Not updating your blog will kill it…. fast… here’s the proof
Ok, we have all heard how important it is to update our blogs regularly. We’ve all been told you will loose readers very quickly if you don’t. Well, for the month of August we really did not update anything. Both Aimee and I got really busy and I got a little burnt out because of so many things I was working on at once. Bite off a lot more than I could chew if you will. Plus, I wanted a lot of quality time with friends and family which I was not getting because of so much work.
Anyway, so what really happened to the site as far as visitors go? I wasn’t gone that long right?
I am just going to give you one stat from the site and you can see what happened.
Hits for July 2007 = 299481
Hits for August 2007 = 71345
Difference between = 228136
Yikes, that is huge. But are we done? No sir, we are not. Now say we take into account that we were more than doubleing our number every month. For this example we kept up with the trend and we doubled up.
Hits for August should have been = 598962
Difference between = 527617
Now that is huge! Half a million hits gone. So if you ever need some proof, or motivation to update and you care about your stats at all, now you have it. Not updated your blog regularly really will kill it fast.
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While I agree that no posting will kill the growth of a blog, there is a level-off point for every site’s traffic and it also depends on what type of blog it is as to how far it will fall when starved (no new posts).
Blogs that are more based on news or keeping readers updated about topics and interests need updates more often than how-to blogs, for example.
See these third party stats for a blog of mine that hasn’t had a new post since April 4:
http://www.sitemeter.com/?a=stats&s=sm8phpblog&r=33
(should have a new post added soon)
Comment by TDavid — August 29, 2007 @ 1:55 pm
It is true more posts will lead to more traffic (during a month, like your example). So yes continuing to post is good. However there are important points to consider. First, what is in your best long term interests? For most feeling like your life is now hostage to writing blog posts is not a good trade-off (maybe if you were on path to making your living from your blog you would be willing to sacrifice for a short term to get a benefit in the long term. Second, a bunch of lame posts won’t help (in the long term - it probably would for the short term until people unsubscribe…).
So I think it is best to figure out a pace that works well for you. And if you are tired or don’t have any inspiration for a time feel free to pass on posting. I think often people overact to short term variation in the numbers.
Comment by John Hunter — August 29, 2007 @ 6:28 pm
Perhaps intimes like this, it would be a good idea to call for guest posters? More opinions could help to add a little spice to the site anyway. Has anyone else ever had help from guest posters and what was the experience like?
Comment by Jason — August 30, 2007 @ 10:40 am
Hey I guest posted on this very site
Your FICO credit score explained. That is also the only time I have done it.
Comment by John Hunter — August 30, 2007 @ 7:43 pm
Well, don’t you think you are due for another one?
Comment by Jason — August 31, 2007 @ 9:26 am
[...] untouched for the entirety of August. And now he’s suffering from the consequences, because not updating your blog will kill it fast. Whereas Foximus.com got 299,481 hits for July 2007, it only received 71,345 hits for August. That [...]
Pingback by In The Sphere: | BlueFur.com — August 31, 2007 @ 3:24 pm
jason, how do you expect all of us to make money if you’re not posting?? ha jk.
Comment by goyin — September 2, 2007 @ 12:57 pm
Are you getting most of your traffic from social networking sites? If so, and you’re not updating your blog then that will kill it for sure, that’s why people rank their blogs for terms in search engines as a backup
Comment by Palm Coast — September 2, 2007 @ 7:26 pm
I have no idea
I know it comes from all over, but Aimee is the stats queen. And it’s a holiday here so that is why there are no new posts. It will be back to normal tomorrow!
Comment by Jason — September 3, 2007 @ 8:22 pm
Hello Palm Coast, actually every blogger also hopes their blog will attract many visitor to view their articles.
But based on the different month of visitor, it make 1 digit big differences!! I’m the visitor here If the this blog doesn’t update frequently it definitely won’t attract me to come it
Comment by Louiss — September 4, 2007 @ 12:30 am
I had a similar crash of visitors when i didn’t update my blog and it was only idle for like two weeks. since then, even if i know i’m going ot busy a couple days in a row, or out of town or whatever, i just post something short and sweet to give readers something new.
Comment by Gorilla Trades — September 4, 2007 @ 6:36 pm
Yup, totally true !
Comment by Warhammer — September 6, 2007 @ 4:12 pm
Hey,
I think your observation is simple and obvious. People visit blogs for content and articles right?
cheers,
Comment by BCA Ytong — September 22, 2007 @ 6:19 am
I know that happens from personal experience. My blog suffered like crazy when I neglected it. Consistency is key…or you will alienate your readers!
Comment by Natalie Ship — October 2, 2007 @ 5:31 pm
couldn’t more agreed with you pal, the fastest way to kill your sites is just let it do without update for a month. and ironically it is cost you even more time if you want to get the sites back into google top ten list, sigh.. what a hard job.
Comment by moregadget — December 5, 2007 @ 7:17 am
True as ever. I found my old sites hits doubled and stayed high after I updated it a few times in a week (I had left it to die for a month.) Content just helps, your RSS feed gets shoved all over the palce every time you update and then the hits come!
No-one wants to visit a dead site!
Comment by NineThreeNine — March 1, 2008 @ 10:35 am