Comments on: Why Probloggers Post Off Topic

By: Goran Web

Goran Web — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:02:30 +0000

Makes logical sense, will be giving it a try. Thanks for the post.

By: Dale

Dale — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 22:18:58 +0000

It makes sense, If you have more variety, you will in turn have a variety of visitors.

Hoping that the variety will bring more and not turn away more

Dale

By: Derrick

Derrick — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 10:45:51 +0000

I guess it doesn’t hurt your visitorship to occassionally deviate. But it would sound strange if engadget does a non-tech blog post.

By: MoreMerchant

MoreMerchant — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 16:57:56 +0000

It is like sales. If I can make a personal connection my odds of closing on the sale go up tremendously.

It is taking it to an all new level.

If you do to many OT posts is this a problem? Of course. I don’t read or look at the food on John Chow’s site. I do look for new posts so he hasn’t lost me, but they do irritate me if they are there too often.

By: 4n5

4n5 — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 16:49:27 +0000

“Readers want to know who I am, what I like and when they do they are even more loyal.”

I don’t think my readers care what football team I like and don’t think it ads to my blog any.

Certainly there can be a balance however when you specially start a “niche” blog the tolerance for off topic posts is little to none imo.

Of course it’s your blog and feel free to post about mismatched socks and the tooth fairy but that’s not why I’m subscribed. That’s my point.

By: MoreMerchant

MoreMerchant — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 16:42:59 +0000

45N5 from my stats I do not feel that it loses any longtime readers. I don’t know for sure, but it seems there is a net gain in the long run.

Readers want to know who I am, what I like and when they do they are even more loyal.

By: 4n5

4n5 — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 04:45:03 +0000

it might bring you more traffic but at what expense? alienating your existing readers?

not for me I was actually writing about off topic posts when I saw this post.

I’m not a fan of football so that post was really way out there.

By: Money Masher

Money Masher — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 02:40:32 +0000

I always kind of wondered about these off topic posts. Especially those John Chow posts where he shows you what restaurant he ate at recently and a pic of what he ate! Who cares, right?!
But now that you explain it, it makes perfect sense.