A weblog may be simply defined as an online journal, often updated
daily. Far easier to host than an entire website,
blogs have a more personal
feel to them. It is like having push button publishing on hand, and anyone with
something to say can hop on to this bandwagon by signing up for a free account.
One of the widest used platforms for Indian blogging is the
Rediff blogs website (http://blogs.rediff.com).
The Rediff blog hosting
service has been in operation for almost three years
now, and hosts thousands of blogs. What is it that attracts more users to the
Rediff blog manager rather than other blog hosting services?
The answer, I think, lies in the simplicity of the Rediff interface.
The posting page is very simple; with one column to
create posts in and easy to
use publish buttons. The site
offers some prefabricated templates, and
automatically archives older posts. It is possible also to categorize every
single post on the blog, by means of the
category links. And, if you’re unable
to find the category you want, the interface allows you to create your own
category. The recently added blogroll has only made the service more user
friendly, and if you’re comfortable around HTML, you can take a shot at
redesigning the layout of your blog as well- and see what it looks like with
the Preview tab.
Searching for and browsing blogs is also pretty simple; one needs
only to click on the Browse button. A Blogger’s Lounge offers helpful hints to
new users and the Ideas Factory can help one decide what type of weblog they’re
looking to create. The site also has a Sizzling Blogs and Recently Updated
Blogs section, and getting your blog there is a major kick for any blogger.
(I’ve been on the sizzler’s list twice, so I know what I’m talking about!)
A word of caution, however. The Rediff server is at best,
temperamental, and sometimes it is impossible to log into the service. At other
times, it is impossible to submit a post; and, although I have never had this
problem, others complain about ‘lost posts’ as well. These are, however, minor
and occasional upsets, and on the whole, with Rediff Blogs, setting up your own
space has never been simpler.
More reviews about the Rediff Blogs service evaluated