Blogs vs. Web Sites: Is There a Difference?

Rich Ord, from WebProBlog, proffers that Blogs Are Just Websites, Stupid.

To paraphrase the comment I left on his blog, he brings up some interesting points, but I'm going to have to disagree.

Yes, there are a lot of similarities between blogs and Web sites; in fact, Web sites or pages are one iteration of blogging. But the URL of a blog is just one of its faces.

Many people have visited a blog without knowing it, and still don't know what a "blog" is.

I completely agree with his belief that there will be a (further) blurring between blogs and Web sites; soon the word "blog" may become obsolete and blogging technology will integrated w/in most Web site software packages.

And yes, there's too much buzz about blogs changing the world.

However, blogs are different than Web sites. If they weren't, I wouldn't be able to leave a comment on his blog. If he had trackbacks enabled, I could have created a post on my blog and seen it there...and others could have followed the conversation from one blog to another.

While I'm sure that there are technologies out there that allow all of these items on a Web site, the fact is that a good browser blogging platform allows all of this to happen easily. It creates a community of users, which has unfortunately been dubbed the blogosphere.

Also, although you can add RSS to any Web site, it's really blogging and podcasting that have made the technology so usable for the vast majority of people. RSS, in my mind, is the biggest difference between Web sites and blogs. Without RSS, podcasts would just be downloadable audio, and that's been around since almost the beginning of the Web.

When I talk to my clients I often bring up blogs and just as often hear, "what's the difference between a blog and a Web site?"

My answer is evolving, but in general I say that your Web site is your portfolio; it's the best of what you have to offer and displays your business as you want the world to see it. A blog, on the other hand, is more an ongoing conversation you have with prospects and clients. It can help you establish yourself as an expert, post information quickly, and differentiate yourself from the competition...at least right now.

So, yes, there are a lot of overlaps in what a Web site can do and what a blog can do; however, blogs are definitely not JUST Web sites.

What do you think?

Rich Brooks
Web Designer, Business Blogger

Tags: Blogs | Web Sites

Comments

[John Trosko]

Oh my gosh, Rich. I totally agree with all the things you said. I have such a fun and exciting time working my blog, and writing content. Since last July, I've written over 125 posts, and while there are some better than others-- many of them get noticed. I recently had a wonderful compliment from a VP of Internet Marketing on another blog. Of course I blogged about it! And I receive invites to try new products, services and I even have received media and product endorsement inquiries. But best of all, I am really able to create a wonderful archive of questions and comments. Someone you'd never get out of a website.

- John

[Bill Gordon]

I am working now with a web site. I like the categories that remain for my writing, which is a collection from years back. But a web site does not have the life of a blog, even when it allows feedback.

So I like features of both, but do I have to have both a web site and a blog to get them? Is there any system that has both?

Bill Gordon

[Rich Brooks]

Bill,

You could certainly install a copy of WordPress into your blog. Then the blog just becomes a directory within your Web site.

There are probably other platforms, but that's the one I'm most familiar with.

[Jim Symcox]

I think there are two major differences between web sites and blogs. Rich - you've highlighted the first one: a blog is an ongoing conversation and demonstration of who you are. The second one is that the blogger has much more control over the items that go into a blog as they are much simpler to amend - despite website content management systems.

[Rich Brooks]

Jim,

Thanks for your comments. I also just wrote on this topic in a more recent post: http://www.flyteblog.com/flyte/2006/07/the_three_faces.html

[micheal]

wel yeh blogs and web sites are quite much differ from each other.Technologically blogs are considered as a part of web sites and web sites itself is not a part of any.

[Anthony]

Thank you for your explanation of the differnce between a web site and a blog.

I find that a blog is more of a place which allows for interaction betweeen each other.

Also, I find that they are sometimes like a daily journal, which requires commitment to update on a daily or at least on a regular basis. It seems to me to be expected exercise.

I think that web sites are more static and are basically for concerned about business.

Warm regards.

Anthony - http://members.lycos.co.uk/websites4free

[MARY]

Thank you for the information. It was quick to find and understand.