My introduction to the Copywriting Maven (sorry, didn’t catch your full name on your blog…) was fairly pleasant. The blog looked nice and there was some okay info. The blog promised tips and techniques, which always perk my interest, but honestly, I didn’t find much that I found valuable. On the other hand, Maven’s posts feature on Copyblogger, a blog I have great respect for.
At any rate, I had a, “Meeehh… Okay, let’s see what you can give me,” reaction that led to my signing up for post updates.
Well. So much for that fun and joy. There was one blog post August 31st, and no more until September 25. In fact, her whole posting schedule is inconsistent. There were two posts on the 31st, one on the 28th, one on the 22nd, and one on the 20th. Skippity-hoppity, skippity-hoppity.
Lack of consistent posting fizzled out my interest. Is this blog a serious venture?
Anyways, when that September 25 post hit my desk, I thought, “Oh. How nice. She’s back.” I settled in to read, but frankly, I wasn’t impressed.
Why? Because this was the first line of the post: “Yo yo yo roberta.rosenberg. You know you want a bigger cock, dont waste anymore time.”
Forgive my quiet and reserved Canadian mindset, but I have trouble writing “hell” and “ass” in my own content. While I’m comfortable with plenty of colorful terms, my readers may not be.
Cock and copywriting just don’t mix. Period.
I know, I know. The intention of that quote was to attract attention for a post about spam with a gripping headline. For me, the intended effect fell flat. It was in bad taste and lowered my respect significantly.
I felt the quote lacked respect for me as a reader. It was an offending term. It distracted from what the real message of the post. That point could’ve been delivered without a four-letter word.
Another issue that left a bad impression was the blatant comment in the post that Maven dropped her readers for cash jobs. A quick post that let readers know she had too much going on to post would’ve shown manners and earned understanding.
Now Maven’s back, and she asks in a sassy tone, “So, how much have y’all missed me?”
Not much, sweetheart, considering you didn’t even let me know you were disappearing and your welcome back was a slap in the face with a word I’d rather hear behind closed doors. Plain rude, if you ask me.
Let’s address the provided excuse of skipping off in the sunset and leaving me hanging: If a reader is less valuable to you than money, then I guess you and I should part ways.
Hi, James – I appreciate the review … even if less than glowing. Since my audience is generally other copy and marcomm writers, I write for my peers. When we’re busy like um, writing for $$ since that’s the whole point to my thinking, we don’t blog so much. At least I don’t with only so much time in the day. But you’re right, I shoulda said. If the quote offended, well, I was too. That’s why I blogged about it. That’s the kind of stuff that fills email boxes and gives our profession a bad name and a seedy reputation. Frankly, that offends me even more since I think what we do for a living is pretty special. Glad you came by, hope you’ll stick around.
Don’t worry – I’m sure my turn for a tarnished review somewhere on the ‘net will come around one day
I disagree that busy copywriters earning $$$ don’t blog so much.
I write for a living myself, I don’t have enough hours in a day, but a blog post goes up on my blog consistently and daily. I get other writers to blog for me, I stockpile blogs and post them when I can’t write… there are tons of solutions. Many copywriters blog consistently even while busy. And when they can’t, they post up a quick note, at the least.
Spammers? Oh yes. I agree with you there.
Thanks for commenting. I’ll keep an eye on your blog for a while. Ambivalence can be swayed. You up for the challenge of swaying it?
I generally don’t do contests or challenges, but I’ll let my work speak for itself. While busy folks like yourself manage to blog daily or close to it, I’m not one of them. I’m happy to have enough time in my day to blow dry my hair in the morning and sometimes I don’t even manage that
… but as Spencer Tracy’s character remarked about Katherine Hepburn’s character (I think in “Man of the Year”), “There’s not much to her, but what there is, is ‘cherce’ (choice).” Yes, that about sums it up for me, too. Don’t be a stranger, James. I promise to go light on the T&A. 
First time here, and I think I’ll be sticking around to read more! This subject is of great interest to me because I am guilty of going for days without blogging, and never really thought about it much. The idea that we are letting down readers for cash jobs is a perspective I didn’t consider, primarily because I figured that most readers would understand the situation of writing to pay bills first. But James, as much as I find the idea of viewership being owed consistency, I also relate to Roberta’s demands on her time. It’s frustrating to want to blog and simply not be able to do so because family and other responsibilities take precedence! I try to apologize to my readers and update them when I get back into the swing, but I do notice that hits nosedive after a dry spell and take awhile to rebuild…
As far as objectionable language, personally, I will not use it even as a quote in my blog. Not only am I trying to maintain a calibre of professionalism, I don’t want porn ads inadvertently appearing! I blogged about this once, and managed to make my point in a family-friendly way; like you, James, I don’t think that writers need to stoop to the level of huxters to make their point.
I think I’ve been misunderstood. Daily blogging is not a requirement of any blogmaster (if such a word exists), nor do I condone anyone for having other obligations that keep them away from blogging.
However, *consistent* blogging is important. If you are going to blog three times a week, do so. If your schedule only allows for once a week, maintain that weekly post.
Readers come to expect delivery at certain times and days. We are creatures of habit. When the post doesn’t occur, that leaves readers wondering what’s up. Leave them guessing for a few days and guess what… you may lose some of them.
As much as bloggers want readers to be loyal, readers want bloggers to be loyal to them as well. Consistency – not frequency – is key.
To add to that suggestion, let readers know how often you update your blog. Make it clear from the start what your frequency will be, and maintain that consistent schedule.
And if you do have to slip away because family, friends, money or real life calls… write a quick post to announce your absence. You’d be amazed at the sympathy and understanding you’ll receive in return.
At any rate, good to have you around, Serendipity, feel free to join in discussions. And Roberta – I like T&A as much as the next guy; but behind closed doors ;p
James,
I think I will take your advice with my next blog, and inform my “dear readers” that I am now going to be on a schedule. It will be interesting to see what happens to my page views…I’ll keep you posted!
Sure, let me know. It’s interesting to see the effects of action/reaction.
Also keep in mind that when you post consistently, it becomes part of your routine and habit. That helps keep you on track and posting consistently (see the circular cause and effect going on?).
Not only that, you start to take your blog more seriously. You feel that something is missing when you don’t blog. That’s a good thing; inconsistency leads to extinction.