Cutting Back on Posting Frequency
Change is a good thing. Throughout life, it’s crucial to remain flexible to challenges that arise and improve on what you already have. Change lets us each be better than we are – and change is in the air here at Men with Pens.
When we write our posts, we try to do an outstanding job. We write from the heart, striving to make sure that each post provides value.
For well over a year, we’ve posted daily and consistently. We’ve only written one Farewell Symphony for a short break. The rest of the time, we maintain this blog as well as we maintain our business. It’s a well-oiled machine and we’ve barely ever skipped a beat.
The strategy rewarded us and our blog took off.
But we’ve realized something very important: People are busy. They try to keep up with favorite blogs but they become overwhelmed. That’s pretty normal – it’s tough to read 30, 100 or 300 blog posts a day and absorb everything.
Here’s a great example: A friend of ours mentioned that he loves our posts, but he just doesn’t have time to read each one – and he’d like that time. He ends up skipping over posts, and that makes him feel bad. What if he missed a good one? What if he only skimmed and couldn’t take in the important elements he should keep in mind?
He said, “You pack a lot into your posts, but you don’t really give readers a chance to take in all that you write. It’s pretty powerful stuff, you know.” (Thank you for the compliment, mon ami. We appreciate that.)
We’ve had other readers say the same too. They’ve let us know that they’d be happy if we pulled back a little – we wouldn’t lose readers, they’d have time to enjoy posts more and also comment more often.
People want the Internet to slow down a little – so we’re going to take charge and slow down the river rapids for a gentler ride.
Starting today, we’ll be dropping down to four posts a week: Monday, Wednesday, Friday and our regular feature Drive-By-Shootings on Sunday.
We want you all to have time to read our posts and enjoy them, and we feel this decision is the best route to take. It gives us more room to continue to offer readers good lessons, strong messages and creative content. (We wouldn’t want to gyp anyone, after all.)
Of course, being the prolific writers we are, we do reserve the right to fill in the gaps and post more frequently. It’d be silly to hold back publishing a good piece that comes along mid-week.
We hope this change is a positive one, and we thank you for being our readers and supporting us as we keep on moving towards bigger and better things.
63 Responses to “Cutting Back on Posting Frequency”
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I suppose a side effect of being a pretty much full-time blogger is that my RSS feeds never overwhelm me; tackling them is a part of my work day, not something I do during breaks or “after hours.” I’ve never had trouble keeping up with you guys, but I’m happy whether you decide to increase or decrease posting frequency. Just as long as there’s something coming from you guys, sometime.
Quarterly, at least? Hehe.
Joel Falconer’s last blog post..Is Updated Technology Important to Productive Work?
What a great idea. I agree that every day can get a bit much to absorb and write when you have such great material. Having a set schedule helps people know when to come visit.
As I figure out what I’m doing with the new blog I’ll be doing the same – I just have to determine what order and what schedule.
Enjoy your “day off” tomorrow.
Cheers,
Alex
Alex Fayle’s last blog post..And We’re Live!
I’m with you completely here, both as a blogger and a reader. I LOVE the MwP posts. I haven’t enough time to digest every one of them. As it is(was) I was skimming all of the posts but really only digesting about half. 3 times a week (plus drive-bys) is just about right.
Good form, boys.
Bob Younce at the Writing Journey’s last blog post..The SIMPLE Way to Avoid the Freelance Feast or Famine Cycle
Yippee! Thank you. With over 100 posts to skim through each day, I often end up “starring” items to read later and later rarely comes! I’ll happily read longer articles (in fact, the 2 paragraph post from my favorite bloggers is quite a letdown. Can you send this idea around the block?)
Toni Duprey’s last blog post..Tucson – Community Arts Event, Saturday August 2, 2008
Absolutely cut back. This is not a marathon. I never post more than 4 times a week unless something really requires my immediate commentary. It is exhausting for me and the reader. And you should get more mileage from your posts…let the word spread for the next day. I have found I post on Monday…readership is high…but always higher on Tuesday…so I get double the mileage out of my posts.
I have regular categories for specific days. Readers look forward to them and know what to expect.
Too much is overwhelming for all. Even when the content is spectacular
Definitely a positive change. We have to do what we have to do, and change is certain. I posted more when I started out, and have dropped back the frequency. I still have a great group of folks at my blog, just like you folks do, and we’ll still be here reading your great stuff – and as you say, more time to absorb it!
