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Short blog posts are just fine
August 4th, 2008This is the kind of day I had to look at my iPod to figure out what to write (See Always carry notes with you to understand the reference to the iPod!). That’s perfectly fine and that’s why I make note of my ideas, because I forget them. So, here’s a little something I wanted to talk about for some time: short posts. As bloggers, we always feel guilty to write short posts, but short posts are actually OK!
Don’t feel guilty
Don’t feel guilty everytime you write a short post. Why would we always have to write a 2,000 words article? I don’t know, I guess we feel that short = lack of content. While this can be the case, if what you have to say fits in a couple of lines, then don’t feel bad for that. Look at the well know ShoeMoney blog for instance, the guy posted a single line article last week:
A single line! He just wanted to link to an interesting article, does he have to go through a thousand words article just for that? I must admit it could have been at least 3 or 5 lines, but the outcome is the same. Going straight to the point is good and you don’t have to create content where there’s no possibility to do so.
Don’t make it an habit
Again, it’s like everything in life: don’t abuse the concept. It’s OK to write some short posts once in a while if you can easily fit all your ideas in it, but make sure it’s not lacking of content.
I’m going to make it short
I’m not going to make a long article about short article writing. That’s really what I wanted to point out: writing short posts is ok as long as you don’t make it an habit and as you’ve seen, even the big guys do it!
31 Responses to “Short blog posts are just fine”
What do you think?
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I would LOVE to be able to write short posts. Alas, I tend to ramble.
Hey, I was trained as a journalist, and the habit stuck…
Daddy Hawgs last blog post..Does this count as a mural?
A single line article is always better than nothing
Hi Ben.
Followed you over here from Normal Joe and I like what I see. Other than the fact that you use the same theme as me (which I am yet to personalize) I have read number of your posts this morning and you appear to have the same attitude to blogging as me.
I totally agree with this post…short posts are fine but if I came to a site that everyday did nothing more than give me a link to another site I would start to get pissed.
If you can get your message across in a few words then why ramble on for thousands. As a blogger I find that time is against me and I appreciate people who get to the point.
You will be seeing more of me…..Cheers.
AP
The Affiliate Posts last blog post..I Shall Not Be Defeated!
@Daddy Hawg: Oh I see, so you experimented both short and long posts a lot. I guess you’re better to stick to long posts even if you ramble a lot…If that’s what’s working for yoU!
@Alli: Yep, definitely!
@The Affiliate: Yep we use the same theme, butI guess we’re on the same path to personalize it! It was the best theme available at the time I started but now it’s definitely time for some customization! Anyway, I looked at your blog and it looks great, you can count me in as a reader and thanks for your comment!
I believe that medium-size posts, for the most part, are the best to go with–not to say that really short posts, and really long posts aren’t acceptable at times (as you mentioned in this article), but I do believe medium size posts are generally what allows bloggers to draw readers in, and get across the whole point before boring them.
I discovered this one day while coming across a blog in my niche. The posts were good posts, don’t get me wrong, but nothing really ground-breaking, yet the blog was very interesting, and I found myself reading through many of the posts, and am now a regular reader!
I noticed most of the posts took very little time to read, but were informative at the same time. They were a perfect medium size. I’d say anywhere from 3-5 paragraphs would be considered a medium post (borderline small with 3 paragraphs).
I do still stick with long posts when it comes to feature articles, because that’s just what people expect when coming into an article that has Feature Article printed above it.
I do agree with your small posts theory though. They are great for quick updates—just look at the success of sites such as Twitter and Pownce. They completely capitalize on miniature postings that are really nothing more than just “mini” blogs.
Jon from Blogging HQs last blog post..Dumping the eBay Partner Network For Now
I asked the people at BC, what is their preference when it comes to the length of an entry. Here are their reaction: http://www.blogcatalog.com/discuss/entry/whats-the-ideal-lenght-of-a-blog-entry-according-to-you
casualbloggers last blog post..The Deutsche Bank Logo
Short comments OK too…..LOL
I have to agree that a small post maybe 250 words is good every now and again, by posting 700 word articles everyday your waring the user out, sometimes they just want to know the bare facts.
A good way to write high quality small posts is to write a full 600 word article and then condense it, by doing this you;ll take out the fluff thats diluting the quality content, therefore, making what you have a better impact
Just don’t abuse posting short article. There are just really instances that you can’t post anything. But posting few lines will do, especially if it is really interesting one. Brief but perfect, how about that?
Glad I found your blog, I am one of the people that feels a tremedous amount of guilt when I do short posts, It has gotten so bad that I am going back and writing articles in those posts so I can look at my blog.
