Blogs debabbled
Let's start this off with an easy one. This is a blog. What's a blog? The word itself was derived from "web log", which is surprisingly self-explanatory for the geek world. In the early days of the internet, weblogs or "blogs" typically took the form of online journals or diaries. Unlike other website content, these online journal entries were typically tagged with the date they were written and past entries were available for viewing (just like a paper diary).Over time, blogging (yes, it's also a verb) evolved to include all kinds of content, often topic-based, from corporate intrigue to Hollywood gossip to political scandals. At the same time, as the popularity of blogging increased, a number of tools and websites developed to easily create and maintain blogs. Those tools created a sort of natural convergence where blogs took on a common look and functionality. To view a random assortment of what might be called typical blogs, take a look at Blogger.com.
Building a simple, personal blog is relatively easy and inexpensive. You can, for example, wax philosophic about your meatloaf preferences at LiveJournal or demonstrate your expertise on Mongolian tree frog hibernation at Blogger. Basic blogs are generally free to set up and don't require much in the way of website design or programming experience. Most sites offer more features (template choices, customization options, etc.) on a paid subscription basis.
While you can use the same online tools to develop a blog for your company website, most people choose tools that allow greater customization, which typically require some programming experience. The bigger trick, though, is probably the content itself. While setting up a blog is reasonably simple, finding something to say on a regular basis and making sure that something is relevant to your target audience is easier said than done. A professional blog is essentially a form of branding and it should ultimately reflect your expertise and professionalism.
