From the Desk of Janet Barclay

The word “blog” is, of course, a commonly accepted short form for “weblog.” Other than that, being a relatively recent phenomenon, its meaning isn’t clearly defined (neither “blog” nor “weblog” are listed in my copy of the Oxford Canadian Dictionary, published in 1998). Because of this, Daniel Scocco of Daily Blog Tips has initiated a group writing project to develop a definition, and anyone who would like to participate is asked to write a blog post about the characteristics that define a blog and submit it. This is mine.

It pretty well goes without saying that a blog is a website, but the factors that make a blog different than other websites are as follows:

1. A blog is updated on a regular basis, with new content being added to previous content, rather than replacing it.
2. Even professional blogs have a personal side to them, often reflecting the individual(s) behind the business.
3. A blog allows for communication between the author and his or her readers, rather than just providing information.
4. Even business blogs aren’t 100% about promoting the company’s products and/or services.

That about sums it up. Although some blogs might not fit all of the above criteria, I promise you that any blog that violates points 3 and 4 will not last long on my blogroll - if it even makes it there in the first place!

Be sure to visit Daily Blog Tips on Monday for a list of links to all the answers. If you’d like to take part as well, be sure to get your submission in by Friday!