Karen, as a neophyte blogger, i was wondering if long blogs, though creative, substantive and/or well written, were less widely read for the reasons you gave.  Maybe if readers get to know and appreciate a certain bloger, they will bear with the longevity a litte more.

Thanks for making the comments that answered my question.

I think you are generalizing. It all depends. If you are looking for some information, you want it in a concise and clear form.

But try to read Ted Baker, for example, and you better have the patience to read his not only long blogs, but as long, if not longer, comments.

Why would anybody do it in their sound mind. Because they are worth every word he writes.

Some issues can't be abbreviated, unless you want everything adapted to the presgchooler level.

I think a lot of people are just like you.  Sometimes, though, you will need a longer post to effectively communicate an idea.  Then you need to break down your post into bite-sized pieces and you sub-headlines so that readers can skip to the parts that interest them the most. 

Karen,

Agree with you.

If it's too long or hard to read (one paragraph, no spacing) I just scan it and usually never finish the whole thing...

Have a great week.

Awww Karen...I'm sorry their has been times I read fast but you do write interesting things!  The tomato ....blog ...gee I think I learned how to type that word now...lol Well either way yes I like a good blog to be as brief as possible but if it is about marketing...PROVIDE everything you can...also if the blog is short...often the commenters will add more interesting info!

Good Job Karen,

Tom Davis

World Class Delaware Realtor

Karen - I guess I haven't ever perfected the art of the short blog, as most of mine are longer, but I try to keep them entertaining or informative, or both.   

Jason,

Your blog's are fantastic...I'm talking about the college thesis type one's...not your style...LOL...you're the best!

Roseann,

I like the short succinct ones...I like to visit lot's of blog's and read lot's of different people's blogs in a short period of time...well not always.  Like Andrew Lenza said,,,as he bowed out nicely...what you want to be a 30 minute experience on AR can end up being 3 hours...

That's my point.

I decide to clidk based on the headlines. If the writer is amusing, informative or witty I will read long posts. 

Jon,

My preference in the little time I have to read is succinct.  No offense to any of the long blogger's...I just like to read many blog's in the time I have.

If I had time, I'd be in school to get my broker's license.   :-) 

Joe V.,

I can tolerate some, but the long college thesis...when it's like a text book...I try to read them, but after 3 long paragraph's...no can do...I might bookmark it...but the chance's of having time to go back to read are slim to none...I guess that's a good thing....  :-)

Linda,

thank you...

Tom,

Thank you and tomato (wink)...

I only read the title of your post, nothing more.... It was the only part of your blog that intersted me. I'm just being honest! The number of words or length doesn't matter as long as the topic is interesting, I have the attention span to read War & Peace several times over only if the content intrigues me.

Vickie,

That's fine, I don't have that much time.  I mean it's 1:29 am, finished working at midnight and here I am...gotta go...showing's in the am...thank you for posting.  K

The content of War and Peace is not the same as a blog looking for opinion's on a specific topic...If the topic is succinctly written, I will read it all.

Blogs, (and I have been involved in a few in the last 4 years) are usually for the opinion's of other people.

I have read War and Peace as well.  BTW, it's "Peace"...

Karen - You said "Make it short, make it easy to read!"

This is where typography goes a long way. How we organize our content and stylize goes a long way. For example, in your post 80% of the post is in bold. Then you have a series of sentences in all CAPS. It makes it very hard for the reader to can the content to sumize if they even want to read it now that they have clicked through your title.

Size does matter. I think most people will agree that most won't make a commitment to read a longer blog completely. They may scan it if the highlights and move on. It really depends what the purpose is. For example, I will read a blog post tutorial (even a long one) if I read need that information.

Images help the reader. Style and creativity shine through with an image, but is also servers a greater purpose. Images provide a place for the readers eyes to rest. This is very important especially for reading snipits of information. Imagery is part of the content and help bring it all together and make the product look finished. Imagery takes addiditonal time to incorporate into your blogging but it does serve and important purpose.

Every one has their own writing and reading style and I suppose it boils down to personal preference.

Karen,

You can now get your broker's license on the Internet. If I had to doit now, I would have chosen Internet over any school. It is so much wasted time, you are always listening to the instructors and their bragging, then people ask tons of questions, so after spending al that time n class you actually have to read the book at home. Why bother, when you can do it at your own pace.

So, when you do it, let us know. And when you go for a test, we will keep fingers crossed.

Obviously, after that you wold start wtriting and reading long winded blogs (for brokers only -LOL)

Karen,

Even in emails. Short, broken phrasing and sentences make for more readable content.

