Blogs



Blogs have been around since the start of the internet, and have grown so popular that millions of people use them each day. A blog, also known as a weblog, is defined as an online diary of some sort that is available to other users on the internet. There are many different types of blogs used on the internet. For example, there are personal blogs used more as a diary, educational blogs used to promote a cause of some sort, companies use corporate blogs to reach their clients, and many more.

History of Blogs
According to Clive Thompson of New York Magazine, blogs have been around since Justin Hall created Links.net in 1994. However, the term weblog did not come around until 1997. Shortly after, in 1999, Peter Merholz shortened the term to blog. In 2000, the popular blog spot, Boing Boing, was created. In August of 2002, Nick Denton launched his technology blog site, Gizmodo. Over time blogs became so popular that in 2004 the Merriam-Webster dictionary declared “blog” the word of the year. In 2005, a study reported that 32 million Americans were reading blogs. Now, visitation to blog sites has climbed to 58.7 million people. The people that visit these blogs are of all ages and backgrounds; however, those between the ages of 12 and 17 are 21% more likely to visit blogs. Households with an income of at least $75,000 are 8% more likely to visit blogs.

Uses of Blogs
Blogs can be used in all sorts of ways and for all sorts of reasons. Companies, for example, use blogs to not only advertise their products but also to communicate with their clients. Through blogs, companies are able to engage into a direct conversation with consumers. The instant feedback from the consumers is very beneficial to the companies when assessing their customer satisfaction. Also, blogs can be used in an educational manner. Blogs provide an excellent communication source between students and teachers. They also provide opportunities for students to debate any issue with each other online. In addition, blogs provide many new passages to the abundance of information on the internet. In the end, blogs serve many purposes and can be beneficial to the millions of internet users worldwide.