Blogs and wikis are
collaboration solutions that allow users to quickly and easily share information, without requiring advanced tools or expertise. They are often easier for people to update than a formal document or traditional website.
Using BlogsBlogs contain posts, sometimes similar to journal entries, from a person or a group. The posts are dated and listed in reverse chronological order. People can comment on posts as well as provide links to related sites, photos, and blogs.
Blogs enable organizations to quickly share information among employees, partners, or customers. People can add insight to a difficult subject area, provide inspiration and guidance, or explain a new guideline or procedure. For example, as demonstrated in the image above, members of this fictional company's marketing team can use a blog to present and collect feedback on strategic ideas, recognize employee achievements, or find out what readers think about a given subject.
Blogs can be created on
Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 sites using simple formatting tools available in Web browsers that support ActiveX controls, such as Windows Internet Explorer, or you can use some common authoring tools, such as Microsoft Office Word 2007.
Blog readers can subscribe to RSS feeds so they can stay updated on new posts or comments.
Using WikisA wiki is a website that enables users to collect team knowledge, plan events, or work on projects together. People can easily add new content or edit existing content.
Links to existing pages
Links to pages that can be created later
People need only a Web browser and permissions to the wiki site. They don't need special tools or knowledge about creating sites and can quickly add to existing pages or create links to new pages.
Links in a wiki can even be created before the pages are actually developed. For example, a team member may think a subject needs related information but doesn't have time to create a new page right away. They can create a link that can be turned into an actual page later by following the link and adding content to create the new page.
Versions are enabled for wiki pages, which means that a version history is created showing how the content evolves. You can see who changed the content and when it was changed, and even roll back to a previous version if a mistake is made.
Differences Between Blogs and Wikis
Although both blogs and wikis can help people collaborate without advanced tools or specialized knowledge, there are differences in how you use them:
Blogs: Blog posts are typically written by a specific group of people who provide information and insight, such as managers, technical experts, or people with unique viewpoints or writing styles. In some blogs, the role of the people creating the blogs, often known as bloggers, is important. For example, managers can use a blog post to explain the reason behind a policy change, team members might describe their experience on a project, or technicians could post best practices or how something works in their own words. Blog posts and comments are recorded in reverse chronological order so people can scroll through the posts, similar to reading a journal.
Wikis: Teams usually write wikis as a collective process. After someone creates a page, another team member may add more content, edit the content, or add supporting links. The community of authors helps to ensure the accuracy and relevancy of the content. Wikis continue to evolve as people add and revise information. Although a version history is collected, and the history is organized in chronological order, the versions aren't displayed in journal style in the default view of a wiki. Your team may want to use a wiki to build a collective body of knowledge or to facilitate planning, such as for a team project, a publication, or a conference. As an example, a corporate marketing team might use a wiki to help newly hired staff members get started quickly. As team members run across additional resources or have additional advice to relay, they add the links and information to the wiki.
