Stories with Tag web publishing

• Forget Twitter threads and write a blog post instead (2021)

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  Posted: 2025-03-06 08:48:13

  Verbose tl;dr

  Kevin Quirk argues against using Twitter threads for substantive content, advocating for blog posts instead. He points out Twitter's ephemeral nature, poor searchability, lack of control over formatting and content presentation, and the difficulty of revising or updating information. A blog, in contrast, offers permanence, improved discoverability through search engines, greater control over formatting and multimedia inclusion, and the ability to easily edit and update. This creates a superior reading experience and allows creators to build a lasting, searchable body of work that they own and control, unlike content trapped within the walled garden of a social media platform.

  In his 2021 blog post entitled "Forget Twitter threads and write a blog post instead," Kevin Quirk articulates a compelling argument for the superiority of blog posts over Twitter threads as a medium for sharing complex or nuanced thoughts. He begins by acknowledging the initial appeal of Twitter threads—their ease of creation and the potential for virality they offer due to Twitter's inherent structure. He concedes that crafting a quick thread can seem less daunting than composing a full blog post. However, Quirk posits that this perceived convenience comes at a significant cost, ultimately diminishing the quality and impact of the shared information.

  He elaborates on several key drawbacks inherent in the threaded format. Firstly, the ephemeral nature of Twitter and its algorithm means that threads are often fleeting, easily lost in the constant stream of new content, unlike blog posts which can be indexed by search engines and remain accessible indefinitely. Secondly, he argues that the character limitations imposed by Twitter necessitate an oversimplification of ideas, hindering the development of comprehensive arguments and fostering a culture of superficiality. This brevity, while sometimes advantageous for quick updates, proves inadequate for exploring multifaceted concepts.

  Furthermore, Quirk emphasizes the disjointed nature of Twitter threads, highlighting the difficulty of maintaining a coherent narrative across multiple tweets. The reader's experience is fragmented, requiring constant clicks and scrolling, which disrupts the flow of information and can lead to a loss of engagement. In contrast, a blog post offers a unified and easily navigable platform for presenting a complete and well-structured argument.

  Quirk then underscores the benefits of blogging, emphasizing the ownership and control it provides over content. Unlike Twitter, where content is subject to the platform's whims and algorithms, a blog allows the author to curate their work and present it in a deliberate manner, fostering a more professional and polished image. This control extends to formatting, allowing for the incorporation of multimedia elements like images, videos, and code snippets, enriching the content and enhancing the reader's understanding.

  Moreover, Quirk points out the potential for building a long-term audience through blogging. By consistently producing high-quality content on a personal platform, authors can cultivate a dedicated readership interested in their specific niche or expertise. This sustained engagement, he argues, is more valuable than the transient virality often sought on Twitter.

  Finally, he concludes by encouraging a shift in mindset, advocating for treating blog posts as the primary medium for sharing in-depth thoughts, with Twitter threads serving only as supplementary teasers or summaries to drive traffic to the more substantial blog content. In essence, Quirk proposes a paradigm shift, prioritizing the long-term benefits of blogging over the fleeting allure of Twitter threads.

  • Blogging
  • Writing
  • Twitter
  • twitter threads
  • long-form content
  • short-form content
  • Content Creation
  • online publishing
  • web publishing
  • SEO
  • content marketing
  • social media marketing
  • 2021

  Summary of Comments ( 96 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43277924

  Verbose tl;dr

  Hacker News users generally agree with the author's premise that blog posts are superior to Twitter threads for conveying complex ideas. Several commenters point out the ephemeral nature of Twitter content and the difficulty of searching or referencing it later. The improved formatting, editing capabilities, and permanence of blogs are highlighted as key advantages. Some users mention the benefit of owning your content on a personal platform rather than relying on a third-party service. A few dissenting opinions suggest Twitter threads can be effective for quick thoughts and reaching a wider audience, but acknowledge blogs are better for in-depth analysis. The lack of comments/likes on personal blogs is mentioned as a potential drawback, though others counter that this allows for more focused writing without the pressure of social media engagement.

  The Hacker News post linking Kevin Quirk's blog post, "Forget Twitter threads and write a blog post instead," generated a fair number of comments, most agreeing with the premise.

  Many commenters echoed the sentiment that Twitter threads are a suboptimal format for conveying complex or nuanced information. They cited issues such as the character limit, difficulty in editing, lack of searchability, and the ephemeral nature of tweets getting lost in the fast-paced feed. Several pointed out the benefits of blog posts, including better formatting options, permanence, ownership of content, and the ability to build a personal archive.

  One commenter highlighted the inherent transience of Twitter, stating that relying on a platform you don't control for important content is a risky proposition. This concern about platform dependence and potential loss of content resonated with other users. Another user emphasized the improved reading experience of a well-structured blog post compared to a disjointed Twitter thread, particularly for longer-form content.

  A few commenters offered counterpoints or nuanced perspectives. One argued that Twitter threads offer a unique advantage in facilitating quick, real-time discussions and engaging directly with an audience, suggesting that the two formats serve different purposes. Another acknowledged the benefits of blogging but pointed to the network effect and broader reach afforded by Twitter. They suggested using Twitter threads to attract attention and then linking to a more detailed blog post for those who want to delve deeper. This cross-posting strategy was mentioned by others as a way to leverage the strengths of both platforms.

  Some commenters offered practical tips, like using a service to convert Twitter threads into blog posts, further demonstrating a preference for the blog format. Another commenter emphasized the professional benefits of maintaining a blog, suggesting it helps build credibility and showcases expertise in a way that a scattered collection of tweets cannot.

