First off, I’d like to ask you a favor. Could you please take a couple of minutes and fill out this survey? The suits at FM Publishing want to hook potential Truth About Cars (TTAC) advertisers on the quality of our readership. As you are all Harvard MBA’s earning seven figure salaries ready to buy whatever high-priced goods we tout, FM should have no problem landing a major sponsorship deal with BMW (you know, aside from the whole flying vagina thing). No really; do what we do: tell the truth. Much obliged. Now, to my main point: should TTAC post once or twice a day, or more?
Last night, TTAC contributor Stephan Wilkinson returned from a somnambulistic sojourn at the Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance. He fired up his Mac and discovered a large pile of our New Content Notification emails sitting on his e-mat. Wilkinson was not pleased. STOP CRANKING OUT SO MUCH MATERIAL! Wilkinson wrote that TTAC’s twice daily editorial output threatens to overwhelm readers with automotive information.
There’s evidence to support Wilkinson’s “no mas” position. Every time I put up a new post, at least fifteen subscribers unsub. The dearly departed who reply to my “Oops” email report that they’re drowning in TTAC emails (which renders my email a heavily ironic gesture). I’ve responded to these protests by A) shutting off the New Content Notification System as of today and B) commissioning Redwing Studios to create a program that will allow subscribers to limit/eliminate their New Content Notification emails. But the central point remains: two 800-word posts a day had dozens of subscribers hanging up the cybernetic do not disturb sign.
Is less be more? Would you be happier with just one post per day? As a jobbing journalist used to cramming prose into the infobeast like a French farmer preparing a duck’s liver for foie gras, the idea of cutting back on content scares me witless. In fact, I’m so freaked by the prospect I’m reluctant to try an experimental literary liposuction. But I can certainly see the advantages of streamlining our operations, for both of us.
Posting once a day would liberate editorial time/money we could use to improve each article. We could pay our writers more (maintaining their loyalty). We could afford our own review photographs and, perhaps, add video. We could bring back the stats and stars, in an expanded form (similar to the system I designed for Jalopnik). It would give me more time to commission, think and hone. And once-a-day frequency would give our highly intelligent, worldly and literate readers a full 24 hours to hash out the issues raised by each post. On the other hand…
I want TTAC to kick ass. Providing you’re not a triskaidekaphobe, click on “editorials” button at the top menu bar. I’ve split the content into 13 sections. In an ideal world, I’d have reporters for each of these beats. Even if we Zen down to once post per day, the math doesn’t quite ad up: lots of writers, lots of stories, seven posts. In other words, if TTAC published once-a-day, critical stories could get left behind.
Of course, that’s not your problem per se. TTAC’s strives to provide the highest quality automotive writing we can, in a form and frequency that suits you. So, again, I put it to you, the life and soul of this website. How often would you like TTAC to publish new material? Assume that the NCN email problem is solved and that maintaining our current pace (or more) would not require sacrificing quality. Meanwhile and in any case, thank you for your patience, consideration and support.
100 Comments on “No Static At All; TTAC Going Postal?...”
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I created an account just to say ‘please do NOT change to once a day!’. I am an avid reader and check the site a couple or three times a day for new content.
If anything, I would say post MORE often than twice a day. As far as I’m concerened there is no such thing as too much content.
Nuff Said.
Posting once a day is just fine. Just make it about the same time every day. Or, if you really think you have something that needs to be on the site sooner rather than later, post it at the same time as the first piece. Keep up the good work.
I’d rather have one excellent post per day than two good ones. If you continue with two or more per day I would limit the emails to one notication for the entire day.
Mo’ content, mo’ better. Turn off the email notifications if you find them annoying. I surf in on my own a few times a day without need for email notification of new content, generally looking for industry news. Frankly, I’d love to see more, timelier posts reacting to or interpreting breaking developments. Keep it up, RF!
The ideal scenario would be to keep the number of posts up, but encourage all NCN recipients who don’t like all the emails to move to RSS. That way, they only get content when they want (by starting up their RSS reader).
