Up until about a week ago, I was firmly against post excerpts – Where you have a small amount of post visible and a ‘Continue reading’ or similar button to click and view the whole post (an example is shown at the bottom of this post). Fair enough if your post is particularly long, but using it on every post? No thanks.
But then I read this article on post excerpts by Francesco and I must admit his points are bringing me around, in summary:
- People subscribed to your feeds will never see them, as the post won’t be excerpted.
- New visitors may prefer it as they are able to skim more of your blog posts on first arriving, hooking them in.
- If they get in a ‘clicking mood’ they may click further on your blog, and explore more of what you have to offer.
Along with some other very valid points I’ll let you read on his blog. But before you go, please vote on this poll:
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Do you mind having to click to read more? This is an example of a post excerpt.
10 users commented in " The Sunday Poll – Post Excerpts "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackI don’t mind them in moderation. I think the authors should decide the use of it depends on the length of their posts and the design of their blogs.
Bottom line, make it look nice.
I liked them, then didn’t, then did etc. etc.
It’s a personal preference in my opinion. I mean, there are other ways of letting people see other posts in your blog (similar posts plugin, most popular etc.).
what i’ve taken to doing lately is to display my topmost post in full and the subsequent ones in excerpts. that way, when someone first lands on the blog, they’re not annoyed by the excerpt but if they want to scroll, they can get a sense for what else is there without having to click on the categories. the vast majority of my blog readers go either to my blog as a whole, or to a specific post, so the first post they’ll read will always be a full one.
Well i use the blogger equivalent, mainly for ‘comedy’ purposes and for my longer counselling posts.
Do you know if you can use them for pay per post ads?
Thanks guys.
I quite like that idea Isabella, might have to ‘borrow it’
I believe you can Claire, as the post is still available on the homepage as per the requirements.
I may start using the excerpt more, esp for longer posts.
And all the bloody boring things you post!lol!
Can’t do that with blogger, tis crap.
Hmm i think i will use the read more feature for the 300 word min pay per posts and see what happens.
guess my vote!
So you’re against them Francesco?
I don’t like them much. The only time is if the post is really long.
http://goldcoaster.wordpress.com
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