How often should I publish a blog post?

When it comes to blogging ‘How often should I publish an article?’ is probably the most frequently asked question of all. Without regular posts your blog will be just another static website—or worse, in fact, if your last post was some time ago. And with a blog, there’s nowhere to hide—the date of your last post is right there for all to see on the homepage!

A blog that hasn’t been updated in ages will look abandoned, and the web is awash with abandoned or semi-abandoned blogs. In the US alone, there are an estimated 35 million blogs in existence, and yet the majority of those have not been updated in six months or more.
If you’re serious about starting and maintaining a vibrant blog with a community of readers and commenters, then you need to post as frequently as you are able. A good general rule is at least once a week. The most popular blogs, and the majority of those that you see in this book, are updated more frequently than that. Look around at other blogs on your subject and see how often they are updated, as it can vary according to the subject matter and style of the blogger.
You may be thinking ‘Where will I find the time?’ If you have chosen a topic that you love, are proud of your blog and the content you are sharing, you will find the time.
But more practically, here are a few ideas of how to keep up your posting frequency:

• Have a content plan
• Create several blog posts in one session and schedule them in advance throughout the week or month
• Befriend other bloggers in your field and invite them to ‘guest post’ on your blog occasionally. It takes the pressure off you a little, gives your readers something different, and creates a good relationship with a fellow blogger. (And he or she will probably return the favour.)
• Share the load by group blogging
• Manage your readers’ expectations. If you’re going to be away or too busy to post for a while, explain that in a blog post, then when you get back to blogging you might share what you’ve been up to and the reason for the blog silence. Blogging is all about transparency and the more honest you are able to be the better. It will help create conversation and a community feeling on your blog.

The difference between guest blogging and ghost blogging

Guest blogging, whether it’s someone posting on your blog, or vice versa, is well worth pursuing. It can open the doors to new ideas, new projects, and new collaborations. But the authorship of the post should be made clear.
Something I wouldn’t recommend, although it does happen, particularly with business blogs, is getting someone else to
blog in your name. This is called “ghost blogging.” Although ghost writing is common practice in the print world, the social web is all about openness and authenticity, so pretending to be someone else isn’t a great idea. At best, it’s fake, and at worst, people may feel cheated if they find out. (And most things get found out on the web!)
Blogging for Creatives is Robin Houghton’s step-by-step guide to everything you need to know about how to design and profit from a beautiful blog that people will want to return to again and again. With advice on which blogging platform to choose, essential tools and accessories, and how to take your blog to the next level, whether you’re looking to create a platform for your creative trade, an inspirational journal, or a hub for people with similar tastes and interests, learn how to benefit from being part of the blogosphere in this accessible, non-techie book.

Blogging for Creatives
Robin Houghton
 
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RRP for print edition: £12.99