The Five Hour Blog Post

Mar 07

image - five o'clockOk, many of us have been fighting the same battle for a very long time. The battle… Too many projects – not enough time. We start a blog or website and just as things start getting interesting we start another. And another. The next thing we know we’re up till two in the morning everyday trying to keep up. That battle can only be won if we know what we’re up against. Below shows how a single blog post can take up to five hours or more.

  1. 2 Hours: The first step to any post is deciding what to write about. It is impossible to put a time on that step. Once we have our subject we need to consider our keywords. A little keyword research goes a long way. Now we draw up an outline and begin to form the post. We sometimes go to a dozen or more sites checking details and researching facts. We also need to decide which posts are relevant enough to link out to. Once we have the outline in order it’s time to check sentence structure, spelling and punctuation. Having someone proofread your article helps a lot. Now we’re almost ready. All we need now is an image. Searching for that perfect image that we are allowed to use can take a lot of time. So we publish our post. If you are anything like me you just spent at least two hours of your time on this single post. But we are not finished investing time on this blog post.
  2. 1 Hour: Now it’s promotion time. The post needs to be pinged, dugg, and tweeted. We need to add the post to our Facebook and FriendFeed. We need to add the post to the best blog directories and build backlinks. If we really want success we write a couple of separate unique articles to submit to article directories linking back to our post.
  3. 2+ Hours: Hopefully we’ll get a bunch of comments to moderate and reply to. We clean up the spam and moderate the rest. We need to follow the link back to each blogger that commented and return the favor. Here’s where many of us get very distracted. Reading posts and comments, following links and commenting more. I’ve lost many hours here.

I have heard some bloggers say they can toss up a post in twenty minutes. I envy them. What about you? Do you spend a lot of time on a single post? How many blogs are you running and how often do you post?

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/spaunsglo/ / CC BY 2.0

About the author

Tee Riddle wrote 33 articles on this blog.

Tee Riddle is a social media enthusiast and co-founder of a weekly Twitter chat, dubbed #gardenchat. He has many hobbies and also blogs about vegetable gardening at Veggie Gardener.

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  • Great idea and I usually spend max 2 hours on writing and ideas for post is randomly from comments, chat, reading other blogs. However, the last part takes a lot of time that I can not calculate
    .-= Tinh´s last blog ..HostGator Released New Affiliate System! =-.
  • I agree Tinh, it's hard to determine how much time we spend on other blogs. I know for most of us it's probably the biggest chunk of time.
  • No wonder I'm not getting noticed Brian! I'm not doing most of those things. Once an idea pops into my head I just write about it. Once I hit publish it get's automatically tweeted and that's about it.

    I do a fair bit of commenting when I have the time and if the blog has commentluv it get's a link to it then but that's about it.
    .-= Sire´s last blog ..What Is The True Power Of The Blog? =-.
  • I know better than that Sire, you have a very active blog. I wish this one that active. You could lie to me and say you work your butt off just to make me feel better lol
  • It could take 20 minutes just to start a computer or a laptop Brian lol! just kidding!

    20 minutes for a post can be true only if the idea jumped on your mind and you was inspired enough to write it well and fast, this exactly like writing a song or a poem by inspiration, some toke months and some other takes only a few minutes and it's done! and both can succeed!

    Personally, I spend the same time you mention exactly to write a post everyday, and you know what?! I receive good amount of guest posts for my blog, I ask the fellow bloggers not to bother doing keywords and other SEO stuff to make it easy for them, I take the same time even if the post is already written :) maybe because I do lots of promotion for it to server my guest bloggers well!

    Very .. Very good post! glad to see you blogging more often.
    .-= Hesham @ FamousBloggers´s last blog ..What’s the Relationship between Money, Blog Comments and True Love? =-.
  • I know Hesham, 20 minutes is almost no time, right? I guess it doesn't help that I type with one finger lol
  • More and more, I'm focusing on delivering the best content I can, and worrying a little less about promotion.

    This isn't hurting current traffic so much... but my traffic probably could grow faster.

