Having your business online using a website has become a common way to increase your sales, reach more current or potential customers, and allow your customers to contact you more easily. Businesses are not the only ones who have embraced the power of the internet though; many individuals have also started using the internet to communicate with the world using blogs. So what is the difference between a blog and a website?
An overly simplified explanation is: a blog has only one web page, while a website has multiple web pages. This description is not comprehensive enough to help you decide which site would be more suitable though. Would you prefer to develop a presence online in the form of a blog or website? Are you unsure about which one to create?
Businesses, parents, teachers, as well as anyone else wanting to generate readers and/or customers, must decide for themselves which type of site would be more beneficial to them. Sometimes, picking the wrong one can be detrimental to the goal of a site. Making the correct decision can be confusing unless the distinctions between the two are understood.
Blogs
A blog is a single web page containing information or personal experiences the writer would like to make known to people. The object of the blog varies depending on your preferences. What would you enjoy sharing with the public? Food blogs, parenting blogs, as well as informational blogs are just a few examples of this.
The following are some common characteristics of a blog. (Not an extensive list)
• Frequent updating and posting (Most bloggers post often in order to keep their readers interested and entertained.)
• An informal writing style (More relaxed and personal, as though talking to a friend)
• The option of allowing readers to follow the blog, plus comment on it (including testimonials and feedback)
• Posts may be informational, educational, journaling daily life, offering tips about a subject, and anything else you enjoy writing about
• The option of adding other blogs (Linking to another blog, posting blog entries from other authors, and if you have more than one blog you can connect them all together)
• A place to post photos or portfolios
• An archive system that stores and organizes your posts by the date and a category, providing links to each post; this gives you the ability to search for posts if you wish.
For the most part, blogs are easier to create than an entire website, so even novices can build their own using free blog building websites; also called a content management system (CMS). Usually, these sites offer easy to use templates, a free web address, and the option of upgrading to paid versions with more features.
Some of the top free blogging websites are:
• WordPress: Prices range from free to $300per year
• Weebly: Prices range from free to $25 per month
• Wix: Prices range from free to $35 per month
• Blogger: Free with the option to buy a custom domain name
There are tutorials and videos that will help you create your own blog or website, usually on the CMS you are using, or you can search the internet for more help. Most of these CMS sites also provide the ability to turn your blog into a website. You can always start simple with a blog, and once you are satisfied with it, you may change it into a website.
Websites
While a blog contains a single web page, a website can contain several web pages (including a blog page if desired). Most businesses today have a website providing information about the company, how to contact them, and online sales of products or services. Well-established websites are not altered much, except to update changes in information.
A few features of a website may include:
• Formal writing style (polite, serious, impersonal way of writing)
• A home page or landing page (the first page of the website a customer reaches)
• A menu offering links to all the other pages on the site
• An option to allow reviews or comments about the products or services
• A page displaying the products for sale or the services available
• A contact page (phone number, address, email, etc.)
• A search engine is sometimes provided so you can find information or products easily
A website is more appropriate for businesses or service providers than a blog page alone, although, a blog page can now be found on a large number of these sites. Choosing to build a website allows you to provide more information, as well as conduct business online. Individuals can also use websites as a more comprehensive approach than a blog.
There are many ways to create websites. There are free website builders like WordPress.com and Wix. There is software that can be purchased such as Adobe Dreamweaver CC, and TemplateToaster. You can also hire web designers to create and maintain your site. If you have the skills to use programming languages such as HTML and CSS, a site can be built from scratch.
Benefits
Blogs have a plethora of benefits. Some of them include introducing yourself to the world, gaining more readers or customers, using your blog to make money, helping others, and stating your own opinions. Choosing this option is a way to express yourself in your own style, while websites are more reserved.
Blogs are not only beneficial to individuals though; numerous companies also use blog pages to provide information and relate to their customers more by generating a friendlier atmosphere for their website.
Starting a blog is easier and faster than creating a website; a blog is smaller and less detailed.
A website provides many benefits for businesses, such as letting customers contact them, as well as providing reviews for their products or testimonials. A website has more detailed information than a blog. There is always the main page called a landing or home page, which usually gives basic information about the business and what it has to offer.
There are other types of pages as well, including:
• About page (explains the purpose or mission of the company. It may also have information about the owner or employees of the company.)
• Blog page
• Contact page
• Products or Services page (an online store may be included)
• Frequently Asked Questions page to help guide the customer through using the website
• A Sitemap which gives links to every page on the site and the sections they are in
Another Option
You may have noticed that websites and blogs can sometimes resemble each other in several ways. An alternative to using one or the other is blending features of both into an all-in-one site. Combining a blog and website has become popular for both bloggers and companies.
Therefore, using this option can be beneficial in many ways.
It can make your website more user-friendly and personal, or it could make your blog more comprehensive and formal. It gives the blogger a larger platform where he/she may continue expressing their own style. It also gives businesses a way to reach their customers in a more intimate way.
In conclusion, it seems the sky is the limit when it comes to creating websites or blogs. Your options are as varied as your imagination, creativity, and attitude will allow. As you see, websites, blogs, and all-in-one sites are all different ways of communicating with people around the world. No matter which you decide to create, using any of them for personal or business reasons is taking a step toward an enjoyable and rewarding experience.