Congrats and good luck.
-Brett
Brett Legree’s last blog post..viking fridays – the worst sickness.
James,
If I say I’m glad you’re finally taking my suggestion will you get all angry-French-dude at me? Of course I wouldn’t say that.
Good for you, Men. It’ll do you a world of good.
Regards,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..Summer Is a Great Time to… Stop Running
There was so much good stuff here I was thinking of taking a speed reading course just to stay up.
Your words go right to the heart of the book *In Praise of Slowness* by Carl Honore’.
Insightful for the rest of us.
Thanks.
Mike’s last blog post..And The Winner Is? (redux)
Great ideas…I’ve learned so much from you…
As a full-time writer/blogger, reading and studying my fav blogs is part of my workday; but I also have a “schedule” for my main blog, each week day has a specific topic. A few times (like this weekend) I have posted some “breaking news” posts, but they are very short.
MwP is always on my Google Reader list…Thanks again!
waterprise2′s last blog post..Obama VP Pick–Be the First to Know!
Hi!
I would prefer you go on writing everyday. I like very much to visit this blog and read all the posts.
I publish 5 posts per day everyday and have enough time to read the posts of my favorite blogs.
ramiro marques’s last blog post..Quem é quem no Google? O Top Ten dos professores portugueses na Web
Bravo. You’re listening to your readers. It says a lot that they want you to slow down. It means that they genuinely care what you have to say; they’re not just holding their nose and swallowing. Good on your audience, and good on you.
Writer Dad’s last blog post..The Great Equalizer
Whew, I can stop skimming and go back to reading now that the posting is easing up!
Karen Putz / DeafMom’s last blog post..Summer is Flying By
I just signed up for your blog about a month ago and can honestly say that I have enjoyed everything you have written so far. I have to agree that keeping my own blog going and trying to read a lot of other worthwhile blogs does get overwhelming at times. I have cut back from five posts a week to four and it has made things better. I feel I get better quality posts out now because of the extra breathing room. Keep up the good work. I look forward to whatever posts you put out there.
Rich
http://www.insimplelanguage.com
As I stare at my blank screen this morning, wondering what I’m going to write for the first of my daily weekday posts, your comments make sense. Are we all writing too much? Is it possible that we’re overproducing? One of my most loyal readers confessed that he clicks through to about 1 post out of 3.
But I am concerned that I’ll lose people if the info isn’t current. I worry that people will stop checking when the headline doesn’t change. I know I do, but it’s usually after 2 or 3 visits with no update… not necessarily daily.
Thanks for giving me something to ponder. Now I’ve got to find something to write about.
Beth from Avenue Z’s last blog post..Please tell me this isn’t true
Fine with me, guys! Just make sure Harry gets airtime, James!
Mark Dykeman’s last blog post..Thought for the week – read a book
I think this is a great move. In fact, it’s so great, I’m actually going to subscribe. The thing is, when there are so many posts, one gets discouraged because their reader is full of things they want to read but don’t have time. I prefer blogs who post very little (whether that means number of posts or length or both). If a site posts a lot, I usually just check in every once in a while, just to make sure I didn’t miss anything big. However, if they post very little, I would rather just subscribe. That’s just me. So yeah, I’m subscribing. Don’t let me down!
Great decision. Already I feel like I can take a breath without missing any of your post. Already I am shedding the guilt I feel for skipping over some of them.
Whew!
Great posts guys.
Cheryl
Chuckling
I will have more time in the studio now, mon ami.
However, I suspect your comment threads will lengthen, alors….c?a sera bien amusante.
Janice C Cartier’s last blog post..Lickety Split Gold
Hey, I was just skimming my feeds and ran across this one from you guys. I have to say I agree with the majority- fewer posts would be good for me. Now it will give me time to read other blogs. Just kidding
BJ’s last blog post..*LVBC OCTOBER 20-30
Wish I could do the same thing! Any way, good move.
Nicole Price’s last blog post..How To Save Effectively
Good move. Four times a week is plenty. I make time to read your posts, since I do enjoy them, but skim a bit on the comments. Maybe this way it will be easier to keep up with the comments as well.
Bill K.’s last blog post..Time to post: Do you know where your editor is?
Nothing wrong with slowing down. Just means we can come back and re-read posts a second time & digest them more.
Dave Navarro’s last blog post..Too Busy to Fit Something Else In? Bull. Read This.
