In the era of digital marketing, blogging and article writing is crucial for any business to drive traffic to their site. Content is vital in online marketing, and without it, you’re not going to get anywhere. That magical component makes you stand out, build a brand, and convey your ideas to the masses. Still, many writers are confused about the actual difference between a blog and an article. Therefore, having a proper understanding of the different types of content is highly crucial.
Believe it or not, there are some vital differences between a blog and an article. The tone, structure, and content length are just a few things that contrast in blogs and articles. Here, we’ve compiled a list of 15 important things to consider about blogs vs. articles.
1. History
The primary difference between a blog and an article is that articles have been around much longer than blogs. Unlike article writing, blogging is a pretty new thing that sprang in this modern age with the rise of the Internet. Blogs have now been an integral part of our culture.
We all have our favorite blogs. But they probably didn’t exist until just a few decades ago, at the most. The first-ever blog was created in 1994 by Justin Hall, a student at Swarthmore College. Thanks to this guy, blogging was born – although he didn’t realize it and called it his “homepage.”
In 1997, Jorn Barger coined the term “weblog,” referring to the process of “logging the web” while browsing the web. Then, in 1998, programmer Peter Meholz came along and shortened the word to “blog” as we know it!
Although the advent of social media has diverted a lot of attention from blogs, there are still millions of thriving blogs today, and blogging is unquestionably one of the ideal tools for marketing.
2. Publication
Another major difference is publication. A blog post is content that’s published in a blog. However, an article can be published almost anywhere! Besides being printed on newspapers and magazines, articles are also in traditional paper-style media on the Internet, such as The New York Times, Time Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal.
Blogs are blogs. They are restricted to blogs. But articles can make themselves at home at a wide variety of online and offline publication methods.
3. Length
A blog post is generally short and brief. The length of a blog post can range anywhere from 250 words to 2,000 words. Longer posts are usually rare, and shorter ones are often snippets of another writing with links to the full article. A blog intends to convey information without going into much detail.
On the other hand, articles should typically be lengthy and detailed. Articles start at 1,500 words to 5,000 or more words. They are written in more detail.
4. Point of View
Writers often wonder about which point of view to use in their writing. A blog is frequently written in the first person. For example, a blog writer tells the story from the personal “I” point of view. Many blog writers choose this point of view without much thought. This is natural because blogs are often about sharing and expressing personal ideas, experiences, and opinions. However, blogs are also written in the second and third person.
On the other hand, an article is most favorably crafted in a second or third person point of view.
5. Personal Opinion
Both blogs and articles are a great way to create fresh content for your audience. However, there are some fundamental differences you should keep in mind while writing them. A blog writer will frequently include his personal opinion while writing about the topic. But an article writer is not so free to share his opinion in his content. An article should be based on facts and statistics from an unbiased perspective.
For example, suppose you were writing a blog post about Hawaii. In that case, you could include your own experiences and opinions of the place, such as what you liked about Hawaii or not or whether people should spend a vacation there or not. You are free to speak your mind! However, if it is to be written as an article, you would rely solely on statistics and facts to craft well-detailed and informational content.
6. Tone and Structure
One of the most notable differences when it comes to blogs vs. articles is tone and structure. A blog displays a more laidback, informal tone. The structure is also very flexible, and you can tweak it anyway you want according to your personal style. You’ve probably come across blogs punctuated with exclamations, question marks, caps, dot-dot-dots, slang, and all kinds of amusing styles that peak and dramatize interest. Blogs are to be helpful, educational, and at the same time, interesting.
Unlike blogs, an article implements a more sophisticated and scholarly tone, written in a journalistic way. This is because an article is meant to provide detailed insight on a particular topic. As a result, they have a formal manner, more proper grammar, and less drama.
7. SEO
A major focus a blog writer should have while writing is SEO. A blog post is focused on SEO keywords to rank higher in search engine results. It also includes many internal and external links to keep visitors hanging around or generate leads and clients.
But the article writer’s sole objective is to provide comprehensive information in full description with wholly or almost no other external motive. Written chiefly for newspapers or magazines, articles don’t require to have an emphasis on SEO.
8. Types of Data
More often than not, blogs are accompanied by random images from the web that help the viewer understand the topic. In addition, writers can use different visuals and videos to make their content more attractive, engaging, and clear to readers.
However, authors of articles prefer using data, graphs, charts, and other relevant files in writing that expound on the topic.
9. Readers
A reader can scan a blog post in a few moments and understand without scouring every word and detail. This is because a bog is simple and intended to inform the reader without much detail. A blog is for readers who want instant information.
But an article is content to be studied to gain a more profound knowledge of the topic. Unlike a blog reader, an article reader will most likely spend more time reading through the article and studying the data provided. An article should provide thorough information to readers who want to learn about something in detail.
10. Updates
Another difference between a blog and an article is that articles are not updated. Once it is published, it stays there forever. Blog posts, however, can be and often are updated. Since blogs are online, they are much easier to be edited, unlike a printed newspaper or magazine article.
11. Arrangement
Blog content is typically arranged in reverse chronological order – they are ranked from the most recent first. Articles are not in a particular order but are time-stamped on the date of their publication.
12. Verification
Unlike blogs, articles require researchers to verify the information in the content before publishing. A blog, though, can be self-published and does not require any reviewer verification. This is one reason why articles are the more favored content of the types of readers who are looking for well-researched and reviewed facts.
13. Editing
A blog post can be drafted and published in a blog in the spur of a moment. It can also be edited and updated whenever needed. A feature of blog writing is that it requires minimal editing. Articles are usually long and comprehensive, so they cannot be changed as quickly. On top of that, they are typically printed. As a result, articles need to go through careful edits to avoid errors.
14. Purpose of an Article
The objective of an article is to convey comprehensive insight on a specific topic. Articles are often published in print but can also be online. If you are seeking to share unbiased and well-researched information, an article is the best choice.
15. Purpose of a Blog
The blog’s purpose is to provide high-quality information without going into detail. They are usually informal and can contain personal opinions. Furthermore, many blogs seek to generate leads and inspire people to make a certain choice.
Last word
Both blog posts and articles are incredibly crucial for any company or marketer. However, knowing the differences between the two is important for businesses using this content as a form of marketing.