Got your attention, didn’t I? There are a lot of definitions of what a blog is, depending on who you ask. There are a lot of definitions of content, again, depending on who you ask.
I’m going to talk about different types of blogs and different types of content here because different types of blogs may need different types of content. Make sense?
I’m going to use that all-knowing Genie, Wikipedia, for the definitions of different types of blogs, then add a couple of my own.
Blogs can be defined by By media type
A blog comprising videos is called a vlog, one comprising links is called a linklog, a site containing a portfolio of sketches is called a sketchblog or one comprising photos is called a photoblog.[14] Blogs with shorter posts and mixed media types are called tumblelogs.
Now, a video blog can have original content, but is it necessary? Will there be duplicate content penalties if you use a video from youtube in your blog post? I don’t think there is, however I would recommend that you write some original text to go along with the video. Remember your keywords when writing that text and I believe you can use all the videos you want and still rank well in the search engines as well as add a personal touch to your visitors, encouraging them to comment.
An Artlog is a form of art sharing and publishing in the format of a blog, but differentiated by the predominant use of and focus on Art work rather than text.
Again, the artwork need not be original, as long as you have the rights to use it. Also, I see a need for original text to go along with the artwork. Just as with a vlog, you want to encourage viewers to comment, plus you need some descriptive keywords to help the search engines display your post as a result for someone who is looking for that type of artwork. Alt tags are not enough.
A rare type of blog hosted on the Gopher Protocol is known as a Phlog.
Hmmm. Someone needs to tell Phlog.com that their name actually means something else. I’ll skip this outdated form of blogging.
Blogs can also be defined by which type of device is used to compose it. A blog written by a mobile device like a mobile phone or PDA is called a moblog.
Ahhh. Skipping that one too because the content discussion isn’t really relevant to the type of device used to blog with.
Blogs can also be defined by Genre
Some blogs focus on a particular subject, such as political blogs;
A Political blog usually uses a mix of original content and quoted text. So not every post has to be 100% original content. It is customary to blockquote a portion of a news story or something another blogger wrote, then comment on it with your own original opinions or thoughts.
But how much copying is too much? I don’t believe using 2-3 paragraphs of text from elsewhere is violating anyone’s copyrights. Link back to the source. That is extremely important. Also make sure that if you use 3 paragraphs of text, that you write at least 4 paragraphs of original content to go with it. Your blog posts need to be at least 60% original text, preferrably 75% or better if you want to do well in the search engines and you do not want to be seen as just a copycat blog where you just use quotes. Many would ask if you do not have anything to say, why are you blogging?
travel blogs and fashion blogs would be much like an art or photo blog where your pictures do not necessarily have to be original content as long as you have the rights to use them. However, the text should be.
legal blogs (often referred to as a blawgs) or dreamlogs, can vary. They may be reprinting court documents, which is not original content but would have a legitimate purpose. They may be legal opinions, discussions, or debates.
While not a legitimate type of blog, one used for the sole purpose of spamming is known as a Splog. This is where the copycats live. If all of the content on your blog is taken from somewhere else, either by copying and pasting or automated software is pulling in rss feeds without permission of the sources, then you are stealing or scraping content and you are a splogger. Nuff said.
A Slog (Site or website log) is a section or ‘slice’ of a regular business website, which is seamlessly integrated within the regular website structure but is produced with blogging software. Which has no seo benefit that I can see at all. If the same comany took the time to write original content to the blog, their customers would love them and the search engines would love them as well.
A company blog should be like your store window. If you owned an offline store, people shop at your store, but do not necessarily see every product you have for sale. So you take the items you want to sell and want people to notice and make displays or put them in your store window.
Your company blog can be used in a similar way, to display products you want more people to see. Maybe you are having a christmas sale or giving a special offer. This is a great way a company can benefit from blogging and although you use some content from your website, you are adding original text to each post.
The bottom line is that you want to try to use as much original content as you can for your blog
Do not think that every blog who quotes other sources is doing it wrong or violating someone else’s rights or that it is stealing content. Copyright law does not mean that you own every word of what you write. Copying the entire content of a blog post or news article is not advised, but using a portion, then commenting on it is fair use. This isn’t really a copyright discussion. It just needed to be addressed.
This post and Wikipedia barely addresses all the types of blogs that are out there. What are some other types of blogs not mentioned here?
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