Since I've been back to blogging I have found myself adopt a more relaxed approach to the blog, one where I don't stress within certain areas. Some of the posts I have written over the last six years have been painstakingly meticulous and I've tried so hard to use my creative writing skills, incorporating them into what I believed to be a darn good blog post. Some were well received, others were perhaps glanced at, whilst several went unappreciated and unloved. It is often the case that a blog post which has been haphazardly put together, is scrutinised and commented on; everyone wants to have their say and everyone comes back for more. I used to always publish a post on a Wednesday because that always seemed a popular day to post. But then I noticed Tuesday became a good day also, and then Thursday. People went through a phase a couple of years back when they would time their posts with precision, desperately making sure they didn't miss a chance to reel in those comments and plug away on social media. But now I'm not so sure it matters.
Who really cares what day you publish a post? Is it important to publish at 9am, or would it be more beneficial if you published at 11am? Perhaps you're an afternoon blogger, or an evening blogger. Maybe it isn't something you've ever considered. I used to publish early morning. I have no idea why. Once, I published a post at 5pm and it received a substantial amount of page views and comments. I guess it depends whom you're aiming your post at; parents, writers, paranormal investigators, each other?
I read some blogs that are incredibly popular. Some receive, on average, 60+ comments on every single post - every single day. Yet other blogs I read receive between 5 and 10 comments, though to me, they are just as popular. I used to stress about how many times I published a blog post. I would worry if I had blogger's block and think I'd start losing valuable readers if I didn't supply the goods at least Monday, Wednesday and Friday, my once-regular blogging days. Now I've realised how lame that was. With everything else I have going on in my life, blogging was right up there, with just about everything. In a way it still is, because it's my main hobby. It's something I enjoy doing and something I've proved to myself I don't want to stop doing. I am laid back, but I'm impatient and demanding. I like to chill out but I don't like having nothing to do. I guess you could say I'm a bit mixed up. But so far as blogging is concerned, taking that month's break and perusing the blogosphere has made me see blogging in a new light. Give yourself a break occasionally; life isn't all about fancy words and feedback.
Could not agree more! I've definitely got into more of a laidback style of posting now - sometimes I post before work because it's easier but sometimes at night and some days not at all.
ReplyDeleteLaid back is good. Takes away the stress and the worrying about whether or not you're still enjoying what you do.
DeleteI'm a late night poster. When I occasionally pay during the day it always gets more traffic, but I'm just not that organised.
ReplyDeleteI suppose more people are reading blogs during the day but I don't think it should matter if you posted the night before.
DeleteAgree there hun xxxx I look at it like having a chat with my pals and neighbours. Dont do it every day but when I do it's nice xxxx
ReplyDeletethat's just how I see this blog now - as a place to have a chat with pals.
DeleteI never got as far as working out when was a good time to post! Apart from a handful of posts that required research, I write or finish a post when I get inspired, and then either press publish there and then, or sleep on it if it's a controversial one, just to check I haven't written something that might upset people. The people who matter will usually find it and comment no matter what time you post, I think x
ReplyDeleteSleeping on controversial posts is a good idea; I've done that often and deleted more than I care to admit.
DeleteI mostly blog early morning, because thats when I have the time to spare. I only blog if I have something to blog about, and although I do check stats now and then, I'm really not that bothered about who reads what I write. I mostly blog as a reason to show my photographs, and I try (more lately) to be amusing but I'm a bit disappointed if say 30 people view the page but no-one comments.
ReplyDeleteI've only just found your blog, via twitter, but I enjoy reading whenever I come across it.
Joy xx
Same here, Joy. I used to blog for the sake of it but now I tend to blog about something I want to blog about, rather than worrying about bringing in the audience. I think comments are important but I know not everyone agrees with me on that.
DeleteWeirdly, I've just tweeted out that I haven't done a specific regular post today because I forgot to schedule it in. No panic but I updated my followers because they may be tuning in especially to read that post. It's no biggie that it's not there though.
ReplyDeleteAs for all the other posts - as and when I feel like it. I have no committment to anyone other than myself. If people subscribe to the blog then they'll receive their notification when there's a new post and if people normally catch it on a social media channel then that's cool too.
I started blogging for me and I'll continue to blog for me. I admit that some of my blog posts have "super duper find me on Google" titles but that's only when I think it deserves to be found on Google - and those posts have mainly been separated out to another blog now. I love the natural recommendation ripple and it's really great to hear that someone new found my blog through someone else mentioning it.
Serious/professional/business bloggers do schedule posts or social media updates at certain times to catch specific audiences but I see no reason for personal bloggers to be doing this unless they have an agenda for needing a post read.
At the end of the day, we all blog for different reasons. It doesn't matter what anyone else does as long as you're enjoying your blogging time. If you over-think it, it becomes a chore.
