It is often said that a successful blogger is a regular blogger. Most professional bloggers will post at least once per day and most agree that starting bloggers should post at least a few times a week. I want to be seen as the former rather than the latter, but it is so hard to keep up. Between posting, reading other blogs and sometimes commenting, researching and networking/promoting, it seems there is a never ending stream of work ahead of me.
Which begs the question, how is my time better spent?
The case for content:
My first inclination is that content sells. If your write something that educates or entertains, people will enjoy your site. For many bloggers, the value of their content is that it does both. We all want more laughs in our lives.
And it is very clear that users won’t spend much time at your blog if it doesn’t have current content. Unfortunately, every blog entry you make has the date. So readers know when they’re reading old content. Many will opt to find a more current source unless there is a compelling reason for them to read yours.
So, having good, relevant content is more important that writing frequently.
The case for reading/commenting:
There are literally millions of bloggers. And they all have their own perceptions and paradigms. I get a much better understanding of an issue when I take the time to read more than one blogger. And sometimes one person’s words just seem to make more sense to me.
Comments on blogs often take the topic through a to a deeper place. To make a good comment, you must read the full post and the comments that came before, lest you seem like an idiot. Also, don’t forget the promotional value of a good comment.
The case for research:
If you look around, it doesn’t take you long to realize that most of the content is regurgitated from blog to blog with very little substance added to the new versions. Just a small bit of research can be enough to give your post the zing it needs to stand above the rest.
Research can take many forms. From interviews, to empirical evidence, to case studies, to full on population testing. For most blogs, you won’t have to boil the ocean to get enough to make your point. But know that any work you do will be well received.
The case for networking/promotion:
If a tree falls in the woods and nobody is there to hear it… Ode to the unread blog post. I’ve written many blog posts that were never read. Sad but true. The core reason for that? I wasn’t promoting my blog the way I should have.
One of my main purposes for forming this blog was to practice different networking and promotional tools to see what works. In only a few weeks, I’ve learned a great deal. More significantly, I’ve learned that I have a lot more to learn. Networking and promotion are likely just as important as content. Welcome to the reality of blogging.
The Verdict
We have a hung jury. There is no clear winner. You need to do all of the above to be a successful blogger. The trick is to do them to the extent that makes sense for you, without burning yourself out. It is very easy to reach that level. You have to pace yourself.
What few newbies understand is that traffic is built over time. Yes, there are ways to get big hits now and then. But those storm surges die out just as fast as they came if you don’t keep working them. The best traffic for you is the slow burn kind. The kind that actually find your blog useful and want to come back for more. Those loyal readers will build you a foundation that has substance.
Isn’t that the kind of blog you want anyhow?
