I’m always looking for ways to improve my blogging in the hope of making In Search of a Life Less Ordinary as good a read as it can be.
In writing and blogging circles, they apparently say that content is king. With that in mind, my aim is to produce a weekly dose of stimulating reading that covers this adventure of ours without you, the reader, falling asleep by the second paragraph. With any luck, you might even come back for more!
Recently I’ve noticed a worrying trend out there in the blogosphere. Some of my fellow writers are posting three or four times a week, sometimes even five, which has got me a little concerned. Is this good practice? Should I be posting as often as these guys? Am I therefore not serving my readership adequately?
Am I simply not posting enough?
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| Photo credit: Alexander Baxevanis (Creative Commons) |
If I’ve got something to say
My rule of thumb has always been to write a blog post when I feel I have something good or important to say. No exception. I don’t want to share meaningless drivel and I see no point in describing the local news and weather conditions so I generally write when I have one of those ‘aha’ moments (which often occur in the unlikeliest of places).
Spending at least a couple of hours writing up the post, editing and polishing it off, I like to think I’m doing it slightly differently – by focusing on quality rather than quantity.
I may not get it right but I only want to share something that’s worth sharing – and that’s usually once a week. I hope that, given this weekly strategy of mine, every time I do share, you might actually be listening?
What other bloggers do
Other bloggers out there seem to post with greater frequency – and about almost everything and anything. It’s also true that a lot of bloggers think that what we do is purely a numbers game – the more posts you put out, the better the return in terms of readers, page views and the blessed site ‘hit’. But is this really the case?
I watch these bloggers trying to keep up with each other. They fill the gaps between extremely well-written posts with usually less-than-average content, almost as if they’re trying to keep it going, fearful of the effect that a lack of posting will do to their stats.
I’m okay at this blogging malarkey and my readership is steady and loyal. When I post more often and write about the pie I ate for lunch or the haircut I had last week, it doesn’t feel right and it misses wide of the mark. If I’m bored or lacking satisfaction when writing the post, how can I expect my readers not to run for the hills? I’d be right there with them!
Being different
I try to be different and work away from what is considered the norm – my journey in life is my example. I do still wonder if it’s the wrong strategy – who knows what really turns people on and, equally, what turns them off.
For me, it’s not about blogging frequency. Every time I publish a post, I’m aware that I’m representing myself and my writing. If posting more often then reduces that appeal, it’s not for me.
If I’m not blown away by an idea or a suggestion, I’d rather pull back than continue to push on. It may all be at the expense of a number but, if numbers are our game, then what’s the point of good writing?
What works for you as a blogger? How often do you post and why?
As a reader, how often do you want to see me post on this blog? And, while we’re at it, what do you want to see more of?
Please do share in the comments below.
Hi Russell – I know what you mean about the frequency issue. I generally try to post once or twice a week. I rarely manage more than that. I think the quality of the writing is the most important thing to remember, but I am also aware that when I visit a site and am looking for current information, I like to see it has been updated within the past fortnight or so. It depends what you are looking for and wanting to read though. If people are looking for information that is different from people looking for updates and the subject matter will dictate how frequent those need to be. I think you’re doing a great job!
I totally agree with this post and Russell’s ‘post quality not quantity’ approach.
Personally I do try to post once a week at least, but also like to wait for something useful or interesting to say. Sometimes I put up two or three articles quickly – like now when I have just been travelling.
My blog lacks focus and niche value (so the experts say!) I prefer to do what moves me and buck the trends. 🙂
For myself, I post once a week, on a Monday. This is because it’s motivating for me to know I have to at least have a piece done by then. Like you, I want to keep it authentic and meaningful, but I also want my readers to feel there’s a sense of consistency. So often I may have a piece written on the Friday for instance, but choose to hold it over until my post date. This can also mean I get a second opportunity to look at it, so it goes out that little bit better. Occasionally I might write more than one post in the week, and in those instances I’ll post twice, but only if I’m feeling it.
I don’t see the point of posing more frequently than this; it seems to affect the quality of the material. Often when I’m reading a post I can tell they’ve posted for post sake and these are the pieces I find myself skimming, as a result of either disinterest or disengagement.
