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If you’re a writer, or just own a business with an online component, you’ve probably heard the following adage–publish or perish?
The premise behind the popular phrase is that publishing content is good and that publishing frequently is the best way to survive in the crowded Internet marketplace.
It’s a catchy saying, but is it true?
The answer is…yes, and…no.
Some of the most popular websites out there got to be that way by publishing frequently–sometimes publishing new material multiple times in a single day.
While it’s true that publishing high quality content often is definitely a good way to build a successful blog or website, publishing simply for the sake of “getting something out there” is not a good move.
All too often, I find myself reading a post that is really a non-post. (You’ve probably read these posts too…) A non-post reads something like this (fictional example):
“Hello there readers. We really don’t have anything new to say today. Not much is happening with the business. I just wanted to check in and let you all know that we’re still here.”
Whether it’s on a personal blog or a business site, a webmaster who publishes something like that isn’t doing the website any favors. Yes, technically they’ve “published” something, but it’s something that’s of no use to anyone. It’s not entertaining and it’s not informative.
Imagine the reaction of the reader who has come to the site for the first time to learn something about the business (or at the very least, to be entertained). Do you think that reader is likely to return to that site again soon?
I think you and both know that answer to that question–Don’t bore your audience.
In fact, I would say that quality trumps quantity every time.
A high quality post draw readers in to the site. In a best case scenario, a quality post sticks in the reader’s mind and makes them want to return or even share the material with others. At the very least, it makes the reader feel that they got something for going to the site.
Readers come back for high quality content. And a good writer understands the importance of engaging the reader.
So, can you post too often?
You definitely can post too often if you have nothing of value to publish. In my opinion, It’s better to be known for great content occasionally, than to spew out valueless posts regularly.
What’s your take on this question? Just how important do you think publication frequency is?
6 responses so far ↓
1 Sharon Hurley Hall // Jun 14, 2011 at
I’d rather see quality than quantity on the blogs I follow, Laura. I post about once a week on my own blog unless there’s something really interesting happening, but I keep it going by having another writer and taking guest posts. My feeling is that if I have nothing to say, then I shouldn’t bother, and there are some blogs where I think the authors might have done well to take that advice. Having said that, on many of my favorite blogs, where there is fresh content daily, I appreciate it because of the quality.
2 Laura Spencer // Jun 14, 2011 at
Thanks Sharon!
Guest bloggers can be really helpful as long as you are picky about which posts you accept (and I know that you are).
It’s interesting that your favorite blogs are those that manage to combine quality and quantity.
3 Shakirah Dawud // Jun 14, 2011 at
Hi, Laura,
I think it’s a sensible mix of how much is too much for you and how much is too much for your readers. Of course, it’s always nice to go with what readers can handle, but if that’s too much for you to crank out, they probably won’t pout about it. And of course, less raises the quality bar higher and higher.
So basically what you just said .
4 Laura Spencer // Jun 14, 2011 at
Shakirah,
Good point about the quality bar, though. If one chooses to post infrequently, it’s important that those infrequent posts are of high quality since another post won’t be coming quickly to replace them.
5 Stephanie // Jun 15, 2011 at
Hi Laura,
Personally, I always aim for high quality content in my posts even if it’s for my personal blog that only my mother and a few friends read. It’s really better to publish content once in a while that’s of great quality than posting “non-posts” as you’d call it frequently just to stick to your ideal editorial calendar.
6 Laura Spencer // Jun 16, 2011 at
Stephanie,
I think that’s a good policy. Even if you think only your mom and a few of her friends are reading, you never know when a client might happen upon one of these posts.