This is the third post in a series of tips on how to generate higher quantities of content for your blog. Check out the other posts in this series at Check out the previous posts at Set Targets, News Sites and Aggregators, Start a New Blog, Break Down Your Posts, Ecto and Recruit Writers.
Break your longer articles down into smaller bite sized posts on more targeted topics. When I first started blogging I used to write very long rants and reflections on topics. These days I still do occasionally but as I do I always now ask myself – ‘can I break this into a series?’ There are multiple reasons to write a series of posts rather than a long article including:
1. You’re more likely to keep your readers attention with some short sharp bursts of writing than a really long diatribe. I rarely get all the way through reading a long post of someone else unless its compelling reading.
2. You might generate some repeat visits to your site if you post on the same topic over a few days telling your reader to come back tomorrow for the next installment.
3. You’ll generate more page views this way which is good if you’re running impression based ads on your site and link from one post to the next in the series.
4. You individual pages will rank higher in Google usually with a more targeted post than a long one that has many themes. ie a post with one point is more likely to rank well on that point than an article with ten points.
5. You will probably get better and more relevant ads from contextual advertising like Google.
Of course this is partly personal preference – a lot of people like the long rant and are frustrated by having to navigate numerous pages of a series. Your choice. Let us know what you think in comments below.
I played with breaking a post down into series. The best performing so far, was my series on what I learned by reading “How to Win Friends and Influence People“.
It’s amazing how piece something down into several parts can get people back to your site.
Keep up the good work.
Bill
[…] Break Posts Down […]
I just looked at my post today and realized it was such a long diatribe no one was going to read it. I just updated the post to focus on one idea and now I have more content for the next few days.
Thanks for the great idea.
It’s a useful series you are making here, will consider those thoughts for a coming blog
yeah, i read some ppl say long posts are better and others say short posts are better
will try both and see what fits
Dear Darren
I wonder if you would be kind enough to have a quick squiz at my site and give me some pointers. I’m sure you have enough on your plate already but any little hints would be much appreciated.
I did start off writing long diatribes because I felt I had a lot to say but more recently have made my posts more focussed, like 5 top tips etc.
Any help is much valued.
Like Charles Dickens used to do. Great advice. Lesson 10.
Is the information in the problogger book different than the info in the website
This is a very useful guiding blog for the blog writers directing them to generate high quality content for the blog.