How often should a blog be updated?

1. 68

   Bill Manningposted 13 years ago

   Or rather, how often should a blog be updated to get and hold good traffic? I just can't keep up with all my blogs.
   
   I try to make a post every other day on my bigger ones, but only one a week or so on my small ones.
   
   However I'm sure the reason why my small blogs are small, meaning not much traffic, is because of the lack of post!
   
   If you read a blog, how often do you like to see it updated with new post?

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      ankigarg87posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I think for 1 year a page is submitted in the search engines after that its  rank decreases gradually

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         Bill Manningposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks, but I meant how often do you write new blog post on your blogs?

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   Stacie Lposted 13 years ago

   I have six blogs and try to add to them weekly is not more.

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   lrohnerposted 13 years ago

   When I first start my blogs, I try to post daily for the first several weeks or even month. I do most (if not all) of my "promotional" stuff then too. After that, once a week is totally acceptable.

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      Bill Manningposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Really, just once a week? I would assume that to have a very popular blog that people come back to often you would want to make more post.
      
      I suppose it depends on the subject too. Also, each post has the potential to bring in more traffic if you hit a keyword right.
      
      So making many post using good keywords SHOULD equal more traffic. Just like the more hubs you make give you more traffic.
      
      But I just don't have time to keep them all updating anymore than several times a week. Anyway thanks for letting me know.

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         lrohnerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Well, one key to maintaining a successful blog is to get RSS subscribers and/or email subscribers so that you can push updates out to them in the form of excerpts so that they click through to get back to your blog. I mean, unless it's a "news type" blog, I don't even visit my favorites on a regular basis.

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   hsjessieposted 13 years ago

   If I'm reading a blog, it doesn't matter how many posts a week they have, to me it's more about the scheduling.  I find it more important knowing that on every Tuesday afternoon, there will be a new post on a blog than if there's 4 posts a week.  If you write 4 times a week, but post sporadically and I check in the day without the new post, I'm more likely to move on to a blog where I know when to expect something new.  Many of the blogs I read are updated once a week, but you can guarantee I'll read it the day it's published since I know when that will be.
   Also, be careful when posting too much that you don't sacrifice quality for quantity.  Another way to lose me as a reader.

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      Bill Manningposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Hmmm, yeah that makes sense, thanks. So you pick a day to read different blogs, ok. I can see then that just an update once or twice a week would be fine.
      
      I have a tourist blog for Orlando. I think that one should be updated often as it's more like a "latest news of the theme parks" site.
      
      I think I should just get rid of some of my sites, too many just makes you waste time! 

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   Aficionadaposted 13 years ago

   Can you combine any of them?  If you have good posts from some of them, they may be worth saving in some form or another.
   
   I have to admit, I don't think I read any blogs.  I do regularly read several advice columnists that post on a specific schedule (daily or a certain day each week); and I read news articles that have headlines that catch my eye.  But I can't think of anything that I read that qualifies as a blog.  Gulp.

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      Bill Manningposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I don't read any blogs besides my own either, LOL!

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   Aficionadaposted 13 years ago

   Well, I did have a personal revelation:  I think I actually have read a couple of blogs occasionally.  One was "Blogging the Bible" and another was "Blogging the Periodic Table" - maybe not exact titles, but that gives you the general idea.  I realize that my interest was in the topic (not the writer) and in receiving some new perspective or information that may have been different from what I have received before.  I think I was also attracted to the possibility that those series of articles would each have an end point.
   
   I'm guessing that a younger reader (younger than me) might read a blog more for factual information than I do, since they probably don't have as much use for books, newspapers, and magazines as they would have for instant internet info.  I can see some value on a website in separating out the opinion blog pieces from the factual, even if they are on the same site.
   
   One more thing:  I know that I have come across sites where old posts are archived by date (i.e., with links that show the date only).  How does that help?  I guess if someone has read some post in the past and knows approximately when it was written, then the date can help to locate it again.  But if I am a new reader and am curious about what information is available on the site, the dates don't tell me anything at all.  Maybe a good site would have some sort of combination: an index of topic or blog post titles (with active links), as well as links that show dates only.
   
   Not that you need all of my personal reaction. I guess I'm just adding in my two-cents' worth: that I believe people read blogs for different reasons - with different expectations - and in order to get the best results you need to know your audience and their needs and wants, like a good writer of any other kind.  I admit I'm envious and in awe of anyone who can make a go of it with blogging.  Best wishes!

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      Bill Manningposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks again for all your info Aficionada. I try to make my blogs full sites, even though I use wordpress.
      
      I just added a Harry Potter store, have a youtube video page and am adding more helpful pages to it.
      
      But the blog part is what keeps it fresh and where I get most of my Google traffic from.

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   johnortonposted 13 years ago

   If you have resources and time to update then the daily one blog post is always best to get the more traffic and hold the reader for more time or if you posts 3-5 posts in a day so reader dont show much more interests in your posts. One useful updation is very good for both readers and blog.
   
   Otherwise 3 posts in a week is good.

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   GmaGoldieposted 13 years ago

   Just started reading Social Media 101 from the library - Chris Brogan recommends a daily update.  A few take-a-ways:
   
   "20 minutes a day observing your network" - checking in, getting emails
   "10 minutes a day" cultivating new relationships
   
   "You live or die by your database" - quote from Jeff Pulver
   
   Remember your blog is a resume.

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   kazemaru2posted 13 years ago

   If you want to make any money from it at least twice a day.

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      Pcunixposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Oh, that's not true at all.
      
      I have often skipped weeks and my income has never suffered - sometimes it goes up, which might be from hopeful regulars searching for old posts to re-read.
      
      You certainly do not have to post twice day or even daily unless your niche is something wihere something important happens every day.

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10. 92

    Pcunixposted 13 years ago

    I really don't like going more than a week, but every now and then I just have nothing to say and, well, if there is nothing to say, that is what you should (not) say.
    
    I have gone close to two months between posts, but that is rare. 
    
    Funny thing: often when I do not post, traffic picks up

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11. 68

    Bill Manningposted 13 years ago

    Thanks again for everyone's replies. Right now my "main" sites I update every other day. The others once or twice a week.
    
    I agree Pcunix, sometimes my ad clicks go up when I don't post on a site for a while.
    
    I think I'm doing fine with them now so I'll leave it at that. I just want to add more pages and stuff and it's hard when all your time is spent just maintaining post.

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