I think the title is really important on any blog post. If you're wanting to be found then it needs to be extremely google-i-fied, and if it's just one you're writing to get words down, then one can be a little more relaxed with the title. You're right, it can very quickly become a chore if you let it take over. Unfortunately, I've seen this happen so often in blogging circles I'm involved with. Including myself!!
DeleteI post when I have written something! If I have already posted that day I might hold it back til the following day, or I might post anyway and have a double post day. In blogging, as in life, I have no plan!
ReplyDeleteNo plan is often good. Not sure I could work with no plan but I am quite spontaneous! I generally only post once a day so if I have a post in my head on the a day I've published one, I schedule it for the next day.
DeleteI have got to the point where I just post when I have time to write something. Some weeks I might only post once, others maybe 5 or 10 times or so. I've never looked at changing specific times. Agree with you, if it's not enjoyable, it's not worth doing.
ReplyDeleteI think we do put ourselves under too pressure to post so to publish as much or as little as we want to should make it more enjoyable.
DeleteI have to say ive never really thoughy about the best time to post. I blog in evening so just publish then
ReplyDeleteBest to just publish when you feel ready to hit that publish button, whether that be morning or evening, it shouldn't matter.
DeleteI'm a flippent blogger, sparadic and not timely at all.. I often publish in the small hours of the mornng simply because thats the time I finish writing the post.. I don't worry about who might be around to read it, I figure it'll get found if someone is intrested in it, If I'm kean to get it seen I might tweet the post later the next day (when more people are awake) or others I just leave floating around the internet in the never nevers of 1am blog posts!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't be reading blog posts at 1am!! You have the right idea there - whoever is around to read it is a bonus.
DeleteI post at all times of the day and publicise at all times too, I don't have a magic formula, sometimes I wish I did!
ReplyDeletePS love your new header photo x
Same here now! Too much worrying makes for a dull blogger!!
DeleteIs it fair to judge the popularity of a blog by the number of comments? I check my favorites blogs daily but I rarely comment. In some blogs I never comment only because writing one requires multiple security levls and it isn't worth the time or trouble for me. Still, I visit often and enjoy reading their posts.
ReplyDeleteDebra, just for the record, I don't 'judge' blogs on anything. If I like a blog I will read it, if it doesn't interest me, I won't bother.
DeleteI've never really bothered about when I publish a post. I usually publish it when I've written it. That's probably because I personally read blogs in Google Reader, so it makes no difference to me when they are posted as I (try to!) read them all at some point anyway. I've also found that posts I've slaved over for ages, re-reading and re-reading, receive hardly any attention, yet one that I've put together and published quickly receives loads of comments!
ReplyDeleteThis is what I was trying to say, Jennifer. I have read of many people who take ages to write a post and think it's the bee's knees, yet get hardly any feedback or attention, as you say. Some times it's hard to know what to say in a comment because the post doesn't always warrant one.
Deletei agree that a break now and then is a good thing. it often helps you gain perspective.
ReplyDeleteIt's certainly helped me. Looking back on previous blog posts before I took a break, I've realised how agitated I was becoming with it all.
DeleteFunny, I went through a similar thing recently. I have friends whose blogs have become very popular in way less time than mine has even been in existence. It was making me feel kind of sad about it. And goodness knows I rarely get any comments. Though when I post it on facebook I get tons there!
ReplyDeleteAnd then you start wondering where you're going wrong? I think comments on blogs have reduced considerably since FB and Twitter became so popular. I do think it's a shame because the blog is where it all started. However, I do seem to be in the minority these days with my old-school ways of preferring comments on a blog rather than other social media channels.
DeleteI publish at any time and would depend on when I can get on there! That's probably why I can have no comments on a post LOL Maybe I should rethink then? :)
ReplyDeleteYou should do what works for you. I do think however, that if you are blogging to gain interaction (which is mainly why I blog) then you should find a time when you might reach out to more people. Though I honestly don't know these days; with all the social media platforms about, we can reach so many without doing very much.
ReplyDeleteI've got right off blogging except for writing about my travels as a kind of diary. I still read a lot of blogs though.
ReplyDeleteI think we all go off it sometimes but if you've started getting fed up with it, maybe you're doing the right thing as keeping it as a diary.
DeleteInteresting post. I've only just started my blog but have blogged in the past, I'm not sure it matters too much when you publish, it might have some impact if you were promoting it via social media, but you can schedule posts to twitter etc so it may not have so much of an impact. I think the important thing is to blog as regularly as you can and enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteHi Phil. I always forget about being able to schedule tweets; I must start doing that. I notice a few people in my timeline do it and its a good way to promote. Enjoying it is vital!
DeleteHi me too - I blog about 11 x a month now and 4 of those will be my quick weigh in ones. I used to blog 20+ and pride myself that they were no album fillers. I did loose sight of why I started (weight loss)as I enjoyed writing my rants so now back to using the blog as weight loss tool rather than sounding off - although, of course, that does still feature!
