There are over a thousand participants in the Challenge. We’re encouraging people to visit at least five new blogs a day (starting with the one immediately following one’s own) but many will visit far more. That means time is of the essence.
And short posts are a must!
The purpose of the Challenge is to make new friends. If your posts are long, participants are far more likely to skip your blog and move to the next. You’ll miss so many opportunities for new friends. Plus writing long posts takes time! You could spend that time visiting new blogs instead.
In addition to keeping posts short, they need to be easy to read. Long blocks of text are hard on the eyes. Break text into smaller paragraphs. Add images. Highlight or bold some of the text. Pretend you are cooking and spice it up!
And since I want to set an example (and I just made myself hungry) I’m making this A to Z tips post short!
Ninja Captain Alex is one of the A to Z Challenge co hosts and can be found HERE
I have one letter- E- that seems a little long. : ( Have been trying the last few days to shorten it a bit.
ReplyDeleteHa, yes. I tend towards longer posts so it's been challenging for me to keep trimming things down!
ReplyDeleteWell said!
ReplyDeleteDoris
well stated
ReplyDeleteShort it is... my theme will be very short, hopefully not lame... I will have prizes, wait no I won't.
ReplyDeleteShort - check
ReplyDeleteFunny - I hope so
Images - heck yes
All done - Nope! Ahhhh! 14/26 is not bad I think, but I'd feel better if I had another 6 done before the challenge. Time to start working...
p.s. I'm tingling all over about this challenge :)
Got it Alex.
ReplyDeleteShort just adds a new challenge to the Challenge!
ReplyDeleteShort, yes! I stop going to blogs that have on and on and on posts.
ReplyDeleteI'm up to the letter P as of this morning. Hope to get through T before the first.
Your points are good and said in an exemplary manner.
ReplyDeleteLee
Love short posts!
ReplyDeleteNo problem. :)
ReplyDeleteFour left to deal with...Q, X, Y, and Z. Are they short? Well....not too t6o many words I guess but lots of pictures. You can look at a picture fast right? lol.
ReplyDeleteI wabt to participate but not sure I'm signed up because I didn't get any confirmation.Can I do it on my wordpress blog?
ReplyDeleteI have used March as a practice and glad that I did as I'm sort of in the flow of the idea now.
ReplyDeleteMicrostyle, yo. It's hot.
ReplyDeleteI think keeping it short is the secret for a successful challenge as you say,
ReplyDeleteYvonne,
Short posts it is then!
ReplyDeleteYou got it!
ReplyDeleteAye... aye Captain!
ReplyDeleteRead you - loud & clear!
Thank you, Lee!
ReplyDeleteDelores, pictures are awesome.
Pat, yes you can!
I agree about short posts making it easier for people to visit more blogs during the challenge. I've tried to keep my A to Z challenge posts short but it looks like many of my posts will be of medium length, on an average of about 400 words, give or take.
ReplyDeleteSome of these posts, however, include interactive game play for readers to participate in, so maybe that will help to compensate for the length.
My maximum word count goal for the A to Z Challenge was initially no more than 350 words but as I started to write my posts...it went to 400 and up. So, I'm in between short and long there, I suppose.
~Nicole
Blog: The Madlab Post
@MadlabPost on Twitter
Great advice, Alex...coming in at 248 words to boot!!
ReplyDeleteYou are right about the spacing - to me, even if a post does run long the KEY is breaks in the typing so I don't get lost in a sea of letters.
Jenny @ Pearson Report
Co-Host of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.
Great advice, Alex...that was already in my plan. Thanks for confirming it!
ReplyDeleteShort is fine as long as their is substance and interesting things to read. I like making new friends, discovering blogs and having mine discovered, but good content also is necessary.
ReplyDeleteI love using pictures.
Sia McKye OVER COFFEE
'k
ReplyDeleteMy posts this year are even shorter than last year.
ReplyDeleteWhereas I agree with you in theory, I have to disagree on a pesonal level. My blog still has to be -my- blog, which means I need to write it the way I write it. If that means that some people pass over me because my posts are too long, I'll just have to live with that. I'd rather not fake people out into thinking my blog is something that it's not.
ReplyDeleteMine are VERY short. :)
ReplyDeleteI really learned to appreciate short posts last year.
ReplyDeleteNicole, that's still a good length. And the interactive has me intrigued!
ReplyDeleteJenny, those giant blocks of text are hard to read.
Sia, pictures are good!
Andrew, be as brief as you can without compromising you. After three years with the Challenge, I just know people skip the long ones.
I love how short this post was ;D
ReplyDeleteI'm still playing with themes...where did March go?! lol
Setting an example to others is a good way to teach! Nice job, Ninja Captain!
ReplyDeleteTina @ Life is Good
Co-Host of the April A to Z Challenge
Twitter: @AprilA2Z #atozchallenge
this is great advice!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right in your tips today and I am so bad at following that advice. Some of the posts I have already finished are admittedly too long...although I have included visual filler so the reading hopefully wouldn't bog down. Anyway, I am looking for the rest of my unfinished posts to follow the "short but sweet" advice you have given.
ReplyDeleteGreat tip! I've a few posts that are a little longer - some teasers from my novels, but most of them are short and funny with a few pictures. :)
ReplyDeleteOne thing that I will definitely keep in mind this year!
ReplyDeleteSure thing Alex. I will remember this.
ReplyDeleteIf mine get any shorter they'll just be the letter in the middle of the page -- Hmmm
ReplyDeleteOh my, the number of times I have posted about folks who post blogs that are just too damned long. In fact, not just in regards to those doing this challenge, but I would say, as far as I'm concerned, keep them short and to the point, no matter what.
ReplyDeleteIt's a fast-paced world in blogland and one has only so much time to read a posting.
Oops, my comment is starting to get rather long and thus, I shall end it now.
Ella, I didn't want to be a hypocrite.
ReplyDeleteChuck, I would read your posts no matter what!
Mary, that might work!
Gary, I hear you!
As this is my first A-Z Challenge I am hanging out to find out what people post! I am intrigued!
ReplyDeleteShort, sweet and to the point. Will be working on my posts today, tomorrow and finishing them up by Saturday.
ReplyDeleteHi Alex .. good points thanks for reminding us .. see you on April 1st .. cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteGreat tip Alex! I went over my posts from last year and yikes! They were way too long. This year my goal is 250 words or less, but I already have letter B at 261. Pushing for 250 or less means at least they'll be mostly short.
ReplyDeleteI agree about short posts. I find long posts, even during non-AtoZ months rather overwhelming.
ReplyDeleteHello, Fellow Challenger, from #425-Rockin' Chair Reflections!
ReplyDeleteConsidering it takes me 250 words to say 'hello,' I think I've found the Challenge in the Challenge!