Oddities found in the laundry:
- Guitar Picks
- Seashells
- Twist ties
- Crayons (melted, of course)
- Gum Wrappers
- Money (which I count as a tip)
- Pens (major mess)
- Rubberbands
- Kleenex remnants
------------------------------------------
In other news, Linus and I enjoyed a meet-up yesterday with my friend and fellow Triangle Mama Marty and her son, Little Bird at Marbles Children's Museum. Although chasing two toddlers around the museum didn't allow for lots of in-depth conversation, we were able to exchange a few words over lunch at Roly Poly.
Being in the presence of a more experienced and better known blogger, I took the time to pose a question about blogging: Which is better quality or quantity? This is something I've been pondering for a while now. Mom-101 (a top tier blogger) says "content is king", but she already has a large readership. Marty is leaning towards quantity because if people come visit and find nothing new, they'll stop coming. I tend to agree with Marty on this one especially for a relatively new or unknown blogger. I know that upon discovering a new blog, I tend to check back regularly, but if there aren't new updates, I soon write them off.
So what do you think? Is it quality or quantity that counts for the newbies in the blogosphere?
Weigh in with the sidebar poll and if you feel so inclined, leave a comment explaining your reasoning.
Posts
10 comments:
Definitely quality, but even if it's the best content ever, it's difficult to maintain an audience if it isn't delivered consistently.
That doesn't mean frequently. But a reliable posting schedule will help drive a regular readership.
I agree - regular posting schedules are what keep me interested. I can't read blogs that have a ton of new posts every week, so I tend to lean toward those that update once or twice a week, on a predictable schedule (e.g., every Sunday). Then you can have excellent quality and just the right quantity and you give your readers something to look forward to.
It's an interesting question. I think it's a combination of the two. I try to write 2 really thoughtful posts each week. I take my time with them so that they're higher quality. The editing process is more rigorous for those posts, too. And when they publish, I feel proud of them.
On the weekdays between those more well-developed pieces, I write more about the day-to-day or tips or lists. I try to make the posts helpful to a broad audience and keep the top post fresh.
I guess I just feel like there has to be a balance. The quantity helps to bring in new readers. The quality helps to keep them.
- Julia at Midwest Moms
I'm inclined to trust Marty on all things blog, but I agree that if the content isn't good it doesn't matter how often the posts appear. I'm new at this (both reading and writing blogs), but find that I can't keep up with too many posts either way. A mix of short thoughts and longer musings probably helps keep a good balance.
Well obviously you know where I stand!
One thought to consider: So many blog readers use feed readers to follow a blog, that they know when you update. If they always know there will be something worthwhile here, they don't mind waiting for it. That said, if you're continuing a story (Hey everyone, I'm having early labor/We were robbed this weekend/My cat Stanley turned out to be a girl!) then you might want to post an update before next month.
(And oh my goodness, top tier blogger? Thank you. I just may put that on a tee-shirt for cocktail parties and family gatherings where they say, "you write a what? Oh...so what do you really do?"
I think posting regularly keeps people coming back, but you have to keep it interesting, because if it is boring then they aren't going to want to read what you have to say anyhow. Just my opinion.
And...what you can find when you do laundry huh?!?
That is too funny! I am new to your blog and hope to get to know it well!
*ahem* Well of course if you post crap, even if it's lots of crap, people aren't going to keep coming back. I guess I assumed that was a given.
I use a reader - but if people don't post at least twice a week, I feel disconnected from them. Not that I stop reading - but I definitely don't feel invested in them any longer.
I like what CSO said - about the mix of shorter and longer posts. When I consider it - my favorite blogs, like Mrs. Chicken, do that.
And we had a fabulous time with you and Linus. Thanks again - it was just the pick me up I needed.
For new bloggers, I would say qauntity is key-you have to get people coming back to see new stuff before you start to genearte loyal readers that will come back even if you skip a few days of posting.
For more established bloggers, with large readers, content can be key in keeping thme; however, if there isn't anything new, readers do fall off. I also find that if I check blogs but don't find new stuff, I stop coming by very often.
I think both are equally important (even though I haven't posted in weeeeeeeks). I think we keep coming back to the blogs we feel some connection with - those with whom we have something in common.
Post a Comment