11/11/2008
Which Are Better, Short or Long Blog Posts?
Image via WikipediaWhich do you think is the better approach – short blog posts or long ones? Some bloggers, like Rick Mahn, favor short blog posts. Others, like Robert Hruzek, go the long route. Others, like Cath Lawson, mix it up. Well, I’m probably the last person who could answer my own question, because I enjoy reading all three of these bloggers. Here are a few thoughts on the matter nonetheless.
Short posts are certainly more likely to be read. Whether a long post is read depends on many factors, chief among them being how busy the reader is at the time he or she encounters the post. If I’m trying to whip through 100 feeds in my reader, I’m going to skip that long post and hope to come back to it later. But if I have time, I’ll savor it.
Long posts are more likely to be re-read. Assuming it is well written, a long post is more likely to contain information worth reading twice or even thrice. Perhaps it explores an idea in unusual depth or with remarkable clarity. Perhaps it provides instructions on how to overcome a complex problem. Perhaps it tells a story in such a way as to reveal basic truths about the human condition. Very difficult to do any of these things in a sound byte.
The audience influences optimum post length. A technical blogger aiming at computer programmers would be wise to “go long” and provide plenty of specifics. Same for a legal or financial blogger. On the other hand, an entertainment blog or one offering sales tips may be better off keeping it short and sweet. So it’s a good idea to know your audience and your purpose.
Which brings me to the question of consistency. Does shifting back and forth from short to long posts endear you to readers or repel them? How important is consistency? I really struggle with this issue.
What are your thoughts? How do you decide how much to write?
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24 Responses to Which Are Better, Short or Long Blog Posts?
I know what you mean, Brad. I generally have a short attention span with REALLY long posts, which is ironic considering I tend to wax eloquent myself. But if the topic catches my attention, and the writing manages to keep it, I’m there to the end.
As for my own writing, I follow the March Hare and Mad Hatter’s advice: Start at the beginning, and continue on until the end. When what I have to say is finished, I’m done.
My advice to you is “go thou and do likewise” – and don’t worry about length, but content. You’ll always win with that in mind!
Robert Hruzeks last blog post..All Entries: What I Learned From Government
Hi Robert, Great advice. I tend to do a lot of editing because much of what I write seems extraneous when I’ve completed a first draft.
Brad Shorrs last blog post..Which Are Better, Short or Long Blog Posts?
For business writing, that’s an important, sometimes critical issue. But for my own style of storytelling, it’s often better to “tell it long”, you know?
Robert Hruzeks last blog post..All Entries: What I Learned From Government
Brad, I think a mixture works best. It keeps your reader from getting bored with too much long, or too much short, and it keeps you on your toes too.
I try and think about what sort of post I’m writing. Some might be a quick question or idea to prompt a thought, or share some information. Some pieces are those that I want people to bookmark, link to, save, and read again – those are the ones that can do with being longer, with more meat on the bones.
I think Chris Garrett has some material on different types of posts – filler content, bookmarkable posts, pillar articles (the authority pieces you want to be known by) – but I can’t immediately lay my hands on it.
Joanna
PS It’s so good to have you back!
Joanna Youngs last blog post..Words of Remembrance
Hi Joanna, Good to be back! That Chris Garrett article rings a bell with me as well. Maybe I can dig it up somewhere. But you’re point about intention is key, and certainly goes along with what Robert is saying. Elaboration is part of the charm of a story, whereas in business, it is often a drawback.
Brad Shorrs last blog post..Which Are Better, Short or Long Blog Posts?
Brad,
it is really nice to have you back (and your blog posts, of course)! Regarding longer or shorter posts, well for me, it depends. Sometimes I’ve got a picture to show which needs a longer post to go with it (Writing that one about Checkpoint Charlie, for example – I could not tell that in only a few sentences). The opposite was the poem I wrote – quite short, I think. So I would support what Robert said: “When what I have to say is finished, it’s done”.
