The Difference Between Articles and Blogs
“Is there a difference between articles and blogs?”
This was posed to me today by one of my clients and it is a really good question. Many of you may appreciate having this cleared up for you. I’m often guilty of swapping the word “article” for the phrase “blog post” myself, however, there are essential differences between the two.
So here’s a rundown of what I percieve to be the basic differences between articles and blogs. Listen…these are not rules! There are many, many exceptions and variations. But this should help to clarify it a bit for you.
A Quick Look at the Differences Between Articles and Blogs
Should You Use Articles or Blogs on your Website? – How to Choose
Generating quality content is an investment in time and energy, so it’s a good idea to decide early which direction you to go. Your best bet is to focus on your goals:
Articles: If your business is highly affected by changes in laws or the latest research, and if it is necessary for your clients (customers, patients, etc.) to obtain the most up-to-date information quickly, then posting articles on your site is an excellent choice. Attorney and insurance company websites, for example, often contain articles for this very reason.
Blogs: If your goals include better visibility on Search Engines, an increase in your stature as a thought leader in your field, and building a relationship with readers, you’re better off blogging. Blog software such as WordPress help make it possible for your readers to easily share your content, make comments, and subscribe.
Of course there’s no reason that your website can’t contain both. The messages may be similar, but the execution and tone will be different. Your thoughts?
Get more help and tips about blogging from these recommended articles blog posts:
15 Easy Ways to Come up with Powerful Blog Topics
Use These Magic Words For Irresistable Blog Headlines
This is helpful, thanks–but I’m guessing you mean a shorter length for blog posts–maybe 250 words??
Hi Jill, There’s a lot of differing opinions on this. There are a few successful bloggers who routinely write teeny weeny blog posts (the only one at the top of my head is Seth Godin. I recommend at least 450 to 500 words for most blogs (or more). Like I said, hard and fast rules these are not. Most important is to write for your readers…as many words as it takes! Hope that helps. B
I’m so glad they are helpful! Let me know if you need any help with your decisions during implementation. B