What is Microblogging? (And Where Do I Get Started?)

Microblogging refers to the posting of very short updates about oneself. It is in contrast to long-form blogging, where there are usually at least a few hundred words. Microblog posts usually involve a few hundred characters or less. Instead of posting a message on their regular blog, people who microblog use Web services designed to make microblogging very easy.

Here are the top 3 microblogging services:

• Twitter - Originally built so you can post and receive updates (or "tweets") via SMS text message. Because it was designed to be used on mobile devies, the distinguishing feature of Twitter is its 140 character limit on each message.
  
  
• Facebook - By posting about what they're feeling, what they're doing, where they are, etc, Facebook users are broadcasting their "lifestream" in small increments. That's exactly what microblogging is all about.
  
  
• Tumblr - Tumblr is blogging software designed specifically to make it easy to post small bits of the Web (or your life). When you go to create a new post, instead of a blank canvas (like you would get with Wordpress or Blogger), Tumblr offers templates for posting quotes, bits of chat conversations, music, video, photos, and links. Many bloggers who already have a regular blog will use Tumblr as their "link blog". That is, they post essay length original thoughts on their regular blog, but point to the random interesting Web stuff they find on their tumblelog.

Two other Twitter-like microblogging services worth mentioning are Plurk and Jaiku.

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