Well, damn, everyone. Had I known we would’ve made my whole crew happy (hey, and check out the new faces!), we would’ve done this sooner!
@ Kelly – Yes. Harry’s been pleading to slow down so that he can post more often. It’s a performance pressure thing
I’m all for this change.
Unless we’re publishing a news site, I just don’t see the necessity of daily (even multiple daily) posts.
I think letting each post stand for a couple of days may enhance the conversation in the comments, as the posts will penetrate the blogosphere a little more deeply and more people have a chance to read the post and also comment.
I know from my own blog that only 1/3 to 1/2 of my subscribers read my new posts on the first day it’s out…the rest view it on the second or third day.
Jesse Hines’s last blog post..Why I Prefer Email to RSS for Reading Blogs
I like your idea of cutting down a bit. I am looking forward to Wednesday!
Ulla Hennig’s last blog post..Rhapsody in Green
I’ve not known you to do anything stupid thus far in your business, so I’ve never doubted your decisions. I think you’re doing this at a good time (after you’ve established a loyal and generous following) and I don’t find it too drastic a change.
I don’t think I ever found myself overwhelmed by the number of posts here, however. In fact, your words have spoken to me more deeply than most, as I’ve mentioned before. Still, your collective knowledge and tips have made me panic a little (I need to be perfect right away) and I’m glad you have archives I can keep referring to if need be!
steph’s last blog post..Know Thyself
I think that’s a wise choice on your part. I’ve recently been whittling down the number of blogs I follow (not this one, obviously) and the oddest thing happened yesterday: when I’d finished reading through all of the blogs I follow I hit “refresh” and there was nothing new. I had a moment of “great, what do I do now?”
, then I realized, “Oh, I can get some ‘real’ work done, now!” 
Besides for that, allowing your posts time to ‘stew’ is always a good idea. As you note, it gives people time to think them over and absorb the content.
Great idea guys! Keep up the good work!
Liv Willard’s last blog post..A Guide to Advertising on Facebook
Posting three time during the work week instead of 5, in my calculation is a good idea.
For one thing, it takes the pressure off you. Secondly – no sane person is going to lament that 3 isn’t enough. 3 every week is very consistent for a blog.
I am always amazed at bloggers who are truly prolific such as zen habits, pro blogger and MWP. It amazes me. That you guys come up with so many solid ideas to blog about, day after day.
That being said, by cutting down, it may contribute to making your posts even more solid in there content than they already are.
Isn’t that inevitable with fewer posts?
Bamboo Forest’s last blog post..The Frightening Truth about Bloggers
I’ve sensed the same thing on my own blog. I think there is a fine line between posting more than the people can digest and not posting enough. I’m still trying to find that balance.
As for Men With Pens, I agree with the feedback from the others. When I opened your RSS feed today and saw I had three posts to catch up on, I glanced at the subjects of all three and decided that I only had time to read this one. Interesting, isn’t it?
noell’s last blog post..4 Tips For Loving Your Patterned Scraps
Hey guys,
I don’t usually comment though I read everything you write (like others, I absolutely love your stuff — both the engaging style and the insanely useful content!) Just wanted to say that I, too, would welcome the drop to 4 posts per week: I do occasionally end up feeling a little overwhelmed.
(And sometimes I worry how you manage to do it all — write consistently great content AND run a very successful business — it’s an inspiring and slightly daunting example for new web writers/bloggers like me!)
Ali
noell,
Your observation:
“When I opened your RSS feed today and saw I had three posts to catch up on, I glanced at the subjects of all three and decided that I only had time to read this one,”
speaks to something many of us bloggers may fail to realize.
Just because many bloggers check their RSS readers every day doesn’t mean the majority (or at least, many) of our readers do, too.
There are plenty of non-blogger types who read us and catch up with us on a more relaxed basis, who aren’t at all concerned with staying up on the blogosphere “conversation” but rather are simply interested in learning some valuable information on their desired subjects.
Thus, posting too frequently can turn them off.
Jesse Hines’s last blog post..Why I Prefer Email to RSS for Reading Blogs
I personally don’t know how you guys do it. Running a business, maintaining a full time blog, commenting on others, and everything else – damn!
I actually appreciate this. I never skim over your posts (1 of 3 blogs I never skim in) and for me (yes, it’s all about me – remember?) it works out well.
Thanks and good luck and see ya Wednesday!
