No Blog Left Behind: Think Like a Blogger!
Delve into the mind of a blogger with me for a second. Why do people blog? Well, for most of us, it’s to put useful information out there and hopefully make a connection with readers. In my mind, if I can read a blog or an article that someone’s written and get something useful out of it-even if it’s nothing more than a smile- then that person has done his/her job.
Blogging is meant to elicit a response from readers. Whether this means that they will find out something that they didn’t know before, purchase a product or service, or leave a comment saying that they disagree entirely, it is a way to connect with others and create a buzz about something.
Keep it Short. Keep it Simple.
One of my pet peeves with blogging is what I refer to as “empty blog posts”. These are the blogs you come across that are long (usually more than 400 words) and don’t really capture your attention; they’re boring. If you’re going to write a blog post (especially one that is lengthy), make sure that you have something to say that will keep your readers captivated; otherwise, you’re just wasting your time and theirs.
In my experience, I have found that most people who read blogs tend to prefer ones that are shorter versus ones that are longer. If you know that you have a lot of valuable information that you want to get out, why not break it up? Split your post into a Part 1 and Part 2 and post them on different days. If the content is well written and thought provoking, readers will want to come back for the next in the series. This is preferable versus trying to shove a ton of text/information down someone’s throat in one sitting. Even if you break up your post with pictures, it’s not going to break up the fact that your word count is creeping up to near 800 + words as your number of subscribed readers is going down.
For more information about Internet Marketing or to submit a guest post, contact CBG today!
Hi Janelle,
Short posts are great if the author can get their point across in few words, but if an author can hold my interest, I don’t mind the longer posts. To me it’s the quality of the content,
Your idea of breaking up a post (into two or more parts) is a great idea. I’ve used that technique and the series idea have worked out real well.
I love posts that are short and long. Seth Godin’s style is amazing, so quick and packs a punch. I also enjoy Steve Pavlina’s posts. They are almost always over 1,000 words, but have such depth that it helps you see life from a new perspective.
I think it all depends on how the writer can string his/her thoughts together. If they can get it down in 500 words so be it, but if they need more I’m fine with that. I sometimes prefer it, so I can get a deeper understanding of the message they are trying to convey.
Great points! Really makes me look at my own writing and how clear and concise I need to be.
I try to write shorter posts, and partially for this fact – these are sometimes the ones I’m more likely to read. That said, if it’s a blog I’ve read for awhile, and I really enjoy – I’ll read longer posts fully. A new blog, I’ll probably skim to get a feel if the content is “of interest”. In any rate, I like the idea of “keep it simple, keep it short.” Thanks!