Sharing photos, videos, vintage images I've discovered, and -- occasionally -- commentary and thoughts from retired life and travels.

What’s a blog?

November 14, 2009

About our blogs

I’ve been blogging for several years now and currently have 3 active blogs.

I post to Exit78 the most, sharing some of my photos, vintage images I’ve discovered, and — occasionally — commentary and thoughts from retired life.

Haw Creek Out ‘n About is images and information about places — where we are, where we’ve been, and where we’d like to go, while Haw Creek is intended to be primarily related to information on recreational vehicles.

I publish posts on our travels simultaneously on Exit78 and Haw Creek Out ‘n About.

Karen’s blog, Quilts….etc., as the title implies, is mostly about her quilting, but she also chats about a lot of other things that interest her.

We both have regular readers, though I think Karen has more than I do, and we both read a number of other blogs.

There are several different, though similar, definitions of the word, “blog.”

The word “blog” is a contraction of the term “weblog” or “web log.”

The term actually originated from online diarists. Early web diaries (c. 1994) evolved into web journals, then web logs, and, today, blogs.

Capture A blog is a type of website where material is published on some periodic basis in reverse chronological order through “entries” or posts.  In other words, for readers, the most recent post comes first.

image Though blogs are most commonly used for personal online journals, blogs are used in wide variety of ways.  Types of blogs include business blogs, political blogs, news blog, travel blogs, fashion blogs, project blogs, education blogs, niche blogs, music blogs of all varieties, and much, much more.

image Most bloggers are hobbyists motivated by self-expression and sharing expertise.  Contrary to the common perception of bloggers being controversial, snide, sarcastic, or pompous, most bloggers feel that their blogging style is sincere, conversational, or expert.

While many hobby bloggers enjoy blogging and stick with it, most blogs actually die quite quickly.  Other blogs die a slow death, with irregular, hit-and-miss posting, and then… nothing.  Last year, I took a look back at the blogs I had been reading a year earlier.  Less than a quarter of them were still active.

For more information on blogs and blogging see Technorati’s State of the Blogosphere – 2009 or Wikipedia’s article, Blog.

{ 5 comments }

vered | blogger for hire November 15, 2009 at 12:23 PM

“Last year, I took a look back at the blogs I had been reading a year earlier. Less than a quarter of them were still active.” Interesting, and not surprising! So many of the bloggers I started out with are no longer blogging.
.-= vered | blogger for hire´s last blog ..Restaurant Salads Scare Me =-.

Davina November 16, 2009 at 9:28 AM

There are quite a few bloggers I remember from when I started blogging last year who haven’t posted in a while. I admire those who continue.
.-= Davina´s last blog ..There’s An Artist In Our Midst =-.

Rummuser November 16, 2009 at 10:15 AM

Yours, mine and all the blogs that both of us visit often seem to be going strong alright!
.-= Rummuser´s last blog ..Unsung Hero – N. Krishnan =-.

Walter November 17, 2009 at 1:13 AM

Blogging is very fulfilling if we share our thoughts for everyone to share. :-)

Cath Lawson November 19, 2009 at 7:34 PM

Hi Mike – It’s so true that most bloggers do it for the love of their topic and writing, than for money. Trouble is – there’s too many folk writing about how a blogger can make six figures overnight and it gives folk a bad impression.

I’ve done over 2 and a half years on my own blog now. But I haven’t been posting so much this year due to illness and other problems. As much as I love blogging – health and family come first nowadays.

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