The better the better, I reckon. : )
x
Consistency and quality are what matter most. I’d love to read a post a day from you, but I’d also like to think that you’re living a full and balanced life. If you’re spending your days at work and your nights in front of the computer, who’s going to take Milo for those long walks on the beach?
I’d rather be wondering why you haven’t posted than bored after the first few lines. 1st rule of life after do no harm – be happy!
I noticed when you started posting less frequently a few months ago. Just between you and me I would swing by a few times to see if there was anything new for me to jump on, and once or twice I did address the ether with a question concerning your whereabouts.
Because you write about stuff that is currently in my head, I’m always interested in what you’ve got to say and yes, you don’t waste my time with mundane accounts of daily activities, unless there’s a point to be made.I post whenever something occurs and because I cover three totally separate areas on my blog, that can be quite often. I currently have two “series” running, Breaking the Code of Silence adds my voice to the fight to banish stigma from mental health issues and My Personal A-Z of Canada was an idea that appealed to me straight away and is something that will be ongoing for some time. I’m not in any hurry.Like you, I spend a good couple of hours on a post, drafting it first in Word, before bringing it over to the blog. I haven’t taken the leap to monetize Expatlogue so it is first and foremost for my pleasure (sorry readers but you come a close second). Therefore I write when I want to about what I want to (within the 3 areas).On a personal level, my blog is a sounding board for my thoughts and experiences, a place to make new friends (a totally unexpected bonus) and somewhere to re-discover my love of writing. It’s allowed me to gradually re-join the adult world after six years of intensive exposure to a small egocentric beings and not much else. I guess you could call it my rehab!
Keep on doing what you’re doing. I would say post more often but that’s only because I look forward to your posts like a slice of watermelon on a hot day.
Hi Russell
I don’t think there are any hard and fast rules. I’ve read
that a post a week is enough to feed the SEO god so anything more often is a
bonus. The whole point to this blogging lark is that it should be fun. If it
becomes a chore why bother? Until recently I was one of those daily bloggers. I
don’t work (in the normal 9-5 sense) so until book promotion took over my attention,
I had the time and inclination. Also, many of my posts are short, written in
batches and written quickly. This seems to work well. My two most popular posts
are less than 100 words. Why? Who knows? I’ve never to be able to judge what
will do well and what won’t. I don’t bother trying these days. I write what I
want and hope for the best. Your own writing is always fun and accessible so
you’re doing something right.
Hi Liv – and thanks for the compliment. Different sites should definitely equal different types of content and therefore different scheduling approaches. I may need to think about slightly increasing the number of posts per week but I currently aim for 5 per month and I generally seem to hit that target. It is hard to post more often when life occasionally gets in the way.
Thanks Val. I’m sure it all balances out in the end. Who were these so-called experts then? I’m sure your blog has value to the expat community at the very least!
You’re too kind, Maria, and I’ll pay you when I next see you 😉
Consistency of blogging quality is important. Consistency of story is actually a bit of a toughie for me in terms of following a constant plot or theme. You do this remarkably well on I Was An Expat Wife. I try but sometimes something interesting grabs me which may be way off kilter from my usual train of thought.
Still, I’m glad you enjoy it all and Milo says ‘thank you’.
Thanks Alan – and I agree!
Thanks for sharing your own posting strategy, Michelle. I like the fact you choose a particular day and stick to that. Looking back, I suppose I usually post towards the end of the week. I’ll write something by Weds, let it percolate for a day, then come back to it late Thurs or Fri.
Agree that you can spot a post posted for post’s sake. I also switch off immediately. It has nothing to do with post length or timing, just that the content is usually unstructured, not thought out, and often boring. But if it works for some, then who am I to judge?! It’s just not for me 🙂
Hey Jack, good to (virtually) see you and thanks. Your blogging strategy actually fascinates me because it is so unusual. 100 word posts daily and it works so well. As a regular reader, it doesn’t turn me off – I find myself popping back to catch up and, when I do, I can read a number of posts in one sitting. It’s all good stuff.
It will be interesting to see if things change as you post less with the book publishing commitments – or whether you’ve already snagged your audience who will happily continue to follow, if not a little discontented at the gaps between posting. Let me know how it goes – would be keen to know.
