Thursday, November 20, 2008

When To Blog That Is The Question

By Don Bethune

Blogging is growing like wildfire across the internet. People are using it to connect with others in a way that print media has never been able to do. It is perfect for keeping up with the everyday events of other people and for letting others know whatas going on in your own life. An important question to ask, however, is how often new bloggers should be adding new content to their sites.

The most crucial thing you need to know when deciding how often to blog is who is reading your content. Whether you post daily, weekly, or monthly, who is going to be seeing your posts is what you should use to set up your posting frequency schedule. Content is actually more important, but how often to post is definitely something to consider as well as this will give your readers the chance to develop a schedule for visiting your site.

When choosing how often to blog you should consider all conceivable aspects that come into play. If you are just starting out with your blog and get that beginners rush where you are blogging twice a day, then a month into it you start to lose your drive and post a new entry every week, your readership will diminish considerably. Think of your newspaper, if you got it every day when you first subscribed then one month later you only got it sporadically, if at all, you would probably subscribe to a different newspaper. With a myriad of bloggers on the internet you want to make sure not to do anything to diminish your readership.

The type of blog you have is also an important factor to consider regarding how often you are going to post. A blog that is your personal journal or one about a vacation should probably be updated daily, but blogs covering more extensive themes are probably good with new content once a week. More frequent posts are probably best for short term blog subjects, such as a specific event or a week-long trip.

Another factor to consider when deciding on posting frequency is your actual content. You want to be sure to not overestimate your writing capabilities so that you are not stuck with nothing to write. Writing a few extra entries in advance and saving them for later can be one way to overcome this possible problem. You should strive for consistency, so having backup entries can help you get through any dry periods you may experience. Keep in mind that you should always know your limitations.

In order to maintain maximum readership, letting your audience know your posting schedule is a good idea. It is also important to keep your readers abreast of any changes in that schedule, like when you take a vacation and wonat be able to post. That connection with your audience is the most important part of a successful blog, so keeping them informed about what is going on is very important.

Determining posting frequency by knowing who your audience is can be helpful as well. If you post daily, there is a lot of work involved, but sometimes daily posts are the most effective. Sometimes, however, daily posts can be too much, depending on the blogas focus. Try to establish the right posting schedule for your particular blog, one that is balanced and workable. That way, you will not alienate your readers and they will always have fresh content to check out.

Frequency is important in blogging. It is an aspect of blogging that can optimize your readership. Although it is overlooked by some, how often you blog can invite or alienate those who read your blog. Remember to find what works best for you, and have fun.

About the Author:

0 comments: