Not including this question, we’ve had four new posts published today, two fewer than the six we more typically have, sometimes even more. Of course, some of those are Outtakes and other short posts; but we try to have at least two meaty articles per day, sometimes more. And we have a lot of superb content in the archives that is getting a second go-around, since so many of you weren’t here when they first ran.
Is there an optimum number per day? The more the merrier? Or less is more? Fewer longer and more in-depth posts, or more shorter, “bloggier” posts? Anything else you’d like to suggest or that we should know? It’s an open mike afternoon at CC.
Whatever is put up is good to me. I see no apparent changes in quality with changes in the number of articles. A balance seems like the best option. While quality is a high priority, I would not want to see a new article that has many topics relevant to the time being (Old GM articles with new GM recall references, unintended acceleration article, etc.) scheduled months after the spectacle has cleared from everyone’s heads. As such, I will echo these thoughts from our very own Jim Cavanaugh:
“However, if there is a lot of new content coming, I would hate to see it throttled to where a new piece gets scheduled 3 months out. A balance. And another vote for quality over quantity.”
Content comes faster than I can keep up. No complaints about sufficient content from me.
I check-in once every couple days, so sometimes I feel like I can’t keep up with the volume of posts. Not a big deal, but I’d probably comment more often if the post wasn’t already falling off the front page.
About 2-3 a day along with a CCC is more then enough. The main thing is to avoid burn out. If a day is busy and life is priority, just post a CCC or nothing until you don’t feel obligated to keep up a schedule or goal. Been following since 2010, was with you on CC opening day. And I find as long as I don’t post about putting VW engines in Corvairs my comments even don’t get deleted. The guest writers and regular contributors have done a great job maintaining high quality and still allow you to maintain your rentals and have a life. Thanks for keeping the site alive and take a break when you need it. The archives will keep me busy for a long time regardless if news posts arrive everyday or not.
I used to subscribe to around five “classic/old car” magazines, some of which don’t exist anymore. I’m down to two, Hemming’s Classic Car and Collectible Automobile. Until I found this site, I used to really look forward to the mags showing up in the mailbox. While I still do, this site is so dynamic and content rich that I sometimes find the mags a little thin by comparison. You can come here and find something new every day. So I’m fine with four postings or so a day – that is great. Given the interesting comments, I also sometimes spend as much time reading those as the post.
I’ve posted a fair number of pictures of some my old toys and models and would appreciate a follow-up to the idea of covering this topic in a post or two, something Dennis Doty does for CA. Paul, I think you just mentioned potentially covering tin toys, a really rich area for research and discussion.
I also want to thank so many of the younger writers here – Perry, Brendan, Laurence (though he appears to be kind of an old soul in his taste in cars:-), Keith, et al, for the perspectives of their generations. Although I don’t always care for some of the cars they enthuse about, that’s in good part because we tend to feel a fondness for cars we grew up with (no matter how bad some of them actually were!). And it’s great to have the cross-generational, research- vs. experience-based discussion generated by their postings about older cars. All fun and interesting.
Finally, Paul, thanks and congratulations for keeping this community of common interests so friendly. There are few blog/discussion forums on the internet where both posters and commenters do not seek to antagonize, insult, or condescend to one another. In the event of an occasional controversy, it’s often just a case of excessive brand partisanship and usually a lot of fun;-). Keep up the good work.
I would say 3-4. This is enough to keep things fresh, without newer posts dropping back too far before readers can contribute comments. I also worry about author burnout, or that we’ll eventually run through every CC too soon and end up with articles debating grille texture differences between the ’77 and ’78 Caprice 😉
One thing I forgot to add is that personally, I like the variety day by day. USUALLY its a good mashup: muscle car, euro car, brougham, shitbox 80s compact, pickup in one day. A-ok with me. Granted, my tastes would be about 75% Mopars, obscure and legendary but of course that’s unrealistic and not in CC spirit. A week of whatever theme is good, but Ive occasionally seen a day or two where all entries were duds for me. But Im sure we’ve ALL experienced that. Opinions being like A-holes and all….
Late to the party, but I will weigh in.
Three to four posts daily is plenty, especially if more than one is meaty. My goal of one post per week is difficult enough at times, so I know creating posts more frequently is going to be challenging (and tiring) especially with the research involved and then responding to various emails, submissions, proofreading, and other eruptions.
There is enough older content where it would be possible to do only two per day with a meatier re-run. I also seem to notice the hopper tends to be more full in the winter than in the summer; perhaps treating content like television could work with more new in the winter and more re-runs in the summer.
Like others have said, quality over quantity.
I set myself the goal of writing one post per week too, it’s not worked out so well so far this year! I have a dozen partially completed sitting on the ol’ laptop, but life keeps getting in the way…
That sounds so familiar! With the continual interruptions I experience, I discovered the “number of edits” portion on the right side of each draft resets itself after 50.
FWIW, that’s a bit of a recipe for…non completion. I always finish a post once I start it, with rare exception, and those inevitably languish then forever. Going back to something started months ago is very difficult and unappealing. When an impulse to write something arises, it should be satisfied, one way or another.
Better to limit the size and scope of your post, and just power through, otherwise it’s likely to never get done. 🙁
If big and ambitious posts are too much, try a short one. 🙂
Good advice, thanks Paul 🙂