And, as you say, if it ain’t broke, don’t try and fix it!
Hey Aisha, thanks for the comment. And should I be calling you stalker? 😉 Appreciate the valuable window into your own blogging world. You mentioned three aspects to the blog – what is the third?
I’m pleased you use Expatlogue as writing therapy and as a place to vent, share and meet with other likeminded souls. This, for me, is the intention of a blog and blogging – the monetising can come later if you want or you can simply use it as a platform. Jeff Goins (goinswriter.com) is oftn sharing his opinion on the value of platform-building through a blog.
I’ll try to post more regularly – if I have something worth saying – for I wouldn’t want you going without watermelon on a hot day.
Hi Russell, I’m a newbie to the blogging world, but I’ve noticed the same trend you mentioned. I think it all depends on personal preference and one’s goals for their blog. That said, lately I’ve noticed that some bloggers who post more often don’t take time to reply to many comments. You’ve created a great community here and should be proud of that. I think you’ve got a good outlook about making it about the content and writing when you feel you have something to share.
Recently, I read this recap (http://brevity.wordpress.com/2012/03/03/awp-2012-the-seven-platitudes-of-blogging/) of a panel presentation at the annual AWP
conference on author blogs. The panelists felt that two times a day is too much to post, but that once a week isn’t enough. Again, I think it depends on the type of blog that you have, but after reading this, I’ve been considering aiming for six posts a month. Your post reminded me, though, that before I proceed I need to be clear about my blogging goals and what motivates me.
Thanks for bringing up this topic. Keep up the good work!
You know I enjoy what you write, whether it’s observational, humor, reflective, etc. Heather’s point about building and maintaining a community is far more important than how often you post. Some bloggers will take up blog-a-day monthly challenges (I’ve done so in the past, don’t plan to again) and I will tell you that you can learn an incredible array of lessons from doing that. Changing it up is good for you, and as long as you’re demanding high quality writing each time you sit down to the page, your blog can deal with shorter pieces more often v. longer pieces less often.
Familiarity can feel good (there’s that tribe vibe, community, again) or it can breed contempt. My guess is that you haven’t liked certain daily blog posts because they simply weren’t well written or interesting enough for you. Then there are other daily bloggers (few, I’ll readily admit) that have a way with words and can make the most mundane come alive. They remind me a bit of the old Seinfeld sitcom, a show that was ostensibly about ‘nothing’.
Blogs (and bloggers) are really like friends in that we like to see some more often than others, but that doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate the latter less, or that we don’t prize what little time certain friends have to give us. I’d say it boils down to this: High quality writing and honesty regardless of subject = good. Soapbox (other than occasionally), administrivia, phone it in = not good. Write as you see fit.
Hi Heather – I include you as part of any community I’ve created so I hope you continue to join in with your valuable comments!
Thanks for sharing the article by the way. Interesting reading. Why not aim for six posts a month if that works for you and isn’t a stretch. I often come up with new ideas in a given week and could potential drop in an extra post over the weekend but then homelife gets in the way and I let it roll over to the following week – I think I’ll plan to change that.
Interesting that you think bloggers who post often don’t respond to comments as much. I wonder if anyone else reading this has seen that? Seems like a bit of a slack practice to me.
Well, adventures, thank you again 🙂
The tribe thing comes up time and time again. It’s about getting away from the whole stats and numbers game – how many readers… how often I post… are my followers increasing… and concentrating on working for your community of readers and putting out good writing whatever form it takes and however often you write it. Write as you see fit.I like it.
Quick question – as your other writing priorities potentially grow, will you possibly adopt more flexible blogging approaches to fit in with your (paying) work?
Thanks, Russell, I enjoy being part of the community! About bloggers who don’t comment a lot…I’m new to all this and learning that I much prefer to “hang out” and read someone’s blog if they’ve taken the time to respond to comments and say hi. As you said, life gets in the way of our blogging efforts, so it’s not always feasible to respond to every comment or post as much as we’d like. There are so many components to blogging and people choose where to focus their efforts, given the time that they have. I’m glad you’re committed to connecting with your community.
And I like adventures advice, “write as you see fit.” I’ll be coming back to this advice myself!