Ullas last blog post..What you See is not Always what you Get
Hi Brad, welcome back!! This is an interesting topic! For me it kind of depends on the topic and how much time I have on that day. I sometimes scan longer posts with the intention of reading later (sometimes that happens and at other times it does not). However, if it’s a longer post that is really interesting, I read it. Robert is a good example, I don’t really notice the length because I enjoy his stories so I read them everyday. If it’s long and a bit dry I may scan through for key points. So, this very long comment is to say, I think it’s always prudent when your writing is tight. Tight may be 1000 words but when you eliminate the extraneous it’s a win for you and the reader.
Karen Swims last blog post..The Thief Who Stole November
“If it’s long and a bit dry…”
Hey, Karen; it’s a good thing that never happens, right? Uh, right? (sound of crickets) :-\
Robert Hruzeks last blog post..All Entries: What I Learned From Government
LOL! Robert, never on your blog! Now I have written some stinkers oh wait they weren’t long.. *scratches head and goes off to find new excuse*..
Karen Swims last blog post..The Thief Who Stole November
Hi Karen, Ulla – It’s nice to be back! We have a consensus around Robert … when we are finished, we are done. I like it!
Brad Shorrs last blog post..Which Are Better, Short or Long Blog Posts?
Welcome back, Brad!
And, really, I’ll vote for a nice, solid Medium-length post. Not too short, not too long … juuuuuuuust right, like Goldilocks would want it!
–Debs last blog post..MM: Six Degrees of Separation
Deb, Thank you … a most excellent point about the Goldilocks post. Come to think of it, you are an expert at the medium length post.
Brad Shorrs last blog post..Which Are Better, Short or Long Blog Posts?
I like a mix of long, short, and medium posts—whatever it takes to cover the topic.
Lillie Ammanns last blog post..A Twisted Tale of Cover Art at The Dark Phantom Review
Lillie, Your comment and many of the others have been enlightening. Post length seems less of an issue to me now than when I wrote the post. Great example of how conversation leads to change.
Brad Shorrs last blog post..Which Are Better, Short or Long Blog Posts?
Hi Brad,
Welcome back.
My philosophy – write however much you need to give adequate and complete coverage to your topic, go back and rewrite as concisely as possible, and then stop.
Andrews last blog post..Employee rights and responsibilities part 2 – Fundamental responsibilities of employees
Hi Andrew, good to be back. Your formula seems to be the winning approach.
Brad Shorrs last blog post..A Modest Proposal to Save the U.S. Auto Industry
Hi Brad – I didn’t realise you were back. Thanks for the link. I prefer writing a mixture. And like the others have said, just however long it takes to cover the topic.
I just wrote a really short post. I was going to make it a longer one but I thought, bugger it. All I wanted to do was point folk in the direction of an interesting site I’d found, so I kept it to a few lines.
Hi Cath, I’ve been so busy, I didn’t even notice I was back. You do a great job of mixing up your posts, which is one reason I enjoy your blog. There’s always a surprise or two.
Brad Shorrs last blog post..Do You Want to Win $500?
Brad, thinking back it was Chris Garrett’s presentation to SobCon I was thinking of, but I’m sure he was referring to things he’s written about on his site.
Joanna Youngs last blog post..5 Thought Provoking Posts on Responsibility
Hmm, Brad, I’ve never given post length much thought– I basically write what I have to say and then I’m done. The problem with longer posts is that everyone is short on time–it has to be really special to keep a reader’s attention. If I see a post that seems to be filled with paragraphs that really don’t need to be there, I often find myself clicking away because there’s only so much time in the day.
Karen Putzs last blog post..You’re Not Really…Deaf, Are You?
Karen, The time factor is always a concern. That’s why it’s a good idea to break a long post into a series.
Brad Shorrs last blog post..Do You Want to Win $500?
Brad,
I thought of this post today on my blog book tour stop over at Writer’s Notes. I was answering questions in comments, and several of my comments are longer than many posts. I wondered if you were worried about the length of comments as well as posts.
Lillie Ammanns last blog post..Blog Book Tour Interview at Writer’s Notes
Hi Lillie, Never thought about comment length, but now that you mention it … comments add so much to a post. Thoughtful comments are always a plus, long or short!
Brad Shorrs last blog post..Use the Economic Slump to Retool for Success
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