A blog series is a great idea for any blogger. Whether you’ve run many series in the past, or have just started thinking about one, this post is for you! Today we’ll walk you through the whens, whys and hows of running a blog series.
Why Run A Blog Series?
- People have short attention spans. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but most people don’t hang on your (or my) every word. Most people scan or skim posts. Shorter posts are better for today’s short-attention span readers.
- Complex posts are hard to digest. There’s nothing that scares a reader off than a too-long or too involved post. When you create a series, it’s easier for people to manage.
- To maximize your writing effort. Why spend hours writing a 2000-word tome, put it all in one post and then have to do it all again the next day? By stretching out posts into series, you’re able to more easily fill your editorial calendar.
- To grab the SEO benefit. Offering a series of related posts allows you to interlink the posts between them, which helps with your SEO!
- To increase your return visitors. If you write a great opening post to a series, chances are people will come back for subsequent installments.
When You Should Consider Running A Blog Series
- A post is too long to read at once. If your post pushes past 1000 words, it may need to go into 2 parts.
- You have a group of related topics that don’t fit well in one post. An example would be a series of tutorials on holiday crafts. The posts are related due to the holiday theme but would be much too involved for one post.
- You’re explaining a complex topic. This is particularly true when writing posts about blogging. A post about “how to gain more social media followers” is going to encompass multiple sub-topics like Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon and more. This is a perfect candidate for a series.
- Your topic lends itself to installments or has natural breaks. Perhaps you’re writing about a particularly dramatic period in your life. Instead of writing one long post, identify a “cliffhanger” or natural break moment at which to end the first post and start a second. This will entice readers to come back to read how the story ends.
How to Run a Blog Series
- Start with a plan. Outline how many posts you anticipate creating from the original topic. Map out the content in each post and make sure you have enough content to fill the planned posts (or avoid having too much in each post!)
- Keep each post to 500-650 words. Keep each post simple and succinct. If you’re typically less wordy, add more images to give the post more “meat.”
- Introduce the series. Write a preview post the week prior to the series running. Step your readers through what the series is about and why they should read it.
- Limit series to one week unless absolutely necessary. It’s hard for people to follow a series of posts that start before a weekend and pick back up after the weekend. If you have to cross into a new week with your series due to length, a) examine whether you can actually have two separate series or b) make sure you explain to your readers that the series is extending into another week.
- Don’t start a series in the middle of the week. Unless the series is a weekly feature running on a scheduled weekday indefinitely, try to start your series on Monday or Tuesday.
- Preview the next post . As you finish each post in your series, give your readers a snippet of what’s to come. Example: “Now that we’ve finished talking about making the perfect Valentine’s Day cake, come back tomorrow, when I’ll share with you how to create a gorgeous Valentine’s Day tablescape.“
- Review the last post. As you start a new post in the series, review what you just covered. Example: “Yesterday we talked about making a perfect Valentine’s Day cake (include link to yesterday’s post!). Today, I’ll give you 4 easy steps to make a beautiful tablescape.”
- Interlink posts. Every time you have a chance to interlink posts within a series, do it! Also, if you’ve written other posts on this same, or related topics, include those in your posts as well. You can do this within the post content, or you can add an “additional resources” section at the end of the post. Example: “If you liked this Valentine’s Day entertaining series, be sure to check out my series last year on Easter brunches.”
- Consider experts/guest posters. If you want to do a series but don’t have the expertise to cover each and every aspect, invite an expert to guest post for you on the topics you’re shaky on. This will enhance your credibility to your readers.
Now you’re ready to tackle a blog series and get the maximum impact. Good luck!
More Tips on How To Blog Better
- How to Write a Blog Post in 15 Minutes or Less
- How to Start a Blog Meme
- How to Get the Most from Your Google Reader
- How to Get Blog Readers
- How to Blog About Your Faith
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Twitter: lisapatb
says:
Love the idea – could you also break it into just 400-500 words per post? For a longer series? Interlinking has become so important – great tips.
