What’s the difference between a blog and a newsletter?
A question I often get when designing an author website is “What’s the difference between a blog and a newsletter?”
Let’s start with the basics.
Here you’ll see the main blog page features a collection of blog posts. When you click on a blog post on the main blog page, it will take you to the full blog post page. | Sketch by Katie Bolin
What is a blog?
The definition of a blog is “a regularly updated website or web page, typically one run by an individual or small group, that is written in an informal or conversational style.” (Oxford Languages)
Any website can have a blog. They contain two main elements: the main blog page and the blog post page.
The Main Blog Page
This collection features a preview of blog posts available to read on the site. They typically populate in chronological order, with the newest post always at the top of the page.
This idea is similar to a news agency’s front page, with many previews of articles you can click on to read in full.
The Blog Post Page
A blog post is the individual page that features your blog post content, just like a news article.
Blog topics can range from updates about your brand, new book announcements, rants and raves, and more. Blogs are also a great way to informally connect with your audience, and share a bit more of your unique personality.
Blogs are a great way to keep regularly updated content on your website. This is great for Search Engine Optimization (SEO), as search engines typically use new content and frequent website updates as part of their ranking system for how your website appears in search results.
What is a newsletter?
A newsletter is a tool used by businesses and individuals to share relevant and valuable information, updates, and more with their network of customers or subscribers.
You’ll need to use a newsletter platform to send email campaigns to your subscribers.
Your subscriber or mailing list is a very important piece of any brand or business. Your mailing list is your business and audience—as opposed to social media platforms where your followers are only accessible via that specific platform—Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.
If anything were to happen to your account on social media, or if that platform suddenly nosedives in popularity, you would have no way of connecting with the audience you spent so much time connecting with and building. That’s why you read so much about the value and necessity in building your own contact list of fans and customers from every marketing strategist ever.
How are the blog and newsletter different?
The blog lives on your website. It is public, and can be accessed by web visitors and search engines. It has a URL that you can send to anyone, so they can read your blog post.
The newsletter is an email you design and send out to the inboxes of your subscribers. If someone isn’t subscribed to your newsletter at the time you send it out, they wouldn’t be able to see that newsletter anywhere.