Most blogs follow a standard layout, as shown in Figure 1.1, using a customizable template, allowing users to change the background color and design, typefaces, and text placement.
Many blog template designs are available for reuse. The majority of these designs contain the elements discussed in Table 1.1.
Table 1.1. Elements in a Typical Blog Layout
Blog Element | Definition |
|---|
Blog layout | Blogs are typically laid out in reverse chronological order; whereby the most recent entry is listed first, and older entries are pushed farther down the page. |
Posts | The main text on a page is called a post. Depending on the blogging software system, the post has a fairly consistent format comprised of a headline, link to the main source or web page under discussion, a description of the material, commentary, image or photo, permalink, or quotations from the original source. All these elements can be used in various combinations. |
Link | The main link is the mechanism that connects the primary source to the post. Most users create the link so that they can retrieve it later or provide their readers with a way to read the material under discussion. |
Headline | The headline is the title of the post and is often displayed in a headline style. Many people like to write their own snappy headlines or just use the title of the source material. |
Permalink | The permalinkshort for permanent linkis an unchanging link to the specific post as it is located in the larger database that powers the organization of blogs. The permalink is the linking information you send to another person who wants to read that specific entry. Permalinks make it easier to share links because otherwise a general URL for a blog will bring up the entire blog rather than a specific entry, and the reader must wade through all the blog posts to find the desired information. |
Comments | Most posts contain an area where readers can respond to what has been written in the post. Depending on the software publishing system, blog posts contain a link to a supplemental area containing a response box where readers can leave their comments. Most of the time these comments are visible to future readers. In this way, a conversation can be recorded about a particular topic. |
Trackback | Another common element on posts is an area that allows the blogger and his visitors to see what type of impact his post has had in the larger blogging community via a program that tracks where the post has been linked on another blogger's site. |
Sidebars | Bloggers can supplement their posts with additional information placed in columns on the sides of the blog's main page. The typical blog layout includes Blog Rolls, Calendar, Archive, Search Box, and About page. |
Blog rolls | A list of links to other like-minded blogs that the blogger can recommend. In addition, the blogger may post links to informational websites. |
Calendar | A common feature in most blogger software systems, the calendar displays the dates of posts. |
Archive | When a post is pushed down and off a blog's main page, it is archived in a database. Some blogging software makes it easy to read past posts by displaying links to older posts on a weekly or monthly basis. |
Search box | Visitors can look for older commentary or specific information by typing in a search query in a search box attached to a blog's sidebar. |
About page | Bloggers customarily include contact information and short biographical sketches in pages located via a link on the main blog page. |