Lisa recently posted..Will You Burn Out?
Great idea! I’m definitely going to try this. Thank you
Carolyn recently posted..Southerners in the North
Twitter: thewahwife
says:
Interlinking is so important. It’s a bummer to find a little gem that says it is part of a series, and yet there are no links to any of the other posts. Make it easy on me.
Angie recently posted..GoDaddy Bowl Domain Sale
Now I need to think of a series!
JDaniel4′s Mom recently posted..Muffin Tin Monday- Oatmeal Toppings and Recipes
Twitter: csiracusa
says:
This is so inspiring! I’m going to be trying to come up with an idea for a series all day! Thanks for the tips, Gigi.
Christine @ Quasi Agitato recently posted..The Problem with Pablo.
Great tips, sadly my series are spread weeks apart. I’m the one with the short attention span.
Twitter: bleepingamazing
says:
Excellent post! Thanks so much for talking about something that’s been weighing heavily on my mind. I’ve recently transition an old blog to a new one and it’s been a KILLER!
Bleeping Amazing recently posted..DC Bucket List…The Dream Ends This Summer
Great advice! But man, I can’t even imagine writing a 2000 word post. How long would that even take? Mine usually don’t go past 300. Maybe I’m just doing it wrong, heh.
C @ Kid Things recently posted..In a Rush to Wait
Great tips! Thank you ladies.
Karen recently posted..Frustrated With New Coupon Data Codes
Thanks for the great tips! I just started my first series over at Cupcakes and Candy Canes, and I’ll definitely be using these ideas.
Thanks
Allyson
http://cupcakescandycanes.blogspot.com
Allyson recently posted..The Pitfalls of Pinterest
Love this!
Neely recently posted..What I want out of 2012
Love this! So helpful
Neely recently posted..What I want out of 2012
I love the idea of a blog series- I’m actually hosting a blog series this week for my tenth baby’s birthday…a giveaway every day! I don’t really understand how linking increases SEO…I would love to read a post from you on that (or maybe you have one that I haven’t read?) Thanks so much for these tips!
patti recently posted..Lily’s Birthday Giveaway Week…day one
Gigi- hope you don’t mind me jumping in! Patti- I’m Melissa and I write for SITS too. I actually wrote a post a while ago about interlinking and SEO and thought it would be helpful!
http://www.momcomm.com/2011/10/using-anchor-text/
Melissa {momcomm} recently posted..Momcomm’s 11 Most Kick Booty Posts of 2011
Great Tips, I have ran a few series and plan to do one this spring. But I tend to fly by the seat of my pants.
Pamela list recently posted..Free Printable Daily Agenda Planning Sheet for Busy Moms with a Doodle Spot
Twitter: SylverBlaque
says:
Thanx for this info. I’ve already done a number of series on my blog, but was just winging it. These tips will come in handy for future series.
Sylver Blaque recently posted..Day? Oh!
Fabulous information here.
Leigh Powell Hines (@Hinessightblog) recently posted..Recipes from America’s Best Place to Live
Blog post series are my favorite thing to read!!
Life As Wife recently posted..When Will It End?
Twitter: Anne_Hogan
says:
I’m doing a month-long series on organizing at my blog. I’m only posting three times a week, but I hope it’s still not too drawn out. :/ Doing the series has been fun, because it’s made me really delve into one topic more deeply, but I think that once February 1 rolls around I’ll be ready to get back to regularly scheduled programming!
Anne recently posted..Organizing Digital Clutter
I haven’t thought of doing a blog series but I do like your explainations about why and how. Food for thought.
Elizabeth recently posted..PSA – HIPPA and Emergencies
Love it. Love Gigi. Always so smart and helpful!
Mrs. Jen B recently posted..Baked Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal
Twitter: BoonieSooze
says:
Great tips, Gigi. I did a series of posts once, and I was very satisfied with my ratings, and with the interest people expressed in them.