  Overall, the comments largely supported Quirk's argument, praising the benefits of blog posts for their permanence, structure, and ownership. While some acknowledged the specific advantages of Twitter for quick dissemination and engagement, the prevailing sentiment was that blog posts provide a superior platform for sharing in-depth thoughts and building a lasting body of work.

• Why Blog If Nobody Reads It?

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  Posted: 2025-02-09 17:50:10

  Verbose tl;dr

  Even if no one reads your blog, it's still valuable. Writing clarifies your thinking, solidifies your understanding of a topic, and acts as a personal record of your intellectual journey. It can serve as a sandbox for experimenting with ideas, a portfolio to showcase skills, and a springboard for future projects. Essentially, blogging is an act of learning and self-improvement, with the potential bonus of connecting with an audience down the line.

  Andy Bell, in his blog post entitled "Why Blog If Nobody Reads It?", eloquently explores the multifaceted motivations behind maintaining a personal blog, even in the absence of a substantial readership. He posits that the act of blogging itself, irrespective of audience engagement, offers a plethora of intrinsic benefits. He meticulously dissects these advantages, categorizing them into several key areas.

  Firstly, Mr. Bell emphasizes the value of blogging as a mechanism for clarifying one's own thoughts. He argues that the process of articulating ideas in written form forces a deeper level of cognitive engagement with the subject matter, leading to a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding. This act of externalizing internal musings, he suggests, allows for a more objective self-critique and facilitates the refinement of one's perspectives.

  Secondly, the author highlights the utility of blogging as a form of personal documentation and knowledge retention. He describes his blog as a repository of his intellectual journey, a chronicle of his evolving understanding of various topics. This digital archive, he explains, serves as a valuable resource for future reference, allowing him to revisit past thoughts and track his intellectual progress over time. He likens this process to maintaining a meticulously curated personal library of knowledge.

  Furthermore, Mr. Bell touches upon the potential, albeit perhaps unrealized, for future readership. He acknowledges the possibility that his writings may resonate with a wider audience at some point in the future, even if they currently remain largely unseen. This latent potential, he suggests, provides a further impetus for continuing to create and share his thoughts online.

  Finally, he underscores the inherent satisfaction derived from the creative process itself. The act of writing, regardless of its reception, provides a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. He portrays blogging as a form of self-expression, a creative outlet that allows him to engage with ideas and share them with the world, however small that world may currently be. This inherent joy of creation, he concludes, is a powerful motivator in and of itself, justifying the continued effort even in the absence of widespread recognition. In essence, the blog becomes a personal sanctuary for intellectual exploration and creative expression, a space where the intrinsic rewards of writing take precedence over the extrinsic validation of readership.

  • Blogging
  • Writing
  • audience
  • motivation
  • personal growth
  • Creative Writing
  • online presence
  • digital footprint
  • Content Creation
  • self-expression
  • journaling
  • hobby
  • learning
  • skill development
  • SEO
  • web publishing
  • website traffic
  • persistence
  • content marketing

  Summary of Comments ( 77 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42992159

  Verbose tl;dr

  HN commenters largely agree with the author's premise that blogging, even without a large audience, has value. Several highlight the benefits of writing as a way to clarify thinking, consolidate knowledge, and improve writing skills. Some suggest that a blog can serve as a personal knowledge base, searchable archive, or a way to track personal growth. A few practical suggestions include focusing on niche topics and promoting the blog through relevant communities. The idea of writing primarily for oneself, with the potential for an audience as a secondary benefit, is a recurring theme. Some commenters share their own experiences of low-traffic blogs providing unexpected value, like attracting job offers or connecting with like-minded individuals. The overall sentiment is that the intrinsic rewards of blogging often outweigh the pressure of building a large readership.

  The Hacker News post "Why Blog If Nobody Reads It?" generated a significant discussion with a variety of perspectives on the value of blogging, even with a small or non-existent audience.

  Several commenters echoed the sentiment of the original article, emphasizing the intrinsic benefits of blogging. They highlighted the value of writing as a tool for clarifying thoughts, improving writing skills, and solidifying understanding of a topic. One commenter described it as "rubber-ducking" for complex ideas, where the act of articulating a concept helps in understanding it better. Another commenter suggested that even if no one reads the blog, the process of organizing and presenting information publicly forces a higher level of rigor and clarity of thought compared to private notes.

  Building on this idea, many comments discussed the use of a blog as a personal knowledge base. Commenters described using their blogs as searchable archives of their learning process, allowing them to easily revisit past projects, ideas, and solutions to problems they've encountered. This was seen as particularly valuable for technical topics, where revisiting specific code snippets or explanations from previous work could save significant time and effort.

  Some commenters addressed the potential for future readership, arguing that even if a blog isn't read now, it could be discovered later by someone facing the same challenges. They viewed blogging as a form of "paying it forward," contributing to the collective knowledge base of the internet. This also ties into the idea of a blog as a portfolio, showcasing skills and knowledge to potential employers or collaborators.

  A few commenters offered practical advice for those starting a blog. Suggestions included focusing on niche topics, consistently producing high-quality content, and actively engaging with other bloggers and online communities. One commenter pointed out the importance of owning your own domain and platform for long-term control and flexibility.

  While some commenters were skeptical about the value of blogging without an audience, the overall sentiment leaned towards recognizing the inherent benefits of the practice. The discussion highlighted the value of writing for personal growth, knowledge retention, and potential future impact, regardless of immediate readership. Several commenters shared their personal experiences of how blogging, even with a limited audience, had positively impacted their careers and learning journey.