Don’t reduce the number of postings. More content=more better. I read TTAC because I like the articles, not because it’s some sort of homework assignment. Nobody is forced to read every single article. Complaining about the number of postings (as long as the quality is good) is like a homeless quy getting upset when you hand him two dollars instead of one, making his pocket too full.
Add as much new content daily as possible. But limit the emails to a single daily “newsletter” format as other sites do. Many of us visit the board multiple times per day anyway, and the individual emails are an unnecessary distraction.
I have an rss feed to TTAC which I eagerly check a few times a day and when I see something new I tend to read it immediately. I’m no marketing genius, but I would think more clicks/page hits per day is good for advertisers and good for the site.
Perhaps sending out one email that has a summary of each article for that day with links to the full articles online would be an nice email option.
more posts would be better than fewer. i get bored at work and eagerly await my new content notifications. maybe you could have one polished article per day that sends a new content notification and then have 2-3 lesser quality rants posted per day that either don’t send a new content notification or a notification of a different class that we need to specifically sign up for.
also is there a bug in the new content notifications or is it just me – i get three almost identical emails for every new content notification.
I love the two updates a day. I miss TTAC on weekends. What I’ve done is set up my Google homepage to by my RSS reader and keep up on TTAC that way. No muss, no fuss, I find out if new content has been added every time I load up my browser. Encourage more people to go to RSS and leave e-mail notification off by default. Then people who want e-mails can turn them on and the rest will watch their feed.
Once a day is best, even if the email contains more than one post. Any more and it can get annoying. Or worse, lose subscribers.
1. Please don’t shut off New Content Notifications. thats how I get you.
2. Too much of a good thing? Ridiculous. If you don’t want to open the NCN, delete it.
3. One all encompassing per day would be fine if you must.
4. and whats this crap about “good” and “excellent”? Its all excellent.
I also agree with more content = better. Why not offer a “daily summary” optioN ? I like getting a new e-mail on each new piece of content, however if people don’t like that, perhaps they’d like the condensed version in an e-mail at the end/beginning of each day.
More posts = better.
Twice a day? How about 3 times.
Those getting to0 many e-mails can just turn off the notifications. That they no longer get notifications does not mean that they no longer visit the site. I don’t get notifications (I actually NEVER do, too annoying) and yet I seem to stay up to date on TTAC content.
I see 63 subscribers on Bloglines.com. That’s not a lot, but it’s my sense that this site isn’t square with bloglines.com’s demographic. Still, some pretty popular sites have less than 100. I guess I’m saying, that’s a decent subscriber base on that site.
It seems to spit the same posts back to me whenever there are new comments, but that’s probably a setting of mine. Otherwise, I would say you’re insane to limit how often the content comes out.
Keep it coming. I’m not terribly worried that you’re going to change for advertisers, just because they’re there. We’ll notice if you do. Let the readers judge. I think you did the right thing.
One a day is fine for me. More photography is good as well.
I have no problem getting up to 3 emails with the article summary. They are a nice break. Often I quickly delete about half of them because they aren’t of interest to me.
With no new notification emails, I doubt I’ll be visiting the site looking for content. If you want me attention, it should be pushed.
Couldn’t the profile information contain an option as to whether new article notifications are desired?
New Content Notifications are annoying
Three posts a day would be better
Consistency is the key. Keep two releasess a day, but at the same time. One nice and early say 10.00 am and then one at 4.00 pm. Keep it the same everyday. No need for NCN system.
Other unsolicited opinions:
1. I do not like QOTW/QOTD.
2. I do not like articles that are thoughtless and not based on solid logic.
3. Fresh is the key. I want to go “Wow, I didnt know that” everytime I read TTAC.
I watch for new TTAC content based on the RSS feed that I have bookmarked in safari. I recently cleaned out my list of monitored feeds and this one passed the test.
I’d be all about MORE content, more frequently. But the way it is now is also nice, since I generally have something to read in the morning, and something in the afternoon (just when i need a break).
I don’t think those people you lose as email subscribers are also lost as readers. I think people just get too much email clutter, and hope to cut down on it.
Once a day is enough. Focus your (presumably) limited resources on the most significant event or article of the day. You can always send out a “breaking news” email if something truly significant occurs such as GM announcing that it’s being taken over by Microsoft. Heh.