John Hoff’s last blog post..25+ SEO Tips For Getting Ranked Well In Search Engines
I usually only post Monday through Thursday. Works for me. Once you’ve established yourselves fairly well, you can do all kinds of things. The wheels won’t fall off, I promise!
Congratulations on getting a little more time for yourselves, and I’m sure your post quality will improve because of this (I know, how could they possibly get any better, right? I’m ready to be impressed all over again with you).
Michael Martine’s last blog post..Client Interview – Sue Bette of Feelgoodeats.com Talks about Blogging
Are you really sure you want to do that? You do realize that it just gives us that many more days to take your posts, using our comments, way off the beaten path, eh? *wicked grin*
Urban Panther’s last blog post..A night at Navarra
@ Urban – Um, explore some of our March, April and May comment sections. We’ve seen it all. Trust me
Just ask Janice and Kelly.
Hey everyone – thanks for your support. Honestly, this is way more than I expected and I’m kind of humbled (kind of. couldn’t humble me too much!)
I will say one thing in response to someone mentioning fear of not posting. We dropped our blog for two full weeks. It was just one of those periods where we couldn’t be 14 places at once (yes, I can do that). And nothing happened. Readers came, no dives of stats… Bloggers CAN take a break.
To those who wonder how we can do this… we have a very tight top-secret method of management that enables superpowers.
Your next post should have a picture of your cape.
John Hoff’s last blog post..25+ SEO Tips For Getting Ranked Well In Search Engines
@James – yes, but I must say this messes up the very nice arrangement you and I have of me commenting daily here, so you remember to get your eyeballs over to my site. And it was working so well. Sigh.
Urban Panther’s last blog post..A night at Navarra
@ John – Shit. How did you know? (And remember you said that when you read Wednesday’s post. You’ll laugh.)
@ Urban – All is not lost. I *can* go back to older posts. I just can’t remember to go in the first place. So as long as you keep comin’, I’ll keep goin’.
Didn’t you know, I’m the psychic entrepreneur.
And I foresee – ummmm…. you need a website from me LOL!!!
John Hoff’s last blog post..25+ SEO Tips For Getting Ranked Well In Search Engines
It really is interesting to pop back and see all the new “faces” in the comments section, along with some familiar ones.
Kudos on your decision.
Of course, you’re still in my reader.
Keep up the great work, gentlemen.
Nez’s last blog post..Things I’m Doing When I’m Not Blogging
I myself am cutting back to 4 posts per day, and 2 on Sundays, but only on my blog about Armenian artichokes – my regular blog will stay at a blazing 3-4 posts per week.
RhodesTer’s last blog post..Sex Engine Orgasm
Seriously?! THANK YOU! I love your blog, but I am suffering from just what you described – my blog reader is always way too full to keep up with. The other day, I noticed I’d let some specialty folders build to 200 unread posts! Oy! What’s a blog lover to do? Your tactic is just whats needed – quality, not quantity. Je promets – you will not lose me as a reader and commenter.
Cheri’s last blog post..Fitness File: Flat Foot Floogie
Hey, where’s my Men With Pens fix?
Bill K.’s last blog post..Open-source science … you’re invited
@ Bill – Cold turkey dude. It’s the best way.
James,
Do not worry about post frequency. As long as your posts are useful and insightful, readers will come. Maybe your month traffic numbers will decrease, but I doubt that you will miss any significant number of readers. Chances are that the number of readers may even increase – you pointed correctly that a lot of readers simply did not have time to read all posts.
There is a hype about post frequency. Rules for teenager blog are obsolete when you have a typical business blog.
I even wrote an entire e-book on this topic – “The New Rules of Business Blogs”. You are welcome to check it out in my blog at http://www.positioningstrategy.com. Please feel free to post it on your blog or pass the e-book to whomever you believe might benefit from reading it.
Linas Simonis, PositioningStrategy’s last blog post..Freelance Blog Coaches and Proofreaders Are Needed!
Well, I am in full support of this. I made the decision right from the start that my posting days were Monday, Wed, and Friday, so I can hardly ask you to do more than I am willing to do, but I have to say, Pen Men and Morning Coffee has become a very nice morning habit. You are much better than the newspaper.
How about a compromise? Post here MWF and Capturing Fantasy Tuesday and Thursday and THAT way I still get Pen Men for morning Coffee every day.
Should I beg? Am I being selfish?
