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A blog is basically an online journal where you can digitally write your thoughts, ideas, opinions and practically anything that you want people to read. Blogs come in different styles, formats and settings, depending on the preference of the creator. Many blogging sites, offer built in features such as hyperlink, straight texts, pictures, and more. Some blogging sites, even allow you to put video and mp3’s on your blogs.

Instead of writing with words, some bloggers choose to make their blogs more audio friendly, using spoken word entries or audio blogging. Here’s an example:

Basically a blog contains these features:

title — which allows you to label your post

body — this is the content of your post

trackback — other sites can be linked back to your blog

permanent link (also called “permalink”) — every article that you write has a unique URL

comments — this allow readers to post comments on your blog and this feature can be turned on or off depending on the preferences of the blog’s creator

One of the advantages of blogging, is that it is made of only a few templates. Unlike other websites that are made up of numerous individual pages. This makes it easier for blog users to create new pages, because it already has a fixed setting that includes slots for the title, body, category, etc.

This is especially useful for first-time users, since they can start blogging right away. They can choose from a number of templates that blogging websites provide.

Anyone who wants to start a blog can do so by becoming a member of a blogging website of their choice, or creating their own hosted blog using something like WordPress (which I use) or TypePad.

Once you’ve become a blogging site’s member, you automatically become a part of that particular blogging community. You can browse through other blogger’s pages and link them back to your own blog. You can also make comments on other members’ blogs.

Blogging is not just limited to personal usage. There are a lot of blogs that follow a theme such as: sports, politics, philosophy, social commentary, and more. This way blogging becomes a medium in which people can share their knowledge and opinions about a variety of themes and topics.

Some bloggers even use their blogs as a means to advertise and promote their business. Some authors advertise their books on their blogs. While other bloggers use their blogs to shed light to current issues, events, news and catastrophes.

Nowadays in education, blogs also play an important role. Professors use bloggs to document the lessons that they have discussed and taught. This way, students who who have missed a class can easily catch up with their assignments.

A lot of entrepreneurs benefit from blogging by promoting their businesses on their blogs. With millions and millions of people logging onto the net everyday, blogging has become a lucrative move. Some bloggers who run online businesses promote their merchandise online. While others profit through advertisement.

But by far, the most popular blog type is the one that takes the form of a personal journal. This is the kind that is usually used by first time bloggers. Individuals who want to document the daily struggle of their everyday lives, poems, rants, opinions, find that blogging offers them a medium in which to express themselves.

Blogs, varying in topics, themes and set-ups, can be found in blog directories. First-time users who want to get an idea of what the blogging world (or “blogosphere”) is all about can browse through a number of blogs using these directories. This way they get an idea of what these blogging communities are like.

What makes blogs so freeing, and sometimes confusing, is that there are no rules when it comes to blogging. Bloggers have the freedom to express themselves however way they want, and the best thing about blogging, is that most blogging sites are free.

There are numerous blogging websites to choose from on the net. This gives first-time users the option of joining a blogging community that appeals to their interests.

Just search any blogging directory and you’ll get a listing of blogging sites that are available on the net. It’s easy to search a blogging directory, because it is organized by category.

Blogging is really for everyone. It is fun, simple and easy.