The Blogosphere is in Full Bloom!

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The Blogosphere is in Full Bloom!
By Catherine Friesen

You may not have noticed, but the blogosphere is in full bloom. It has quietly emerged as an important arena for web communication. It could also become a useful platform for small organizations and nonprofits to speak easily and quickly to the broad web audience.

The term weblog or blog was coined from "web log" in 1997 to describe web pages that featured evolving lists of interesting or new sites. Blogs were generated by web enthusiasts who had the technical know-how to sift through the Internet and post their findings for others on a web site. Bloggers often included introductory comments with the links. Brigitte Eaton, for her Eaton Web Portal, further defined a blog as a site that included dated entries. These elements: frequently posted, dated entries, personal commentary, and links to other sites, became the essential parameters of a blog.

Blogging opened up to a wider population in 1999 with the introduction of web-based software dedicated to blog publishing. The earliest versions of Pitas and Blogger established accessibility and ease of use as central priorities of blog tools. They were free off of the web, and did not require users to have technical skills. Suddenly, anyone with Internet access and a desire to articulate publicly could establish a presence on the web. Even now, most blog software is available for free or at a low cost, and maintaining a blog site can be as simple as writing an email.

Blogging has emerged into the mainstream world of computing, and will become more and more visible. Earlier this year Blogger.com, originally from upstart Pyra Labs, was acquired by Google. Both Terra Lycos and America Online are releasing versions of web journal publishing software. Meanwhile, software such as Movable Type, Radio Userland, and Greymatter continue to support the growth of the blogosphere.

The presence of blogs on the web has exploded in the past five years, and the kinds of blogs out there are as varied as the users. Because of the open format, blogging has been referred to as democratic journalism. Blogs tend to have an informal, personal quality. They may be used to respond to news items, share reflections, offer technical expertise, report on events, or guide readers to sites the author finds significant - including other blogs. Blog content can be in the form of pictures and audio files as well as text.

Blogs are easily malleable and encourage interactivity. Blogs with a web-based server can be updated from any computer connected to the Internet, and the software allows authors to post entries quickly and frequently. Entries are organized and archived by date, with the most recent at the top of the page. Some blogs allow readers to navigate through the site with a search feature. The practice of linking to other blogs forges communities around blogs with quality content. Some blogs also let readers post comments on entries.

Blogging Links
Blogger
Movable Type
Greymatter
Pitas
Terra Lycos' Blog

The features that make blogs an appealing tool for personal use also open up possibilities for organizations that want to expand their presence on the web and in-house communication. The following are ideas for how blogging could be useful for nonprofits or small businesses:

Establish a internet blog for your organization.
This is an inexpensive way get your name and information on the web. It may be particularly useful if you do not have staff or funds to dedicate to developing and maintaining a web site.

Include a blog in your existing web site.
A blog from an important voice in your organization or an expert in your field could enliven your site and increase the draw and rate of return to your site. A blog also gives the site a more personal face.

The blog could add to your services by regularly providing useful information or links to related resources.

Blogs are a quick way to make timely information, such as temporary service changes or short notice events, available to a wide audience without making more permanent changes to your site.

Use blogging technology on your Intranet.
In-house blogs can be used as project journals, an efficient way to spread information, or a way to collect views on a proposal. Depending on the technology, these blogs can be edited by email or mobile phone.

Blogging has emerged into the mainstream world of computing, and will become more and more visible. Earlier this year Blogger.com, originally from upstart Pyra Labs, was acquired by Google. Both Terra Lycos and America Online are releasing versions of web journal publishing software. Meanwhile, software such as Movable Type, Radio Userland, and Greymatter continue to support the growth of the blogosphere.

Background Links:
History and reflections on blogging
Timeline of blogging
Catalog of blogs from around the world
List of links to news stories about blogging
An example of blogging used as a marketing tool

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Internet Resources....
Online Giving Trends (December, 2006)

Shopping for Bandwidth in a Buyer's Market (March, 2006)

E-mail Marketing (October, 2004)

Web Resources (May, 2004)

The Blogosphere is in Full Bloom! (December, 2003)

Self-Sufficiency Software: Calculating Assistance (August, 2002)

VPNot Yet: Why Nonprofits Have Been Slow to Catch on to Virtual Private Networks (June, 2002)

GuideStar: Getting Form 990 Online (November, 2001)

501Click.Com: The Online Resource Exclusively Devoted to Nonprofits (June, 2001)

Looking for Free Internet? Heres what to Consider (April, 2001)

Free Net and Web Resources for Your Organizations IT Professionals (July, 2000)

TechSoup - Free lunch for Tech-Hungry Nonprofits (July, 2000)

Cutting Through the Online Information Undergrowth (August, 1999)

Electronic Resources for Your clients' Job Search (August, 1999)

Professional Associations and User Groups Provide Information and Contacts (August, 1999)

Free Periodicals and Guides Can Keep you Informed (April, 1999)

New York Today Offers Free Web Services for Nonprofits (February, 1999)

Register Your Internet Domain Name Now (February, 1999)

The Road to Resources is Paved with Information (December, 1998)

Other Articles of Interest....
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FAQs and Beyond: Free Eduation and Training for Nonprofits, Part II (December, 1998)

BrooklynX - A Guide to Getting your Communities on the Net (October, 1998)

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