I just love how the right thing comes my way when I need it.
Lately, I have been mulling over the whole how-many-times-should-I-blog question, and voila, today I stumble upon your great post and the thoughtful comments. I have been blogging five times a week for probably at least a year (?) Sometimes there are fewer posts if I’m traveling somewhere with limited WiFi, but if there’s internet, I’m on it. That being said, I’ve been wondering if I’m overwhelming my readers.
As well, I am working on a big project and I think it’s draining some of my blogging energy. I do not want to start posting pieces that feel weaker because of that, so I am thinking of cutting back to perhaps three days a week.
Just not completely sure whether that’s the answer or not. I haven’t come to any particular answer but I appreciate being able to ‘talk’ with people who clearly know what they’re talking about. Any further feedback is appreciated. Thanks for the change to participate in the discussion.
Ditto. I also like reading the comment thread to glean more information, connect with others, etc. Often the comments are as important as the post itself. I’ll make sure I keep up my current practice then 🙂
Hey Colleen, thanks for stopping by and I’m pleased that you came by just when you were looking for this info.
I had a look at your blog and, like other travel blogs I’ve seen, it includes posts of photos from travels rather than just content, so your audience is a little different and I think they do want to see that mix of content and photography. I think your frequency is just fine but, given the bigger project you have on, I’m thinking it wouldn’t hurt to dial it back a bit, if not for your own good health and sanity. Other travel bloggers seem to blog in bursts and spurts, usually relative to coming off the back of a long trip or a series of mini-adventures. There’s nothing wrong with that at all.
I’m a big believer in making the blog work for you rather than the other way around so you maybe just try out a less frequent posting strategy and see if it has any impact. I tend to go by comment numbers rather than page view numbers. As Linda and others mentioned above, it’s more about nurturing your community than basic page hits so, if folks are no longer commenting and getting involved, then you’re either overwhelming and turning them off, or they just can’t keep up. Let me know how you get on.
By the way, your blog and website are great. I also love that you’re from Sechelt. I spent several fabulous weekends there when I lived in Vancouver. A really lovely place. And the Sunshine Coast (and BC in general) is one of my favourite spots on this planet.
Thanks for all your ideas Russell. I’ve decided to reduce my # of posts per week. Not quite sure what that will look like yet, but I’ll probably blog about my new schedule in tomorrow’s post 🙂
And obviously I need to update my site because it still shows us living in Sechelt. In fact, my husband and I are spending the majority of our time in Vancouver and only occasionally going to our place in Sechelt.
This is the exact opposite to how we’ve done it the last dozen years. So far, it seems to be suiting us. We’ll see what happens over the next while.
I’m glad you know that area & Vancouver, you’re quite right, it really is beautiful here…
And well done on the Breaking the Code of Silence series. Very brave and hopefully cathartic stuff.
Excellent. And if it doesn’t work out, you just revert to type without hopefully any harm done.
Blimey, Vancouver’s not a bad alternative to Sechelt. We spent a wonderful 18 months there but it wasn’t long enough at all and we left for the wrong reasons, never to return. If you look at some of my earlier posts, such as http://www.insearchofalifelessordinary.com/2010/07/vancouver-vibe.html you’ll see what I thought of the place. Subsequent posts detail our reasons for leaving, but I always think back to what was – and could have been.
Looking forward to seeing you back here again soon. Pleasure to make your acquaintance 🙂
The third aspect to my blog is inter-cultural and inter-racial relationships.Marrying into a Pakistani family gave me an insight into cultural mores and complexities that not many white people are party to.
Overall, I try to use my blog to share what I have discovered as a result of my experiences. I try to avoid judgement, merely relaying events as they happened and the implications they had for ME. I can only write from my own experience and present my opinions as just that – opinions not gospel. People need to make up their own minds but to do that they need all the information, not the one-sided view presented to us in the general media. There are a lot of misconceptions about Mental Illness and South Asian culture, and, to a certain extent, expat life…
You’re gonna try to post more often, you say? Fantastic! Watermelon anyone?
Sometimes I post everyday, sometimes once in a month, there’s no rules. Although, it’s good to be frequent writer, you teach your readers to come back regularly, which keeps your blog alive
Thanks for your comments. Agree with you that keeping content fresh and regularly updated is no bad thing.
