Christopher L. Smith, Gleaner Online Writer

In 2001, blogs - a name which arose out of the term 'web log' - emerged.

A blog is essentially a website, but a special kind. It usually has an ordered layout with regularly updated entries of commentary, news or other such content, with the most recent item being displayed first.

Many individuals use blogs as more of a personal online diary, which also gives readers the ability to leave comments on blog entries.

The most common blogs are driven by personal initiative. Personal blogs are considered the traditional form of this technology. Blogs do, however, have a place in the corporate community. Within a company, blogs may be used to enhance communication. In other cases, it may be used externally, perhaps as a marketing tool, and also for branding purposes and an avenue for public relations.

GETTING STARTED

First, find a blogging provider, such as Livejournal.com, Blogger.com or WordPress.com.

Providers usually have templates and easy steps for publishing that do not require a great deal of technical knowledge.

After signing up, choose from the provided templates according to your preference in layout and taste in colour scheme. Most providers allow for further tweaking to fully personalise the look of your new blog.

You may password protect your blog such that only you, or users you approve may view your published posts. That said, you are ready to start writing posts and publish and share your thoughts.

Anyone can blog. It is merely a matter of finding the platform that suits your taste, most of which can be used at no cost to you.

Blogware (a common term used to refer to weblog software) are constructed with specialised content-management systems, or CMS, used to create and maintaining weblogs.

While blog entries may be published using desktop software, blogs are almost universally maintained through the Internet in the comfortable environment of a Web browser.

christopher.smith@gleanerjm.com