Robert: add a new notification option where email notifications only once a day regardless of how many posts actually appear on the site. Problem solved.
You could also note that RSS is available and is less likely to bug people who get overwhelmed.
Personally, I wonder how many people who post on here and dispel certain cars in higher-brands, or the entire brand as a whole can truly afford, or have even driven the cars of which they seem to think they know so much about.
Side note: I think the grill on the M6 looks like 2 flying vagina’s…But maybe that’s what Bangle was going for?
Jon.
Some forums have an option where they notify you of new posts, but only once- the first new post after the last time you’ve visited the thread. After you’ve visited the thread again, it’ll notify again if there are any new posts thereafter- again, only once. Not sure how easy it is to implement, but it’d make my inbox easier to deal with.
Oh, and two a days are ideal for me… unless they’re all going to prophesizing the demise of healthy automakers. I kid, I kid.
Once-a-day posting is fine. It’s nice if it occurs on a particular schedule. Reloading a web site all day to wait for content you know is coming to actually make it to the front page is not fun.
If you want to go twice-a-day, then at least one of those two posts should follow some sort of theme based on the day of the week. Say, Tuesdays and Thursdays are review days. Mondays are GM Death Watch. That sort of thing.
TTAC needs more podcasts. This is sort of an orthogonal issue to the posting schedule. If posts are once-a-day, then podcasts can be attached to the posts and discuss related topics. If posts are twice-a-day then podcasts are posts to themselves.
If you’re willing to consider it, TTAC forums would be a lot of fun as there’s quite a lot of energy among the commentors that would make for some terrific discussions. I’d highly recommend you take a look at a forum program called Vanilla which is lightweight, fits the clean design of TTAC already, and is free.
I say the more the merrier. I would love to see more podcasts. They are really entertaining, especially when it’s just Mr. Lieberman and Mr. Farago shootin’ the breeze.
By the way, I read via Bloglines and I see 105 subscribers. And I also don’t have the problem stormj had with posts reappearing due to new comments.
I can digest way more than 1600 words a day… One magazine a sitting is about what I used to hork down. I need MORE… gimme!
The more posts the better. I don’t use notification so I’m not bombarded with emails, and yet I still come to TTAC a few times a day looking for new stuff. Then it is a pleasant surprise when something new pops up.
I too am happier with more.
I prefer the news type articles to reviews, though I still enjoy the reviews. (I laugh every time I see the new grills on a Subaru. I was going to buy one, but now I can’t)
I don’t often view large pictures on my screen at work. People might get the wrong idea. ;)
A schedule would be ok, but not crucial to me.
The more articles the merrier. I do agree with the consensus of you e-mail update per day encompassing all the article posted that day. I check the site frequently anyways so I don’t need the e-mails anymays.
Quality rules over quantity. The amount is irrelevant compared to the content. 27 posts a day would be FINE, but ONLY IF they were all excellent. But like Mohammed said about wives, you can’t really have quality AND quantity (autoblog is a nice illustration of that), so limit yourself to a handful and make them all excellent. If handful equals one a day some days, and three another day, so be it.
As for email notifications… who needs it? I get my notifications via RSS, built right into my browser (Safari) so a counter on my bookmark bar tells me I have something to read. Email is for conversations between human beings, not autogenerated content. If you are pushing out the latter you are at risk of being labelled a spammer.
I agree with RobD: More pics. Mind you LESS pics provided by the manufacturer and more taken by actual reviewers (or some handy human who knows how to wield a camera) please. The perfectly lit beauty shots from the carmakers can make a turd look edible.
–chuck
there is no such thing as to much automotive news! 3-4-5-12 times a day. you post it. i read it. i think one post per day and i would likyl not visit each day as i can skip a day or 3 and catch up easy. I also frequent a site called leftlanenews.com they update during the day with all sorts of news and announcements. though they dont have test-drive reviews or editorials. BUT they have alot of content each day and i read every last article.
The more content available the better. Instead of delivering New Content e-mails for every peice of prose, how about a summary e-mail sent out at the end of the day?
