The Motive Web Design Glossary

web log (blog), blogging, bloggers, blogosphere

Blog, a contraction of ‘web’ and ‘log’, describes a website comprising of date-related entries (or posts).

Blogs are typically of a personal nature, although their use by companies as a marketing tool is increasing.

Types of blog

Rebecca Blood’s Weblogs: a history and perspective categorises blogs into ‘filter’ and ‘short-form journal’ genres. In addition, new tools have created a new type of blog; ‘distributed conversation’.

Filter blog

A filter blog is constructed around commentary of selected hyperlinks. On a particular topic the editor may draw attention to contrasting articles on other websites, and build these into a single narrative or discussion.

Short-form journal blog

A stream-of-consciousness record of thoughts, observations and events. The journal oeuvre is characterised by personal expression.

Distributed conversation (‘red-flag’) blog

publishing software has enabled new forms of blog to evolve.

Blog publishing software has introduced tools that have enabled new forms of blog to evolve. In particular the ability to add a response to a blog entry (comment) and automate the creation of links between different blogs (reciprocal linking) have had a marked impact on the nature of the blogosphere. These features have made space for ‘the reader’s voice’.

A distributed conversation (potentially coined by Mena and Ben Trott of MoveableType blog publishing software fame) uses an original blog entry as the starting point for an ongoing series of posts, either as comments or reciprocal links. As responses are received, they are listed underneath the blog, in order of posting. The original author is then encouraged to clarify, defend, or alter their original post―particularly where the blog relates to a technical subject.

such a post… may be intended to cause controversy…

When an original blog entry goes against community norms it can polarise readers. Such a post may be thought of as ‘a red-flag to a bull’; intended to cause controversy; a large number of responses and the infamy of the author. As search engine rankings can be based on incoming links, a red-flag blog entry, may elevate the author’s profile (and perhaps secure a lucrative publishing contract or public-speaking engagement?).

For an example of a red-flag blog see Mike Davidson’s “March to your own standard” (challenging the web standards approach to web design).

blogger

A blogger is someone who maintains a blog.

blogosphere

blogosphere is used to describe the online community of bloggers and the content they publish.

Evolution of the blogosphere

The blogosphere has evolved from an informal network of communal links to a more structured network; with cutomised blog publishing software, public entry points, and technical standards to streamline the process of creating links from one blog to another.

• Blogging software enables non-technical authors to publish content.
• A blog portal is a website that provides an index of blog entries across different website. Entries are typically grouped by subject/topic. Some blog portals even offer blog-only searches.
• A reciprocal linking standard enables bloggers to automate the creation of links between blogs, and the classification of blog entries, examples include the trackback standard and Technorati’s tags for classifying posts.

Related terms: discussion mailinglist, RSS, trackback, Web 2.0

References and further reading

• Blogging basics (Technorati)
• Blogging software
  • Blogger
  • Moveable Type
  • WordPress
  • Weblog Tool Roundup (Webmonkey)
    Blogging tool reviews.
• Blog portals/search engines
  • Technorati
• The definitive guide to semantic markup for blogs (Chris Pearson)
  An entry-level introduction to fine-tuning blog template markup.
• How to make your blog accessible to [screen readers and the visually impaired] (American Foundation for the Blind)
  General accessibility considerations for blog authors.
• Net rage: A study of blogs and usability (Catalyst Design Group)
  June-July 2005: Current blog design standards—at least in terms of navigation, nomenclature and taxonomy—are a barrier to consumer acceptance.
• Public Address (Russel Brown, et al.)
  Predominantly New Zealand focused, counter-culture blog community, with more than a smattering of literary merit.
• Top 7 blog mistakes to avoid (David Airey)
  Great primer if you’re considering setting up your own blog.
• A small design study of big blogs (Smashing Magazine)
  24 July 2008: Surveying design trends and patterns: layout, typography, etc. Based on the 50 most popular blogs as rated by Technorati.
• Weblog usability (Jacob Nielsen, useit.com)
  Writing a blog is still writing for the web. Microcontent headings, meaningful link text and categorising content make it easier for readers to access content.
• What is Web 2.0?: Blogging and the Wisdom of Crowds (Tim O’Reilly, O’Reilly Network)
  A brief history of the evolution of the blog, and concepts central to social software/social networking.

Motive Web Design Glossary Trivia