If you are a blogger, this topic is bound to catch a little corner of your brain every now and then. It’s also one of those questions that if you asked 10 bloggers you’d get 11 answers.
There is no right amount of blogging. There just isn’t. I try like heck to post once a day either here, or on the ColorMetrix Color Conversations blog. I’ve been known to throw a few other posts up around the internet in any given month. Is that enough? Is it too much? Is it just the right amount? Who knows, it works for me.
Fully 90% of the time I blog for me. Yes, I know very selfish. I blog to capture an idea or a moment that I don’t want to lose. This strategy has been validated recently as I re-read old posts to pull together a free eBook for ColorMetrix customers and prospects. I sure wish I’d written more back then.
It’s amazing what the human brain can recall with a small reminder. It’s kind of like Google, you put the key words in (read an old post) and your brain searches almost instantly for all related material. So, while I am totally thrilled that you guys get benefit from what I write, take that benefit times 10 and you see what I’m getting. (Pretty compelling argument to start your own blog and write something often – right?)
Is blogging my job? I don’t get paid directly to blog. I can, however, tell you that my business and personal life have taken off like a rocket ship since I made a commitment to blog “a lot” earlier this year. I’d argue it’s a big part of my job.
Writing schedules and quotas. I know many A-list bloggers have calendars and schedules for their blogs. I think that’s great and I’m glad it works for them. Perhaps it’s even why they are A-List and I’m not even sure what list I’m on. For now I try to make time each day to write.
Are you a blogger? What’s your take?
Philosophically, I wholeheartedly agree with you and Chris Brogan that blogging “most days” is best. I applaud and admire your commitment, and I'm constantly working towards “more”. But for me, I've made a conscious decision that blogging “when I can” has to be good enough. As it is, I'm writing a slide deck for work at 5AM, trying to figure out when I can get some exercise that probably won't happen today, and not willing to miss bedtime stories with my son. I don't write well late at night, unfortunately, because I am exhausted by then. The blog is important, I love it, I learn a ton from it and value the community there in a huge way. But it's still not job #1, 2, or 3 for me, and probably never will be. And I am OK with that. Am I envious of those who do make the time to blog most days? Hellsyeah. Rock on Jim.
Good bloggers are passionate about their craft and there is no length nor time limits to their innovative spirit and creativity. What works for one person may not be what's best for others.
I choose to blog once a week and schedule my blog posts throughout the week. This allows me to just let the creativity flow in a single day – without distractions. There is no set day of the week that I do this – I just wait until I am “in the zone” and just let it flow.
Great post once again Jim! Keep that inspiration flowing!
Great thoughts. Something I think about each week.
I would love to write daily and make that 50% of my “job”. But with a full time position consulting at an ad agency and then running my own company on top of it it's difficult. Then factor in family as a top priority and it becomes an issue of when can I find the time as opposed to how often do I want to.
I have noticed a huge increase in business and networking since writing again. I wish I had more time to do it. It's better than marketing because it establishes you as a legitimate source of knowledge for your given field.
My articles have doubled in size since beginning again a couple months ago. Stretching from roughly 500 words to 1000. And I'm getting more subscribers at higher positions in larger companies. Funny how that works out.
Now I just need to start speaking to groups again 🙂
Sue, Never miss bedtime stories if you can help it. While Cheryl was the much better reader (cute voices and story telling skills) I still enjoyed and remember the times I got to read.
Keep writing when you can and I'll keep reading when I can. 🙂
Passion and craft – kinda says everything that needs to be said about blogging in two words 🙂
Joshua, there is no way you could write a post of day of the quality and depth you turn out about once a week. I learn real world stuff from you posts. Mine are just a commentary on the moment – at least that's how I see them.
Wow, thank you Jim. Very humbling 🙂 Don't sell yourself short. You post some truly great articles. Especially the “The Help Others Manifesto” article. That was amazing Jim.
Blogging frequency is a toughy. For a while there, a lot of folks were very focused on keeping a schedule. One must post once a day or your toast.
Now it seems more folks blog like you and I – when we have something to say. I think that is better for the blogosphere, and better for us.
You made me go back and read that one. You may be right it's probably the moment where I committed to some big changes in the way ColorMetrix will do business going forward. I'm working towards another User's Group hopefully this year and next year for sure. Also, we are building an on-line community for our customers that is going to kick some serious butt. I think that all started around the time I wrote “The Help Others Manifesto” Funny, I was just writing what was going on in my head. It's a scary place I promise you. 🙂
I'm making the time to do it more. Fully a dozen people engaged me over the last 2 days and made specific mention of specific posts that have affected their lives. If that does not motivate me to write nothing will 🙂