Blogware is the software that makes publishing a blog drop-dead-simple. Once installed on a web server, the website content is managed via a web browser. This eliminates (or minimizes) the need for an author to know HTML.
People who have technical skill and administrator access to a web server may wish to install and manage blogware. Popular software that you can run on your own site includes MoveableType and WordPress.
People who do not have this skill or who wish to blog in a web community may prefer setting up their blog on a hosted site. There are varying costs associated with these communities. All allow some customization of the look of the blog. Some allow photos to be hosted, some don’t. Most allow you to have your domain name point to your blog. Most free hosts require larger files — audio or video — to be hosted elsewhere.
Communities to consider:
- Blogger
- Live Journal
- MSN Spaces – now Spaces @ Live.com
- Newsvine
- Posterous
- Typepad
- Vox – discontinued Sept 2010
- WordPress
:: Note: This article is one in a set of blogging resources for students and faculty.