Blogger(blogging)

Introduction

Publishing your thoughts online via digital media or a website is called blog writing. In other words, the process of publishing articles on a specific subject on a website is known as blogging. In Hindi, a blog is called chittha, blogging is chitthakaari, and a blogger is chitthakaar. A blog is a digital medium to express your ideas and opinions. There is no strict word limit in blog writing—you can explain your thoughts as much as you want. However, shorter blogs are read more frequently. Instead of reading a newspaper, magazine, or book in hand, reading it on a computer, tablet, or phone is considered digital media. Because of this, today’s writers and journalists have become global. With this medium, any information from around the world is available instantly on screen. Compared to printed media, digital media has a much larger reader base, especially among the youth.

On a blog, you can write your thoughts or information on any topic and share it with others. Nowadays, blogging is not just about sharing ideas; it has become a source of income. It can also help grow a business. Many people today earn their livelihood through blogging.

History of Blogging

In 1994, Justin Hall was the first to use the term “blog” and wrote about his personal life, using the blog like a diary. John Berger used the term weblog and was the editor of the blog “Robot Wisdom.” In 1999, Peter Merholz popularized the term “blog.”

In the same year, 1999, the first blogging platform called Blogger was created, where people could write blogs without any coding knowledge. In India, blogging began around 2002 and rapidly became popular. It was recognized as a new medium of expression. In 2003, Google acquired Blogger and AdSense and launched WordPress. In 2007, the concept of micro-blogging emerged, where people could share text along with images and videos, and even post using SMS or email. It became the fastest-growing social platform. From 2007 to now, blogging has grown massively, integrating with platforms like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and Instagram to reach the masses.

According to a study, there are over 440 million blogs on the internet. More than 700 million blog posts are written every month, and about 400 million readers visit blogs monthly. Blogs can be managed by individuals or teams. Large corporations are also involved in blogging and maintain teams for this purpose. Blog posts are shared on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp.

Purpose of Blog Writing

The purposes of blog writing include:

  1. Sharing knowledge or information
  2. Earning money
  3. Gaining recognition as a writer
  4. Promoting business
  5. Helping others

Types of Bloggers

Bloggers can generally be divided into three categories:

  1. Hobby/Voluntary Bloggers – They blog about topics they are interested in or passionate about.
  2. Part-time Bloggers – Working professionals or students who blog in their free time to make productive use of time and earn a small income.
  3. Full-time Professional Bloggers – These bloggers write consistently with quality for a targeted audience. As their traffic grows, they start earning through ads. Some work with companies to promote brands and expand business.

Key Tasks of a Blogger

Important tasks involved in blogging include:

  • Planning content
  • Topic selection
  • Researching articles
  • Choosing and editing images
  • Designing the blog if needed
  • Optimizing site speed and resolving technical issues
  • Creating fan pages on Facebook and other platforms
  • Sharing posts on social media
  • Optimizing top posts
  • Responding to or removing comments
  • Reading and learning from other blogs
  • Guest posting
  • Networking with other bloggers
  • Monetizing through ads or sponsorships
  • Analyzing traffic and data
  • Staying in touch with readers
  • Expanding reach

Popular Blog Topics

Common blog niches include: fashion, food, fitness, news, lifestyle, sports, films, finance, politics, business, etc.

Requirements for Starting a Blog

Before writing a blog, it is essential to decide on the topic. You need a platform to post your content. A domain name (web address) and web hosting are required. Purchasing a domain costs money. If you want a free option, you can use Blogger.com, a free platform by Google, which is ideal for beginners.

Blog Publishing Process

This is a technical process. The blog’s title (domain) needs to be registered and connected to a server. Then content can be added. Promotion happens through ads, Facebook, WhatsApp, SMS, etc. If the content is interesting and visually appealing, readers wait for new posts.

A blogger must have various topics to write about, along with good reading habits, thinking ability, and language skills. The writing should be natural and engaging. If writing about a specific person or field, include details that set them apart, their influence, usefulness, and human values like compassion, forgiveness, etc.

Steps to Create a Blog on Blogger

  1. Go to www.blogger.com
  2. Sign in with your email
  3. Enter a blog address; if available, it will confirm
  4. Choose a theme (can be changed later)
  5. Confirm your display name
  6. Click on “Create Blog”
  7. Now you can publish posts with title, address, theme, description, and images
  8. To monetize the blog, connect it with Google AdSense (an ad network)

Precautions in Blog Writing

  1. Use common sense while selecting topics
  2. Maintain proper grammar and standard language
  3. Respect the freedom of expression and preserve human values
  4. Avoid writing defamatory or socially harmful content
  5. Keep the language simple, clear, and impactful
  6. Never accuse someone without proof
  7. Ensure quality content and writing
  8. Follow social ethics and conduct
  9. Have a variety of topics and present them engagingly

Types of Blogs

Although there are many types of blogs, they can be broadly categorized into 8 types:

  1. Personal Blogs – Share personal thoughts and experiences; not meant for commercial purposes
  2. Group Blogs – Managed by a team, often for earning money, and may cover multiple topics
  3. Niche Blogs – Focus on one specific topic or category
  4. Multi-Niche Blogs – Cover multiple topics like health, tech, education, etc.
  5. Micro-Niche Blogs – Focus on a very specific sub-topic (e.g., “Women’s Health” under “Health”)
  6. Corporate Blogs – Run by companies to promote products/services
  7. Affiliate Blogs – Bloggers write reviews and earn commission from affiliate links
  8. Media Blogs – Share media content like videos, images, and are focused on visual media

Benefits of Blog Writing

Just like literature provides fame, money, and knowledge of society, blogging also offers the same. With regular learning and practice, one can develop blogging skills and earn a decent income. Blogging can also become a livelihood.

  • Start your online business through blogging
  • Promote an existing business and increase customers
  • Provide information about products and get customer feedback
  • Improve the product using suggestions

Other Benefits:

  • Develops entrepreneurial skills
  • Enhances writing skills
  • Establishes you as an expert in your field
  • Helps build a professional online network
  • Grow email subscribers via subscription options
  • Sell products (e-books, courses, etc.) through your blog
  • Boosts confidence and creativity
  • Creates new business opportunities