If you’re here reading this, you may well be having the same question – you’ve come to the right place!
It’s a good question to ask at the beginning of any kind of blogging for new bloggers!
In this simple guide, we’re going to walk you through what blogging is, the history of blogging, types of blogs, examples of the most popular and successful blogs in different industries, and how to make money blogging these days.
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Table of Contents
What is a Blog?
Before illustrating with an example – here is the standard definition of the ‘what is a blog’ question:
“A website containing a writer’s or group of writers’ own experiences, observations, opinions, etc., and often having images and links to other websites.” From the Source.
Still new and kind of confusing 😕!
So let’s use our example: A blog is like a Magazine 📰 or Journal on a website! You can even call it your online Magazine 🌐. And that’s why so many times we refer our website as a blog.
Right now what you’re reading 👨💻 is an article 📄 (blog post, written content for informational, educational purpose) on a blog (in a Magazine). Then the blog holds what you’re reading in the post.
Let’s dive into a little more detail.
What does blog mean?
When you combine these two words “web” and “log” – you get the word “blog”
If you can call a blog your online journal, which means available on the web, so the activity of updating it is “blogging” then the person who does that is a “blogger”.
History of Blogging.
In 1997 the term “web log” was coined by Jorn Barger.
The short form, “blog,” was coined by Peter Merholz, who decided to pronounce the word “weblog” as wee’- blog. Or “blog” for short in 1999. The Source.
Here’s a brief overview of the history of blogging (The Early Years, Growth of Blogs, Blogs Reach the Mainstream…………The Future of Blogging).
How Do Blogs Work?
Before you create a blog, it’s very important to pick your blog topic, write about it, and post that article using the right blogging platform of your choice on the web.
There are some blogs dedicated to teaching, training, and helping new beginners to start their own blogs and earn income blogging.
After learning, it’s factual that some of the most popular and successful blogs are celebrity lifestyle blogs, travel blogs, movie blogs, sports blogs, politics blogs, fashion blogs, News Blogs – owned by individuals, companies, Group of people working together to achieve one goal.
A blog works in a dynamic form, posts are published regularly and archived frequently sorted into categories of all the latest posts. The most recent one is at top of the main page. You have to make sure that you’re consistent with quality content as the key for a blog to work to your improvement.
What is the Purpose of a Blog?
It can depend on what you may want to use it for!
Blogs can be used for different following purposes:
- Blogs are used to teach, Coach others as well as to sell products to make a full-time income online.
- Develop your personal brand.
- Enables To Optimize and Helps You Rank on Search Engines.
- To help you earn a passive income in various ways.
- You can use a blog to solve your audiences’ problems even before they discover your products or services.
- Reviewing products
- There are a lot of benefits of blogs and their importance to company revenues – promoting brands and businesses.
- To Share Information
- Blogs are the primary source of income for some bloggers.
What is the difference between a blog and a website?
The blogosphere is made up of all blogs and their interconnections. The term implies that blogs exist together as a connected community or as a social networking service in which everyday authors can publish their opinions. From the Source.
The Early Years of blogs the first blog was Links.net, created by Justin Hall in 1994. He was using it as his personal homepage (you can it an online personal journal). But during that time they weren’t called blogs and we have seen this.
Let’s dive into the difference between a Blog and a Website!
A blog can be a part of a bigger website or a website on its own, its content is presented in a reverse chronological order where the newer content appears first usually in the form of “blog posts.” The blog’s content is frequently updated. Whereas a website is a kind of static collection of landing pages, which means its content is organized into “pages”.
All blogs and Websites are usually hosted over web hosting services – which allow their content to be accessed over the Web under one domain for each blog or a website
What Are the Different Types of Blogs?
It’s very important to pick the right type of blog when you’re building a blog for any type!
In this post we’re going to show you the 4 types of blogs, this will help you make the right decision choosing the best type of blog for your specific needs.
Here are types of Blogs with their examples of the most popular and successful Blogs – Helpful Inspiration for New Bloggers and Professionals:
1. Personal Blog
In this type of personal blog, bloggers do focus on a specific topic or audience, they blog about whatever interests them and attract the types of people that share the same hobbies, interests, or even something in daily activities. You find that the writer is sharing knowledge or experience.
Here is the Blog Example: Smart Passive Income by Pat Flynn (Influencer)
2. Niche Blogs
Most times these are hobby blogs, a niche blog focuses on a specific topic most time the blogger is passionate about the topic and ends up turning it into a small personal business blog and keeps growing to a successful large business.
Here are Blog Examples in different popular topics:
1. Finance Blog Niche – Good Financial Cents by Blogger Jeff Rose inspiring people on their money and make “cents” for a better financial future.
2. Mom Blog Niche – Smart Mom Ideas by Elna, it’s for moms who want a smarter way of life!
3. Travel Blog Niche – Club Thrifty by Holly and Greg, teach others how they got out of debt, set up a travel fund, and began traveling more.
4. Food Blog Niche – I Am a Food Blog by husband and wife team Mike & Steph.
5. Games Blog Niche – That Video Game Blog, Gaming blogs provide to a great community of gamers searching about the latest games articles, events, gaming hardware, and more.
6. Lifestyle Blog Niche – Siddy Says, Pakistan’s most notable fashion & lifestyle blog.
7. Pets Blog Niche – Pet Blog Lady, Pet blogs topic have a wider audience in the online community that includes animal lovers, pet owners, people looking for pets, and animal shelters.
3. Affiliate Blogs
Here the content is focusing on products. This type of blog is more of product, service reviews. People can purchase through the blog’s affiliate link for a certain service or product.
Example of Affiliate Blog: Best Roof Box by Alex Cooper, Amazon Associate Affiliate Blog.
4. News Blog
Examples of news blog: BuzzFeed , a news blog delivering news and entertainment to hundreds of millions of people around the world.
How Can You Earn an Income Blogging?
Get the idea about the most common strategies that bloggers use to make money blogging!
Here are ways you can monetize your blog and earn income online based on its traffic and audience:
1. Affiliate Marketing for Bloggers
Find out and join various affiliate programs in your niche that you feel are useful to your audience and earn money from affiliate marketing.
2. Display ads on Blogs
Display ads by signing up for ad networks like Google AdSense, AdThrive, and MediaVine.
3. Create and Sell your Own Digital Products
You can sell both physical and digital products, such as Online Courses, eBooks, Printable Products, bloggers can earn up to 50% of their income.
4. Paid Subscription, Membership Sites
Many Bloggers earn money after a certain period of time set by offering a subscription paid access to their online information or to some people who need consultations with the blog owner, for example in the niche like coaching, working from home money-making, and many more professional topics.
5. Sponsored Posts
Partner with brands to sponsor their content on your blog.
6. Sell Your Blogging Services
Bloggers do gain a lot of skills while creating content, with time they are established as experts in a different fields.
Ending Thoughts
How Do I Get Started?
Want to get started right away? Dive in with our Beginners Best Guide – Easy Setup Steps!
P.S. Did this article on what is a blog helpful to you? Feel free, we would love to hear from you in the comments section below! What is your blog going to be about? At which stage of starting are you?
