What’s a blog?
Here is a relatively recent definition from the Wikipedia online encyclopedia (which is written by its users):
A blog (a portmanteau of web log) is a website where entries are commonly displayed in reverse chronological order. “Blog” can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog. Many blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject; others function as more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to its topic. The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs.
Thus, a blog is a form of electronic diary, dynamic and participative in nature, exploited by one or several persons looking to publish and, mostly, share information about specific topics.
The blogosphere has experienced phenomenal growth, mostly following the September 11 events. In April of 2004, there were only 2 million blogs world-wide and, in April of 2007, the number of blogs was estimated at 75 million.
Who can operate a blog?
Practically, anyone with a computer and an Internet connection can create and operate a blog, and specialized sites offer free blog creation platforms and hosting.
However, the design and management of professional or specialized blogs require specialized skills and knowledge of virtual communications. A blog can generate outstanding visibility and credibility but mistakes can become just as costly.
To travel in the blogosphere, you should know where you want to go… and how to get there.
There are tens of millions of blogs, but only a very small percentage of them attain sufficient notoriety to have a real impact.
What are the different types of blogs?
Executive blog: a blog managed and written by a company executive to maintain close links and discuss with various key interlocutors such as clients, employees, specialists, investors, etc.
General company blog: a public blog publishing industry and company news and information as well as comments (and answers when required) from web-surfers
Product of service-specific blog: a blog dedicated to information and discussions regarding a specific product or service
Social, medical of scientific blogs: these blogs foster exchanges about certain social (homelessness), medical (cancers, heart disease etc.) or scientific topics (astrophysics)
‘Technical’ blogs: these sites are usually operated by specialists to inform clients and discuss with them about the latest developments in a specific field
Internal communication blog: accessible through a corporate Intranet, this blog supports the company’s internal communications
Project blog: operated by a project manager to keep a team, a client or a contract provider informed of the evolution and progression of a specific project
Event blog: a blog specifically created for a one-time only or recurring event (trade show, festival, entertainment tour, etc.)
Personal blog: tens of millions of blogs are operated by a single person, a large percentage of them targeting specific subjects
Are blogs graphically or technically complex?
As with all forms of communication, blogs range from the simplest to the most sophisticated, depending on the subject, the information they deal with etc.
For instance, a blog dedicated to sophisticated multimedia technologies will necessarily showcase a certain level of technical savvy, while a blog dealing with a painful human issue should reflect a more sober approach: ”The medium is the message.”
Does a blog require hard work?
Communication always requires attention. Depending on how fast information evolves in your industry, you must remain at the forefront and update your blog on a regular basis. However, each time you intervene, you create a new opportunity to converse with your clients and target publics. In this respect, a blog is no waste of time and certainly more efficient and less costly than most conventional promotional tools.
-
Blogue YulMedia
- Jamais trop jeune pour le Web
- 500 000 pour la destruction d’un iPad
- BMW et le web 2.0
- Twitter et Facebook: Bientôt dans un téléviseur près de chez-vous
- Linkedin se connecte maintenant avec Twitter
- Un avion trace un coeur dans le ciel de Montréal
- Nous sommes à la recherche de blogueurs pour le portail Sympatico-MSN
- Plus...
-
Contactez-nous