It is necessary to have short paragraphs with space, maybe some highlighted words - and the occasional CAPITAL letters.

I think the blog can be long, but the reader must be able to scan the post highlights quickly to determine if for her the lengthy material is important to her.

It is always good though to re read a long post, any post, to remove repetition, and unnecessary words, and to remove things that are repeated or really good descriptive phrases that might actually be used more than once in the paragraph or in a really long blog. Repeating things more that once can be repetitious.

Great advice to us all.

Thanks,

Richard

Karen, Ok, I got it *lol* my posts are way to long. Simply said HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND !!!!! NJ

IMNJ,

Thank you for that good info...I tend to write in bold b/c I have a hard time reading...my eyesite...

I totally understand your point's and they are well taken...thank you! I type bold...b/c...I guess I'm frustrated.,...Now that you mentioned it...I will probably change my style...thank you!

Jon,

Passed my RE test the first time I took it...passed the 45 hour exam in 23 minutes...thanks

Richard,

Very good point's you make to me...and  I will certainly take your's and the above posts under advisement...

FOR ALL OF YOU WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND...I BOLD B/C I HAVE TROUBLE SEEING...NOT ON PURPOSE,.,,SORRY!!!!

NJ,

This post was not directed to you at all.  I love your posts,,,I hope I have spelled everything right...I have trouble reading unless I bold the content....

I guesss when I bold a post.,.,it is wrong or offend's people...I just cannot see what I wrote if I don't...sorry, my vision is bad...

Karen, Bold is good !!! I can at least read it without squinting. Just can't figure out how to bold on this darn Blackberry. *lol* keep on bolding!!!! NJ

NJ,

Geeze, I hope it doesn't offend anyone...It's just easier for me to read!

thank you very much for sharing, i too am more interested in the quality of the content

Hi Karen - If the blog is one long paragraph with no breaks, my mind wanders and I wind up just scanning.  I'm sure I miss some of the finer points the writer was trying to make.  Depends on the content of course, some subjects just need more definition, but short and snappy works for me! 

Karen, If bolding offends anyone then pooey on them. I prefer it and am glad you post boldly. I don't need squint lines on my face!!!!! You go g/f, I love your posts. NJ

Shane,

You are welcome!

Alyce,

I like the short and snappy as well!

Thank you both for posting.

NJ,

Right, I don't need any more "squint" lines either...then I'll have to pile another layer of "cream" on my face at night...and heaven know's...I use enough...already!

Karen, *LOL* You are such a genuine honest person, that's hard to find these days. God knows, I don't need anymore creams or I'll have to buy stock in several companies !!!! NJ

I am all about less is more if it is good content...pictures are nice as they break up the text if it is longer..sometimes I am all about good and short

NJ,

Yes, you are right I am, sometimes though...to a fault...I just use Eucerin cream...work's quite nicely...LOLOLMB(butt)O!!!!

Ginger,

I like the short and sweet ones that stimulate a conversation as well, HOWEVER!  I do appreciate those people that put tutorial's on to help us...I bookmark all of them...just in case I have time one day to study and learn all that valuable information provided here...

It is defiantly a personal preference. I will agree however that the content should be broken up, not just one paragraph.

A few highlights are nice.

.

Terrie,

Thank you for your opinion on this topic. New sentences are alway's nice.

SHORT AND TO THE POIN IS ALWAYS BETTER!

I have been on this site for about 2 weeks and for someone who didn't even know what a blog was, I am totally enjoying reading others, so much information, and if there are photos even enjoying them more.

Since there is so much information to gain from the blogs, I find if they are shorter, have photos, etc. it's easier to get thru more in a short period of time.

Joyce

I have been on this site for about 2 weeks and for someone who didn't even know what a blog was, I am totally enjoying reading others, so much information, and if there are photos even enjoying them more.

Since there is so much information to gain from the blogs, I find if they are shorter, have photos, etc. it's easier to get thru more in a short period of time.

Joyce

I like short and to the point for the most part.  Unless of course the topic requires extensive verbage to explain.

Joyce,

It's a great place to learn! Welcome!  If you need any help,  please let me know!

Casey,

Me too...sweet, succinct, is best for me as well. Then again, if it is a tutorial, I bookmark it and refer to it later...Thank you for posting on my blog!  K

I find taht adding content such as graphs or pictures like in a newpaper article makes it more interesting. I've even tried puttin in video content using Youtube!

Lists such as top 10 or top 101 lists are quite good at getting your points out while keeping it entertaining.

Jerry Boutin www.cranbrookforsale.com