To post or not to post
How often should I post? It’s one of the most common questions bloggers ask, and really there is no definitive answer. Some blogs only really function properly if they are updated daily, for example: news blogs. Others work equally well with only one or two new posts a month. There really isn’t a one size fits all answer, apart from doing what suits your blog the best. However, one thing is true, it’s not a good idea to post simply for the sake of posting.
Writing at Performancing.com, Deborah Ng argues the case for daily posting. Although I have a lot of respect for Deborah as a blogger, I do feel she is wrong about this. Her arguments, although valid, do concentrate on the boost daily posting gives to traffic and revenue, but I feel there is more to a blog than this and that daily posting could actually be to the detriment of some blogs.
Some types of blog post are easier to write than others. Compiling a links based post takes less time than writing 1000 + words of prose discussing the merits of the works of the Bronte sisters. Posting a series of short stories is considerably more time consuming than writing a one paragraph round up of the news headlines. Bloggers whose posts tend to be longer and more ‘literary’ would find it difficult, if not impossible, to turn out a post a day. Of course they could try, but the quality of their posts would diminish and they would lose readers. Also, those low quality posts could deter new readers from subscribing and becoming regulars.
The lifestyle of the reader must also be taken into consideration. It is true that people who are involved in the ‘techy’ world do read blogs everyday, and, because it is such a fast moving environment, expect to find the latest news on their favourite blogs every morning. Often this is because they are also bloggers in those fields and the latest news is their bread and butter. This is not the case for all blog readers though. To use this blog as an example, most readers do not work in techy fields so the latest techy news is not so important to them. They lead busy lives (jobs/spouses/families/pets/other hobbies*) and therefore don’t have the time to sit in front of a monitor reading blog posts every day. Most will visit their favourite blogs 3 or 4 times a week, at most, and should they arrive and find themselves confronted with a dozen new posts, they would probably feel quite overwhelmed.
The point about overwhelming readers with the number of posts you make is also valid for bloggers who impart information. If you are writing a lengthy piece explaining a subject that is new to the reader, it is helpful to give them time to absorb and understand what you have written. If someone is in the process of learning something new, they don’t need to be bombarded with information. They need to receive it in small, relevant portions which they can digest before moving on to the next step.
Academic blogs also fall into the category of blogs which suit a lower frequency of posting. Many feature posts which play the role of Devil’s Advocate, the intention is to spark a debate which can continue for days. If daily postings were made on such blogs, readers would ignore the older posts in favour of the new, and the quality of the debate would not be as high because it would be over before it had chance to fully develop.
To come back to Deborah’s article which was written with pro-bloggers in mind. Yes, it is true, daily posting will usually bring you more traffic, which in turn could bring you more money, but as with most things, it’s not completely black and white. If you are puzzling about how often you should post, ask yourself: what kind of blog you have, what kind of posts you make, whether you want to write longer, more considered pieces, or shorter snappier posts. And remember a series of quality posts, even if they are spaced apart will do your reputation more good than daily postings of junk, and from a financial perspective, that reputation can be the most valuable thing of all.
I appreciate you dropping by,
Please leave a comment, don’t be shy
