Are questions getting in the way of publishing something?
Corvida Raven asked an interesting question about yesterday’s content creation questions:
Why so many questions and things to consider to just ask 1 question or inform others? Is all this really necessary?
My reply to her was that my post was a checklist that should be used before publishing content.
Since then, I’ve thought over both my post and my response to Corvida. Corvida is an accomplished blogger and knows what she’s doing, so her question is both valid and worthy of a better answer.
The short answer is: it depends on what you want to achieve.
The longer answer:
There are many different styles, formats, methods, etc. for creating content as well as many different motivations for creating content. The questions that were included in yesterday’s post were intended for creating high quality, readable, accessible content that would be shared by many readers. It would have a clear message, tone, and have the best chances for influencing the reader.
You don’t need to be able to answer YES to all of those questions to create good content; yesterday’s post probably implied that you do. I think that answering YES to even one question can help you to create good content.
HOWEVER, I do think you have the best chance for success if you can answer YES to all of those questions.
Does this make sense?
Easton Ellsworth:
“The questions that were included in yesterday’s post were intended for creating high quality, readable, accessible content that would be shared by many readers. It would have a clear message, tone, and have the best chances for influencing the reader.”
That's going in my post template. Thanks Mark! Yes, it makes perfect sense.
Just making sure … you know @ellenfweber and @RobynMcMaster, right?
13 January 2009, 9:26 amMark Dykeman:
No, actually I've never encountered them before, so I will check them out?
13 January 2009, 11:06 amCorvida:
Thanks for the clarification Mark. I just wanted to note that if I were a beginning blogger, your post would have intimidated me. Can you imagine how much of a headache that could be for new bloggers to go through that checklist?
Your points are very important as far as content creation goes. I guess the way it came across put me in the mindframe of a beginning blogger. Just reading the list seemed like a daunting task for me
Nevertheless, you're checklist is excellent for those who may be intermediate or pro bloggers. Nice follow up with this post.
13 January 2009, 4:34 pmMark Dykeman:
I'm glad you left the comment because it made me think twice about what I had written.
13 January 2009, 7:15 pm