Todays question:
Any suggestions on the number of posts that one should show? Default is 10, but I have seen many blogs that only show 1 post.
This is actually an unanswerable question because it will be different depending on how you use your blog.
First understand that the visitors coming from the search engines are only going to see the post that it indexed. Google and the others will be linking to the exact post not your home page.
So the next questions are how are you advertising your home page and what do you want to have happen?
Here is an example – Each week on another blog I do a recap of the week and send people to the home page of the blog via an email blast to my lists.
I want people to keep reading if they are interested right down the blog because they may find something of interest in the second or third post. I’ll also do an email blast if I add an article hoping they will keep reading and take advantage of the offer that is in the second or third post down.
There may be others but the only time I can see where a single post on the home page might be worthwhile is where you are using a blog as a CMS (Content Management System) instead of a static web site to take advantage of the RSS feed and interlinking that is built into a blog and the ability to interact with your reader through comments.
As always your questions and comments are welcomed.
Mike Paetzold
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9 comments
Doug Champigny
Twitter: Mentoring4U
on April 27, 2009 at 7:18 am
I agree totally, Mike! We all work too hard to get people to our blogs to have them leave because the most recent blog post doesn’t particularly interest them!
Don’t think I’ve ever gone to a blog, read just the first post and left – it’s only natural to at least skim down the other posts on the page, which gives the blogger that much more chance of catching my interest.
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Ron Barrett on April 27, 2009 at 7:32 am
Thanks for the info Mike.
I have never really given this much thought until you brought it up.
I have mine set up to only show one post, but it has a ‘back’ link to the previous post and also people can take a look at the sidebar and pick out any recent posts that they would like to read.
I am like Doug, in that I don’t think I have ever gone to a blog and just read one post. I like to skim the site and see what the author is doing as far as content goes and see if I can get any ideas from it.
Great info….thanks.
Ron
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Ric Raftis on April 27, 2009 at 8:06 am
Hard to answer Mike as I don’t really use WordPress, but I think I have 5 visible posts on my Joomla blog. I find this is a reasonable balance and would think it the same on a WordPress blog.
Ric Raftis´s last blog post..Don’t Use Click Here For Links
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Luca Di Nicola
Twitter: rsonline
on April 27, 2009 at 11:56 am
Hi Mike,
I’m using the default of 10 and foll post. I’ve also seen some blogs with excerpts with read more….
Do you prefer displaying full or excerpts.
Thanks
Luca Di Nicola´s last blog post..How to Use Twitter for Blog Traffic
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Lonnie Minton on April 27, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Mike, Thanks for this answer to my question. Your point about wanting the reader to keep reading is well taken. I think I will just keep the default set.
I also agree with Doug. It is natural to at least skim down the other posts. I do it just about anytime I visit a blog.
Lonnie Minton´s last blog post..Build Your List Using The Memorial Day Giveaway
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Andre Arnett on April 27, 2009 at 4:54 pm
An interesting point you make Mike and one I also have never really thought about. Will have to take a look at that and see how I am posting to my blog. Thanks.
Andre Arnett´s last blog post..Affiliate Profits Blueprint Videos- Some New Tutorial Help
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Fred Lotgering on April 27, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Actual interesting to read all comments and experiences to this questions.
I think it depends much on the postings itself. I feel long post do give better performance in ranking. Longer post makes also the page slower to load (and all those plug-ins don’t always help either). Audios and video slows down too. In those case much better to limit the number of posts.
Fred Lotgering´s last blog post..LOSING SALES? Use Graphics with IMPACTS
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Earl Netwal
Twitter: EarlNetwal
on April 27, 2009 at 6:19 pm
I like showing as many posts as I can, but some of my themes seem to limit me, or put the earlier posts into little boxes, which keeps some on the page, but not all.
Earl Netwal´s last blog post..Why Houses That Smell Better, Sell Better
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Jit Uppal on April 27, 2009 at 10:50 pm
Hey Mike,
I had never thought about that before, but I can’t see why I wouldn’t want at least 10 posts showing up on my home page for the same reasons you mentioned.
I’m assuming that I left the default as is, but now that you’ve brought this to my attention I am going to check and make sure.
Thanks Mike!
Jit
Jit Uppal´s last blog post..Sam Crowley’s “Six Days To Saturday”
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