporation or externally for marketing, branding or public relations purposes are called corporate blogs. Similar blogs for clubs and societies are called club blogs, group blogs, or by similar names; typical use is to inform members and other interested parties of club and member activities.
By genre: Some blogs focus on a particular subject, such as political blogs, health blogs, travel blogs (also known as travelogs), gardening blogs, house blogs, fashion blogs, project blogs, education blogs, niche blogs, classical music blogs, quizzing blogs and legal blogs (often referred to as a blawgs) or dreamlogs. Two common types of genre blogs are art blogs and music blogs. A blog featuring discussions especially about home and family is not uncommonly called a mom blog and one made popular is by Erica Diamond who created Womenonthefence.com which is syndicated to over two million readers monthly.[2] While not a legitimate type of blog, one used for the sole purpose of spamming is known as a Splog.
By media type: A blog comprising videos is called a vlog, one comprising links is called a linklog, a site containing a portfolio of sketches is called a sketchblog or one comprising photos is called a photoblog. Blogs with shorter posts and mixed media types are called tumblelogs. Blogs that are written on typewriters and then scanned are called typecast or typecast blogs; see typecasting (blogging). A rare type of blog hosted on the Gopher Protocol is known as a Phlog.
By device: Blogs can also be defined by which type of device is used to compose it. A blog written by a mobile device like a mobile phone or PDA could be called a moblog.[3] One early blog was Wearable Wireless Webcam, an online shared diary of a person's personal life combining text, video, and pictures transmitted live from a wearable computer and EyeTap device to a web site. This practice of semi-automated blogging with live video together with text was referred to as sousveillance. Such journals have been used as evidence in legal matters.
Reverse blog: A Reverse Blog is composed by its users rather than a single blogger. This system has the characteristics of a blog, and the writing of several authors. These can be written by several contributing authors on a topic, or opened up for anyone to write. There is typically some limit to the number of entries to keep it from operating like a Web Forum.
In addition to the frequency of updates, the thing that distinguishes most blogs from ordinary Web pages is the inclusion of forums for readers to post comments to which the blogger might respond. The degree to which dissenting views are tolerated depends on the publisher, but most Web sites must regularly prune “spam”—insertions of commercial and pornographic ads into the text of an apparent comment or the use of insulting and defamatory language. Trackback, an Internet function, facilitates communication by allowing bloggers to monitor who is reading and discussing their site. In turn, bloggers often post a “blogroll,” or a list of other blogs that they read and respect. Blogging is a conversational activity that seeks to create a community or reflect an existing community.[4]
[1] ___, "7 Things You Should Know About Microblogging" (www.educause.edu: 17/4/2013),http://www.educause.edu/library/resources/7-things-you-should-know-about-microblogging.
[2] Casserly, Meghan and Goudreau, Jenna, (www.forbes.com: 18/4/2013), http://www.forbes.com/2011/06/23/100-best-web-sites-for-women-blogs-2011.html.
[3] ___, “Blogging Goes Mobile” (www.news.bbc.co.uk: 18/4/2013), http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2783951.stm.
[4] Michael Aaron Dennis, "blog." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Ultimate Reference Suite. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, 2012. (CD-ROM).
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