Blogs, or weblogs, started out as a mix of what was happening in a person’s life and what was happening on the Web, a kind of hybrid diary/news site.
The word “blog” is a shortened version of web logs or weblogs. Besides being shorter and catchier, “blog” seems less likely to cause confusion, as “web log” can also mean a server’s log files.
People maintained blogs before the term was coined, but the trend gained momentum with the rise of automated published systems, most notably Blogger at blogger.com, which lowered the technical barrier to entry for formatting and organizing posts. Now, self-hosted platforms such as WordPress offer new levels of functionality, with a large ecosystem of talented designers and developers serving the varied needs of millions of users.
Despite its grassroots beginnings, blogging has also become a popular platform for business, from companies trying to humanize their brand to solopreneurs seeking to make a full-time income online. But with increased opportunity comes increased competition, and it takes more to stand out now than in the early days of blogging. Still, there are so many more people online today, so the potential rewards are higher for bloggers who break through.