Thanks for clarifying, Aisha. And I’d recommend your blog to anyone reading – it covers a lot of ground and does not hold back. Well worthy of a regular read 🙂
Russell,
I needed this post today so thanks. I do feel sometimes that I have to post something or I’ll lose my grasp on my little corner of blogland. This weekend a fellow blogger and I were talking about this and we decided it is good to post on the same day every week so your readers know what to expect and when to expect it. But posting every day doesn’t really give anyone a chance to catch up and enjoy what you’ve got to say. I personally hate it when I’ve got a backlog of posts from the same blog in my reader and usually just mark all as read if I’m feeling overwhelmed.I don’t like it when blog reading becomes a chore.
I want to hear about your lunch if it was delicious or extraordinary or if you think I’d like it too. I want to hear about your haircut if you had a funny or interesting convo with the hairstylist or if you look super. I especially want to hear how you’re getting on in another culture, if you have seen something astonishing, uplifting, devastating or hilarious and if you think what you have to say will make me, the reader, feel something.
All the best and merci,
Aidan
Aidan, thanks for stopping by. By the way, I’ve added your blog to my blogroll at http://www.insearchofalifelessordinary.com/p/blog-roll.html – really enjoyed reading it today.
I think the idea to post on a particular day of the week is a great one. It gives consistency to your posting and lets the reader know just when to drop by. I need to follow your advice and develop a routine like that. I also personally hate having a lot of blog posts by the same blogger waiting for me. It overwhelms me and makes me wonder how they have the time to post every day – can they really have that many wonderful experiences to write about? When I read the posts, I often find the answer to be ‘no’.
I promise to write about my next haircut assuming it is an eventful and awe-inspiring experience 😉
Stop by again soon, R
PS. Will respond to your email asap.
Hi Russell,
I’m fairly new to In Search of a Life Less Ordinary and
really like what you’re doing. I particularly enjoyed reading this post as I am
constantly trying to get the right balance between writing for my blog,
promoting the blog, community building, social media, other work etc.
Personally I set myself a goal to publish three times a week
and try to mix it up in terms of the type of posts I publish i.e. something observational,
something newsy, something just for fun. I set this target when I was more
worried about building numbers; I think I read in one of the blogging books or
forums that three times a week was a good rule of thumb. Having said that, I
tend to publish more often than this because stuff comes up that I want to
share and talk about.
As my blog has developed I’ve found time spent responding to
comments on the blog and on Facebook is evenly split, and I love the Facebook
interactions between my readers (that’s why I set up the blog – to enable
relocating families to support each other through what can be a stressful
time). I have now decided that sharing something via Facebook (a piece of news
or article from another blog) is just as valuable and helpful to my readers as
writing and publishing something for the blog.
Perhaps the most important thing with any blog or community
is open communication. If you suddenly change what you’re doing without telling
your readers you could switch them off. By the same token mixing things up and
launching new initiatives in terms of blog series or the subject matter you’re covering
keeps things interesting.
I also feel that different blogs fill different needs for
their readers and can and should be pitched differently so there’s no definitive
right or wrong way of doing things – is that great?!
I look forward to reading more here very soon…
Hi Sarah, thanks for the great comments – and for sharing your posting strategy with us.
Your site is excellent and full of information for newbies to Australia so I completely understand why you post as often as you do. You have a lot of info and updates to share with your community – once a week just wouldn’t seem appropriate for you.
Have you found your numbers increase as you post more often? Are you getting a steady flow of comments? It may be more difficult to judge your posting impact in terms of comments given your site generally shares information rather than seeks feedback but still… I’d be interested to know if you’re steadily growing your feedback the more you post?
I’m really pleased this piece came at a good time for you. I hope subsequent posts are as helpful 🙂
Hi Russell,
Had to think about this over night! I don’t get more
comments because I post more frequently. As you say, around half my posts don’t
require feedback as they’re sharing information; although I hope these posts
help regular readers of the blog feel more engaged and involved in the
community. The newsy posts also keep my
brand out there as they give an excuse to post on FB, Twitter etc. I also
believe these posts help me tap into a wider audience as they’re more likely to
hold topical keywords and cover subjects that appeal to anyone, rather than just those moving to Australia.
