A blog is only as good as its content.
Search engines may be looking for key words but readers are looking for good content.
A blogger may know how to drive traffic to a blog but if the content sucks readers will bounce right off. A blog with bad content will have few repeat readers; and like any business, it’s the repeat customers that will make or break a blog. A blogger needs to offer quality articles.
Image via Wikipedia
So, how do bloggers write quality articles? Better still, how do bloggers write quality short articles? Why short? As a rule, the longer an article is on a computer screen the more impatient a reader becomes. This is not something I just made up. This is something that online professional editors know well.
In my opinion, the one word that characterizes a well written blog post is “conciseness”. My dictionary says conciseness means “brief but comprehensive”. And that means the blogger gets to the point.
Money making by blogging means good online marketing; but successful blogging also means writing quality articles.
Don’t get me wrong. Grammar counts. Spelling counts. Punctuation counts and good content definitely counts. But if a blog doesn’t have conciseness, the blogger is already two strikes behind the count.
One more strike and you’re out.
November 22nd, 2009 at 5:39 am
You’re right! As in the matter of length, it depends much on the subject you wrote. It doesn’t mean that short quality article will get you more reads than long quality article. This is very subjective and there’s no guarantee of this, because the interest of the seraches change from time to time.
It depends on your goal of writing. Are you writing for money instead? Or are you writing to deliver message or for the benefits of patients, readers and etc.?
November 22nd, 2009 at 5:39 am
“searches” not “seraches”
November 22nd, 2009 at 5:40 am
It should attract attention by the quatities mentioned and there is no compromise.
November 22nd, 2009 at 5:53 am
very true..
November 22nd, 2009 at 6:01 am
Wise words, I try to make an article as interesting as I can however I have noticed an alarming rise in articles that are one paragraph long! or are just recommending some one elses work, I have a rule if I cant think of a good well thought out article I dont publish anything I wait for inspiration and try the next day. Readers do remember your name and tend to come back to the author time after time but not if your writing a load of padded out non-scense!! Good read.
November 22nd, 2009 at 6:51 am
I agree. Long articles, especially those including long videos, become very tedious. I don’t mind two parters but I dislike two pagers.
November 22nd, 2009 at 7:12 am
you are absolutely correct, i am just learning to write short articles and found it brings a lot of traffic than the lengthy ones..thanks for your tips.
November 22nd, 2009 at 7:17 am
You are right, a reader will be put off by a long article and they may not read any of it. So they will not have a chance to appreciate your perfect spelling, and grammer and they will never know about your wonderful content.
November 22nd, 2009 at 7:25 am
very down to earth article and I agree with you totally!
November 22nd, 2009 at 7:56 am
I agree totally with all you have said, especially conciseness. When you are trying to read as many artticles and poems a day as you can, it does speed the process up. Good work.
Christine
November 22nd, 2009 at 9:11 am
I totally agree with you. Most people don’t have the patience to go through the entire article, if its too long. So we lose viewers that way. Thanks!
November 22nd, 2009 at 9:15 am
I agree with you. Part of the problem is less and less people actually enjoy reading. So the shorter the better.
November 22nd, 2009 at 9:59 am
Great article.
November 22nd, 2009 at 10:19 am
Getting yourself a reputation in a niche keeps blog readers coming back no matter how long or short your posts. Search engines are very important because a lot of new readers come from there.
I guess it is a matter of striking a balance. I have read articles saying that posts need to be 350 words to get indexed in search engines and other articles that say a blog post should be between a hundred and two hundred words.
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:04 pm
I always learn something from your articles,and I also learn from your tags .
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:09 pm
CHAN LEE, I’m writing to inform and to make money. I think you can do both.
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:14 pm
wonder, all of the qualities definitely have to work together to give the viewer a pleasant reading experience.
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:18 pm
aunslaught, an article can be short but it should be well written and informative.
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Lord Banks, I think my background in flash fiction has helped me to write more concisely.
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:26 pm
ken, there’s a lot to be said for brevity. My eyes glaze over when I come to a long article.
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:32 pm
svishnugopal, I find I have a nack for short content. That’s probably why I enjoy writing flash fiction.
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:49 pm
This is true
November 22nd, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Good article, I write short intros that contain a link. so far so good.
November 22nd, 2009 at 3:54 pm
Yes, true. You’re one of the authors I come back to time and again. If only I could start taking your advice – I know some of my articles are usually way too damn long!
November 22nd, 2009 at 4:09 pm
For those of us who tend to lean toward the wordy side, thank you.
November 22nd, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Absolutely right on the money Guy! Short but comprehensive.I admit I am one of those readers who get bored quickly if the article is drawn out and extensive and find it difficult to read such matter online, on paper it is different. Terrific write with some very valuable tips!
November 22nd, 2009 at 11:26 pm
I totally agree with you. Writing short articles of good quality demands good knowledge about the subject you are writing. After reading the article reader should feel that it was worth reading.
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:30 am
Great advice and tips. However, sometimes triond will submit the article back for revision saying content is too short. It’s happened to me before. But I will keep this mind. thank u:0
November 23rd, 2009 at 1:09 am
Always informative and fun. Thanks . j
November 23rd, 2009 at 2:21 am
Thanks for the advice. Some say blogging died when microblogging was born.
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:39 am
great tips for those who r beginner on triond like me..
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:48 am
Online this is so true. People have such short attention spans.
November 23rd, 2009 at 4:38 am
To Guy Hogan:
What is “flash fiction”? Feel free to cite examples.
Thanks
November 23rd, 2009 at 5:16 am
Sorry. I still don’t know what you mean by “Quality article”. You haven’t clearly defined it.
November 23rd, 2009 at 10:07 am
Declare yourself the blogging expert…thanks for the read!
November 23rd, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Very true… Great article!
November 24th, 2009 at 2:11 am
I totally agree.
November 24th, 2009 at 9:36 am
nice one
November 25th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Excellent points and they make a lot of sense.
November 26th, 2009 at 12:09 am
I’ve read most of your articles and all of them definitely gives me some great information. Nicely written article.
November 26th, 2009 at 12:28 am
That’s indeed true Guy. Most of the readers are impatient in reading articles. Many want to get to the point of it all. I myself am one of them. Great job, succint but meaty.
November 27th, 2009 at 8:13 am
Thanks for the article, it serves as a reminder. I agree conciseness is very important.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:17 am
I agree. When you have good and sensible content (such as your articles), readers will keep coming back for more.