Blog Post Frequency - is Anyone Really Watching?
Whoa. There sure is a lot of opinion out there about how often people should be posting to the blogoshere. Daily. Hourly. Does anybody really care?
What matters? What matters to you?
What difference does it make? I’m saddened by how much of it is plagiarized anyway. It’s hard to find original content - content that you can count on.
Content that gets you moving…thinking…juices flowing.
How frequently you should post to your blog isn’t the question. The question is how good your content is. For me it’s about quality.
My friend David Westbrook has a good idea when it comes to whether or not you should unleash your brain spawn to world:
“Think viral - When you’re developing content ask yourself if you would pass a post, page or video on to your friends if it wasn’t yours. If you wouldn’t than you can’t expect others to do that for your content.”
The next thing to consider is what your blog…er website…is all about. For those with hub sites or news sites, collecting information and content about a specific subject matter, the above (and below) rules matter less.
For those sites, timing and frequency is based upon other factors.
For those whose ambition is to be a little more original - to publish their own stuff I have concluded that if blogging was a serious gig for me, these rules would matter most:
- The content should have some latent value. In other words, there should be some reason it will stand on its own out there on the web. If people only came to that ONE page/ post at your site, it should be worth the visit in some way. It should be something that still matters in a few months - maybe even a year. It’s all about the web PAGE, more than the web SITE.
- It should be something that adds value. Value is subjective on the web. To me, value is like beauty - its hard to define with words, but I know it when I see it. Other than making cash, all content has an incredibly subjective value range. I look at the web in terms of two kinds of people: Surfers and searchers. Surfers are often people who hate their jobs and spend hours a day consuming “interesting” content at the expense of their employers. Searchers are people looking for something they need (or think they need). My rule is this, if it (that post) matters to me - then it’s going be valuable to someone else. How they define value isn’t up to me.
- It needs to be transparent. I want you. I don’t want the fake you….or the you that you think you should be online. If I wanted Vanilla Ice, I wouldn’t be reading your stuff. I want some edge, some rawness, some authentic humor. I want a relationship with that content (not necessarily with you…not yet anyway). I want the you who cares about whatever you care about…is angry about or interested in. Being interesting is all about being interested.
So is anyone really watching how often you post?
I don’t think so.
I think they’re watching what’s IN your post. They are watching how you craft your post. I think they are craving the reality of YOU in your post. Without that, your blog may be dying or already dead.
Easier said than done.
Putting yourself out there can be risky and most people won’t do that.
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About the Author: I value good design, growth, effectiveness, simplicity, profitability, lots of sleep, tons of laughter and above all, freedom. If it makes money - it's a business. If it doesn't make money - it's a hobby. Period.
Cole | Jul 14, 2008 | Reply
I agree, which is why I only post a couple of times a year. But in all honesty, my LJ is more about catching up with friends - letting them know where I’ve been and what I’m doing. It is also a place to post original artistic content.
I love that you’re articulate and intelligent, which I find most actors are or they wouldn’t be able to memorize lines, etc. I get tired of the same old blah, blah, blah. But then, I’m an adult, not a teen on Facebook, so I expect intelligent and interesting content.
Thus far, I’m not disappointed and I look forward to your blog! (I’ve subscribed.)
Rachel Lyle | Jul 15, 2008 | Reply
It is hard to write an original content but if you can do one that is a fulfillment. Even though there are thousand of hoax writer now walking on the net and stealing original copies, I think we should still inspire to do fresh and original content, for them to steal again,lol… anyway you made your self proud, you could do things that others cannot. I like this article.