For every aspiring content writer, what’s important is to have a flair in writing in every format. And for every website owner, For this reason, it is important to know the difference between blog and article.
Whether it is copywriting, blogs, articles, website content, email marketing, or white papers, a content writer should adapt according to the format to create maximum impact on the reader based on where they are going to read it.
Long-form or short-form, every style of content has a different niche and demands its unique style of constructing the same.
One commonly misunderstood duo of content types is – Blogs and Articles.
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Is there a Difference between Blog and Article ?
Technically, there’s a fine line between the two, there is a noticeable difference between blog and article.
This is usually seen in the world of freelancing where freelance content writers are often confused between the two when they get a brief from the client.
This article highlights the subtle differences between these two often interchangeably used terms.
Let’s understand the differences:
Difference 1: Origin of Blog and Article
Blogs, derived from the term “weblog,” are platforms where individuals or organizations publish regular entries in reverse chronological order. They serve as online journals, enabling creators to express personal perspectives, share experiences, or disseminate information on specific topics.
In contrast, articles adhere to a structured format and are typically found in newspapers, magazines, or online publications. They aim to inform, educate, or persuade readers on a particular subject matter, often supported by research and analysis.
Difference 2: Style and Tone
Blogs adopt a conversational tone, often reflecting the personality and voice of the creator. They incorporate anecdotes, humor, and informal language to engage readers on a more personal level. Blogs may also feature subjective viewpoints and opinions, inviting readers to participate in discussions and share their perspectives.
Articles maintain a formal tone, adhering to grammatical rules and professional writing standards. They prioritize clarity and objectivity, presenting information in a neutral and unbiased manner. Articles rely on evidence-based research and expert opinions to substantiate claims and arguments, aiming to educate and enlighten readers with well-reasoned insights.
Difference 3: SEO and Optimization
Blogs leverage search engine optimization (SEO) techniques to enhance visibility and attract organic traffic from search engines. Creators strategically incorporate relevant keywords and phrases into their content, optimizing titles, headings, meta descriptions, and alt text for images to improve search engine rankings and increase visibility.
Articles also benefit from SEO practices, albeit in a more structured manner. Writers conduct keyword research to identify popular search terms related to their topic, seamlessly integrating them into the title, headings, and body text. Articles may also incorporate backlinks, meta tags, and schema markup to enhance their visibility and relevance in search engine results pages.
Difference 4: Audience Engagement
Blogs offer interactive features such as comment sections, social media sharing buttons, and subscription options to engage with readers and foster community interaction. Creators actively respond to comments, solicit feedback, and encourage user-generated content, creating a sense of belonging and participation among their audience.
In contrast, articles are primarily consumed passively, with limited opportunities for direct engagement or interaction. While readers may leave comments or share articles on social media, the level of engagement is typically lower compared to blogs. Articles focus on delivering valuable information
Difference 5: Structural Differences
One key distinction between blogs and articles lies in their layout and formatting. Blogs often feature a casual and visually engaging design, with multimedia elements such as images, videos, and infographics interspersed throughout the content. Articles, however, follow a more formal structure, with clear headings, subheadings, and paragraphs for easy navigation and comprehension.
Blogs typically consist of shorter entries, allowing for easy sharing on social media platforms. They prioritize brevity and relevance, catering to readers with limited attention spans.
In contrast, articles delve deeper into a subject matter, offering comprehensive coverage and in-depth analysis to satisfy the curiosity of readers seeking detailed information.
Difference 6: Purpose and Intent
Blogs serve diverse purposes, ranging from personal expression to business promotion. They provide creators with a platform to connect with their audience on a more personal level, fostering engagement through comments, shares, and likes. Blogs also play a crucial role in content marketing strategies, driving traffic to websites and boosting search engine rankings through relevant keywords and tags.
Articles are crafted with the primary goal of informing, educating, or persuading readers on a specific topic. They adhere to journalistic standards of accuracy, impartiality, and integrity, presenting facts and opinions in a clear and concise manner. Articles often target a broader audience and aim to establish credibility and authority within a particular industry or niche.
So, if you are a Digital or Content marketer, feel free to take notes.
| Blog Posts | Article Writing |
| Blog posts are generally more casual and are a great way to connect with website visitors. | Articles are more fact driven, detailed and more formal in their writing style. |
| Blogs provde a personal, insider point of view. | Articles are informative and are meant to add high value to the readers. |
| Blog posts are generally short (300-700 words). | Articles can vary in lengths (500 – 2000 words or more). |
| Blogs are expected to be updated frequently – every year, or even every few months | Articles are less frequently updated since they might be based on secondary or primary research. |
Which format should you post on your website – Blog or Article?
The ideal thing is to keep a mix of both Blog and Article. Using this strategy, you will not only be able to provide small, snackible content for your readers, but also high-value long form content for readers that are looking to get that extra value.
If you’re new to blogging and content writing, read this article that teaches you how to make your first WordPress blog.
When should you write a Blog?
The primary objective of writing a blog is to provide readers some information without going into details, and not hitting them hard with facts and figures.
When you intend to create a quick and light readable content piece for your audience, which is more like an opinion, or general idea sharing or an update into your company or life, blogs are a great option.
Blog posts are generally under 1000 words and are usually written in first person.
When should you write an Article?
When you want to talk about a topic in-depth, supported with insights and data, an article is the right approach to take.
Articles are generally written in an educational-tone and are usually in second-person or third-person.
Articles tend to go longer in terms of word-counts – can be 2000 words (or even more).
Articles aren’t 2-minute reads. They are supposed to get the reader to ponder. They include data and insights that have been pulled from primary or secondary research.
Article writing requires a lot more effort than blog writing.
Which format is good for SEO – Blog or Article?
Since now you can differentiate between an Article and a Blog, and you are on this website (a digital marketing resource), it is imperative you would want to know which format will help your SEO and rankings.
My suggestion is to not write content for robots. Instead, write the content for your audience.
Analyse what kind of content does your audience prefer – long form or short form. How much time do they spend on your website on on each blog article (Google Analytics can give you this data).
Based on this above information, choose the right topic and the right format for your content.
If you want to learn more about how to make your content perform well, follow Young Urban Project on Instagram.
If you are a beginner in Digital Marketing, you can enrol for our free Digital Marketing Basics course in Hinglish here
