What the heck is a blog? This is a question that has been a part of many conversations this month. Four weeks ago, I did not know the answer myself. I am still learning, but together we are smarter.
I’ve asked Mike Sansone, a social media guru (and my blog coach), to help us dissect a blog site.
A blog site is a collection of web pages. A web site is also a collection of web pages. There are three main differences between the two:
- A Blog has time-stamped, archived articles called blog posts.
- These posts each have their own Internet Address or URL (a permalink) – but they are collected in an Index.
- A Blog offers a way so readers can interact with the author – usually in the comments section. A "comment" link can normally be found at the bottom of a blog post.
- All comments appear on the permalink page
- A Blog offers readers to subscribe to the content via RSS or Feeds
- The answer to "What the Heck is RSS?" courtesy of Brian Clark.
When I write a blog post here, it automatically appears at the top of this main index page. By clicking on the headline, you will be directed to the "permalink" or permanent link. Go ahead, give it a try.
Once you’re on the permalink, you’ll be able to read comments — or add your own.
Here are a couple of drawings Mike sent over (click an image to enlarge):
As you go into different sections of the blog site, see if you can tell which is a permalink and which is an index. And of course…join in the conversation with a comment on any post that inspires you.
Our next blog dissection will cover the parts of the footer (all that stuff right below this line).
