Breif History And Future OF Blogging | Where The blogging level will be in future

A Brief History of Blogging

Initially, blogging involved a personal web log, in which a person would journal about their day. From "web log" came the term "blog."

Like most new innovations on the Internet, many entrepreneurs saw a marketing potential in having a blog, and blogging took off from there. Not only can a blog be used for marketing, but also, a blog can be a home business in and of itself.

Blog Definition

A blog (also called a weblog or web log) is a website consisting of entries (also called posts) appearing in reverse chronological order with the most recent entry appearing first (similar in format to a daily journal). Blogs typically include features such as comments and links to increase user interactivity. Blogs are created using specific publishing software.

Variations of the term blog:

• Blogging: The act of writing a post for a blog
• Blogger: A person who writes content for a blog
• Blogosphere: The online community of blogs and bloggers

The World Before Blogging

There was a time when the Internet was just an informational tool. In the early life of the World Wide Web some 20 years ago, websites were simple and provided a one-sided conversation. As time went on, the Internet became more interactive with the introduction of transaction-based websites and online shopping, but the online world remained one-sided.

That all changed with the evolution of Web 2.0 (the social web) wherein user-generated content became an integral part of the online world. Today, users expect websites to provide a two-way conversation and web logs (or blogs) were born.

The Birth of Blogs

The earliest blogs started in the late 1990s as online diaries. Individuals posted information on a daily basis about their lives and opinions.

The daily posts were listed in reverse date order, so readers viewed the most recent post first and scrolled through previous posts. The format provided an ongoing inner monologue from the writer.

As blogs evolved, interactive features were added to create a two-way conversation. Readers took advantage of features that allowed them to leave comments on blog posts or link to posts on other blogs and websites to further the dialogue.

Blogs Today

As the Internet has become more social, blogs have gained in popularity. Today, there are over 100 million blogs with more entering the blogosphere every day. Blogs have become more than online diaries. In fact, blogging has become an important part of the online and offline worlds with popular bloggers impacting the worlds of politics, business, and society with their words.

The Future of Blogs

It seems inevitable that blogging will become even more powerful in the future with more people and businesses recognizing the power of bloggers as online influencers. Anyone can start a blog thanks to the simple (and often free) tools readily available online. The question will likely become not, "Why should I start a blog?" but rather, "Why shouldn't I start a blog?"

Learn More About Blogs and Blogging

Lifewire.com'sde to Web Logs will help you navigate the blogosphere from starting a blog to marketing and monetizing it. Don't be intimidated. Take a look around this site to learn how to publish your own blog and be a part of the blogging community.

Blog Versus Website

Many people are still confused over what constitutes a blog over a website. Part of the problem is that many businesses use both, integrating them into a single web presence. But there are two features of a blog that set it apart from a traditional website.

1. Blogs are updated frequently. Whether it's a mommy blog in which a woman shares adventures in parenting, a food blog sharing new recipes, or a business providing updates to its services, blogs have new content added several times a week.
2. Blogs allow for reader engagement. Blogs are often included in social media because of the ability for readers to comment and have a discussion with the blogger and others who read the blog makes it social.

Why Is Blogging Is So Popular?

There are several reasons why entrepreneurs have turned to blogging.

1. Search engines love new content, and as a result, blogging is a great search engine optimization (SEO) tool.

1. It's a great way to keep your customers and clients up-to-date on what's going on, let them know about new deals, and provide tips. The more a customer comes to your blog, the more likely they are to spend money.
2. It allows you to build trust and rapport with your prospects. Not only can you show off what you know, building your expertise and credibility, but because people can post comments and interact with you, they can get to know you, and hopefully, will trust you enough to buy from you.

1. Blogs can make money. Along with your product or service, blogs can generate income from other options, such as advertising and affiliate products.

Is there a Downside to Blogging?

Blogging is popular because it works as a marketing tool and makes money. But blogging isn't all rainbows and unicorns, in the world of online income. Before starting a blog as a means to make money or to promote your existing business, you should consider these potential downsides:

1. Blogging requires a great deal of time. For blogs to be effective at SEO and engaging readers, it needs to be updated regularly. The Internet is littered with abandoned blogs that haven't been updated in months or even years. The success of blogging comes from having people return, and they only return when there's new stuff to read. That means generating content at least several times a week, which takes time.
2. You need ideas to write about. To keep the content coming, you have to have ideas to write about. The good news is that you don't have to write it all. You can have guest writers or hire freelancers. Another option is to curate content from others or do an alternative post, such as using video.
3. The payoff isn't immediate. One of the biggest frustrations with blogging is that it's time-consuming with little payoff in the beginning. It takes time to build up a readership and momentum.

Learn More About Blogs and Blogging

I at madelifesmart.com  will help you navigate the blogosphere from starting a blog to marketing and monetizing it. Don't be intimidated. Take a look around this site to learn how to publish your own blog and be a part of the blogging community.