Have you ever 'retracted' your blog post? You may want to.

Vanna - You may be right about that, but I am really thinking about the people that I know for sure blog regularly.

Lenn - Its on honor to have you comment on my post. I don't recall you commenting before, although I've heard a lot about you.  I do agree that I think you can't go back to previous posts that you wrote weeks or months ago.  There is a limit I think to how far back you go.  But, let's take the example I provided which is the $7500 tax credit.  Sure, that was quite some time ago now... but people created posts about it and then we found out about the enhancement to the guidelines a few days later and still not correction to the previous post.  I'll use another example... how many people wrote a post about the $8000 being used as a down payment?  Within hours it seems, we received an update stating that its on hold because the details were not finalized.  If you posted something THAT morning, would you not want to go back and correct it?  Or at least write a new post (for the points I guess) and go back and link the new post to the old post?  This way your readers know you are staying on top of the latest.  * Thanks for the comment *

Gita - I agree there.  Certainly you would not go back.  As a matter of fact, even if you sold the house RIGHT AWAY I would not make the correction.  Hopefully someone will call about the listing and it will be an opportunity to work with them on another home.  I would never suggest making those updates.

Interesting thought Mike.  You are right that a sports writer may not go back and make the adjustment.  I do see your point, but I think that the reporting is different.  A batting average is something that could change daily, so I think its expected to change.  Regulations (although they seem to change a lot lately) should be accurate when reporting them.  And although they are accurate at the time of the post, I would still think you would want to make the adjustment as they happen.  The difference is this...  you may write two posts... the first one is now old data and the new one is up to date.  If someone googles the information, they may find the OLD Post first.. therefore thinking its correct.  Sure... that may not happen, but it could.  I would want my customers to have the latest information available to them so going back and correcting it would be ideal (for me).  Again, I know some have 800-1200 posts.  To go back and correct them would be too time consuming.  I am more thinking changes within the first few weeks.  Thanks for making me think though.

Shirley - I dont think you have to delete it.  Fact is, it was correct at the time.  I just suggest you go back and make an foot note.. something that states this has changed since xx/xx/xx and please see the following link for the latest.  Then either blog about the adjustment and/or point them to another post that has accurate data.

Good point Donna.  I completely agree with that.  Its a time waster to go through all of those posts and make adjustments.  I think I am leaning more towards information that seems to be changing a lot.  The tax credit was a big one because one minute it was $7500, then it was $15,000, then it was $8,000.  Many wrote a post while it was still being discussed (I know I did).  But after the final decision was made, I went back and made the adjustment.  So, I think my peeve is really towards news of today.  I would not expect someone to go back months and make corrections but I think that if you did a post last week and it changed this week... go back and make the adjustments.

I agree Loreena.  Dont go back far, just address the items that are fresh in your mind and are being address in the media that day.  Many will post before something is really official because they want to be ahead of the game.  Thats GREAT!  I applaud them and encourage them to continue.  But if you find out the next day.. or the following week... I think they should go back and make a side note about the changes.  After all, you want your readers to know you are up to date as well.

Hello again Lenn.  I am feeling someone important to have you back twice. :-)  Please note (and maybe I should make an adjustment to my post.. ???) but I guess I am really considering stuff that is recent news.  I think the two examples I provided were pretty good.  The Tax Credit (because it adjusted so much in the beginning) and the Tax Credit used for a Down Payment (which changed within hours).  I'll go one better... Jeff Belonger wrote a post recently and Re-Blogged a post where someone was clearly wrong about the HVCC guidelines. (sorry to use your as an example Jeff).  Jeff commented on the persons post about the modifications that should be made to the persons post because it was incorrect and then he reblogged the post to tell people the correct guidelines.  I would think that this person would adjust their post to be accurate.  I don't know the person.  Perhaps they don't care, maybe they do.  But I would certainly want to make that adjustment so its accurate.

Sheila - You know that I follow your blog and you are correct that you had the incorrect information.  The difference is that you may not have had time to make the adjusts yet.  Im not thinking that people are sitting at your computer, waiting to make adjustments.  You have things to do.  But I assume that you would make the adjustment at the next opportunity and not just forget about it.  You mentioned it yourself... you were going to make the corrections.  And thats all I am saying  :-)   When you find out and its RECENT, go back and add two lines of data.

There are many good points Naoma.  Definitely for someone that has a tremendous amount of posts out there, you can not be expected to adjust them.  You'd spend days trying to go back and make adjustments.

LOL Paul.  I think following the changes of a process is great.  You do learn a lot from history.  I am surely not expecting someone would go back to a post 6 months ago and make the adjustment (unless of course you can search that post quickly and easily... then 'why not?').

I completely agree with you JL.  Going back would take a long time.  Fact is, if you posted something that was accurate at the time and then they changed regulations a few months later, definitely leave it alone.  But if you have a post that is changing (tax credit or down payment) I think you owe it to your readers to go back and make adjustments.  At least write a new post with the latest data.  Some people will post about one but not post about the latest information.  I think at the very least, you would want to add a post to your blog that highlights the latest data.

*** thank you all for your feedback.  I appreciate the comments ***

That is really the stuff I am talking about Lenn.  Now if it happened that we were okay to use this as a down payment and then 7 months from now they change the rules again, I would say 'it is what it is'.  Dont go back and change it.  But this news is still new and should be reported accurately.

I didnt know that the comment points were removed also.  Its a shame, but like you said its about being accurate not about the points.

Angelia - We did type a lot, but it was technically the same stuff repeated a few times. :-)

Sounds like a good plan Kristin.  Things that are too far dated would be better off being left alone.  Only update recent items.

Exactly Tony.  A small note is excellent.  No need to delete or rewrite.  Make a note that there were changes and point them to the updated post and/or post the adjustments right there.

Greg - I have had the honor of speaking with you several times... the novelty has warn off.  LOL

Thats an interesting thought Marc.  I think in most cases people report the facts, they are accurate, and they do not change several hours/days later.  Maybe adding the disclaimer on all posts would be a bit much considering the percentage but it couldnt hurt.  Good idea.

Greg, don't be upset.  I was being sincere.

Hey Leander.  I noticed the new name a little while back.  You definitely want to be sure that a customer knows where you work. :-)

Thanks Erik.  I could not have said that better myself.