So, the newsy posts and information sharing are good for
overall stats and hopefully capturing a wider audience but the more emotional,
observational posts are what keep people within the community, make the
community more unique, and create the most dialogue (comments on the blog and
discussion on FB).
Glad you made me think about this J
All the best, Sarah
Hey Sarah, no response really needed from me. You’ve got it figured out, down pat, and your strategy works. Enough said.
I’d only add that it sounds like numbers of comments and views aren’t necessarily the key to determining your site’s success – it might be more about growing the community and tracking that in other ways – or, as you say, in a combination of ways (comments, views, subscribes, etc.). I look forward to hearing how it all progresses – and whether you change up your strategy at any point.
All great feedback and hope to see you here again soon 🙂
Thanks, Russell
By the way, do let me know if there are related topics you’d like this community to comment on and I’ll get posting on it 🙂
Now I’m wracked with insecurity. My blog is new enough that most traffic is driven by new posts, and I am in the emotional roller coaster of ‘they love me, they love me not’ that the early days of page views bring. I also have two distinct reader groups – those who want read the relocation / expat/ trailing spouse information, and those who just like to laugh at my seemingly endless gaffes – which currently has me posting more frequently.
I also have the dilemma that people only need the relo info for a limited period every few years, but need to be kept entertained in the meantime with the more personal stories. I’m with Sarah (mum’sgone2aus, who sent me your way!) in juggling the needs of keyword rich content for my core content with the lighter posts that are shared more by those who are between moves.
I long for the day when I can leave days between posts without panicking that everyone will have forgotten I exist.
Hi Rachel – good to meet you and thanks for coming over (thanks Sarah too for sending you!).
I’m hearing you about the insecurities – and you know what? They don’t necessarily go away. I’ll have a run of great posts in terms of comments, views, shares, etc. than bam… the next one doesn’t hit the mark. I think it may be down to timing, my ‘regular’ readers may be pre-occuppied that week, or something I thought was interesting and compelling just wasn’t that much cop for anyone else.
With your own blog, like Sarah’s, it’s tricky balancing the info posts with the getting-to-know-you posts (observational, comparative, funny, serious and so on). It shouldn’t scare your readers off switching between the two types – if it was me, I’d just check in now and again to see when the personal stuff was going to be put up but a schedule or consistency of posting for readers might be useful?
You’ve just got to keep doing what you’re doing, tweaking here and there, and fine tuning things when it doesn’t feel right. My last few posts have been on personal issues and concerns – next time, I might post something more lighthearted, more of an essay style post. For all I know, people will run for the hills when they read it but if I didn’t at least try, I’d never know!
Keep me updated on how it all goes and thanks again for stopping by 🙂
I’m brand new, this being my first visit to your blog. I saw this post in your Link Within and I just had to read it. I love this post. It’s a battle that I’ve found myself in. I’m a part of the much derided “Mummy Bloggers”. Oddly, I don’t post very much about being a mother or such things. Or at least, not solely.
But most of those within this niche hammer home the ‘if-you-want-readers-you-must-post-every-single-day” message. And indeed, those that do espouse that theory DO seem to be the more popular blogs. And I’m uncomfortable, because when I started blogging, I’d given no thought as to how often I should write. I intended to simply write when the mood struck. When I had something to say.
I got lost for a little while. Falling into the trap of posting things that meant nothing to me. Joining in link ups and memes, simply to feel part of the ‘community’. And then I found I had nothing to write about. Nothing good. My posts from my first two years, they were good. That sounds like a terribly arrogant thing to say, but I say it with confidence. I can write. But not when I’m spending all of my time trying to keep up. Making sure to be a part of everyone’s link ups. It left me feeling drained and uninspired.
I’ve recently cut back. Taken advertising off my blog. Staying away from competitions, Un-following more than 200 blogs, just sticking with those that I really cared about. I’m hoping that soon enough this will be reflected in my writing, and my desire to write. If people like it, all the better. Either way, it’ll start feeling like ‘mine’ again.
