What is a blog? Your guide to blogging Copy

In short, every blog is a website, but not every website is a blog. 

A website is a broader term that covers all kinds of pages under a single domain name. It can serve many purposes, such as showcasing a portfolio, presenting a company profile, or even sharing a restaurant menu.

A blog, on the other hand, is a specific type of website – or a section within one – defined by the regular publication of posts, typically displayed in reverse chronological order.

So, if your site contains only static pages you rarely update, it’s simply a website, not a blog. That said, you can always add a blog to an existing website by creating a dedicated blog page, a subdirectory, or a subdomain – depending on the purpose of the blog and how you want to maintain it.

Let’s take Hostinger as an example. Our main website (hostinger.com) showcases products and services. In addition, we run two types of blogs, each with a different purpose, hosted in subdirectories:

• hostinger.com/tutorials provides educational content and step-by-step guides to help you build your online success.

• hostinger.com/blog focuses on product updates and behind-the-scenes stories from us.

Did you know?A regular website mainly provides information for people to read. When a site lets users complete an action – like buy things, stream movies, edit documents, or manage tasks – it moves into the category of a web app.

What is the difference between a blog and a wiki?

A blog is usually created and owned by an individual or organization to share information. It can have a single writer or many blog authors. In comparison, a wiki is a collaborative website where many people can add, modify, and publish content.

A blog’s timeline and comment section indicate the most recent updates. Meanwhile, an article’s publication date in a wiki matters less as these are constantly updated once new information is available.

Compared to blog posts, which are usually credited to an author, creating and editing content in a wiki is mostly anonymous. Here, the information is the focus, not necessarily the contributors.

Wikipedia is, of course, one of the most famous examples of a wiki. The site is written and maintained by volunteers worldwide. Content editing is open for everyone, but creating an account is necessary to start new pages and upload images.

What are the types of blogs?

Various blog types serve different purposes and audiences depending on the author’s interests, expertise, and goals. Here are some of the common ones:

Niche blog

A niche blog focuses on a specific topic that’s often related to the blogger’s skills, passions, or expertise. This type of blog attracts a targeted audience looking for in-depth information or advice on a particular subject. 

Here are some niche blogs that are effective for building authority and a community:

Travel blog

If you’re passionate about sharing experiences, guides, itineraries, and travel tips, consider starting a travel blog. This type of blog not only features photos and videos that bring destinations to life but can also expand into providing additional services, such as selling travel gear, organizing group trips, or offering personalized travel planning services.

For example, The Blonde Abroad combines photography with practical travel guides, packing lists, and city itineraries, helping readers both get inspired and plan their trips.

Book blog

A book blog often contains book reviews, recommended reading lists, and literary trends. Some book blogs also provide a community, like virtual book clubs or reader discussion circles.

For example, Modern Mrs. Darcy offers book reviews, curated reading lists, and a discussion platform, helping readers discover new books while building a vibrant reading community.

Food blog

A food blog typically features recipes, restaurant reviews, cooking tips, and tutorial videos. It benefits from emphasizing visual storytelling to capture taste, texture, and presentation – elements that words alone can’t fully convey.

For example, Pinch of Yum combines approachable recipes with high-quality images and step-by-step instructions, making the content much more engaging.