The SLTW Bulletin Board April 19, 2011
Posted by nrhatch in Blogging, Writing & Writers.trackback
Looking over my recent entries, I’ve been asking myself: Is this a Blog or a Bulletin Board?
One reason for all the recent announcements on advances in solar energy, FREE days at National Parks, great strides for Animal Welfare and Advocacy, greeting card contests, and Green Home Give-A-Ways, is the number of e-mails accumulated in my In Box that seemed worthy of sharing.
And SLTW seemed the best place to share them.
This weekend, my Just One Thing challenge included cleaning out my In Box. But I posted so many announcements that I didn’t feel I should clog up your In Boxes with other posts filled with insightful wisdom and life truths.
So, I’m considering a change in format for future announcements of like nature.
Instead of separate posts for each, I would write a weekly (or monthly) post called The SLTW Bulletin Board and add links to it throughout the week (or month).
Your thoughts?
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Spirit Lights The Way 
Change nothing!
On the other hand, do what you want, but I enjoy things the way that they are.
I have been labelled resistant to change, though.
What a vote of confidence: Change Nothing!
On the one hand, keeping it “as is” keeps the comment threads separate ~ some people are interested in HSUS and Audubon’s efforts for animals, others in advances in Solar Energy and Green Technology.
And, generally, I don’t have quite so many announcements backed up in my In Box.
Thanks, Greg. Glad you enjoy it “as is.”
Works for me, I’d read it either way you post it.
Thanks, Cin! You’re a doll . . . 😀
If people haven’t been annoyed by the number of recent announcements, maybe I’ll follow Greg’s advice and leave things “as is” . . . but try to avoid so many announcements in close procession.
It depends on you. Does it become burdensome to put a whole post together, or is it fun?
Thanks, OA. For the most part, I enjoy highlighting causes, events, and contests that I think are worth sharing.
The posts really “write” themselves ~ just write out a few intro sentences, insert links and photos, and voila!
If the number over the past few days hasn’t chased anyone away, then maybe I’ll keep doing it the way I have . . . but try not to toss so many out one after another.
You do as you want Nancy:) Maybe you feel a need to change it up? 🙂 Thanks for the opt to give opinion
Thanks, Debra. I actually started thinking last night about doing two blogs ~ SLTW and a separate blog for “announcements.”
But I’m lazy and it seemed like far too much work. 😉
This is a great idea!
Thanks, Jelillie. Would your preference be a weekly or monthly Bulletin Board?
The biggest downside to one post a month with all announcements is that the “blurbs” would be very short with fewer links to specific pages.
For example, just one link to the HSUS, rather than one about the book, one about the book tour, and one about purchase information.
Likewise, just one link to the National Parks page, instead of separate links to Free Days, Major Parks, and Specials.
And just one link to the HGTV Green Home, rather than separate links to pictures, videos, and entry forms.
Hmmmmm…I like things the way they are!
Thank you, Granny!
It’s nice to know I didn’t aggravate my readers with too many announcements this week.
You know, when I read the post I thought the once a week or month bulletin board was a good idea. But, now that I’ve read the comments, I think I like things the way they are! That way you can give us more information and more links on each topic!
Thanks, Rosa. It looks like that’s the general consensus.
I’ll try not to let my mail box get so back logged in the future. Just an announcement now and then tossed out for consideration.
Although they don’t apply to me, on the whole, I think it’s a great idea to share them. How you do it is up to you 🙂
Thanks, Tilly.
BTW: The Hallmark Greeting Card Contest IS open to everyone all around the globe ~ maybe fish out a funny photo from the early days of your marriage and add a zinger of a one liner to it? You could win $500!
I like things the way they are, too. If you start another blog would you loose readers? Would you do it on the same blog title of Spirit lights the way? What are all the changes you’d have to make?
Thanks, Clar. I have decided against having 2 blogs ~ too much work to set up, maintain, and keep sorted.
I’m a one-blog blogger. 😎
That’s Ok. I don’t mind the multi-posting. But if you want to limit them, why don’t you create a Bulletin Board page? That way you could post every day if you wanted to, and whenever new bulletins or important ones you want to share come up, jut make a quick note on your home page that new bulletins have been posted on that page! That’s the way I would do it anyway! 😀
Thanks, PTC. But wouldn’t a Bulletin Board page just get longer and longer and longer? And more and more cumbersome? And harder and harder to search or scroll through?
On this theme, pages seem more suited to small amounts of static information that rarely needs to be updated or changed.
Maybe your theme is different? Or maybe I’m missing something. 🙂
I don’t think my theme would be any different. All you would have to do is post a date, and always post your new bulletins at the top of the page, rather than at the end. It shouldn’t be hard, but then again, I won’t be the one doing it! 😀
I guess my only concern about have a buklletin post is that some will or may be out of date or nearly so by the time they are posted. Also, wouldn’t one have to scroll through the regular posts as well to find the bulletin post?
That’s what I do with guest posts ~ just list the most recent at the top. But each addition is only 2 lines long.
I could add a category: Bulletin Board. So that all readers would have to do is click that category and all the Bulletin Board posts would pop up.
I’m going to have to give this further thought.
Sounds like a great idea. I have been trying to come up with different ideas also, for my posts. It’s coming up with new ideas that are interesting for reading. That’s the beauty of having your own blog-it’s yours to be creative. 🙂
I agree. It’s lovely to be Editor-In-Chief with complete creative freedom. 😀
I could never handle two blogs. I can barely manage one. I’m looking forward to your new format.
I agree. The idea of separate blogs was quickly abandoned. Too much work for me. I like having everything in one place.
I’m going to give this issue some more thought. On the one hand, separate posts is nice because all comments in the thread relate to the same topic ~ and it’s easier to see which topics appeal to readers.
The spate of recent announcements has been rather unusual and could be guarded against.
I like the way your are doing things now. I wouldn’t change anything. If it is easy for you to do it the way you are doing it keep doing it that way. If you change for a bulletin style post that works as well, we will adapt…Jeanne
Thanks, Jeanne.
That’s the way I’m leaning at the moment ~ keep things as they are, but try to avoid such a flurry of announcements in close succession.
Variety is the spice of life. Great idea and go for it! Reading the last set of posts didn’t faze me. They were of value. 🙂
Eliz
Thanks, Eliz. Quite a few readers used the links in each article. I’ll just try not to dump so many out in close proximity. 🙂
I don’t mind 😉
If you like you can try a monthly round up, which I did for a while like Katie
http://scrapbooklady.typepad.com/katie_the_scrapbook_lady/2011/01/time-to-roundup-january.html
Thanks, Tok.
That’s a neat way to track the passage of time . . . by rounding up monthly events.