A Blog is a versatile tool that creates an outlet to allow the world access to information you choose to share by utilizing the widespread convenience of the internet.The origin of the word is derived from 'web log.'
The components of a blog are the author and location/site. That is all that is needed. The site is usually accessible by anyone or can be limited to subscribers and even restricted access.
Most blogs are used for entertainment purposes, but some are also informational, business, or even political.
Two blogs that I could see adding value are
1) World Financial Blog
http://www.worldfinancialblog.com/
A fairly unique view on headlines as well as stories swept under the rug. I enjoy seeing different perspectives on the cause of issues and predictions of the future.
2) All Financial Matters
http://allfinancialmatters.com/
Geared more toward personal finance which shows what you more typical Americans may be concerned with. Good insight.
Blogs are similar to wikis in inducing interaction. The constant stream of updates will formulate habits into even the most immune targets. Blogs may allow a business to promote items and build rapport with customers.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, businesses may use these outlets as voluntary research on clients/prospects gaining valuable information in the form of opinions, suggestions, and critiques.
Personal/Family blogs can be used to maintain contact that all may view without tedious emailing tasks. Copying and replying all is much more cumbersome and can be deleted or lost.
The primary difference between a blog and wiki is that wikis are usually edited by everyone in a single location while a blog is usually authored by an individual that cannot be edited by others and becomes linear in time like a journal.
I believe RSS feeds are useful in that it is an easily manageable form of subscriptions of content that you decide to receive and integrates with numerous media formats (audio, email, cell phone, tv, gaming system) and will become more common as time goes on. No longer will people go to a website and sift through hundreds of articles for relevant information, it will be auto-sorted and arrive in easily digestible snippets in this age of excess information.
