Blog software is a specific type of content management system (CMS) that supports the creation of new weblog posts and the maintenance of weblog sites. Both freeware and proprietary blog posting software packages are available online; typically, the latter type has more features, controls and capabilities to offer the user and is recommended for use in professional settings.
Features and Advantages of Blog Software
This unique type of content management software typically provides an interface where content can be entered and HTML tags can be added to format it. Blog posting software also has features which make it easy to add, position and format images, make edits to posts and preview posts prior to publication.
Blog software also contains management features that allow you to administrate comments by deleting defamatory posts or blocking certain users outright. You can also moderate additional posts made on the weblog site and control the syndication of your blog content.
It is nearly universal for blog software to support the creation and publication of entries with a common format that includes a post title, a field where the body of the article is written and a place where the permalink containing the article's URL is displayed. The date and time when the article was written is also automatically logged.
Some blog software also allows you to add tags to posts, which are broad categories that can help users searching for specific information find the weblog page. You might also be able to track what are called "pingbacks," which are links back to other websites that either link to or directly refer to your blog post in their content.
Essentially, this type of Web content software is highly specialized document software designed specifically to support the nearly universal format of a weblog. It makes creating posts and administering weblog sites far less time-consuming.
Popular Blog Posting Software Applications
Free blog software, by and large, offers only limited functionality. The best-known proprietary blog software programs include Telligent Community, ExpressionEngine, Traction TeamPage, Windows Live Writer, IBM Lotus Connections and IBM Lotus Quickr.
There are also numerous developer-hosted platforms you can use as Web-based software; however, these applications are not available for download and offline use.