Most bloggers have great ideas, but are put off writing about them because their posts take so long to write. Then, they start to blog less and less often and eventually, they give up.
In many cases, this happens because the blogger feels the need to write posts, which are too long and detailed. Typically, this happens when they try and cover too many ideas and viewpoints, in a single post.
For some people, it’s a confidence issue; the so-called perfectionist mindset. They try and cover everything, to avoid being questioned by their readers for “forgetting” anything. In other cases, the blogger feels compelled to write their posts, in the same way they would write an essay. The thing is, a blog post is simply a blog post, not an essay, ebook, or manual. Blogs are designed to be a fast, effective way to publish content.
Publishing less, more!
One of the reasons Seth Godin’s blog is the most read blog in marketing, is that he focuses each post on a single idea. He doesn’t attempt to explain every element of every idea he shares. Like me, he tries to get his message out in as few words as necessary. Some of my posts are under 100 words!
So here’s a tip, to help you boost your productivity and your reader engagement.
- Focus on sharing a single idea or insight in each post, which you believe your readership will value. Then, credit them with the intelligence to build out from your idea.
Whilst different types of post work better in some niches than others, the starting point is to get your posts written and published.
What holds you back from publishing posts regularly?
You are right. I like to follow your blog because your post is short. Does not take much of my time to read it.
I’m the same, Carron. All the blogs I read regularly, offer short, to-the-point, blog posts. Also, long posts can be a real strain on the eyes, even on a great monitor.
Your blogs have great ideas, but are put off writing about them because their posts take so long to write.
Then, they start to blog less and less often and eventually, they give up.I agree Your blogs
I agree that short posts are the prevalent paradigm.
However, it should be emphasized that they are by no means the only way to blog, or even the only way to blog successfully: just take a look at Avinash Kaushik (http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/) or Olivier Blanchard (http://thebrandbuilder.wordpress.com/).
Therefore,I do not agree that blog posts are, by definition, meant only for fast publishing or that they have to be less complete than essays. These are common features in blogs, but they are not essential to what a blog is: a collection of thoughts in a reverse chronological order.
There is room in the blogosphere, and even in individual blogs, for both short and long posts.
Hi. Funny you mention my friend Olivier Blanchard, I give Olivier as an example of writing long posts here: http://www.internetmarketingjam.com/content-marketing/how-long-does-a-blog-post-need-to-be
In my opinion, it’s about matching the style you are best suited to AND which works for you commercially.
Thanks for the feedback, Ville
People browse blogs for helpful nuggets of information. They don’t want to read thousands of words. If you decide that one topic needs to be covered in depth, break it up into a series. People will be more likely to read it.