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What is a Blog and How is it Different from a Website? (Explained)

Last updated on by Editorial Staff | Reviewed by: Syed Balkhi

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Often, readers ask us, “what is a blog, and how is it different from a website?”

If you are thinking about starting a blog or a website, then understanding these terms will help you meet your goals.

In this beginner’s guide, we will explain what a blog is and the difference between blogs and websites. We will also talk about usage scenarios, with real-world examples and their benefits.

What is a blog and how is it different from a website?

What Is a Blog?

A blog is a type of website where the content is presented in reverse chronological order (newer content appears first). Blog content is often referred to as entries or “blog posts.”

Blogs are typically run by an individual or a small group of people to present information in a conversational style. However, now, there are tons of corporate blogs that produce a lot of informational and thought-leadership-style content.

A blog page showing posts

Typical blog posts also have a comments section where users can respond to the article.

History of Blogs

Blogs evolved from online diaries and journals in the mid-90s. At that time, internet users were already running personal web pages where they published regular updates about their personal lives, thoughts, and social commentary.

The term web log was first used during the late 90s, which later became ‘weblog’, then ‘we blog’, and finally just ‘blog’.

Due to the growing number of such web pages, several tools started to appear, which made it easier for users to create online journals and personal blogs. These tools helped popularize blogging and made the technology accessible to non-technical users.

In 1999, the popular blogging website Blogger.com was launched, which was later acquired by Google in February 2003.

The same year, WordPress released its first version as a blogging platform in May 2003.

Today, WordPress is the world’s most popular blogging platform, powering over 43% of all websites on the internet. For more details, see our WordPress market share report.

What Is the Difference Between a Blog and a Website?

Blogs are a type of website. The only real difference between a blog and other types of websites is that blogs are updated regularly with new content, which is displayed in reverse chronological order (new blog posts first).

Typical websites are static in nature, where content is organized in pages, and they are not updated frequently. In comparison, a blog is dynamic and is usually updated more regularly. Some bloggers publish multiple new articles a day.

Blogs can be part of a larger website. Often, businesses have a blog section where they regularly create content to inform and educate their customers.

You can use WordPress to create both a website and a blog. That’s why a lot of business owners use WordPress to build their small business websites.

In simple terms, all blogs can be a website or part of a website. However, not all websites can be called blogs.

For example, WPBeginner is a blog and a website. Our website has other content that is published in a non-blog format, like the Solution Center, glossary, about us, and contact pages.

Non-blog content on a blog website

Now, let’s take a look at another example.

This time, a website called Awesome Motive. It is a business website and belongs to WPBeginner’s management company.

Awesome Motive

It does not have a blog or any content published in sequential order. It uses pages to organize and present information about a business and collects user feedback by adding a contact form.

You can also say that blogs have articles that are organized using categories and tags. On the other hand, websites use pages to organize and display content.

Blog or Website – Which One Is Better?

As a beginner, you may wonder whether you should start a blog or publish a website. Which one is better?

To be honest, the answer to this question really depends on what your goals are.

Many small businesses around the world have traditional websites made up of just pages and no blog. Such small websites are often made to create an informational web presence for a business, organization, or individual.

On the other hand, more and more businesses are realizing the potential of a blog in their overall marketing strategy. Business owners are adding a separate blog section to their traditional websites and using it to get more traffic from search engines.

That’s because blogs are proven to improve search engine optimization (SEO).

Blogs also come with an RSS feed feature, which allows users to stay updated with your latest posts. When a new post is published, the RSS feed is updated automatically.

Smart marketers often connect the RSS feed with an email newsletter or web push notification to send their users a notification alert about recent posts, product announcements, and more.

Take OptinMonster, for example. It is lead generation software, and its website has traditional sales pages showcasing its product and features.

OptinMonster website and blog

They also have an informational blog that teaches users how to improve conversions and get more leads.

This helps them cover their industry keywords to get free traffic from search engines and make more sales.

Whether you are a business, a non-profit organization, or a professional, adding your own blog to your website can help you attract your target audience, grow your email list, and sell products.

What Is the Difference Between Blog Posts and Pages?

WordPress is the most popular blogging platform and a powerful content management system. By default, it comes with two content types: posts and pages. Often, beginners get confused between the two.

