Personally, long, rambling blog posts usually mean I don't read the whole thing. There, I said it. I'm a skimmer. I comment on a lot of blogs, and sometimes, I just don't have the time (or the inclination) to read 15 paragraphs about why your coffee maker gets grounds in your coffee (Not that anyone actually posted that, just an example.)
As a result, I strive to keep my posts succinct. I don't always succeed, but that's what I aim for. (I consider today's post short. But then I wonder, is it too short to be interesting? *sigh* Such a conundrum.)
So what size works for you? Does size matter?
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Does size matter?
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Size does matter to me. Short is better. If it's a long post I skim too. I read blogs because I can pop on, get a laugh or learn something in less than a minute. I don't expect an article in a blog. That said, personal blogs can be different than business/purpose oriented blogs.
ReplyDeleteI love your succinct posts.
I agree. When I start go to long I try an cut my post down. I did a long one yesterday and felt bad about it. Interviews have to be a bit long. If I'm long I try and not be boring. Nothing worse than that. Size does matter.
ReplyDeleteFor me, it depends on the content. I can read long posts if the content is worth it. Most of my own posts are probably longer than they need to be - as are a lot of my comments. Chalk it up to being a hermit. Maybe I type long because I don't talk to a lot of people in real life.
ReplyDeleteI prefer short and sweet, but sometimes I ramble in my own posts. Sometimes I just fill it up with photos.
ReplyDeleteI think it can matter. I prefer the shorter and to-the-point posts, though the exceptions are interviews (have you ever seen a short interview?) and the like. But my attention wanes if it's a long meandering random list of what's going on in the poster's life that day.
ReplyDeleteShort is usually better. Depending on the subject though, I don't mind a longer post. Like the post on Fictionistas the other day about self defense and The Gift of Fear. I took my time to read it and didn't care how long it was.
ReplyDeleteI also skim. If you need to say something of length - and I usually do - break it up with subheads or paragraphs and then people can skim the sections that look the most interesting.
ReplyDeleteI think all writing for the web should be short... But I always write too long.
ReplyDeleteI do read other people's longer posts if they're well written and on a topic that interests me. From my comments at least some of the people who read my blog and my DWT posts occasionally sift through the whole thing.
But I do wish I could think of topics I could handle with fewer words :-)
Oops. i've just left a long comment. Dang.
Totally depends on the topic and writing style for me.
ReplyDeleteSome will natter on for days (me) and not say a darn thing. others pack quite a punch in a quick paragraph.
I don't like to read really long ones--like you know where it should end and it doesn't. Having said that-- there are times I might do a long one only for for the topic. But I like meat to a post too and some too short of ones don't do that. But yes, shorter is better.
ReplyDeleteI'm a skimmer too. I like to read a few succinct paragraphs and be on my way, but I guess it depends on the topic. There are blogs I only visit once in a great while and find that I'm happy to read post after post to catch up.
ReplyDeleteI guess if I'm into something, I'll read a long post, but in general I'd prefer short and pithy. B. is the s. of w., after all...
ReplyDeleteConcisality is a virtue!
ReplyDeleteI too, prefer a short-to-the-point blog. If the story/topic warrants a long post, then that's fine, but if it doesn't grab my attention, I admit to skimming. And I'll be honest, if there's a you-tube insert that lasts more than a couple of minutes, I usually won't even open it up unless it's something I'm really interested in.
ReplyDeleteShort or you lose me quick.
ReplyDelete