Should you explain to your readers why you have not been blogging?
I’ve read a lot of posts recently about what you should do to revive a dead blog and what you should do if you have not blogged in a while. The key question always seems to be ‘Should you explain to your readers why you have not been blogging?‘. Also, do you think you should apologise to readers?
Snoskred from Aussie Bloggers wrote a post today in which he mentioned that
I have seen it said around the web that a blogger should never write a blog post that apologises for not blogging - no matter how long it has been, no matter what happened to get in the way of blogging, you should return as if you never left.
He didn’t refer to any posts which stated that though I do recall reading posts like this in the past myself. The consensus seems to be that you should just jump back on the horse and carry on as if nothing happened.
BloggingTips author John Leschinski echoed this thought recently with a comment on XFEP stating that
I’d just go at it as if nothing happened. New readers of those blog probably wont notice, and anyone who is still subscribed will just continue to read. People upset you have stopped have unsubscribed by now.
Do you need to explain why you haven’t been posting?
Personally, I don’t think that you should have a set rule about whether you should or should not explain your absence to readers after some time off. Every blog is different, nothing is black or white. The most important thing I believe you need to consider is how much of a relationship do you have with readers. For example, I’ve got a joke blog which is updated semi frequently with funny pictures, stories and jokes. The posts are short and do not have a personal touch. If I was to stop posting there for a few weeks I would just start posting again without an explanation.
However, most successful blogs engage with their readers and have a good relationship with those who read and comment regularly. In this situation I believe that an explanation of why you haven’t been posting is a good idea. You don’t have to give full details of exactly what you have been doing as it may be personal but by simply letting readers know why you haven’t been posting you will indicate that you intend to get back to your regular posting routine and this should help encourage subscribers and readers to check out your blog again for updates.
I also think it’s worthwhile to explain any posting absence in advance if you can. For example, a few weeks ago I let readers know that I wouldn’t be posting much for a few weeks because I was going on holiday. Many of you may think this is not necessary though I didn’t want regular readers to assume that I had lost interest in the site or whatever. High profile bloggers such as Darren Rowse and John Chow regularly let their readers know that they will be away for a few days and that guest bloggers will be taking over. I assume their reasons for doing so are much the same as mine.
I have to disagree with John with the idea that older readers would have been upset by a blogger not updating their blog and would unsubscribe. Infact, as I discussed a few months ago, it usually takes a few weeks or even months of not updating your blog before readers unsubscribe. I personally still subscribe to a few blogs which haven’t been updated for a while because the quality of posts are high and when they are updated again I want to know about it. Therefore, I still believe that the majority of the people who read the blog which has just started up again are the same people who read it regularly when it was actively updated.
I know this is a question which many bloggers have a difference of opinion on though I strongly believe that writing a post which explains your absence is worthwhile if you have a good relationship with your readers.
What do you think? Should you explain to your readers why you have not been blogging?
Snoskred | July 23rd, 2008 at 6:16 am #
Hey, just so you know, he’s a she
no big deal, happens a lot.
I did search for posts to link to but frankly it was impossible to find any on the topic - other unrelated posts kept showing up but I could never spot the ones I remembered, and I couldn’t remember exactly where I had seen them..
Realistically it was all about launching the blog post generator which is a bit of fun, not meant to be taken hugely seriously or anything.
Darren | July 23rd, 2008 at 7:05 am #
One of the posts that you might have read on the topic is mine on Excuse Posts. It’s interesting that some people thought I meant that you should never write an apology post or a post saying that you’re going to be away - however the post was really about doing it too often.
There’s nothing wrong with including information to let your readers know if you’re going to be away or to explain an absence - the problem occurs when that’s all you seem to post about.
Luis | July 23rd, 2008 at 7:09 am #
great post. I think you really should let your readers know unless you don’t care losing them. I just post a small note letting my readers know what’s going on in my life. I think you should too.
Snoskred | July 23rd, 2008 at 7:28 am #
@Darren - I do remember reading that post of yours, however it wasn’t one of the ones I was thinking of. I think “never apologise for not blogging” was a popular blog topic about a year ago back when I was reading a lot more blogging blogs - it was one of those things where every second post I read seemed to be on that topic for a couple of weeks.
I’ve since cut way back on the amount of blogs about blogging I read, both this one and Darren’s blog are on the list of ones I do read though, just so you know..
Kevin Muldoon (Post Author) | July 23rd, 2008 at 7:59 am #
Snoskred - Apologies
Darren - Fair point. I have come across a few blogs who have done this ie. explaining why they haven’t posted and saying they will post again and then they stop posting again so they go on to explain once more. I guess another factor I never really discussed in the post was how active the blog is in the first place. If you are updating the blog twice a day then it would make sense to let readers know but if the blog is only updated every other week the need to let readers know is less.
Luis - Thanks. Again, I think it depends on how personal your blog is too. Some bloggers rarely talk about their private life in their posts so they would be less likely to update readers about it.
Polina | July 23rd, 2008 at 8:29 am #
I would say that may be you don’t need to apologize for being absent (by not writing you do nothing offensive to your readers, so you have nothing to apologize for), but you need to tell something about what made you stay away from your blog. As many readers of personal blogs are actually friends and they have been worried while there is no news from you… It is worth an explanation:)
Bryan Ogilvie | July 23rd, 2008 at 10:07 am #
Great post,
A subject I’ve been thinking about a lot recently, because my new blog is going through this exact issue.
I’m working on my first book, so generating daily content, researching and writing simultaneously wasn’t working out. I suppose it wasn’t even feasible to begin with, because the blog content I bring forth takes a time to develop.
Intuitively, I already knew that apologizing more than once gives off a weak vibe. My old girlfriend and another girl I’ve been spending time with told me I apologize too much - so it’s the same concept. Psychologically, it communicates self-doubt.
Also, I’m going to spend a few days creating back-up material for times like this - a resevoir for when things get hectic.
“A clever man solves a problem; a wise man avoids it.”
Peace,
+B
John Leschinski | July 23rd, 2008 at 10:21 am #
I still subscribe to blogs that are not updated anymore as well, but I’m not upset about it. Most people are not going to be upset, and won’t unsubscribe. Those same people are probably going to be fine when you start up again explanation or not.
If someone stops blogging it’s not a big loss for me, there are lots of other blogs. But some people might not be as casual about it.
Alex Cristache | July 23rd, 2008 at 10:45 am #
As Darren said, overdoing it is not good. It could show lack of ideas or signs of weakness. BUT, doing it when it’s really the right time and place shows more of the blogger’s human side. We all have personal lives besides our blogs. Experts or not in our niches, life goes on without asking us if we want it or not, so some things might take us by surprise. We’re humans and showing and I see no harm in showing that.
I-COM SEO | July 23rd, 2008 at 10:58 am #
It is polite letting readers know that you’re not posting. But i don’t think that you should bend backwards and feel bad about it.