Blog posts are displayed in reverse chronological order (newest to oldest) on your blog page because they are timely content, which means your users will have to dig deeper to view older posts.

Static pages are “one-off” type content such as your about page, contact page, products or services landing page, home page, and more.

To learn more, see our beginner’s guide on the difference between posts and pages.

Pages are usually used to create a website structure and layout. Even blogs can have pages alongside them (See our list of important pages that every blog should have).

Why Do People Blog? What Are the Benefits of Blogging?

Each individual blogger has their own motivation for blogging. Many of them use it as an alternative to keeping a diary or journal. Blogging sites provide them with a venue to share their creativity and ideas with a wider audience.

Top brands and businesses create blogs to educate their customers, share news, and reach a wider audience. Blogging is an essential part of online marketing strategy for many businesses.

Here are just a few benefits of blogging.

  • Provides an avenue to organize your thoughts and ideas
  • Allows you to showcase your skills, creativity, and talents
  • Help individuals become an authority in their industry
  • Helps you socialize with interesting, like-minded people online
  • Many bloggers make money blogging using various monetization methods
  • Businesses use blogging to bring more potential customers to their websites
  • Non-profits can use blogs to raise awareness, run social media campaigns, and influence public opinion

What Are Some Examples of Good Blogs?

Blogging is huge!

Millions of individuals and businesses from all over the world have blogs. This means that there are blogs on just about any topic you can think of.

Here are some popular blogs that you can check out as an example. We have hand-picked the best blogs in different industries to give you an idea of how diverse blogs are.

1. Pinch of Yum

Pinch of Yum

Pinch of Yum is one of the most popular food and recipe blogs online. Started by Lindsay, a high school teacher, the blog allowed her to quit her day job and become a full-time blogger.

2. WeTheParents

We the Parents blog

WeTheParents is a popular parenting blog run by Neve and Keane (the parents). They share parenting tips for moms and dads, and while doing so, they make money by earning commissions on products they recommend.

3. We Wore What

We Wore What

Started by Danielle Bernstein, We Wore What is a popular fashion blog. With more than 1.5 Million followers, it covers everything from fashion to interior design to menswear.

4. Nerd Fitness

NerdFitness blog

A fitness blog started by Steve Kamb, Nerd Fitness is dedicated to helping people stay fit. It provides fitness advice, motivation, support, diet and exercise tips.

5. Lost With Purpose

Lost With Purpose

A popular travel blog run by Alex, who shares her journeys while offering travel tips, advice, and guides for other backpackers.

6. Tiny Buddha

Tiny Buddha

Tiny Buddha is a personal development blog created by Lori Deschene. The blog publishes content on happiness, love, relationships, mindfulness, spirituality, simplicity, minimalism, letting go, and more.

There are many more great blogs out there on many different topics. See our list of the most popular types of blogs for some more ideas.

How Do Bloggers Make Money?

Usually, people think of bloggers as hobbyists. While some people have lifestyle blogs, a large number of bloggers make money from their blog websites. This enables them to focus more on their blog, quit their day jobs, and build successful online businesses.

The more successful blogs can make six-figure, seven-figure, and even eight-figure incomes in a year.

Below are a few ways that most bloggers use to make money from their blogs:

The most common and probably the easiest way to make money online is by displaying ads. However, as a new blogger, you will not be able to contact advertisers directly or manage them on your own.

This is where Google AdSense comes in. It takes care of finding ads, displaying them, collecting payments from advertisers, and sending you those payments for a small cut.

Many bloggers also make money through affiliate marketing. Basically, they recommend products on their websites and earn a commission when users buy those products. For example, you can share your favorite Amazon products and earn a referral fee when users purchase using your link.

Other common monetization methods include memberships, selling online courses, or adding an online store (eCommerce) to the blog.

See our list of proven ways to make money online from your blog for some more examples.

We also have a list of “easy-to-start” online business ideas that you can check out.

Can Anyone Start a Blog?

Yes, anyone who wants to start a blog can easily do so.

In the early days of blogging, users needed HTML and PHP coding skills to even update their blogs.

