When I first started blogging way back in 2005, I wrote long, rambling, meandering posts. My average post length back then probably ranged from around 1100 to 1400 words. To say that I was verbose would have been an understatement. I was never at a loss for words.
I enjoyed writing those long winded posts, but no one — other than me — ever seemed to read them. I put a lot of time and effort into my posts and I thought most of them were pretty plum.
So I asked myself why I wasn’t getting either traffic or traction on my blog. Was I on the wrong blogging platform? Was I letting my words runaway with me, resulting in boring, meandering posts? I decided it was time to set in motion some fundamental changes to the way I blogged. If I were to continue blogging, I needed to give my blog a shot in the arm, kind of like a vaccine.
First, I moved my blog to WordPress. Then I decided to write more concise, focused posts. No more rambling, multi-topic posts. I was going to keep my posts short and simple. Ideal for the short-attention-span blogging community.
The results of these adjustment were illuminating. My shorter posts — rarely exceeding 300 words — published on WordPress began to get read. They started receiving likes. And comments. And followers. I started interacting with people from all around the globe via our blogs. Woo hoo!
Lesson learned: words matter…and apparently so do word counts.
Written for Jim Adams’ Thursday Inspiration prompt, where the word is “why” and the musical inspiration in Del Shannon’s song, “Runaway.”motion never verbose plum vaccine illuminate
Also for these daily prompts: Your Daily Word Prompt (verbose) , The Daily Spur (never), Ragtag Daily Prompt (plum), Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (motion), Word of the Day Challenge (vaccine), and MMA Storytime (illuminate).
This, That, and the Other 
Yes, right on both counts!
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I still write longish posts but usually only on one topic. I do try to keep them between 500-800 words and if I feel that they are going to be over long I break them up into parts. So I do think about word counts but the only really short posts I write are my “Fashion Doll Friday” doll posts which are a photo gallery and just a few descriptive sentences.
I do enjoy your short fiction posts but I admit that sometimes at the end I’m wanting more story.
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I can still remember the first comment that you left on my blog, telling me that I should follow you, which I did and I have never been disappointed in reading any of your posts.
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Thanks, Jim. I appreciate you being a long-time follower and a good blog friend.
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Yep, and also the linkbacks don’t hurt. I had a ton of views and comments on May 3 when I posted my Scavenger Hunt results with 25 links (couldn’t find scissors).
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I meant to say that Sight told me to follow you.
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I’m glad you told me that because I don’t recall ever having directly told anyone in a comment to follow my blog.
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Oh, knowing this about blogging has me nodding. At one point(and that’s where the point stopped), I heard that long posts were ideal. I’ve written quite many posts that have gone into the blogger sphere loveless (likeless) And they’re not bad, to begin with. But shortening them and reposting as new hasn’t brought me more… not yet.
The only times when I’ve gotten more than two views have been when I post as part of a group prompt. Like at National Poetry Month.
I want to be read too. I want to spread joy too.
I will continue going. I have already followed lots of blogs and determined to participate in prompts more. I just need to schedule my time more efficiently.
Thanks for this post. It has added so much to me today. Thank you. I wish you miracles.
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I’m glad you enjoyed it and I’m sure, with patience, you’ll develop readership. It takes a while.
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On rare occasions, I will write a post in the 2,000-word range, but in general I’ve found that 800-1200 is ideal, for unless the topic is electrifying (or at least interesting to a broad spectrum of readers), people fall asleep or zone out after about a thousand words. I like your posts, and likely would have enjoyed your longer ones, too, but I didn’t know of you back then!
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Thanks, Jill. I find that I run out of things to say after about 500 words these days. And, FWIW, your posts are all engaging and, at times, enraging.
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Awwww … thank you so much, Fandango! Some days I struggle to find the right topic, the right words, and other days inspiration hits and my fingers fly across the keyboard. What I like best about my blog is all the wonderful people I’ve met online … I wouldn’t trade that for anything!
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Yes, the community of bloggers are the joy of blogging.
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I don’t mind reading long posts if they are good but when you are building readership (making friends) – pithy helps…
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For some reason it’s true. Short is beautiful. I find I have the reading stamina for long articles on the printed page, but not on screen. I have no idea why, but it seems to be a general thing. So yes … keep them pithy seems to be the motto.
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I suppose what you are saying is that size does too matter. 😉 Personally, I always liked longer and bigger, but you knew that. We’ve discussed word count before! ☺
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Longer and bigger? Oh, right. You mean word count. 😏
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Word count. Oh, I can see I might not have made myself perfectly clear. The comment was too short perhaps? 😉
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congrats! I still don’t get many likes, but I didn’t come here for that, however, it’s I probably made some changes. again congrats!!
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Thanks, Ruth.
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Thank you for saying this because I agree. All the advice I have gotten has been to the contrary, but I see more engagement on my shorter posts and I also prefer to read shorter ones- unless they are the rare ones that pull me in like a ‘can’t-put-it-down’ kind of book.
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I just find that I have to say all that I have to say and in a short post. But if they are less than 150 words, they tend to get passed by.
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This is very interesting to hear. I’m in a similar line of thought as yours. I can see both my traffic and Alexa rank dropping consistently even with me writing long posts and a lot of research. This gives a lot of confidence in what I can try and keep things simpler for me as well. Great to hear your experience and kudos on getting a higher response rate
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