LJ Jones recently wrote a very interesting post on blogs and websites. Or rather, the difference between the two and why this difference is important. It’s called:
Why Your Blog Shouldn’t be on your site
With more and more people and businesses setting up blogs (and many tending to set them up on their websites) I thought this was a timely post to help differentiate between websites and blogs. Hence worth re-blogging.
LJ speaks to the confusion of some when it comes to the roles of blogs and websites. He says:
“I think the problem is that people get confused and think that the website should be the all inclusive, everything in one place, end destination.”
Everything including the tools you use to engage with your audience (assuming, of course, that you are engaging with them). Tools such as Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, YouTube and social networking tools. Those tools don’t have to be on your website. They should be on your blog.
LJ argues that while a website is about you (your company), your blog is about your audience and should contain a lot less about you. That got me thinking. As a copywriter, if I had my way, websites would be more about their prospective audiences and less about the companies, however that’s because I write copy – any copy – with the customer or prospect in mind, not the product. Too many websites use their entire website to bore people talk only about themselves… with little attention to their prospect’s problems and how they can solve them. So I find most websites are ME sites, when they should be more “THEM” sites.
Your Website’s About You, Your Blog’s About Them
But I get where LJ is coming from. In the main your website is your opportunity to talk in terms of your business, while your blog is your opportunity to talk more with your audience, and engage with them, by providing interesting content, links, recommendations and sharing stuff they may like however may not otherwise find. Bit like what I’m doing with this post.
I especially liked this:
Your blog gives you a place to communicate with your audience without them feeling like you are selling to them. It gives you a place to demonstrate what you know and are good at, without sounding like you are talking about yourself and they will respect you for that.”
This is so true. And how about this…
A Website Confines You, A Blog Sets You Free
When you consider it, your blog actually frees you. Whereas your website is static, and content doesn’t have to change much, your blog is dynamic (at least it should be) and regularly updated with fresh content, and new perspectives.
Your website is promotional, your “shop window” if you will, while your blog… can almost be anything you wish it to be. The campfire, the storyboard, the water-cooler, the lookout post, the news stand… the classroom – or simply the place you share your thoughts for your audience to read and share theirs with you. You set the tone and the rules for your blog and tweak as you go along. It’s fluid.
While your website may be impersonal, your blog, even if it’s a business blog, has a personality that is tangible and that people come to know. That personality comes from you – and your relationship with your readers. As you blog you discover things you could never discover from a static website alone.
On my website, Copywriting Studio I have a Twitter badge. I also link to my blog(of course) from my site and from my blog to my site. But my blog, not my site, is where the “social interaction” happens, and I deliberately kept them separate – right down to having a different name.
Bottom line, with a few exceptions, blogs and websites are different. And your blog probably shouldn’t be on your website it should be a separate entity complete with different navigation.
Hang on - did I say there are exceptions?
I did and I’m going to talk about one of my favourite exceptions in my next post. It’s a blog that’s in a website and part of the website and it’s one of the most interactive sites there is.
I hope you’ll go along and read LJ’s post and share your own thoughts because he makes a lot of good points. What do you think of this post? Do you agree? Have a different view? As always feel free to share your thoughts here.
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Thanks for the mention of my blog. I agree and like the thoughts you had about the differences between a blog and a website and how a blog sets you free. I also like that you added that there are exceptions. There always are.
@LJ – You’re welcome. I’d be interested to see what you think of my exception when I write about it.
Interesting… I’ll have to wait for the exceptions post.
You are SO right about this! This is an absolutely excellent formulation!!
Thanks Carolyn Jean!
I certainly don’t disagree and you are absolutely right that there are exceptions Nicky. However, most blog templates do allow static pages (that can be used as a landing page) and these can be set up to talk as much about “you” the blogger, businessperson, etc. As a journalist and copywriter, I’m finding my Wordpress site is developing more into what I need overall and my -design-paid-for site is languishing while I get round, eventually, to thinking what I might do with it. Hey .. but I’m open to tips and advice … !
All the best.
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@Russell: Very good point! You’re right, blogs have broken the rules in many ways. I’m finding a similar situation. My web site is mainly static although I add my articles when I can… while my blog is updated regularly. I do have plans for additions to both… and so far am keeping them separate. Maybe I’ll bounce some ideas off you. If you read the follow-up post to this one I look at just one exception. Perhaps yours will be another?
Edit – Thinking more about this: It all depends on what you’re trying to achieve and, as Michele said, what type of business you have. I think I am still on the separate website and blog (or at least having the appearance of) because I approach a web site looking for how a service will benefit me. So for me I approach with an intention to purchase… either then or down the line. I still think of a blog as an opportunity to learn more about the company or person(s) behind the company. So, much freer, less informal, more personable, sky’s the limit etc. The thing is, with me even if pages are static I still think of a blog as a blog. That is just my perspective which could very well change. I know that Wordpress can also be used as a site, so clearly the lines are blurring. And, if you read my Coldplay example, they throw the “separateness of site and blog” completely out of the window
@Michele I do think it depends on the company, the industry approach etc. However companies can start by having a blog and including a link on their main site. The blog can actually increase sales, because, depending on the blog the company can increase trust through the interactivity. Definitely more to discuss on this topic.