How Many? How Often?
Ah, the age old question!
So, I’ve been working on a blog in secret. No, dear readers, I haven’t been two-timing you like a cad, I promise. What I have been doing is working on a more professional blog that’s more focused than this one. And, therein lies the rub. I have a topic in mind and I originally had a goal of writing 52 posts before launching. That’d be one post a week already on the shelf just waiting for me to roll it live as the mood struck me. One whole year of weekly posts about this one, particular topic.
Now, I meant that as a base, a starting point. I was going at it like starting a business and gathering more than enough assets together before going live so as not to disappoint later. But, now, I’m thinking it may be too much.
You see, dear readers, I’m having bit of trouble writing all 52 of these little devils. It doesn’t seem like much of a task, at first, writing 52 short essays on a single, rather broad, topic. But, with a full-time gig and another blog and all that Lost to watch on DVD, well, it’s gotten far more difficult that I could have imagined. Also, I’m starting to think I may have been a little too ambitious. For example, I stumbled across Scott Berkun’s site, which has an Essay section, and he has 60 essays spread out over about ten years. Ten years! Holy Flying Spaghetti Monster! That’s far, far less than I thought I should have.
So, I put the question to you, faithful readers, how many and how often should a focused blog post long, brilliant, insightful essays on topic? Is once a week too often? Not often enough? Just right? Or, perhaps, is once every two weeks more reasonable, with smaller bits in between?
Vote in the poll and let me know! (Also, feel free to comment!)
Once a week is good. But you could always elaborate on a posted topic during the week. When comments/emails come in it would give you a way to extend the topic.
Comment by Jenn — 3/25/2009 @ 6:29 am
None of the “focussed blogs” I read post less than once a week, but none of them are written by a single person. At the very least, they have guest bloggers to keep the frequency and the site views up.
Comment by tinyhands — 3/25/2009 @ 10:13 am
While other blogs might post at least one serious post a week, I doubt they had a year’s worth written ahead of time. Besides, if you write that many now, you may just be wasting time – what happens when technology changes and your pre-written posts become obsolete?
Comment by Cheri — 3/25/2009 @ 3:43 pm
Cheri, in this case, that wouldn’t be an issue. The blog would be about a subject that would not go out of date in a year. In fact, the posts could sit almost indefinitely without showing significant age, outside of possibly out-dated links.
In this particular instance, I’m thinking of a blog primarily about writing. Possibly with some other art subjects thrown in for good measure, like general design or photography, for instance. Probably also the occasional departure into the nature of creativity in general, though, again, with emphasis on writing.
Does that effect your answer?
Comment by the Network Geek — 3/25/2009 @ 4:51 pm
That makes it a little different. You should check out Gurney Journey – there is a link on my site. He is the artist who did all of the dinotipia books and his blog is all about art. He posts something almost every day, but I don’t think he gets too far ahead. When he goes on vacation, he cues a few for his wife to post, but other than that he posts what comes to him. A lot of his posts are about events that are coming up or that he is involved with. A good blog doesn’t have to be complicated. I really don’t know exactly what you are blogging, but I think you would do better to post as they come and not too far in advance.
I know some people have a few posts in cue in case they need them, but I don’t know of anyone who cues a whole year’s worth. You may have set yourself up to fail before you even begin!
Comment by Cheri — 3/25/2009 @ 10:14 pm
Perhaps I have, Cheri. My issue is this, however; I want to have quality posting, which takes time, but I find myself increasingly distracted. Also, eventually, I’d like to bring forth adult topics that might put future employers off, which is why I don’t just toss it out here. Also? You may be surprised by how many people have quite a backlog of posts and how big that backlog of posts might be.
Comment by the Network Geek — 3/25/2009 @ 11:54 pm
I think that once a week is good.
Comment by Alison — 3/27/2009 @ 11:49 am