The SEO benefit is a great thing that I don’t think I thought about when I did mine!
Susan in the Boonies recently posted..New Recipes Tab!
Twitter: TheMommyMess
says:
This is excellent advice. I began a series last year about a dramatic period of my past. I didn’t really have much of a plan. I’d still like to share more, and this post is so helpful!
Adrienne recently posted..mealtime #momfail
Twitter: EverythingEvie
says:
Blog series are super fun to write and to read! I agree about not starting on a Friday though. I made that first mistake when I first started blogging. Nobody really read it. I learned my lesson! Thanks for the tips, I’ll definitely be bookmarking this page for future reference. Thanks!
Eve recently posted..Motherhood is a Dirty Job But I’m Happy to do It
Twitter: klypt
says:
Brillant! I’ve planned series before only to le them drag on for weeks! Now I know better! There will be some more in my future!
Kisha recently posted..Not a Perfect Parent
Thanks for the tips…I plan on running a blog series soon on hosting a birthday tea.
Leslie recently posted..My New Dish – Bacon Wrapped Scallops
Great advice, well timed for me!
My series on Blogger Business cards from last year was my most trafficked week on Momcomm all year! So, running a series definitely works!
Melissa {momcomm} recently posted..Momcomm’s 11 Most Kick Booty Posts of 2011
thank you, melissa!
patti recently posted..Lily’s Birthday Giveaway Week…day two
Twitter: reallifetravels
says:
I love blog series, this is a great post and has made me realize how to improve mine! Thanks!
Susan @ Real Life Travels recently posted..What I Learned This Weekend
Twitter: mrsmonologues
says:
I have tried blog series and link up’s many times, but always seem to fail halfway through for series or cancel after 3 weeks for linkup’s. Great methodology, I might have to find a topic again for a series and follow these steps!
Twitter: stephmommybrain
says:
I hadn’t thought of running a series for several days in a row. I can see how a weekend would definitely kill the momentum you have built.
I’d like to add that bloggers should make every effort to finish a series. As a reader, I find it frustrating when a blogger starts a series and then drops it half was through. I’m totally guilty of doing this as a blogger so I’m preaching to me first. As a blogger, I try to have at least half of the series WRITTEN before I publish it and the rest of the series outlined.
Stephanie’s Mommy Brain recently posted..Mistress Pat by L.M. Montgomery
This is a helpful post – just at the right time for me today : ) I’ve been thinking about a series and this helps me to make my thoughts more concrete!
Could you run a series on running a series? : )
Ann recently posted..How Not To Overparent Your Kids (And Love Them Better)
Twitter: AccidentalDesig
says:
This is maybe a little beyond me… I have thought of doing a series on the same day each week. Hmmm. Food for thought.
Maggie S. recently posted..Relief
Twitter: Dainty_Mom
says:
I really should calendar a blog series this year! I’m entering my 3rd year of blogging in March, so I think then would a good start. Thank you for the tips; I’m going to set them in stone.
Martine | Work at Home Mom Writer recently posted..Organizing your kids’ stuff while prettifying your home {3 Sprouts Giveaway}
Great suggestions! I’ve started trying to do blog series, but was just kind of winging it. This is the perfect guide for my next one.
Kristin Hodnett recently posted..Life is Like a Game of Solitaire
Twitter: kg_photography
says:
What a great idea! I unintentionally ran a blog series about SEO, because I had so many great tips (from bloggers and SEO consultants) that I didn’t want to create a super long blog. This post gives me more information so that I can do this intentionally next time. Thanks!
Kimberly Gauthier, Adventures in Blogging recently posted..Getting Political | SOPA Inspired Me To Write My Senators
Twitter: LaurelMartinez
says:
oh yea!! I am so excited to try this! I have a few ideas for a series that I am itching to try out!