Cheers
Tabs
@Jon from Blogging HQ: yes good points you are making there. I try to go with medium length posts most of the time as I personally like to be able to quickly read posts on a blog. I think most people don’t have 30 minutes to read an article, they expect to be able to read it in a couple of minutes. I think it’s all about balance: short posts are ok sometime, mediums most of the time and some long posts as well. It also depends a lot on the way your articles are structured: A well written long post can feel like a 3 paragraphs article if it’s well written and correctly presented.
@Matt: Yeah, I’m leaving this one because I thought this was funny…;)
@SEO Tips: Hey great technique there. Writing a 600 words article and then getting rid of what’s not necessary…I like it.
@PPC SE IM: I totally agree!
@Tabs: haha, I’m glad I helped
Don’t feel guilty, unless you make it an habit!
@CasualBlogger: Nice thread you started there, looks like people like straight to the point articles, 3-4 paragraphs!
@ben to add to the before comment i made a really good thing is to inbound link to old posts, this way you can still waffle to make a longer post if your short on content or like long sets but you can also keep visitors on your blog, you inbound link really well whilst i tend to go for non on some posts a few on otheres then make a very content compact posts with mulitple inbound links.
A plugin i thinks great for blog, but is uncompatable with my theme is called “if you liked that” you can display 4 related posts to the bottom of each page. or as a widget. I think that plugin would work really well here.
Tyrone Make as last blog post..
Thanks Tyrone for that tip! I’ve seen the plugin you are talking about on a couple of blogs, including some of the biggest blogs out there I a think it would be a great addition. I will add it in the coming days…Thanks!
I am trying kinda hybrid posts now. Short summary with single link above “more” and much more detailed part with plenty of links under.
Impatient people can treat summary as short post, rest (and Google) gets more detailed version.
Required some tweaking to make “more” link much more obvious than it was by default but I like result. There is no “Today I wanted to sa[more]” crap on index page.
On short posts – it’s all about content, not word count.
Rarsts last blog post..FlashFolder – steroids for Open/Save dialogs
The conventional marketing KISS ( Keep It Short & Simple) principle applies online too….Simple is beautiful.
zks last blog post..Free Search Engine Optimisation Tools from SEO BOOK
@Rarst: Great way of getting the best of both!
@zk: Yep!
I never did like short posts. I feel that writing something that short will make people think that you are not creative and talented to write something longer. For example why would someone subscribe to your blog if you are leaving comments that are 3 sentences. they will then think that all of your post will be that short. that will scare them away for sure!!
Well, it depends…I’m sure three lines posts will scare the readers, but a couple of 2-3 paragraphs posts aren’t bad I think. If it’s all well balanced between long posts and short posts I think it’s ok!
I totally agree with you. Don’t feel guilty, because you might find some reader like short post…:)
Gilberts last blog post..Build Traffic
I am generally not very good at short posts. I never did like the Readers Digest Condensed version of anything!
@Gilbert: Yeah, some people actually like a quick read sometime! I’m one of those actually!
@dust: hehe, I guess everybody has their preferences!
Thank God i found this! I always frown when i can’t think of anymore sentences for my posts. I agree with the above post and comments, as long as the “real juice” is there, it will be fine. Simplicity is beauty, but dont over do it! great site! just subscribed to your feeds.
regards,
jayl
Cebu Seo Contests last blog post..2008 Beijing Olympics’ Sacred Flame, Rested
Hi Ben,
I too always worry about short posts, but what you say makes total sense, and especially since the Internet audience is geared toward instant gratification.
Step-by-Step Internet Marketing Strategiess last blog post..Keyword Anchor Text and a Reminder To My Readers – Do-Follow Blog
@Cebu Seo: Thanks for subscribing and I’m glad I helped you! I love the “Sim City” design on your blog, it really looks great. I’ll drop by and post a comment…
@Step by…: Yes, people want quick and easy information so we don’t have to feel bad all the time about short posts!
I don’t deny that shorter post is fine but the effect works better if you are one of those authority bloggers and not advisable if you are just fresh out of oven.
You have certainly made a good point here, Ben.
Yan
well I beleive we should think of quality rather that the length of the post.
Blogger Templatess last blog post..How to add search form widget to Blogger ?
I think so short comments are 0k as well
lol between nice post and never ever feel guilty for everything because sometimes one line can explain you something that one whole paragraph can’t 
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Naruto Ninja
Hello,
Truly said that short posts are good for blogs because visitors who can visit your blog seems to be not much time to read your full story so on that view short post is the good for blogging.
Regards
Gopal
What is the line between long and short posts?
Career Assessment Tests last blog post..Balancing Family and School/Work
When I saw the title of this article, I thought you were talking about the length of comments, not the length of the original post.
I’m not a blogger myself, and although I am typically long-winded, I couldn’t imagine writing something every day or most every day. I would think that a short post would be fine any day you want them to be.