    Thanks for stopping by.
    .-= Dave Doolin´s last blog ..Don’t Abandon Your Blog! Mothball it to preserve your asset value =-.
  • Hi Dave, I think once you reach a certain point, traffic and momentum can continue without too much work.
  • Thanks for Bringing up this Topic Today it Inspired me to write about this topic also It would be better if I made a Trackback but I do not see that you allow them. Anyway I think the photo takes up too much time and should be ignored unless you are writing about a person or place as for Digging and Submitting your post to social bookmarking sites you could use onlywire but if you are not careful with it sites like stumble upon will block your Domain
    .-= Roezer´s last blog ..Photos in your Articles are they Important =-.
  • Thanks Roezer, I'll have to look into that about StumbleUpon blocking sites using onlywire. I think that's a problem with many automated services.
  • Wow so this is where all my friends been hiding out:) Well I think it's obvious I don't take as much time as I should writing a post.I actually edit and proof read often after it's posted.I hope to work on doing things much better.Currently I take a snap shot in my mind of a topic, think of a title write add links and pics in 3 minutes click submit go to amplify start approving comments :) Play around have fun and visit blogs :) Clock work repeat ;) Things go much better when I add fun instead of anger
    Hope everyone is enjoying a great weekend Thanks
    Like the new Blog setup Brian nice work
    .-= John Sullivan@The Blog No One Reads´s last blog ..Are we obligated to help new bloggers ? =-.
  • I think you're doing a great job John. I wouldn't change a thing.

    You're number three on Google with "The Blog No One Reads" lol Talking about an oxymoron
  • Good question, I have one site thankfully but the amount of hours I put in amounts to a full time job.

    Most of my time goes into replying to comments both on my site and the guest posts or case studies about the site.

    It takes me about 2 hours for my posts but I put up at least two a day and usually write a guest post for someone.
    .-= TheInfoPreneur´s last blog ..Interview With Maren Kate EspacingThe9to5.com =-.
  • Wow, two a day. I'm lucky to get two a week out. Very lucky lol You have a great site BTW
  • Brian,

    I have done the things you posted rarely. I just wrote my first real researched post this week and I have blogged for two years. I have spent so much time just writing from what I knew because it was easy. I have responded to a couple of commenters on my blog but never made it a habit. I bookmarked the article so I can follow it when I write. Thanks Again.
    .-= Steve´s last blog ..Personal Success – High Performance With Balance =-.
  • Hi Steve, I try to respond to everyone but I don't know if I'll keep doing it. One of my blogging buddies says it's like padding the comment numbers.
  • Very true Brian, time management is actually very important.
  • Thanks Suhasini
  • Brian,

    We all fall into that trap and it is so easy to get there. I try to automate as much as possible. I somehow (really can;t remember exactly how I can across this) found this site called http://www.onlywire.com

    I has really helped me automate my posts on http://theguruhub.com - Maybe it can help reduce some time for your readers.
    .-= Gregg Zban´s last blog ..The Invasion of the RE: Email Subject Line =-.
  • Thanks Gregg, Are those the buttons under the words 'Share and Enjoy' below your posts?
  • While I do not have a blog, I do operate a news section that is just about a blog except for the name. If I could put up a post in 20 minutes, my life would be so much simpler. Unfortunately it normally takes me about an hour. But if the topic really interests me, I can spent more time writing. The comments tend to have more depth when I write longer posts as well.
  • Thanks Sean, work it work whether a blog or not ;)
  • hi Brian,
    OK, I just now read and understand the idea behind the gallery. Very cool! Are there any buttons left, and/or how many have you sent out?
    And did you come up with this idea on your own, or from somewhere? The more I think about it, the more awesome I think it is.
    Steve
    .-= Steve | Trade Show Guru´s last blog ..Trade Show Outboarding =-.
  • Thanks Steve. Send me your address using http://help.csc4u.com/ and I'll get a button out to you and get you in there too.
  • Brian,

    I must admit I'm taking a short cut right now by not reading all of the other comments. (sorry but I'm on my lunch break)

    The image search is what slows me down most of the time. I'm spoiled because I use iStock at work but I'm not ready to invest in images for my blogs. I've used some of the free sites and they just take forever to trudge through. Especially if you want to find something unique and actually relevant to your content. A few times I've used my own photos and that has made the process go much faster.

    Finding other posts to link out to was another chore but now I'm using that Zemanta plugin and that saves me about 1/2 an hour for each post. (so glad I figured out who the heck Zemanta is).

    I also like to include a video tutorial when I can and that adds another hour or two for script writing and video editing.

