A post about nothing Sep12 '07

Another bit of "blogging 101," which could be filed under blogging best practices: Don't write posts explaining why you're not posting.

This is the "kiss of death" for readers.

It says to readers:

Hey, I have absolutely nothing to say, but I feel bad, so I'm seeking your validation that it's OK to go a while without posting. In actuality, I'm wasting your time, but it makes me feel better about my posting drought.

Trust me, readers realize that you're not posting. They don't need you to come out and say it.

Here's an example of such a post. I don't mean to pick on this site, but the post showed up in my feed reader as I was brainstorming my idea for this post, so you could consider it being in the wrong place, at the wrong time. (This is a great site, by the way, and I've been meaning to discuss it in another post.)

I understand the intention, though, because from a writer's point of view, a post about nothing is better than no post. Also, it's easy to believe that such an explanation is necessary, especially under the circumstances where posts are lacking due to other obligations, etc.

A better approach

Instead of writing such a dry, pointless post, try to convince your readers that you've learned something from your brief posting drought. Chances are, you have. Expand your "post about nothing" to include learning experiences and references to a topic of your choice.

The difference is you're lending insightful ideas to your readers, rather than boring them with mundane details of your life.

Here's an example of a plain, effortless update:

I haven't been posting because I've been swamped with work. I hope to post again soon!

Instead, make it worthwhile. God knows you haven't been sitting in a box thinking about nothing. There has to be something that caught your attention during your posting drought:

Rather than posting, I've been brainstorming new ideas about using the internet to thwart global warming! Here's what I think...

The idea is to challenge yourself to find inspiration, even during more dismal, uneventful times. Take your ideas and come up with something interesting. You'll write more effectively, and chances are you'll learn something new.

Your readers will appreciate it.

Categories: Blogging , Tips

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Ha ha, thanks for the advice! Is it really that obvious I'm new to blogging with more than three people who check the site regularly? :-) ... Read more.

matthom is published and produced by Matt Thommes - an independent publishing enthusiast, mobile blogger, content creator, informative writer, web developer from Chicago. Never one to conform, Matt intends to promote the effect the web has on our lives, in an effort to intensify, instruct, and clarify all that is happening around us.