Chapter 24. Introducing Blogs

<feature><title>In This Chapter</title>
  • Learning what blogs are and why reading them is fun and interesting

  • Using Blog Search to find blogs that interest you

  • Using Advanced Search features to better focus your blog search

  • Getting your blog listed in the Google Blog Search index

</feature>

Google has created a special search page just for finding blogs. Because Google’s goal is to give access to all the world’s digital information, the folks at Google would have been remiss in leaving out blogs. A great deal of information, more editorial and creative than fact-based, resides in blogs around the world. This chapter introduces blogs and helps you use Google technology to find the blog that has information you want to read. Chapter 25 goes into greater depth in helping you create your own blog using the Google-owned Blogger Web site.

What Is a Blog?

Blog, a recently coined term, is a shortened version of Weblog. In fact, it has pretty much replaced the word weblog altogether. A blog is a type of online journal, usually meant for public consumption. You can think of it as a “Dear Diary” entry on a public highway billboard, except this one is on the Internet superhighway.

A blog does not require special software or a special user interface. A blog simply can be a continued posting on a Web page or a continued Google Group posting. Blogs have become popular as a way to communicate thoughts and ideas for both adults as well as young people. An entirely new Internet ...

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