ReplyDeleteOh I love sounding off - a good rant never did anyone any harm!! I haven't got started on my ranting yet since I've been back!!
DeleteI don't stress anyone xx I just go with the flow and I think/ hope my writing is better for it ..
ReplyDeleteYour blog posts are always fabulous
Thanks, Claire. Going with the flow is a great approach to blogging I feel.
DeleteGreat blog post and I am glad your break resulted in you being more mellow about the whole thing, as that was the objective right.
ReplyDeleteYours is a blog people tap into regardless of the timings of the posts, so I think you are definitely in a great position to enjoy your audience and vice versa.
Glad you have your mojo back.
Liska xx
Thanks, Liska. You know me, I love to blog and just couldn't give it up. I think my mojo came back soon after I lost it!
DeleteI've always been a bit of a laid back blogger when it comes to posting, promoting etc. However, if you want to show case your writing, then I think you have to be fairly meticulous about the content of your posts. Go back over them and look at each sentence; could they be funnier, more succinct, less boring etc. There is usually room for improvement on a first draft and it's worth taking the time to find the improvements if you want people to notice your writing.
ReplyDeleteAnd if you think it won't make a difference, I got a paid gig recently because of what they read on my blog!
I completely agree with you. I read mine a few times before I hit publish. That is so important in my opinion. I hope my writing comes across okay though with some posts I do slack a little.
DeleteI am another laid back blogger, mostly! I just write, read and publish. I may follow up by tweeting the link a couple of times the following day as generally blog fairly late as a SAHM. I do sometimes lose sight of WHY I started to blog, which for me, was as a means to organise my thoughts primarily and secondly to "meet" other people.
ReplyDeleteI would say most people lose sight of why they started blogging. I know I did which is why I took that much needed break.
Delete"painstakingly meticulous" - blimey - I promise to try harder to notice. I try to be 'grammar correct' but I usually find countless errors when I back read! My favourites of yours are always the lamb posts and we are nearly at lambing time again, woot woot....please say you'll share the lambs :)
ReplyDeleteI should hope so ;)-
DeleteI'll always keep up with the lamb posts and will dedicate one especially to you x
I used to be like that, I had to write my post publish it early morning and needed a post everyday to keep the readers. Then I had my strokes and it just didn't matter anymore. Now I just publish when ever I have written a post
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean, some thing happens in our lives and puts everything into perspective. Blogging is an enjoyable hobby for me. I got a bit carried away with it all before I took ,y break!
DeleteI think if I worried like that then it would cease to be a pleasure.
ReplyDeleteI try to post once a week. However, I'm a bit random as to what day and as for the time of day...... well that is way over the top for me.
I am grateful for any comments. I think if you comment regularly on other peoples blogs then they get back to you but if they don't then they don't. Its still an account of what is happening with you at any given time. Part of your history.
Maggie x
Nuts in May
Believe me, Maggie, I did spend time worrying about it and that was why I needed a break. You and I have known each other through blogging for many years and I've gone back to basics. Enjoy, don't stress. My new motto!
DeleteHi Crystal - Fancy me appearing straight after my dear sister LOL. I used to be disappointed at the few comments I received after my efforts and it really got me down for a while. Now I have finally learned that people are busy and cannot always read my blog or visit - so I have a much more relaxed approach. I also am taking longer Blog breaks, partly because lots of other things are going on. I was very sad to hang up my boots on The Sunday Roast, but it was too time consuming. I do intend to revive it one day but would really like to share it with someone - any ideas? Hugs ~ Eddie
ReplyDeleteSomething I've found over the years Eddie, is that regular spots like weekly events such as Sunday Roast (just using that one as an example) do tend to run their course after a while. I find that with a lot of link ups as well. It's good to see you again and good to know we old-school bloggers are going back to basics of simply enjoying our blogs rather than letting them take over our lives!
DeleteOh I am mixed up too then I guess! I post when I have the time to sit and think about what I'm going to write, although once in awhile I still post something that, after the fact, I feel was a bit haphazard in nature. And I've never had many followers through Google so I pretty much just wrote for myself, but now that I finally made pages on Facebook for my blogs and people are following them there, I know my readership has grown somewhat, and that makes me feel good. Still, I write because I love it, and I don't need to have tons of people following and commenting on what I write. Even if I just get one comment on a post, it makes me feel good. :)
ReplyDeleteWe can be mixed up together!!! That's a great way of looking at it - it doesn't matter how many or how few comments we get, if people are reading our work that's important enough.