Now, there are plenty of blogging tools like WordPress, Tumblr, Medium, Blogger, Wix, and Squarespace, that allow you to easily create your first blog without ever writing code.

Basically, if you can point-and-click, then you can build a blog within minutes.

With that said, choosing the wrong blogging platform to start a blog is the most common mistake that beginners make. But, since you are here, you will not be making this mistake.

We recommend using WordPress. It is the world’s most popular blogging platform and website builder. Over 43% of all websites on the internet are built using WordPress so that you can get an idea of how popular it is.

There are two types of WordPress: WordPress.com, which is a limited hosting service, and WordPress.org, also known as self-hosted WordPress. See our guide on the difference between WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org for more details.

We recommend using WordPress.org because it is open-source, which means you get instant access to all the powerful WordPress features. It also allows you to easily make money from your blog without restrictions.

Want to learn more about WordPress? See our complete WordPress review for a detailed breakdown of its functionality.

You will need the following things to start your own WordPress.org blog:

  • A domain name (This will be your blog’s address and what users will type in their browser to visit it. For example, wpbeginner.com)
  • Website hosting service (This will be the home of your blog’s files)
  • 20 minutes of your time

Normally, a domain name will cost you around $14.99 per year, and website hosting $7.99 per month. Now, if you are just starting out, this seems like a lot of money.

Thankfully, Bluehost has agreed to offer WPBeginner users a free domain name and up to a 77% discount on web hosting. Basically, you will be able to get started for $2.75 per month.

→ Click Here to Claim This Exclusive Bluehost Offer ←

Plus, Bluehost is one of the biggest hosting companies in the world and is officially recommended by WordPress.

Bluehost WordPress Hosting offer for WPBeginner Users

Need a Bluehost alternative? We recommend Hostinger. They are also offering a free domain name with a generous discount on hosting.

After purchasing hosting, you can head over to our step-by-step guide on how to start a blog for detailed instructions.

The best part about WordPress is that it comes with thousands of pre-made templates, also known as WordPress themes.

You can choose a theme and then customize your blog design with drag & drop tools. See our list of the best free WordPress blog themes.

There are over 60,000+ free plugins available for WordPress. These plugins are like apps for WordPress websites that let you easily add features such as contact forms, podcasts, online stores, and more. See our expert pick of must-have WordPress plugins.

We hope this article helped answer your questions about what a blog is and what’s the difference between a blog and a website. You may also want to see our list of the most useful tools to manage and grow your WordPress blog and our tutorial on how to create a free business email address for your blog or website.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

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Reader Interactions

116 CommentsLeave a Reply

  1. Hey WPBeginner readers,
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  2. Hi, i would like to blog under different themes eg.finance, health, leisure.
    How do i structure my blogsite so that readers can go to the topic of their interest instead of scrolling through all my blogs as they are set in chronological order.
    Thanks in advance

    Reply

  3. You actually divided a blog from a website for me. Genius! Now I understand why I do better with websites than blogs. I am still not sure if I ever want to deal with blogs but then, maybe it will not be so bad once I get my feet wet.

    Reply

  4. If I understand correctly I can use the posts function on my current website as a blog?? I am always adding new content as posts so what would you suggest as the first three steps please>

    Reply

    • It would depend on how you’re using the content currently but you can use categories to separate your different post content on your site.

      Reply

      Admin

  5. As a blogger if i choose a niche can i use my blog as well for other business like affiliating,ad-sense, selling of ads space etc or this is ONLY meant for a website

    Reply

  6. I wish I had read this article before deciding to start a blog and/or website. Thank you for offering all this helpful information, I will probably move ahead with a blog to share my creative writing from past work, share experiences about living in the present moment. I just need to do some more research and hopefully not overthink it.

    Reply

  14. Can we get make a blog first and get the hosting later… Is this possible? Currently I don’t have money to invest

    Reply

    • You can create a local installation of WordPress to do that or create a free site on WordPress.com for what it sounds like you’re wanting.

      Reply

      Admin

  15. The article is very precise and not filled with complex words that a layman won’t understand… Loved it…
    Is this possible to start the blog first and get the hosting later ( if we don’t have money to invest as a beginner)

    Reply

    • You could install the site locally for doing what it sounds like you’re wanting, this would mean only you on your computer would be able to see the site.

