How To Write A Popular Post
Peoples’ reactions to my posts constantly surprise me. So often the posts that I expect to generate a response will lie dormant, and the posts that I’ve hurriedly thrown together become the most popular.
Why is this? It suggests that my spontaneous and intuitive posts are better. If this is so, is it because they are spontaneous and intuitive?
Could I practise reverse psychology on myself? Ya know, deliberately don’t prepare a post, brainstorm at the last moment, schlap together a quick article, and I’ll have a winner.
Nah, I don’t think that’ll work.
The aptly titled Spring Surprise is a recent example of a successful last-minute posting.
Because it was snowing hard when I got up that day, I quickly nipped into the garden, pointed the camera in a few different directions to ensure a good picture, downloaded the shots and saved a couple of versions in Photoshop, uploaded to my server and — Bob’s your uncle.
The post was ‘live’, and receiving comments a matter of moments later.
[I was glad that I’d taken the photos, because by the afternoon all evidence of the snow had been completely eradicated!]
But why did that picture generate so much interest? There are articles on this site over which I’ve laboured to find the right word and phrasing. Disconcertingly, they just sit there, all lonely and unloved.
Nope, I’ll never understand it.
I don’t know how you organise writing your posts and articles, but fortunately, my very nature guarantees that there will always be a generous sprinkling of spontaneous, intuitive, last-minute items!
Reward Rebel
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Filed under Blogging, How To, Writing |
I’m always surprised by which ones of my posts become popular. Sometimes, one Stumble will bring readers for long after the post is published… it’s fun!
Zhu’s last blog post..Aboriginal Perspectives (9/10)
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Yeah, asking that question myself from time to time.
Although we can use some marketing methods to manage which post will catapult to the top, with the usual posts it seems to be a bit harder to predict, right?
Sometimes one of my ghostwritten articles becomes very popular. Then, like with you, some of my own “right out of my mouth” articles tear up to the sky.
Mysticity in the new age ether…
~Marcus
Marcus Hochstadt’s last blog post..SundayTV
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You know, the right thing would have been to credit least me - after all I have that question mark on my blog since almost a year.
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It is very odd but maybe it’s just people pick up on the carefree nature?
Loretta Lloyd’s last blog post..How to Make $1000s Weekly with a Health Internet Business of Your Very Own
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It is strange. I never know which silly post that I do will get anyone to reply. I know I try to visit everyone’s blog that does. LOL I read more than I comment, too. I am so BAD.
Connie’s last blog post..Blog Roll
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I wish I know the secret too!
Sherxr’s last blog post..Convenience Foods are ruining your health!
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[...] previous article, How To Write A Popular Post was originally illustrated by an image, which I found in one of my folders. I thought it was an [...]
Hello Frank,
I’ve responded with a public apology, as well as emailing you.
Layne | Reward Rebel
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Hello Loretta,
I think you’re right — I can see the difference in styles I use to write — also, I’m prone to over-analyze.
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Hi Connie,
I try to conclude each post with some kind of invitation to the reader to respond. But even that often falls on deaf ears!
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Hey Sherxr,
Yep, doesn’t every blogger! It’s like cyber-alchemy, whoever discovers a foolproof formula will become very wealthy!
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layne,
you’re right about one thing. sometimes when ideas just pop up, the article that we come up with comes out better. in my case, i suffer from a “writer’s block” and if i force myself to write, i can’t get the pieces of my thoughts together. at any rate, you’re blog is always a good read whatever topic you write. keep going amiga. i hope someday, you’ll earn more than what you expect from writing.
jessie’s last blog post..Submit Your Article for Free and Traffictize Your Site
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Hey Jessie,
Many thanks for the kind words — I love writing when the words flow and there’s that ‘in the zone’ kinda feeling, but I’ve so much to learn. I must have the longest ‘to do’ list on the planet!
You’re getting all philosophical at the end there, aren’t you?
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I’ll go toe-to-toe with anyones to-do list
Dennis Edell’s last blog post..We Are Officially A FULL FEED RSS! But The Blogs Look Will Change
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Heh, heh, okay Dennis, I believe you.
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I never can figure what post will pull what in comments. I recently wrote one that I just knew was a big, big winner. It pulled 7 comments. A short time before that I wrote one that I would have sworn would be a bomb–on a dull, boring subject, taxes. It drew 42 comments.
Go figure.
Jack Payne’s last blog post..Legal Thriller Book Author Reports: Outrageous Offshore Employee Leasing Scheme–A Scam Secret Few Recognize
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Hi Jack Payne,
Taxes - that’s a good one - and 42 comments is excellent!
How actively readers respond to a post definitely has something to do with common denominators.
When we write about something that everyone experiences to some degree, everyone will have a story, and the higher the chance of more people wishing to express their feelings.
Er… that’s as far as I’ve really got with that theory!
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