I’m launching a new blog today and I’m wondering how to do it. I’ve been asked to write a reader blog for a Seattle newspaper on the same topic as my blog I started in January.

I write a blog for boomer consumers called The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide at http://boomersurvive-thriveguide.typepad.com.

Rita

Like the others who have commented, I’ve come down on the side of shorter posts, with the first couple dealing with just one issue, but the broadest issue, of my niche (if i can call it that). I hoping that it will set the tone and give those brand new readers a good indication of the angle I’m coming from without bombarding them with everything I’ve got to say.

I’ve also decided to open by raising a question, which might be risky, but reader involvement will be crucial to the success of the blog and there are a number of subscribers already waiting for the first post.

Now I’m off to read Don’t Launch Until You’re Loaded… and I’ll see where that takes me. :)

As you write other small posts in the future, reference the white paper that’s free for the taking. This paper will establish your expertise. A good example of this method is Brian Clark of Copyblogger. check out his blog & viral marketing paper.

One of the problems of blogs is that really good posts fall into archive limbo where no one sees them unless you resurrect them. A really good post should be seen forever. good luck to you. keep your passion.
If you want to market yourself as an expert see
http://blog.sellsiusrealestate.com/?p=913 (shameless plug)

Myself – I still have a difficult time keeping my word count down ;-) but I know when I do – it’s much easier to read.

The way you use bullets make it easier to to grasp when reading online isn’t easy to follow. I just started another blog which I’m planning to keep to this guide – smaller frequent posts – focus is the key.

Tammy

the posts

which i hope you’ll answer in a post:)

how many blogs can ONE person manage successfully?

http://www.30dayartist.com/aboutus.php

Personally, I find articles written in series works great as I create readers’ anticipation (return visits) and it also allows me to gauge how feasible to expand further, vertically and horizontally.

The longest post I’ve ever written so far is about 970 words, and that tires me out leaving me not much room to write more later in the week for other blogs.

You need to avoid trying to be the definitive blog for you niche within the first week! I think it is better to build up at least a couple weeks worth of posts before you start promoting it and trying to get readers and to demonstrate your range in those two weeks, eg. tangible technical knowledge, character, personal, news etc.

When I read a long blog post, I find that I have to take a break in the middle a lot of the times. These posts would have been better if they were broken up into a series.

Most seem to agree that all lengthy posts would be overkill and could burn out not only the writer, but the reader. However, too many short little posts might not look as professional and could give off an vibe that says the blog doesn’t have any real “meat”.

As such, I think many small posts with a few big ones thrown in between is the best. It’s just like when writing a story or an article, you don’t want to do all long drawn out sentences, and you don’t want to do all short choppy sentences. You want to change up the flow so that your writing is more exciting and engaging.

just me few cents worth :)

Second, as you noted, I think it is much easier to produce a 200 word post every day (or at least 5 times a week) than it is to produce a 1K word article. Sometimes I do put a few 2K word documents (sermons) but mostly I strive for 200 words. In short I am only going to produce 1.5K words a week, will I do that in one post once a week or 7 daily posts?

I used to put long articles up…But for a part timer who only has a certain amount of words in him/her…I think shorter posts in general are better…

–If you need to write a long post, include devices that make it easy to scan for context. These could be subheads, inline/embedded subheads, lists, and so forth…and use simple format attributes such as bold and italic. (Darren does this often, and does it effectively.) When a reader does have to put a posting in their “later” pile, being able to establish “what’s in it for me?” early on will increase the likelihood that the reader really will read later.

–I think it would be copasetic to add, at the end of short posts, a teaser line that says something like “Next time…..” with a clue about what you’ll be discussing. Letting folks know what will be posted next addresses the “what’s in it for me?” factor and encourages motivated readers to come back. Done ad infinitum, this practice could become self-limiting, but it might work in those initial weeks of a new blog when you’re trying to establish credibility with your readers without so overwhelming them that you actually drive them away.

–Establish a rhythm in which you vary long, short, and medium-length posts. Your posts might be a little longer at the beginning of the week and grow shorter as the week progresses, or vice versa. Maybe once a month you write an uber-post. But this kind of rhythm gives both author and reader some breathing room.

My 2 cents.

This way, you give your readers a break.