A blog, which is short for weblog, is a website that is regularly updated with articles. Initially, these articles were conversational or informal in style. However, over the past couple of decades, the meaning of the term has changed slightly and may include medium and small news sites.
A strict definition of a blog is a record of a person’s thoughts, opinions, and experiences which they place online for visitors to read. It is a type of personal diary or journal that a person maintains for public viewing – in its narrowest sense.
The verb to blog means to keep a record of somebody’s thoughts, experiences, opinions, news items, etc., i.e., to maintain a blog.
In the United Kingdom, people use the expression Joe Bloggs when referring to a typical or average man. In North American, people say Joe Blow or Joe Average.
This article focuses on the meaning of blog when it refers to an online diary or journal.
Etymology of blog
Etymology is the study of the origin of words and how or whether their meanings over time have changed.
The word Weblog appeared in 1993, while Blog emerged in 1998 with the meaning “online journal.”
The word evolved from the early 1990s Online Diary in which writers kept a running account of their personal experiences and other events.
Newspaper or blog?
The New York Times, Guardian, and Washington Post are newspapers, including their online versions. We would not refer to them as blogs, partly because they are major and established news organizations.
However, journalists who work for major newspapers may have their own blogs, which are possibly within their employer’s website. In their blogs, they post their opinions, personal experiences, other events, and often answer questions that readers send them.
A small and young newspaper may be referred to as a blog, even though what it does, i.e., publish news items, is no different to what its major counterparts do.
Monetizing your blog
Most people start off their blogs because they want to put out information which they consider to be interesting, informative, and/or educational. As their visitor traffic grows, some start wondering whether their blog might earn them money.
It is possible to make a decent amount of money from your blog, regardless of whether it is a business or personal one. You should keep in mind that it isn’t something that will make you rich quickly, either, especially if it isn’t done properly.
People can monetize their blogs in the following way:
- Sell advertising space.
- Use affiliate links.
- Sell digital products and/or services.
- Sell memberships.
- Set up an online store.