Wireless Coffee .org

One of our Wireless Coffee readers asks: "Just a simple question from one who doesn't know. What is blog or blogging?"

Fair enough question. The term is short for 'web log'. Simply put, it's a newer, particular type of free & easy website -- very well suited to easily adding FRESH content... typically posting at least daily, but even several times a day... and thus the name 'web log'. It might have one author... or a team of authors. Obviously, you see the immediate advantage of a team -- they can create more frequent posts. Topics for a blog site depend on the purpose(s) of the author(s).

And oh my gosh... hey... you're LOOKING at a blogsite!

Four unique characteristics are normally found at a blog...

• Comments... An ability for surfers to leave comments... as you've done.
• Blog Roll... A 'blog roll' links to all the blogger's friends & affiliates. They in turn usually link-back to the blogger. Thus it creates a network of links. They understand that the more links pointing at your website (blogsite), the higher it ranks in the search-engines. Thus bloggers that reciprocally link to each other ALL rise in the search-engines. I call that the 'Google Parable'... but Jesus said it first: "Prefer one another."
• Permalinks... Each post/article at the blogsite really has its own permalink. That is, it has it's own page (and URL to that 'page'). Sure, you typically view all the posts together -- freshest on top -- but just know that truly each has its own page. Try this link... which is the permalink for this particular post right here today. All pages are archived automatically... so this post today may be here til the Lord comes back. **smile**
• RSS... An RSS feed is automatically generated by a blog. You might call it a headline feed. 'Aggregators' can read 'em. [Aren't ya glad ya asked? LOL.] Importantly though, as a result of your RSS feed, 'just know that your post can potentially draw the attention of national media types. Example: ChristianHeadlines.com is aggregating these RSS/XML feeds from an increasing number of Christian sites throughout the 50 states. See their Indiana page for instance.

What's a blogsite good for? Here's an article on Christian blogging: "Why Blog? Top 50 Reasons".

Or here's a recent "City Blogging" workshop for Christians... [continued]

And here is some simplified 'Blog Training'.

Hope this helps.