Many of us, both readers, and contributors check back numerous times throughout the day to check new comments, posts etc. and don’t “need” new content e-mails. Those that don’t might appreciate a summary of the 2-3 intros that accompany the current New Content notifiers so they can plan their daily read.
Keep the current level of posts. As always, I sort received e-mail messages into what interests me and delete the rest. This applies to all e-mail, not just from TTAC. Those who complain about “too much e-mail” need to enroll in an e-mail management course.
I like at least 2 a day from TTAC, if not more. Get rid of the email notification system, those systems went out of popular use several years ago (about the time that everyone’s inboxes drowned in spam). Email notifications and subscriptions are dead, hooray for RSS and targeted advertising panels.
for the love of god do not only post once a day!! i find myself on this website alot during the boring times at work.
if anything post more!
this website is fantastic. though the comments get a bit childish but you are not the cause of that!
MORE MORE MORE!!!
p.s. are you gona review the tesla when it come out?
I browse twice a day I d`ont allways log in the reviews have been a lot better lately, better balanced.Quality over quantity works for me.
I second this:
chuckgoolsbee:
August 23rd, 2006 at 2:42 pm
Quality rules over quantity. The amount is irrelevant compared to the content. 27 posts a day would be FINE, but ONLY IF they were all excellent. But like Mohammed said about wives, you can’t really have quality AND quantity (autoblog is a nice illustration of that), so limit yourself to a handful and make them all excellent. If handful equals one a day some days, and three another day, so be it.
I like twice a day (and more wouldn’t bother me).
I’m feverishly working on getting a Tesla
They don’t have press cars at the moment.
Perhaps a weekly digest, a la yahoo groups… send one consolidated email with all of the week’s articles, allowing readers to pick and choose whichever ones they’d like to read. This also allows them to read at whatever pace they’d like, while not pestering them several times a day.
The issue isn’t the amount of posting, its what you’re posting. Make sure every piece that goes out is compelling, and the problem takes care of itself. I’m not saying theres been “bad” writing per say. But it does seem like you guys are having a little trouble coming up with ideas.
Strangely, alot of the QOTW have had titles that I’d be interested in if they were actual articles. How about a REAL piece on how to define quality, and determine reliability? That has legs, while I don’t much give a shit about what the new aston martin is like.
And make more of these suckers podcasts. Its alot easier to listen to a bunch of reviews and columns than to read them.
Two posts a day is perfect. The quality of the articles now is perfect and I don’t really care about filling them out with pictures or video if it was slimmed down to one post a day. I also agree with the aforementioned idea of a schedule for postings so that one can expect when to check out the site each day.
More please. :)
I would say post as you get material (or save some of it up for ‘dry spells’ or vacations). Nothing good for a day? So be it. Lots of news hits and you have 3-4 articles in a day? Fine too. I care more about the quality of the writing than making sure i see two new articles a day.
I just started grad school–the less time I spend here the better! Just kidding. I agree that quality>quantity. So far it seems like the two posts a day are of very good quality, with rare but quite tolerable minor errors in the articles. If this pace is burning the TTAC staff out, you might cut back to one a day, or average 4-6 a week. This site is already so much better than the majority of auto websites that I really look forward to reading it, catching up at least every few days.
I don’t mind the new content emails. I like the RSS feed too. Grown people can press ‘delete’ if they don’t want to read an email.
I like reading all the content. If you guys have more to post, that’s excellent. If you need to cut back to spend more time on each posting, that’s fine too. I’ll read it when you post it.
This site is wonderful.
I am a web developer and the best answer to this question is… let the user decide. It is not difficult (however may be too costly at this time – ask your web guys) to set up your email system with a email frequency setting for each user. Have a link on the email that says ‘change email frequency’ or the less specific ‘email settings’. That will take them to a page where they can pick the frequency of emails they desire: 1/month, 1/week, 1/day, every time there’s an update. Then send an email with leadin paragraphs and links containing the articles that are new for them. So if a user decides they want 1 email per week, that email may have 14 article leads (assuming 2 new articles per day).
If it is too costly I would say send out the email 2-3 times per week which would include all the content from that time period, however keep posting articles as much as you want (the more the better as far as most of us are concerned). There’s no reason why the email should have a 1 to 1 correlation with the posts.