Many of us are confused between the features, functions and benefits of a blog and a website.
The simple basic difference between a blog and website is: a blog is an online dynamic communications where people can update information frequently, and website is a group of static web pages where content is published for all reasons as needed.
Amazingly, it is challenging to explain the differences, because both share many unique characteristics. For this reason many people have a perception that blogs and websites, both are same.
However, it is important for us to understand the key differences between a blog and a website.
Blog verses Website
Both the blog, when used for business, and websites play an important role in representing credibility and in providing customers information about you and your products and services.
Though, blogs have similar features like websites, they are distinctly different.
Description
Blog
Website
Publishing content
A blog is online journal or diary where the blogger can write posts on personal interests, reviews, experiences and many more.
Whereas, content in blogs can be updated easily with WYSIWYG based text editor.
A website is a standard place, where the company cannot go for personal opinions of its business.It is for publishing formal and official information.
Websites content seldom can be changed easily and frequently.
Creation concern
Blog creation is easy and simple. Free or hosted blogs can be created with built-in templates or even can be customized based on needs or owners preferences.
Creating a website is not as easy as creating a blog. It needs specific knowledge about html, php, xml, etc.
Cost
For creating a blog, its takes only a few dollars to have a all inclusive package. You can do most of the content work and modifications yourself.
Creation of a website for a company may force to spend huge amount of money for web hosting, content development, etc. You need a web programmer.
Visibility differences
As blogs are personal online diaries, they are not created with a focus on a marketing look, which makes them vibrant in terms of layout, design, and content. Therefore, visitors often come to read business and personal reviews, opinions, or details.
Websites are created for a specific purpose. This may restrict them in designing, structuring, and presenting the website. Having a certain look and feel based on the product or company.
Blogs are dynamic
Blogs are updated on regular basis. Visitors leave comments if allowed by you, guest editors and contributors create new post.
In website, the content is static and only changes with a change in products and services of the company.
Available Iinformation
Comparatively, content in blogs can be represented in many ways like personal views, conversational, and biased opinions.
Websites describes about an organization i.e. may be profit/non-profit and its products or services.
Communication flow
Communication flow in blogs is bi-directional. After reading the blog, readers give feedback in the form of comments. This makes a great way to have a two way communication with your customers.
Websites give overview of a company, and give information about the products, and services but does not take any feed back. Generally for websites, it is one-way communication.
The above information helps in understanding the difference between a blog and a website. Both blogs and website have their own significance in online market.
If you do not have a website then a blog may be sued as your web site. If you already have a website then a blog can be a great enhancement to your current site.
