There are even tools that make blogging on these two platforms easier by way of cross posting.
A good example is a Multiply feature that allows users that have a Typepad or Livejournal blog posted on a Multiply blog as well.
One can also submit their recent posts to social bookmarking sites, and they will be immediately posted on the home pages of users you are connected to once they receive them.
The downside is that the chances of your post appearing long enough to be read may depend on the number of submissions on that day.
It would be best to create a very good introduction or title since these will most likely catch the attention of visitors.
Another interesting way of integrating social networking within your blog is through interacting with web-based widgets such as those featured by MyBlogLog.
Members can use statistical tools offered by MyBlogLog while also being part of a bigger community.
Users can then view sites within their community and also get featured as well if the content is considered "hot" by the community you have joined in.
If you need more control in integrating social networking features in your blog or you simply want to create a community around your blog's main theme, you might want to consider using tools found in Ning or KickApps.
The former, however, would eventually force you to create a social network first while the latter may scare a lot of common users with the extensive use of code.
Their strong tools, though, can lead to a better group that is focused on the theme or topic that you have created.
In the end, blogging for the sake of blogging itself is still available, which is how it was used in the first place: an online diary of sorts.
But blogging has evolved into a more interpersonal way expressing oneself to the world, especially with the integration of social networking features.