      Reply

      Admin

  20. Wow! Thank you for this great expanciation. I really now clearly knew the difference between website and blog. You have killed it all!

    Reply

  21. Thanks in a million!
    I was totally confused because I don’t know the differences and similarities between blog and website. Now, I know what to create(blog) to market my product

    Reply

  22. Hey
    Thank you so much about this article.
    I really had lots of doubts about either starting a blog or a website and this was really helpful.
    Keep up

    Reply

  26. Your style is unique in comparison to other people I’ve read stuff from. Thanks for posting when you’ve got the opportunity, Guess I’ll just book mark this site.

    Reply

  29. You’ve summarised everything, You are so superb. So detailed that a learner can just easily start out.

    Reply

  31. That’s a really good information, this article is very helpful and informative. Thanks for Sharing

    Reply

  32. I want to start blog with minimum monthly expenditure. What will be the minimum expenditure to create blog, Pls suggest me .

    Reply

  34. Thanks for a very informative article. When I set up a blog, can I invite limited numbers of persons access to post on my blog, and also require persons who want to respond to any post to provide their name and email address (any other information.)

    Thanks again.

    Reply

  38. thank you for posting; I was considering building a blog or website and what wondering the difference between the two. but now I m almost there.

    Reply

  39. This article was very useful, thanks. can an individual own more than one blog with wordpress ?

    Reply

  41. I’m facing the following issues:
    1. When I post anything for blog posts, it displays on homepage. Nothing gets added to blog.
    2. Settings for static homepage, etc. done yet the same issue persists.
    3. There are few pre- added areas on homepage, about us page, etc. How to edit them?

    Does it have anything to do with themes? And if yes, which free wordpress theme is preferable in my case- i.e.- for a travel blog with both website and blog?

    Reply

  42. Hello Wpb,
    I have a running image sharing website, usually, we insert more than 20 images in a single post. I want to prevent WordPress from generating different image sizes for inserted images, except for the post featured image.

    For example, If there are 20 images in my post. I want WP to generate image sizes for the Featured image only, and for other inserted images i don’t want different sizes.
    Actually, the problem is the limited storage space and the other problem is that with those useless image sizes the backup file has more size.

    How can I achieve this?
    I appreciate your help.

    Reply

  43. I have already purchased my domain name elsewhere before coming across your article. How would I forward domain to hosting agent?

    Reply

    • You would normally change the nameservers to point to your new hosting provider. If you reach out to your host they should be able to let you know what needs to be changed.

      Reply

      Admin

  44. Thanks for your post.
    Please I want to create a site where I can explain various scriptures or verses in the Bible and also post Sermons on Biblical topics. The main purpose is to teach and earn, so please how would I do this?
    Blog or Website?

    Secondly, is it compulsory to post everyday or hour as a blogger?

    Reply

    • Normally you would create a blog for that but that is a question of personal preference and for how much to post that would depend on how much content you can comfortably add to your site consistently.

      Reply

      Admin

  45. Very educating articles on this site.
    Please, which one comes first? Do I create my blog before buying Domain name, then finalize with Hosting?
    Or first buy Domain name, before creating my blog/website then finalize with Hosting?
    Please, reply. Thanks.

    Reply

  46. I want to create a site that has a list of all the vintage shops in town (address, phone, short description) as well as craftsmen who sell at fairs and festivals and have a Facebook page but no brick and mortar.. also when a shop has a sale post it and when craftsman will be at certain events, post that for them. Maybe charge each one $5 a month. How would I do this? Blog or website?

    Reply

    • Hi Sandy,

      You can achieve this using multiple approaches. However, we believe that the simplest one is often the best. You can start with a blog and see how it grows, then add new features to your site accordingly.

      Reply

      Admin

  48. WP

    Please,I want to be a blogger and am still kinda confused about the guidelines to being one…

    Reply

  49. After been enlightened about Blogs and differences between blogs and pages,I feel so much like knowing more and establish in blogging

    Reply

  50. hi i want to start a blog on renewable energy with different sections like case studies, product reviews, different different types of renewable energy….etc etc. what are the plugins that i require for this website.

    Reply

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