How Often Should You Post?

Tue, Dec 4, 2007

That depends…

If you are a “hobby” blogger and don’t care about your readership numbers, post whenever you “dern-well” feel like it!

However, if you are building an authority site, a business blog or otherwise trying serve a particular niche with great content, you’d better have a posting schedule.

Does that mean I have to post everyday?

In my opinion, the gotta-post-everyday no matter what mentality is wearisome. A good posting schedule need not be a daily chore.

Think REGULAR rather than DAILY.

Here’s why…

Let me ask you… Are there any blogs which you read every day? I am guessing, probably not. If you do, I would say that you have developed a bit of an obsession and need to seek some internet addiction therapy.

However… Let me ask you another question… When you do read your favorite blogs, you expect the posts to be solid, inspiring, insightful, practical or entertaining, right? You don’t check to make sure that 5 posts have been added since your last visit 5 days ago, and turn you nose up in disgust if there are only 3, right? (If you do, again I recommend you get some therapy.)

So, what is a good posting schedule?

Ultimately, your readers should decide what a good posting schedule will be. Watch your server stats or your MyBlogLog stats. Look for trends in the number of “unique” visitors. What days of the week do they read and what types of content do they read on those days. What is the “bounce rate” for that type of content? Etc… Soon, you will get a sense of what your readers want.

Armed with that knowledge, sit down and plan out a posting strategy. This is simple but not as simple as you think. Your posting schedule should not just be: “Post 3 times a week.”

You need to break your content down and then decide how often you will offer specific types of content.

For example, if your niche allows for media like audio or video, determine how often and on what schedule you will offer this type of content. Consider making it a weekly or monthly feature.

Why? Because, more people are audio and visual learners than those who learn by reading. These “new media learners” will look forward to your upcoming (regularly scheduled) segments and “tune in” accordingly.