NOTE: This is part 5 of a 7-part series that describes the main types of blog posting formats. See the index to this series for the complete list.
This nebulous category includes any blog posting that runs up to about 500-700 words long. Typically, these blog entries are long enough to merit extending off the home page to a separate full-text page, but not so long as to require more than a couple minutes’ reading time. This differentiates short articles from brief remark postings.
Short articles can present any kind of content, and they also can include external links.
Example: From WebMaster to NewsMaster, by Bill French, from his blog Peripheral Vision.
ADVANTAGES: Fairly Quick Reading, Attracts Links, Enhances Reputation
Good short articles are an excellent way to establish and enhance your blog’s reputation for quality content. They are a great way to instigate a conversation that other bloggers can pick up on. And – this is just my observation, not scientific – I believe short-article blog postings are especially likely to attract comments. The format seems perfect to say something that strikes a nerve, resonates strongly, or gets people thinking creatively.
Since short articles are primary content (that is, the main focus is on what the blogger has to say, not a link or reference to third-party content), they are especially likely to attract inbound links. This helps build a blog’s traffic and ongoing readership.
DISADVANTAGE: Deceptively Difficult to Write
There’s a quote I love: “I have made this longer than usual, only because I have not had the time to make it shorter.” (Blaise Pascal, Lettres Provinciales, 1657)
Whenever you see great, succinct writing, realize that it probably required significant editing effort. Be prepared to put significant time into polishing your writing when you create short-article blog postings. Short pieces which are well-written make a positive and lasting impression. Short pieces which are poorly written get ignored.
TIP
Develop the art and skill of writing short article postings. It’s an extremely useful discipline, and your blog is an excellent place to practice it. Whether or not they consciously realize it, readers tend to favor this posting format.
NEXT: The long article posting format…
PREVIOUS: List-style postings
INDEX to this series
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