I started feeling panicky last night realizing that I haven't updated this blog in several days.
In principle, I'm a stickler for setting a blog posting frequency schedule as I believe readers tend to rely on the blogger to deliver new information in a timely manner. And I do try to update this blog at least three times per week.
What really put me in panic mode is that I've had no inspiration for a topic that would actually add value to the greater conversation. A good while back I decided not to simply riff about the latest news - so many were already doing that it would be redundant at best - opting instead for original thought...which leaves me in a bit of a conundrum from time to time.
Apparently, there's a sort of "harmonic convergence" going on the blogosphere this week, as several bloggers are talking about this very thing. Following is a brief litany...
Stowe Boyd reports that Hugh McLeod i s giving up on the blogosphere and moving on to other things. He cites this Tweet.
Mark Evans talks about why original blog thought is so difficult. Of course, this is nothing new. Writing "original, thought-provoking" content has always been a challenge, especially when you're faced with doing it on a routine basis.
David Armano confesses it's been a while since he had a "great" post and that much of what he's written lately has been "filler."
David references Buzz Canuck who says that he believes "blogs are suffering from fatigue in quantity, quality and identity."
Steve Rubel suggests that more of the conversation (and, by inference, attention) is shifting to micro-blogging sites like Twitter and less to blogs.
So, what are we to do? Should we opt for quality rather than quantity, especially now that blogging has found its place in the social media framework as what Copyblogger Brian Clark calls value blogging?
Yes, I believe we should. After all, most of us have day jobs. Considering that writing really thoughtful posts can require hours of research, multiple drafts and edits, unless we're a full-time blogger who has the time.
You might worry that, unless you keep up a routine posting schedule, you'll lose readership or brand loyalty. To that I say, stay connected via Twitter, Facebook and/or other social networks.
Honestly, using those formats might actually help to improve your readership. And as folks come to realize that you're providing valuable information via the blog, they're more likely to return than if much of it is drivel. Plus, there's good old RSS. May God bless feed subscribers. You know they're getting your content.
So, dear reader, you'll forgive me if I can't come to the plate with new material every day (or even every couple of days). Just know that I'm waiting for that "divine spark" and wading through RSS feeds, Twitter convos and tons of other information to find that topic that I feel will be engaging, informative and which adds the kind of value Clark talks about.
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