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The rapid growth of weblog (blog) services has induced Internet users to share their feelings and information via blogs. Few researchers are currently investigating why people blog. In this study, we explored the antecedents and consequences of blogging behaviors. We collected 613 valid responses to an online survey from blog users. Factor analysis was conducted to confirm 3 antecedents of using blogs as social motivations, goal orientation, and entertainment orientation. We identified 3 key blogging behaviors of basic journaling, more advanced publishing, and interactive feedback. Social and information return were identified as the 2 major effects of blogging behaviors. The results of structural equation modeling showed that social motivations and entertainment orientation had significant impacts on all 3 blogging behaviors and goal orientation positively influenced advanced publishing and interactive feedback. Implications and limitations are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blogging stickiness and motivations have become a frequently studied topic in blogging research for several years, yet little research pays attention to the difference between the initial motivation and current motivations. This study proposes to investigate and understand bloggers behaviors through specifying the intrinsic and extrinsic components of their motivations. Two major questions were raised and explored in this study: 1. What are the reasons that promote students to initiate blogs; 2. How the blogging motivations and behavior patterns interact in blog maintaining. Based on a survey of 186 bloggers, among City University of Hong Kong, it is found that three major motivations (practicing a new type of diary, curiosity and thoughts on following the crowd) are the most important motivations in initiating blogging. In maintaining a blog, the hypothesis that social connection motivation is positively related to interaction-oriented behavior, while emotion-pouring motivation is positively related to self-restriction behavior in expression is supported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]