Thanks so much for stopping by, Melissa. And I’m privileged to have a ‘Mummy Blogger’ on my site 😉 I’ve always loved that title. You’re right, it makes me think you all write about nothing but parenting topics and I know that’s not often the case.
I think you’re absolutely taking the right approach. I started to get sucked into the link-ups and memes but they generally felt a little bit like a chain letter. Basically, a lot of work and not a lot of gain, plus they don’t always allow you to just ‘write’.
My attitude is to ‘shut out the noise’. Ignore most of what’s going on around me and just focus on the art of writing. I write when I have something worth saying and I take my time to write my posts. I see this blog as a statement about me and who I am. If I put out bad writing, then that reflects badly on me. I might not get it right most of the time but at least I’ve tried.
Interestingly, I’ve been quite poorly with a bad dose of the man flu recently – you’ve probably heard of man flu? It can be quite dangerous if not treated properly 😉 Anyway, I haven’t posted for two weeks and you know what? My page views are constant and the blog comments still come in. I’m therefore going to stress less about keeping up to anyone else’s timetable and I hope you manage to do the same. Perhaps see you over here again soon? Cheers, R
Hi Russell, I came across your blog because we are both finalists in the Best Blogs competition. Congratulations! Your blog seems very comprehensive, and you are a great writer.
I try to only blog when I have something to say. I used to push myself to schedule a blog post every day, but with full time work, freelance writing, TV presenting and a chronic illness, I couldn’t manage the pressure to write quality pieces. Having said that, I think my blog is a mix of light-hearted and serious.
As I wrote in my blog thanking everyone for the finalist place – “we are all running our own race in blogging – to be the best we can be at our own measure. To write the best we possibly can”. Nikki Parkinson also said at the Digital Parents Conference in March (I wasn’t there, but someone gave me this quote) – “Stop Looking over the blogging fence at what others are doing and concentrate on your own blogging garden”. Wise words.
Best of luck in the competition, and I am glad to “meet” you.
Carly
Hey Carly, thanks for dropping by at ISOALLO and congrats, fellow finalist! Really appreciate your kind words about my writing. It means a lot.
Posting every day is an immense commitment. I would struggle with that and I don’t even have the same commitments as you. I think it’s great that you now blog when you have something to say, whether light-hearted or serious. It’s the path I plan to stick to – and usually results in a post every 5-7 days.
Nikki’s quote is spot-on. I think as bloggers, but more importantly writers, we have to be focused on our own craft first and foremost. It’s fine to look elsewhere for ideas and tips, but it’s all-too-easy to mimic other’s practices when they might not be in our best interest. Interestingly, I follow a couple of bloggers who are currently posting every second day. It’s completely turning me off. I can’t keep up with their posts and the quality and creativity has gone right down the drain. Not my cup of tea.
Great to “meet” you too and the very best of luck in the comp. Good job so far 😉
Russell
Loved reading your musings on blogging! As a new bloggeur (expat London to France) myself I’m just finding my feet and its all a bit of a novelty at the moment. Sometimes I do it every day, sometimes less – it just depends on how I feel but I love to write. I’ve been a journalist but it was dry stuff – CEOs of corporation interviews, industrial tools were my speciality – those with industrial diamond tips mostly. Writing about my life in France, my animals, chickens, geese, renovating a run down old farmhouse, the neighbours – I’ve found it stimulating, fun and obsessive frankly – and its bought me a whole heap of new friends. Yes, bloggers are all hung up on stats – we can’t help it, we like to know we’re not just out there talking to ourselves but if you’re only writing for numbers it will show. It has to be fun for the blogger, it has to be something that entertains or informs others – I don’t know if there’s a right or wrong – there sure are a lot of books that purport to tell you! Your blog is great, I shall be back for more!
Thanks Janine. I basically wanted to share my two cents on what I’ve noticed in the blogosphere 🙂
I’ve cut back on the number of books and sites I go to for blogging tips. I have a select few that I often return to and I find that they’re enough for me. But like you, I do this because I enjoy it so much. It is almost obsessive and a lot of fun. The problem is that it’s got to the point where I’m excited when I come to post and then disappointed when I realise I have to get back to my paying job. If only we could all do this blogging malarkey full-time… 😉
I’m pleased you like the blog – and will come over to yours. How long have you been blogging for?