“Blog” has become such a common language word that people casually use it in reference to anything written online, whether it’s a short story, a news report or a full length article. This actually causes a bit of indignation among people who feel they didn’t write a “blog” at all, but in fact, wrote a straight forward account in the form of an article. Which brings up the question; exactly what is the difference between a blog, an article and an SEO article?

Blogs are generally narrative in aspect. They are usually written from a first person or second person conversational viewpoint. They can contain opinions, information or short story format dialog. They often draw upon personal experience and can take the form of bulk letter writing to keep friends and family informed on daily events.

Blogs are also used to promote a business, a product or a service through subject specific information. They rely on reflective words, called keywords, that will come up easily in a search engine. The strength of a keyword is dependent on its unique expression. If your category is “law”, you’re in a very broad and highly competitive keyword range. If you specialize in criminal law, it narrows down the search, giving your keywords higher priority. By blogging, your tone stays personal, friendly, yet informative.

An article is a non-fiction document, typically formal. It is written from a third person point-of-view. Articles may be written from an essay format, news format or as a statement. Traditionally, these articles have relied on documentary evidence (APA style, for example) but low quality directories have somewhat tarnished the objective article’s reputation.

Articles can be used to inform the reader or to present a persuasive argument. Articles are written for newspapers and magazines as a means of keeping people up to date on science, social concerns, technology and events and for advertisers wishing to inform the public about a product, business or service.

Regular SEO articles are generally written for businesses advertising products or services. The articles are informative, written from a third person view, but use one or more keywords to give them search engine strength. The keywords might reflect the company name or they might not mention the company name at all in the body of the article, but provide a general description of the type of product or service offered. For instance, if the subject is “Harry’s Auto Shop”, the keywords might be “engine repair” or “transmissions specialists”. The keywords are often repeated several times for reinforcement in an engine search. The SEO article will seek to inform the public on aspects of their particular product or service. If Harry’s Auto Shop is doing engine repair, it might elaborate on the type of damage that can occur to an engine, or the parts used in repair.

Pay close attention to your style of writing and your choice of SEO content before you plan your campaign. A combination of magazine quality articles, blogs, and regular SEO content may be necessary in the long-run.