DeleteGreat question to ask and I have been fascinated by your views and the comments here. I tent to post in the morning, not because I have any notion of whether this is a good time for my readers, but because I write late at night and always like to leave it and re read after a break before publishing. Looking at it that is very selfish of me to publish as suits me and not think about what my readers may want. Oops! Thank you for making me think, though I'm not clear if I should change still to a better time!
ReplyDeleteI often do the same - write a post one day then publish another, though I am more relaxed about doing that these days. You are not selfish at all - it's your blog and you make the rules. To me, readers do matter and that's not everyone's opinion I know, but I won't let people dictate to me what, when or why to blog. That's my choice.
DeleteI blog when i want. I do wonder what people think of my post and if they get read, but over the months i've been blogging i have slowly raised a few followers- how many of them read regularly i don't really know. I have a few friends who do, but then i guess thats normal. I often find as i'm reading peoples blogs i think now thats something i've wondered but never thought about blogging on- and they are the things that get the comments. I like to receive comments , i get excited over them. But i have now got over the worrying about how many i get and why i'm not getting many readers. I sometimes wonder if i'm too laid back about it, but then as quickly as i wonder it the thought leaves my mind again. I guess i just have too many other things going on in my head. Normally at least a dozen thoughts about various subjects at any one time. If i out them all down in the order they register it would make for an interesting read. Maybe that should be my next topic?? xx
ReplyDeleteI think it depends who is reading your blog and whether they are the type of person to leave a comment or not. Many people read blogs because they simply love to read - others read them to interact. I'm a bit of both, though I do love interaction. Gets quite lonely where I live, lol. I can get 6 comments on one post then 56 on another. I guess if we let that get to us, we are no longer enjoying our blogs.
DeleteI am so confused by blogging at the moment. I feel there is so much more to it than just writing good content sometimes. I don't think I will ever really understand the ins and outs of getting more comments or shares or readers etc. I have never considered posting at a specific time of day... would not have crossed my mind that would make a difference? I wouldn't have a clue how to measure any of that stuff.
ReplyDeleteI didn't post for 3-weeks recently and have now just posted for 5 consectuive days. I guess I will post something if I have something I want to write about. Some days I just can't get in the right head space for it though.
Obviously love to receive comments but don't like to obsess too much over these things. Just keep plodding away in my own little blog world and if someone reads a post I have written and likes it enough to comment on it, then that is just FAB by me!
You make a good point - many people think there is so much more to it than good content, but blogging used to be just about good content and perhaps good photography - now it's about so much more. However, I have realised recently how important it is to go back to basics and blog how you feel most comfortable, rather than trying to keep up with those who do understand the ins and outs.
DeleteWell, if it were about feedback/comments, then I would have given up long ago. I am not interested in awards, or building up a huge following. I blog because I enjoy it, I only blog when I have something I want to say or books to review on my 'other' blog. And it's always in the morning, simply because that's when I am on the computer as a rule.(Oh, and by the way CJ, one of my New Year Intentions is to be kinder; 'if you can't say something nice, then don't say anything at all' being the watchword of one of your followers who criticised me for being rude/blunt/outspoken. It's not easy, but hey, it's not even the end of the first month yet!)
ReplyDeleteI only have a handful of followers, and only a few bother to comment. I also have friends who don't comment but read them every time I post.
The blog, and my writing for the village magazine fulfill my need to do creative writing nowadays. The novel will never be published, but that doesn't matter any more either. And have I missed something as I don't understand the previous comment and it's relation to anything you said? Oops, there goes the intention again....
I think to some people it is about feedback and comments, and once upon a time, that used to me as well. But now I'm happy to just blog and receive some comments from time to time. Yes, I do love comments and I really appreciate them, and as I blog for an audience I guess comments will always be important to me.
DeleteGet that novel published, Maggie! You know you can do it.
I have to admit I had a new years wobble with my blog....I started thinking if anyone was even reading it, should I stop writing, where did I want my blog to go now etc etc. I don't get many hits and I was actually blissfully happy with my regular reader bunch till I started comparing it others and then I started worrying about not getting thousands of hits and questioning it all. I think partly it was because I went self hosted at Christmas and I felt like I had to start again with a lot of things. But I think I'm over it now (this week anyway! :)) and I am using my stance of "I will blog about whatever the hell I like"! Your blog is excellent by the way!!!
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly what happens - you compare to others and start to worry about your own. When really, there is no comparison because all our blogs are individual. And thank you for the lovely compliment x
DeleteThank you so much for making a blog I actually really, really enjoy! I normally find myself reading one or two posts then moving on but I read and read your blog on my journey home from work yesterday! - woop woop! looking forward to pay day so I can check out Nightingale Woods, looks great :) I have always wanted to write a book and find you really inspiring :)
ReplyDelete" life isn't all about fancy words and feedback " This is the best quotes for every blogger. Take a break and enjoy the life from God. Visit my blog Visit my blog too menghilangkan bekas jerawat
ReplyDelete