Must write shorter posts.
Ken
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Meta
Looks like you’re off to a good start.
Funny.
No way! I like your long and thoughtful posts.
Will Richardson mentioned earlier this week that the shorter his post the more comments he got. Has he discovered a law of nature?
Ken
Variety is key: Include both short and long.
Yes, there is something to the short posting/comment ratio.
If 140 characters are enough you may use Twitter
Happy new year.
Oh I like your long thoughtful posts. Will be interestng to see how this goes – are you linking it up to Twitter so that your tweets pop up here? Or are they separate short (dare I say micro) blogging entities?
Actually, I think I said I’m writing fewer posts and getting more comments. Not sure about the length. Tho, your comment to length ratio on this one is pretty stunning. Try three words the next time… ;0)
Hmmm. But comments are coming in much faster than usual…
Simplify.
Yes. Now I see that the post could have been just 2 words: ‘Short posts’.
Ken
I wonder if post length affects comment quality (if you could/should measure such a thing).
Steve,
Ouch!
Ken
I think I personally appreciate shorter posts.
So good luck with this new year´s resolution!
Ken, we are all being Twitterfied.
Does this mean I have to leave shorter comments?
standuke,
You are royalty around here, so you may do whatever you like. I think people learn way more from your comments than they do form my posts. Keep writing as much as you like. (I wish I could have said all that in fewer words…)
Ken
I’ve found your longish posts contain so many ideas, fervently bundled together, that I am at a loss to know which idea to begin with first.
Fewer words lengthwise may let us get more words in edgewise.
Just checking back. What is the conclusion?
My conclusion is that short posts do enable more responses as it takes less time to read and respond, but, to your point, this may affect the quality of the responses. As ever this probably comes down to objectives in writing the post.
Michael,
I think I agree with you.
Ken
Disclaimer: I write long posts. Heck, I take a perverse pride in getting tweets out with the full 140. Value-add!
More seriously, I think each person gradually finds, then builds, then hones a style of expression. More than one, really: your expression with coworkers, your expression with friends; your expression in formal work, in email, in blog posts.
Though I often fall short, I think it’s good to provide infrastructure in longer posts: subheads, bullet points, an image or three.
Usually, though, when you find yourself measuring conversation by its length, rather than by its content, it’s a hint you’re not captivated by that content.
Ken,
I taught in Ken En back in 1997 (was dating Mitch)…It’s been a long time, congrats on the huge success, I’ve been living in the US for about 7 years now and a lot of people are using ChinesePod here, and that’s how I found out you co-started it. I still go back to Shanghai quite often, at least once a year. Just want to send this message and I am glad that you are still enjoying Shanghai. I really miss home sometimes.
Ken,
all the best for 2009!
And drop by with some (short or long) comments at CPod once in a while. Like in the good old days…
Dave,
I agree that length variety is good. However my style is to think about somethign for a week or two and then write all my ideas when I get the chance. It makes for longer, somewhat pensive posts. This year i may try to be more spontaneous!
Cynthia,
Good to hear from you and I’m delighted you heard about us at ChinesePod. It amazes me sometimes the sheer number of people who listen or have listened to that thing! Let me know next time you’re in Shanghai.
Henning,
I find that the less I post over there the harder it gets. I don’t have time to get really involved in the community, so I guess I’ve just drifted a bit. Thx for the suggestion.
Ken
It is too bad you didn’t add these words to your newest post- “more regularly”.
Hi Ken,
I’m a big fan of Chinesepod. I thought you might be interested in this article from today’s Herald Tribune. It’s about an online university:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/01/25/technology/university.4-415520.php
…and more posts.