This post started out quite different. I was just going to tell you what I thought a Blog Post was, my definition, but then I thought it would be more interesting to open it up to you.
The thought was prompted by a thread in the forum about an article by Jakob Nielsen advising people to “write articles not blog postings“.
My comment in the thread was that I thought he doesn’t understand what a blog is.
But am I wrong? Is it me who is confused about what a blog or blog post is?
After all, in the absence of an “official” definition, these things are decided by consensus. Most people who read blogs either don’t know they are reading a blog or have discovered them in the last couple of years. The vast majority of blogs do not generate revenue.
It could be my view point is wildly skewed.
If that is the case, who am I to tell Mr Nielson he is wrong? He is obviously a smart bloke with even smarter friends. He can definitely teach me a thing or two about usability. For what it’s worth, I do agree with some of the things he says in that article 🙂
OK, enough of that, here is what I think …
Without going into too much detail, I believe a blog is whatever you want to make it. I think many people think a blog post has to be either “what my cat ate for breakfast” or “here is a link, isn’t it cool?”. Yes, a blog post can be that, but as you will have seen, my blog posts tend to be more like essays or tutorials. Neither is right. If I had to pin down a razor-thin difference between “article” and “blog post” it would be that a blog post is intended to be part of a conversation whereas an article is written not expecting an “answer”.
What do you think a blog post is?
Please add your comments …
Tags: jakob nielson, blog, definition, blogging, news, tips