Quality vs quantity – the blogging dilemma

When I write, I want to write quality articles; articles which interest, amaze and inspire. Mediocre content annoy me. If ever I write something which I consider of low quality, I never publish it – I will either review it or scrap it.

A Wordle of blogging wordsI want to make a difference in the world, be it a small or big difference (I would prefer big) I have to start on a personal scale. If I can improve your life by changing the way you think and feel (for the better), and enriching your knowledge and understanding, then I am doing my job.

I love reading Jonny’s posts every week, they always interest me and many have inspired me to make (usually small) changes in my life and have often caused me to write something myself. Jonny posts once a week, on a Thursday – with the odd exception. Would he be able to post such great content if he posted twice a week? What about three times? I don’t know.

I am not meaning to pick on Jonny, once a week is just great and very appreciated. One day Jonny will stop writing as often, and one day he will stop writing all together. I hope that day is a long way off, and by that time I have no doubt that we will have other writers writing the quality and quantity of content that he writes.

The same goes for me. I get a lot from blogging at the moment, I love the researching and crafting process that goes into making an article, and I also love the responses. But one day I shall probably stop too.

Think about your favourite TV show, how often does it air? Usually (with exceptions) the best shows/series take months to produce and don’t launch every day/week of the year.

Blogging is the same. I want us to post 6 great articles a week. Jonny gives us one of those posts. I am usually able to provide another, and we often get the third from another writer – like Steve, Ron, Alan or another writer. Usually we only post 4 or 5 articles a week, and that’s fine. I would like to post 6, but would rather post 4 quality articles than 6 mediocre ones.

Blogs that post less often, usually don’t have such a great readership. It’s a fact. There are exceptions of course. What would a news site be, if it only published once a week?

If I was able to monetise Technology Bloggers so that I could run it as a business, then I could dedicate more time to it, as it would become a job, not just a hobby. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes we do host the odd bit of sponsored content, to help pay the hosting bills, and fund competitions, but this site is never going to make millions. I am not sure I would still want to blog, if it was solely for money though, so I don’t want to monetise the site.

So, here is the dilemma I have: produce okay content, daily; or produce quality content, less often.

I want to post 6 articles a week, only 3 are provided, who plugs the gap? Usually me. If I don’t I feel bad, as I don’t feel I have fulfilled my duty to the site. If I post the extra posts needed, but they aren’t quite as good as content I have produced before, I am angry that I let the posts go live.

There is a very fine balance which needs to be struck, and I am not sure I am there just yet.

Would you prefer to read 5 star articles once a week, 4 star articles twice a week, or 2 star articles daily?

The reason I am writing this is because I feel we had a great 2012, I had a great 2012 as a blogger, especially in the last few weeks. That said, I know my diary for 2013 is already looking pretty full. Friends, family, education, work and recreation all take a lot of our time, and rightly so. However other commitments I have, do mean that I will have less time to write in 2013.

Rest assured, I am not throwing in the towel and am going to continue to do my best to keep us up and running at full capacity, but there is a lot to do.

If you want to help, I am more than happy to accept suggestions. I would love to promote more users to author status, and give everyone more control.

How to get the most from your fibre optic broadband

While fibre optic internet coverage continues to grow, internet prices are continuing to decrease, meaning it’s never been a better time to upgrade your internet. That being said, if you intend on shelling out on fibre optic, its best you consider how you can ensure you make the most of what you pay for.

Upgrade your wireless router

If your internet supplier has not already provided you with a new wireless router, you may find the need to upgrade to make the most of your new high speed internet. Older routers on the whole tend to be around 50% slower than newer models, meaning investment is paramount if you want to make the most of your fibre optic connection. There is a huge array of routers on the market, with many different features. It’s advised that you go for a dual band router if you have many devices on your network as it will ensure a better connection that is less prone to interference.

Use an Ethernet cable

If you’re after the highest internet and data transferral speeds, connecting via an Ethernet cable is by far your best option. Wireless data is transmitted at a snail pace when compared to a cabled connection, which now has speeds of up to one gigabit on some routers, so really cuts down on the benefit of fibre optic broadband. Though far from practical, having a wired connection will enable you to really make the most of your internet connection.

The end of an Ethernet cable

The end of a red Ethernet cable – the colour has no significance, red just makes for a more vibrant image!

If you own a desktop, setup your router nearby so you can always have a wired connection for your PC. If not consider hiding cables in the wall throughout your home so you can have high speed connectivity throughout your home. If done right, it can even make your home more attractive when it comes to selling it!

Set up a media server

Modern hard drives now have functions which enable them to be used and accessed over your network, meaning you don’t need it to be plugged directly into your computer for it to work. Not only is this highly practical, it also allows multiple users to access information at the same time, without the need of cables.

Splash out on modern technology

Many modern devices now have some form of use for wireless internet, so splashing out on the latest devices will mean you can really make the most of your fibre optic connection. Many consoles such as the Xbox 360 or the PlayStation 3 will allow users to stream content from the internet or computer onto the TV. With a high speed connection, you can have many devices operating at full pelt without feeling like your connection is being throttled.

Sponsored: Samsung launches Samsung Memory campaign

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Samsung. To find out more about sponsored content on Technology Bloggers, please visit our Privacy Policy.

Samsung has recently started an innovative new campaign, to raise awareness of ‘Samsung Memory’.

Their campaign includes three evil characters: Battery Brutus; Fiona Freeze; and Loading Ball Larry. These three characters are presented at the ultimate enemy to any techie! After all, who wants their device (be it a TV, smartphone, tablet etc.) to run out of juice, freeze or take forever to load?

Battery Brutus, Fiona Freeze and Loading Ball Larry - SamsungSamsung have been working really hard to improve user experience, which is why they have decided to launch the campaign, to let people know about it!

Taking an Environmental Approach

As time goes on, more and more firms appear to be altering the way they provide their products and services in order to make them more environmentally friendly. Unfortunately there are many firms which still refuse to take environmental factors into account, however Samsung is (I am sure proud to say) not one of them!

In their recent upgrades and updates, Samsung have gone that step further to ensure that your devices stay ‘alive’ longer, need fewer charges, and perform better for longer.

That means you should be able to keep Battery Brutus at bay for longer! Check out the video (Samsung ad) below to see him in action.

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The below image shows just how much power Samsung’s devices conserve. That saving means less charges, which means less power being used, which is ultimately better for the environment!

Power savings Samsung devices haveSamsung also take into account the environment in terms of the materials they use. Below is a quote directly from Samsung.

“Our products continuously evolve. We use the latest technology. The most advanced materials. The safest components for you, and for planet earth. Samsung Memory is only manufactured with the most environmentally responsible materials.”

Top Speed Processing

Samsung’s latest devices are fitted with the high-spec memory and processors, to ensure that you can multi-task with ease, without your device freezing or loading. This means that you can also keep Fiona Freeze and Loading Ball Larry at bay!

Here is the Samsung ad which features Fiona Freeze at work.

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The last of the characters in the Samsung campaign, Loading Ball Larry, demonstrates just how frustrating loading can sometimes be. Please don’t smash up your device though, next time it loads!

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To find out more about the campaign, the characters and the technology involved, please visit the Samsung Semiconductor webpage.