Column Two: Weblogs Archives – a weblog on intersting articles about weblogs

How to use weblogs to create engaging learning experiences

Contentious � Blogging Style: The Basic Posting Formats (Series Index)
After reading blogs for awhile, I’ve come to see some patterns in the ways postings in text-based blogs are formatted. As I see it, there are seven basic formats for blog postings. Each serves a different purpose for bloggers and their readers.

The format of a blog posting, if chosen consciously and carefully, enhance communication – particularly the delivery of certain types of content. Consequently, some formats work best for commentary or explanation, others for alerts and references, etc.

Here are the seven basic blog posting formats:

1. Link-only
2. Link blurb
3. Brief remark
4. List
5. Short article
6. Long article
7. Series postings

Keep in mind that these types represent points along a spectrum. A specific posting might blend aspects of two or more formats.