I am using Wordpress and (without formally testing it because I don't have enough traffic), I was wondering if anybody has any research on the optimum number of posts on a blog home page. So far I've tried various changes - again, not measuring, just changing. The blog has very low traffic (approx 30 organic visitors per day) so it's not, so far, been an issue to look at. 1) I originally had the default number of posts (no idea what that number is, probably about 5) 2) I kept the default number of posts but truncated the whole post to about 150 words (using post teaser) 3) I kept the default number of posts then truncated the post to about 300 words 4) I changed the number of posts to 7 posts on the home page 5) I changed the number of posts to 3 posts on the home page 6) I've now changed the number of posts to 1 post on the home page Usually I will blog every day at present, so the content is changing most days - sometimes twice a day, although if I have any more than that then I tend to schedule them for the following week when I know I'll be too busy. So, does anybody have any evidence, proof, research, feeling for what the optimum number of posts should be? Thank you!
There is no optimum number...you should cater it to your theme design, and how many posts fit comfortably on the page. i have 17 on my front page, but that is because the theme is set up to handle it...for most themes that would be overkill and make the blog scroll too far, even with excerpts. Some people only have one post on the home page. I would worry about how it affects the design, there is no concrete number otherwise.
If the blog has regular visitors and they are whom you depend on (which is not ur case) you display alot of your post with main looks. If you are depending on passing visitors, you should display a small exerpt, about 2 - 3 lines, along witha thumbnail, 3-4 posts of each category, in a mag style.
Yes, but only use a magazine style if you have the content to fit it. No sense in using a theme that displays multiple categories if you only have 1 or 2. It will make you blog look empty.
Yes, but this really all depends on his theme. You can't just say a certain number of posts is good for someone else's blog, until you see what they are working with. This is an issue more about complimenting the blogs design, rather than some fictitious equation of how may posts is the optimum number. I say make your blog symmetrical so it appears to be designed well. Seeing 7 posts (or 10, or 20) that scroll well past the rest of the blogs design ,or sidebars looks amateurish...that is why you have all those tools and widgets in the sidebar, to direct people to other posts. If you blog looks stupid with 10 posts displayed, then don't do it. In this instance design comes frist...there is no equation that is correct across the board.
The Optimum is 6, the optimum words per page is 666, the optimum number of categories is also 6. In fact I thought everyone knew this... Google is run by Satan so as long as you have your "6's" all in a row you'll be just fine.
That's funny I guess you would need 6 blogs with 6 pages each, on 6 different IP addresses, updated 6 times a day, each with 6,666 backlins..exactly to get a PR 6 on each of them. (wow now I'm getting scared...hope i didn't conjure something up) Candyman! Candyman! Candyman!
there is not, it all about your theme, but one post per page is not a good choice, you should go for more maybe 5 will be a good choice, but that's up to your theme, and your sidebare
if you use show more than i think 5 is enuf... cz more the no of posts, longer the loading time... which may annoy the visitors
It really depends on the size of the excerpts (if any) or the number of full sized posts. It also depends on the kind of blog and your target from the blog. All in all, there is no optimum size. However, for e.g. If your blog is a corporate one then usually the homepage tends to focus on the 'about the company' because that's what the motto is all about. Whereas a seo or tech blog usually focuses on content rather than the brand itself. You can check out my blog which is a true blend in between the 'content heavy' and 'portfolio showcase' blogs. It simply focuses on segmented number contents so that any visitor who lands on the home page can have an exact understanding of what the blog maturity/authority level, the depth of knowledge, the variation of the posts etc.
Btw, my blog displays around 25 post excerpts, more than 50 titles of posts. So there are roundabout of 75 unique posts excerpts, 50 titles posts and multiple content widgets. Definitely, once again, whoever says that the optimum post number on the homepage is 5 or 6 is totally missing the bigger picture. no offense meant
i usually set it to around 5 if showing the full posts on homepage or between 10 and 20 if only showing excerpts
Wow, thanks guys! Quite a diverse and interesting response. Re magazine style: I'd love a blog like that but my content wouldn't be a good fit for it. Excerpts/thumbnail - I know I should have more thumbnails/pictures, but I really am design/graphics fail and it would add a considerable amount of time to my actual blogging to go off and find a good picture 666 - LOL GodsOfChaos - Yes, your overload does work perfectly for your content. Right, so you've all confirmed one thing to me then: there is no magic number, I just have to go with what looks right and fits best for my stuffs Thanks!