Blogging is a vastly popular and powerful medium for writers of all skills levels and interests. If you haven’t yet joined the millions of others enjoying the benefits and adventure of publishing a blog, there is still time to join in the fun. We’ll start of with some very basic information that you will need before jumping into the fray.
What is a Blog?
In its most simple form, a blog is simply website that contains content including such things as experiences, observations, opinions, or other related information. A blog can be written by either a single author or a group of writers. Why is it called a blog? People have been sharing information on the internet in various forms since the inception of the internet, but in 1997, John Barger coined the term “weblog.” Two short years later, in 1999, Peter Merholz shortened the term and thus coined today’s common term, “blog.”
What is the Blogosphere?
As blogging (the act of writing and publishing a blog) grew in popularity, many people began trying to distinguish between them and traditional websites. In order to better classify and group blogs into a clearer identity, the term blogosphere was born. It is within this “realm” in which blogs belong.
How Many Blogs are there?
Many attempts have been made to catalog and count the number of blogs in existence, but the fact of the matter is that the number varies greatly from day-to-day, if not hour-to-hour. The reason is because while many more people are creating new blogs, older blogs fall into disuse. It is safe to say that the number of blogs range in the multiple millions.
Is there still room for you?
Some pundits have declared blogging to be a passe’ form of communication, but the majority of active bloggers will adamantly disagree. Blogging was and is popular because people have interesting stories to tell. Individuality is perhaps one of the greatest strengths of blogs and when you come across a particular blog that strikes your fancy, your readership simply encourages that writer to continue in their writing endeavors. If you have something interesting to share and can figure out a rather unique way to share it, your participation is not only welcomed, it is invited!
How can you get started?
This question is as complicated as it is simple. The fact is that your blog can be as plain or as complex as you have desire to create it. If you follow this article series you will learn more about what it takes to be a blogger, but you are highly advised to do a little research on sites such as this one before making your initial leap. If you jump into blogging too fast, you may find yourself confused or burn out in the initial process. We bloggers love to see new people and new ideas so we encourage you to line up a successful effort from the beginning so that we can enjoy your writing and opinions for years to come.
