October 18, 2022 | Posted in WordPress
If you want to start a blog or website, knowing what these words mean will help you reach your goals. This beginner guide will explain what a blog is and how it differs from a website. We will also talk about real-world usage scenarios and the benefits of each.
A blog is a website where the posts are shown in the order of when they were written (newer content appears first). Blog entries or “blog posts” are often used to describe the content of a blog. Most blogs are run by one person or a small group who wants to share information casually.
But now, many corporate blogs put out a lot of informative content and show thought leadership. Most blog posts have an area where people can leave remarks about the article.
In the center of the 1990s, online logs and journals gave form to blogs. At that time, people who used the internet already had personal websites that posted regular updates about their lives, thoughts, and comments on the world around them.
In the late 1990s, the term weblog was first used. It then changed to the weblog, weblog, and finally, just blog. As the number of these kinds of websites grew, more and more tools came out to make it easier for people to make online journals and blogs. These tools made blogging more famous and made it more comfortable for people who aren’t tech-savvy to utilize technology.
Blogger.com, a popular site for blogging, opened in 1999. In February 2003, Google bought Blogger.com. In May 2003, WordPress arrived with its initial version as a platform for blogs. WordPress is the most well-known blogging platform worldwide, powering over 43% of all websites.
What’s the variance between a weblog and a website?
One kind of website is a blog. The only true difference between a blog and other websites is that blogs are regularly updated with new content shown in reverse chronological order. (new blog posts first). Most websites are static, with content organized on pages that don’t get changed very often.
A blog, on the other hand, is constantly changing and is usually updated more often. Some bloggers write several new posts every day. Blogs can be a part of a more extensive website. Most businesses have a blog section where they post new content to keep their customers informed and educated.
WordPress lets you make both a website and a blog, which is why many small business owners use it to build their websites. All blogs, in simple terms, can be websites or parts of websites. But not every website can be called a “blog.”
Like, WPBeginner is both a website and a blog. Other pages on our website, like the glossary, about all of us, and contact pages, don’t look like blogs. Now, let’s look at an additional example. This time, it was a website called Awesome Motive. It is a biz website run by the company that runs WPBeginner.
It doesn’t have a blog or content that is published in order. It organizes and shows a company’s information on pages and collects user feedback through a contact form. You can also say that categories and tags are used to organize blog posts. On the other hand, web pages are used to organize and show content.
If you’re starting, you might wonder if you should set up a blog or publish a website. Which is better? The decision will be based on what your goals are. Traditional websites for many small businesses worldwide are composed of just pages and don’t have a blog. Small informational websites are often designed to give a business, group, or person a web presence.
On either hand, more and more businesses have realized how useful a blog can be in their overall marketing strategy. Traditional websites get a separate blog section that business owners use to get more search engine traffic. That’s because blogs have been shown to improve SEO (SEO).
Blogs also have an RSS feed feature that lets people keep up with your most recent posts. When a new post comes out, the RSS feed is automatically updated. Smart marketers often link an RSS feed to an email newsletter or a web notification to inform their users about new posts, new products, and more.
Take OptinMonster, which is software for getting leads. Its website has traditional sales pages that show off the product and its features. They also have an information-based blog that teaches people how to get more leads and increase conversions.
This helps them get free search engine traffic and increase sales by covering their industry keywords. Adding a blog to your website can assist you in reaching your target audience, developing your email list, and selling products, whether you’re a business, a non-profit, or a professional.
WordPress is the most widely utilized platform for blogging and a powerful system for managing content. Beginners often get these two words mixed up. Because blog posts are time-sensitive, they are shown in reverse chronological order, from newest to oldest, on your blog page. This means that users will have to look further to find older posts.
Static pages do not change, like your about page, contact page, landing page for your products or services, the home page, and more. Learn more about the difference between posts and pages in our guide for new users. Pages are often used to set up the structure and layout of a website. Blogs can also have pages next to them.
What are some good blog examples?
Blogs are used by a lot of people and businesses all over the world. This means that you can find a blog about almost anything you can think of. Here are some examples of popular blogs that you can check out.
We chose the best blog posts in different fields by hand to show you how different blogs can be. A Little Taste, One of the most popular blogs about food and cooking, is called “Pinch of Yum.” Lindsay, who used to teach high school, started a blog that helped her quit her job and become a blogger.
WeTheParents
Neve and Keane run the popular parenting blog WeTheParents (the parents). They give tips for raising kids to moms and dads and make money by getting paid a commission on the recommended products.
What We Wore
We Wore What a well-known fashion blog that Danielle Bernstein started is. It has more than 1.5 million followers and talks about everything from fashion to menswear to interior design.
Nerd Fitness
Nerd Fitness is a fitness blog started by Steve Kamb to help people stay fit. It gives tips on diet and exercise, fitness advice, motivation, and support.
Lost With a Purpose
Alex runs a popular travel blog where she writes about her trips and gives other backpackers tips, advice, and guides.
Tiny Buddha
Lori Deschene made Tiny Buddha, a blog about personal growth. The blog has posts about happiness, love, connections, mindfulness, spiritual practices, simplicity, clean lines, letting go, and more. There are a lot more great blogs about many different things out there. For more ideas, check out our list of the most popular types of blogs.