The 5 Types Of Blog

To the majority of the world a blog is a pretty obscure thing. A blog in itself is thought of as a very specific type of Website. Most people would say that arguing that there are different types of blog is just being pedantic. (not that I go around to strangers randomly exclaiming that “There are 5 types of blog I tells ya!”)

Nevertheless, is there not a massive difference between a blog about an “emo” teenager chronicling their latest pubescent worry and a company blog issuing their latest software development? They are not just blogs in different niches, they are different types of blog, period.

1. Personal blog. Its purpose is to be a outlet, where you can write what you want and about anything you feel like, while not worrying about earnings/traffic/stats which are put very much to one side. For example The Life of a School Bus Driver

2. Corporate Blog. Its purpose is to help the company to:

• Gain traffic
• Let the world know when they add a new feature to their business
• Connect with their users/customers on a personal level
• Build or change the company’s brand by writing in a certain style.
• A way for users/customers to offer feedback

For example the PayPerPost blog

3. Small Niche blog. A blog on a highly specific topic aimed to dominate the SERPs for a few select keyword phrases and make money with very few updates. For example Cheap-Ass Airsoft Guns (a blog of mine)

4. Flagship niche blog. A blog on a slightly wider topic, aimed to build a powerful brand. They are very high maintenance, but also have the biggest potential for profits. For example ReadWriteWeb

5. Hybrid blog. This is when a blogger starts a blog about a hobby of theirs and includes details about their personal life here and there in the content. Normally these blogs are updated roughly 4-7 times per week and usually fail to become known as “the flagship blog” for any given niche, but earn more money than a personal blog. If they are kept running for long enough they can become pretty big. For example 45n5.com. Sometimes they have an added purpose gaining credibility in a field where the blogger has future plans, such as Instigator Blog, where the author Ben Yoskovitz recently launched the very impressive Standout Jobs.

Out of all 5 types I read a lot of Hybrid and flagship blogs, as well as a few corporate blogs.

What types of blog do you own or read?