---
title: "Differences between blogs and wikis, and why you might need both"
date: 2012-04-19
description: "$( document ).ready(function() { // Handler for .ready() called. $("
canonical_url: https://idratherbewriting.com/2012/04/19/differences-between-blogs-and-wikis-and-why-you-might-need-both/
---
# Differences between blogs and wikis, and why you might need both
In short, wikis are suited for information that doesn't expire in a short time, while blogs are better for short-lived news. The wiki is perfect as an ongoing encyclopedia of information that accrues in a larger and more useful, interconnected, comprehensive way. The information in a wiki is meant as standalone, long-term informative articles. You might expect to browse a wiki's contents without regards to the dates each article was published. Of course there will be exceptions. All information has some time variable to it and will become dated -- but not like information on a blog.

Blog posts are intended for more timely news. Although I cringe to write this, I know that as soon as blog posts slide off the homepage, they pretty much slide into the trash can. People are more likely to read old blog posts as they are likely to check out old newspapers from a library. Blog readers thrive on reading what's new. They love to consume information that is of the moment, just published. Information that's even a couple weeks old feels stale, as far as blogs go. Readers check out old blog posts only when they arrive at them through searches, if they are researching a topic.