3 hour work week = BS

Discussion in 'WordPress' started by R_e_M_i_X, Jan 11, 2008.

  1. #1
    How much time do you guys spend writing an article? I personally spend a lot more time than most bloggers claim to. Maybe it's because I'm new to blogging, but I feel like A-listers try to mislead people into thinking they can whip up an article in 10 minutes. Consider the steps....

    1. Write a QUALITY article

    2. Proofread

    3. Find Images

    4. Resize Images

    5. SEO - Keyword Research - Title, description, meta keywords

    By the time I get finished with all of that, I've spent a few hours on an article. How much time do you guys spend on an article. What steps do you take before publishing?
     
    R_e_M_i_X, Jan 11, 2008 IP
  2. jhmattern

    jhmattern Illustrious Member

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    #2
    I spend about 10-20 minutes on an average post. I'd be quicker, but I tend to be long-winded. :D If you know your niche well, you shouldn't be spending a lot of time doing keyword research for every post. Proofreading also shouldn't take much time. Images are a snap. I just go to www.sxc.hu. If they don't have what I want, I go to their paid site at www.stockxpert.com. I don't use images in every post though... if it won't add to the article / post, it shouldn't be there. That's the way I look at it. Here are a few tips:

    1. Do your keyword research up front. Make a master list of article titles you'd like to write in the near future based on those keywords. This way you'll already have a list of post ideas written down, and you don't have to repeatedly go back to your keyword tools.

    2. Be willing to buy the images. You'll save a heck of a lot of time by just paying a measly dollar per image than always looking for free ones. The selection is wider, and simply better.

    3. Write about what you know. If you have to put a lot of research time into each post, you probably shouldn't be blogging in that niche. If you're an expert in your topic area, you can turn out a blog post in minutes... no myth.

    4. Post regular features. You not only can write more quickly on something when the format becomes standard to you, but you can often re-use images to save time. For example, I post writing jobs a few times a week. Each of those posts uses the same "jobs" image, so people scanning the page can find them write away. I do the same for my "marketing tips" posts, my "Freelance Friday" posts, etc. If it's a regular feature, a regular image is good for consistency.

    Jenn
     
    jhmattern, Jan 11, 2008 IP
  3. R_e_M_i_X

    R_e_M_i_X Guest

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    #3
    Jenn, I like point #4. That's a good idea. Thanks
     
    R_e_M_i_X, Jan 12, 2008 IP
  4. hmansfield

    hmansfield Guest

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    #4
    I know where you are coming from...sometimes it takes me an hour or so to post...mainly because I am only running 1 monitor right now and I have to make myself familiar with the new news of my niche...but when I write a "Flashback" or a post of past experience, or knowledge...I can bang it out in 20 minutes...it just depends.
     
    hmansfield, Jan 12, 2008 IP
  5. TheDutchMan

    TheDutchMan Peon

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    #5
    For some blogs I write articles for the whole week in 2 - 3 hours (most of the time 6 articles and I schedule them all).

    For other blogs it can easily take up to 2 hours per post and if i make a "good" affiliate post/sales letter it can easily cost me about 4 - 6 but then I have a winner (at least that's what I'm hoping;)).

    Most of my blogs are in English instead of Dutch, my Dutch sites/blogs are costing me ofcourse less time, although there isn't a huge difference).
     
    TheDutchMan, Jan 12, 2008 IP
  6. hobsonschoice

    hobsonschoice Banned

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    #6
    i usually spend 15-20 mins to write a good article

    and with the keyword suggestion plugin for wordpress it speeds up keyword research which really you should know what they are before you start your article
     
    hobsonschoice, Jan 12, 2008 IP
  7. qazu

    qazu Well-Known Member

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    #7
    I also take a bit of time with my articles, maybe 30-45 minutes per article because I'm a stickler for details. it's got to be perfect before I hit the publish button. :( I suppose that's what comes from spending too much time studing humanities at university. :(
     
    qazu, Jan 12, 2008 IP
  8. MTbiker

    MTbiker Well-Known Member

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    #8
    It usually takes me a few hours too, sometimes quite a few, so I'm with you. A lot of the time comes from actually taking the pictures and then editing them.

    But some posts are done in 5-10 minutes, so it varies. (I think the main thing is whether your "blog" is like an online magazine or just a personal blog on blogger.)
     
    MTbiker, Jan 12, 2008 IP