    Where's that guy that said blogging would be EASY? I got something for him ;)

    @Ileane
    .-= Ileane@ Blogging´s last blog ..Diigo Extension for Google Chrome Browser =-.
  • Hi Ileane, have you tried a Creative Commons search using Flickr? http://www.flickr.com/ If you go to advanced search you can choose to only search for images you are allowed to use. You simply leave photo credit (like at the bottom of this post). I was using iStockPhoto but that was getting expensive.
  • Brian,

    I've used this one before too, but it's good that you gave me the link again. I know they are getting fresh content everyday. So I'll give it a try later today. Thanks!
    .-= Ileane @Blogging´s last blog ..What’s More Important? Your SEO or Your Readers? =-.
  • Thanks Steve, I was beginning to think I was the only one taking all that time on a post. lol

    I still need to work on the photo gallery. I want an explanation and links back to the sender below each picture. Most haven't bothered sending any pictures back so I'm hoping the gallery will remind/motivate everyone.
  • hi Brian,
    GREAT POST! :) And a great example of how to incorporate clever links into your post. I clicked through on to your button photo gallery. I love it!... including the button on the toilet. :) I wonder how many other readers have discovered your gallery. Very, very cool.

    I too am also one of those people that needs hours and not minutes to write a post...
    Steve, the slow trade show guru
    .-= Steve | Trade Show Guru´s last blog ..Trade Show Outboarding =-.
  • Hmm, I guess I miss a step or two when I write. lol

    I get the idea and write it up, knowing (sometimes just hoping) my readership will find it useful.

    No real KW reserch.

    Very few images (although that's going to change).

    No real extra detail/fact checking as I try to write about things I already know.

    Not much time looking for relevant links as I get most of my ideas from other blogs and include all links in the draft right after I get the idea.

    I'm not really in the social scene, that's on the to do list for this year.

    OK, I do a lot of the commenting thing, but I don't consider that part of the "post writing"

    I suppose i should bone up on a few things, but all in all, I'm okie. ;)
    .-= Dennis Edell´s last blog ..UPDATED – $100 – 10 Winners – Comment Contest! ‘Till Months End… =-.
  • Hi Dennis, I could save a bunch of time if I'd follow your lead and write up a draft when I get an idea. I have a bad habit of scribbling a note and going back a week or more late. Then I'm searching everywhere for the posts I want to include.
  • I'm at your humble service. ;)
    .-= Dennis Edell´s last blog ..How Contextual Links will Open On DEDC – My Setup FINALIZED! =-.
  • When I first read the title to this post in my reader, I thought to myself, "Oh wow this might be long and drawn out". Instead it turned out to be a crafty and helpful little goody, Sunday Smash bound.
    .-= Extreme John @Blogging ceos´s last blog ..A Day in the Life of Extreme John Episode 7 [video] =-.
  • Thanks John, I appreciate that. I do tend to get long winded at times but I have been trying to be more to the point. That and a lot of editing lol
  • Hi Brian,

    I run two blogs and contribute to one, as well as guest post on occasion.

    For me, I am right there with you - I can't write a blog post in 20 minutes. My style isn't really stream of consciousness though, I look at my posts more as helpful essays and howtos. They are filled with research, information gathered from different websites and occasionally visual aids I put together.

    And you're right - the marketing and building relationships often takes me just as long or longer than actually writing the post! =)
    .-= Sid Savara@Personal Development´s last blog ..7 Common Procrastination Excuses =-.
  • It's working for you Sid, that's a great blog.
  • You do keyword research for every post? I usually stick to doing keyword research only for the main domain and go with the 'buzz' for writing posts. I prefer closing comments after 30 days, otherwise over life of a post, it can take more than 3-4 hours in just moderating comments (even with Akismet on).
    .-= Todd@watch nhl live online´s last blog ..Sign Up =-.
  • Hi Todd, I'm getting more and more into keyword research. I joined The Keyword Academy (affiliate link) a while ago. Due to the nature of this blog and the internet marketing niche I don't concentrate on it so much here.
  • Brian,

    I relate with the time drain for this whole process that you describe.

    I like to spend a lot of time on promotion, but what has occurred to me over the last month or so is that I have it backwards. I should be focusing on writing great content, and then worry about promotion. Not the other way around.

    One thing that I have implemented, and I am not 100% sure on is how often an image/photo for a post is worth the time. At one point I was having an image for every single post, but now I'm thinking that I will only include an image on the killer articles I write for my blog, and then I use the same image for posts that deal with a specific system (an example would be an article dealing with Wordpress).