Wendi Kelly’s last blog post..A Lighthouse in the Storm
@ Wendi – Well, Capturing Fantasy is on a Tuesday/Friday Schedule – different crowd and readers. But that would cover six out of seven days for Men with Pens posting in general, so how’s that?
I’d say that’s pretty darn good! I like it!
Wendi Kelly’s last blog post..A Lighthouse in the Storm
Now look at that, if you had posted another post today, I wouldn’t have had a chance to go back and read (let alone comment) on it, because I missed reading MwP yesterday. So the schedule is working well for me (and, of course, this is all about me).
Ahh, good to know the Capturing Fantasy schedule as well. I hadn’t paid enough attention to know which days you posted there, so I just checked daily.
I think it’s wonderful that you’re cutting back. I truly believe it will help rather than hinder. Your posts are often so thought provoking, and they deserve a day or two to simmer to let the flavors and comments really mingle.
While I’d like to think your posting less frequently here will allow you more free time, I have no doubt you will both stay just as busy by filling the now empty spots with all sorts of other work.
Nicole Brunet’s last blog post..What Comes Around
Ahhh, look at all this room to savor … James will never notice if I just take this table over by the window and sketch away.
The artist grabs a juice from James’s fridge and pencils in some double entendre for when he least expects it.
You know he serves Shiraz in the evenings. I am sure Kelly and I were innocently provoked. ( Tongue VERY firmly in cheek. )
Janice C Cartier’s last blog post..Punctuation, Baby Crabs, and a Bit of China
Mmhm. Like the kind of provoked that makes me say, “Hey, that spotlight is mine?”
Chuckling.
What do you expect? We are Alpha women. Do not throw us such irresistible and delicious bait.
Yes, you know you do it. I see you grinning.
Janice C Cartier’s last blog post..Punctuation, Baby Crabs, and a Bit of China
It’s funny, I read your posts but didn’t have time to read every comment! (Maybe that tells em something right there.)
As a beginning blogger (not quite 6-months-old), I’m loving this discussion. Everything I read and heard from then experts was the more posts, the better. I’m on overload with my daily blog reading and I suspect that others might be, too. (Even though every one of your posts qualifies as a must-read).
My gut feeling has always been post less frequently, but make it thought-provoking, complete and useful. This confirms my thinking. I’m posting twice a week on average and for me (with a weekly e-letter , articles and other stuff), that’s probably enough—for me AND my readers.
Thanks for affirming my decision and I very much look forward to your 4 X weekly posts!
THANK YOU. I have been working with this controversy myself. How can I write in a blog everyday or many times a day about silence??????? Not only that, I have found so many online friends through blogging, that I found myself reading and writing so many words all over the place…I was no longer having anytime for solitude or silence…goldenzen.
So I have been trying to find my way in all this..and read your post tonight…a bit after the fact, because, once again, I fell behind on all my blogging reading duties.
I appreciate your comments, and always look forward to your blog. THANKS
James — I think cutting back on the posting will be an all-around good thing. It’s not just making time to read the posts; it’s also taking time to participate in the discussions. Lately I have had to be very selective about how I spend my online time, and I’ve found I can save at least a few hours a day by not keeping up with the comments sections on my favorite blogs. Sad but true. I am addicted to my blogging friends.
Amy Derbys last blog post..Wormholes of Freelance Writing: Your Free Ticket to Priceless Shortcuts
Yes, yes, a thousand times yes! I subscribed the first time I found you guys, then eventually unsubscribed just because you post too much for me. There are so many blogs out there, and your posts take way longer to read than most because of all the great comments. Unsubscribing was the easiest way to fix the problem.
I later came back, but I wasn’t reading every post. When my reader shows too many posts for any one blog, I might pick a couple of headlines that look interesting. Or I might just click “mark all as read.”
Because you’re cutting back on your posting frequency, I’m actually going to be reading more of your posts. Not just a higher percentage, but a greater number of posts. I’ve never understood why people say you should write as many posts as possible. Why wouldn’t you want to get better results for less effort?
Thanks for doing your part to slow down the internet.
Hunter Nuttalls last blog post..Mister Rogers Addresses The U.S. Senate
*gasp* THAT’S why we weren’t getting taglines anymore! I was sad. I missed you. Glad you’re back lol
I wish more bloggers would do this. My reader currently has more than 200 unread posts. There’s no way to read all of them, so I end up skimming most. Thanks for thinking of your readers.
laura jeanettes last blog post..Instead of Blogging …