blogging

A blog is a regularly updated website or web page, typically run by an individual or small team, that presents one or more entries, or posts, in reverse chronological order. Posts usually consist of text but may incorporate images, audio, video, and links. Blogging emerged from online diaries and later evolved into a broad form of online publication used for personal expression, journalism, marketing, education, and community building.

The term weblog was coined in the late 1990s by Jorn Barger; the shorter form blog was introduced by Peter Merholz in 1999. Early platforms such as Blogger (2003) and WordPress (2003) popularized self-publishing and provided templates and content management features. Over time, blogging became integrated with social media, content marketing, and search engine optimization.

Blogs may be hosted on third-party platforms or self-hosted on independent domains. Common software includes WordPress, Ghost, and Drupal; platforms like Blogger and Tumblr offer hosted solutions. Posts can be organized with categories and tags, and readers can subscribe via RSS feeds or email.

Essentials include regular posting, discoverable permalinks, comments, and archives. Successful blogs focus on clear topics, credible sources, and audience engagement, though practices vary widely by purpose. Monetization may involve advertising, sponsorships, affiliate links, or product sales.

Blogs influence information dissemination, online marketing, and citizen journalism. They enable individuals and organizations to develop expertise, reach audiences, and build communities. Search engines and social platforms have amplified discoverability, while platform changes and algorithm shifts can affect traffic.

Common challenges include privacy, copyright, misinformation, burnout, and platform dependence. Trends include multimedia integration, mobile-first publishing, podcasting and video blogging, microblogging crossover, and growing use of AI tools to draft and edit content.