    It takes me a lot of time to make a post, but my posts typically aren't very short and I am not the best writer out there. It takes me longer when I write a tutorial that uses PHP code, because I make sure all of the code I post is working.
    .-= chrisroane´s last blog ..Code Formatting and Coloring in WordPress without a Plugin =-.
  • Hi Chris, I did that same thing with the images on a blog a couple years ago. I setup a standard image for each category and that's what I used. Any other images required for the post would go into the body of the article. It worked out pretty well.
  • Hi Brian,

    Do you really want my answer to this one? The overwhelming majority of my posts take between 5 & 10 minutes, and that's it. If it's a researched post it takes longer, of course, but how often am I writing a research post? Not saying my posts are the quantity of Mozart, but I can say that I write with the speed of Mozart, and almost never have to go back and edit myself. That is, unless I've been lazy and decided to use Dragon to help me write a post; I don't do that often.

    As a point of comparison, though, I used to write music, and most of the time when I got an idea I'd have an entire song, music and lyrics, completed within half an hour. When I'm focused, I just get stuff done.
    .-= Mitch´s last blog ..Tips For Guest Posting =-.
  • That's very cool Mitch, I envy you. I was wondering if any of my blogging friends had that talent. You have a natural writing ability.

    This particular post, the one we're commenting on now, took me even more than five hours because I wanted to link out to a bunch of friends with relevant posts. It has 15 links in there. I think I'm going to start doing that more often so I should have called it, 'The All Day Post'. lol
  • That's funny. I guess I'm lucky in having stuff just come to me. Even when it comes to linking, since you know I do a lot of internal linking, I remember what I need to find and I just find it.

    If you're going to do lots of linking to friends blogs, you might want to set up a system like Kristi has and copy links throughout the week that you figure you might want to highlight later on.
    .-= Mitch´s last blog ..Why Do You Revisit Some Blogs And Not Others? =-.
  • Thanks for all the Links Brian!
    I'm giving you "rockstar" points. ;)

    I do not update each of our sites everyday (except our Index Driver). I tend to post when an article hits me. Many times I just write them out as they are in my head. That may not be the best way to do it but, if I let it sit then I will send it through the "is it perfect" line & it will never get posted.

    Not sure if there are any pills to cure anal retentiveness?!

    As for placing an image on my post - that takes me almost no time at all. Maybe because I seldom do it. Unless I am reading a How To, I would have no idea if most post have images. Guess my brain just ignores pictures if I am there to read text.

    I think what takes the most time is deciding if I want to post an article on my personal blog or on the forum.
    .-= Sheryl@Blog Forum´s last blog ..FaceBook MarketPlace =-.
  • That's a good point Sheryl, most recommend an image when writing a blog post but now that you mention it, I think I tend to ignore them too. I haven't really paid much attention to it but unless an image really grabs my attention I don't really notice it. I'm usually scanning titles and reading the article. I wonder how many others are the same way.
  • While I do try to visit blogs from my commentors, I don't always comment, sometimes when I get 50+ comments, I don't even have time to visit their blogs.

    I usually spend a couple of hours to do a post, sometimes less, sometimes more.

    I still don't do any article marketing, maybe I should check into it, but I prefer to keep my unique work on my site or in a guest post to a higher ranked blog....
    .-= Keith@ Blog Tips´s last blog ..8 Main Factors that Affect Search Engine Rankings =-.
  • I'm the same way Keith, it's hard to comment on every one, especially if the blog is in an odd niche like medical supplies or real estate or something. I want to leave a comment but only if it will add a little value. Those type of blogs are a little hard to contribute on.
  • mmm... I understand what you mean Brian.. I have started a new blog yesterday, and still wondering how I will manage all those blog I have right now!

    Also the contest is breaking my back lol!
    .-= Hesham @ FamousBloggers´s last blog ..Scribe SEO content became the official SEO plugin for FB Guest Blogging Contest =-.
  • Stop back by Hesham and post the link to your new blog. This is a link friendly site :)
  • Step three is where a blogger can really make themselves stand out. By reaching out and returning the favor to those bloggers who actively participate on your blog, you're putting yourself ahead of the pack. It's an incredible way to build your community and get serious karma/point from your fellow bloggers.

    Great tips!
  • It's true Josh, In fact I'd say it's imperative. Reach out to peers and try to help each other. Restricting comments on the mega blogs that don't take notice is a huge mistake that many newbies tend to make.
  • Agreed. Forging relationships with other bloggers is the single best way to get your site/blog off the ground and to build up a strong base. Thanks again for the post.
    .-= Joshua Dorkin´s last blog ..How a Simple Real Estate Video With This Ingredient Can Explode Your Real Estate Business =-.
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