For those of us who constantly work and play on the internet, this sometimes seems like a silly question. Despite this, at Playful Web we get asked to explain the difference all the time. There are all kinds of other answers to this simple question to be found on the web, but here’s the simple answer that seems to make the most sense to our clients:
A blog (which is short for “web log”) is a website. The key difference is how the content of a blog is generated and managed.
A typical website is a collection of more-or-less static pages. Like a paper book; the pages are numbered and keyed to an index or table of contents, but the pages themselves just sit there once written. A website can contain a blog page within its structure.
A typical blog is a single long page that is constantly added to. Like the front page of a newspaper; the masthead and layout remain static, but the content of the columns is regularly changing, with new content being added in at the top, and older content being pushed off the bottom edge of the paper. A blog can contain static pages within its structure.
A typical website is created and published once. A typical blog is constantly being re-published with new content.
A typical website is created using off-line tools/software, then uploaded. A typical blog is written on-line using tools/software which have already been uploaded.
A typical static website can be broadly-likened to a billboard; it broadcasts a message to be consumed by whatever passerby it can attract. A typical blog can be broadly-likened to the front window in a coffee-shop; passersby are invited to enter and contribute to the conversation therein.
Depending on how you are placing your product or service in the web marketplace, one may be more effective than the other. However, the Web 2.0 model -which we at Playful Web fully embrace- is all about human interaction. A well-managed blog can really get people talking to one another about your business, fostering that increased word-of-mouth which is so key.
Blog vs. Website
For those of us who constantly work and play on the internet, this sometimes seems like a silly question. Despite this, at Playful Web we get asked to explain the difference all the time. There are all kinds of other answers to this simple question to be found on the web, but here’s the simple answer that seems to make the most sense to our clients:
A blog (which is short for “web log”) is a website. The key difference is how the content of a blog is generated and managed.
A typical website is a collection of more-or-less static pages. Like a paper book; the pages are numbered and keyed to an index or table of contents, but the pages themselves just sit there once written. A website can contain a blog page within its structure.
A typical blog is a single long page that is constantly added to. Like the front page of a newspaper; the masthead and layout remain static, but the content of the columns is regularly changing, with new content being added in at the top, and older content being pushed off the bottom edge of the paper. A blog can contain static pages within its structure.
A typical website is created and published once. A typical blog is constantly being re-published with new content.
A typical website is created using off-line tools/software, then uploaded. A typical blog is written on-line using tools/software which have already been uploaded.
A typical static website can be broadly-likened to a billboard; it broadcasts a message to be consumed by whatever passerby it can attract. A typical blog can be broadly-likened to the front window in a coffee-shop; passersby are invited to enter and contribute to the conversation therein.
Depending on how you are placing your product or service in the web marketplace, one may be more effective than the other. However, the Web 2.0 model -which we at Playful Web fully embrace- is all about human interaction. A well-managed blog can really get people talking to one another about your business, fostering that increased word-of-mouth which is so key.