Here’s a question for you.
Which brings more value to your business, Quantity or Quality?
I know personally I have different preferences for different areas in my life.
For example, when it comes to my gadgets I want them to work, plain and simple. I want quality and I’ll do with fewer gadgets to get better ones.
But when it comes to, say, coffee or chocolate? I’m an equal opportunity imbiber. Quantity gets the nod every time. Mass quantities. I mean a lot! 
With my friendships, though, I’d rather have a few really good friends that I can get to know and trust than hundreds of associates that really neither know or care a thing about me.
Which is better for your business? Would you rather have lots of one time customers or clients? Or do you think your business would be more successful if you had fewer who were dedicated to doing repeat business with you?
How about with blogging? Which do you think is more valuable in the blogs that you read? Lots of short simple posts? Or fewer posts that delve more deeply into their subjects?
Leave a comment with your ideas on this one. Let’s kick it around.
UPDATE: I’ve put up a post over in the right side bar which I’ll leave up for a little while. So cast your vote and let your voice be heard. Which is more important to you, Quantity or Quality?
I look for quality, and LOTS OF IT!
Seriously, for blog posts, I prefer quality over quantity, but there are other considerations as well. Posts that tend to be too long I may just skim through rather than delve deeply into. Too many simple quick posts can loose me too.
When I write, I try to keep the reader’s interest by injecting little “things” that will catch the eye. That way if it gets a bit long, they’re eyes haven’t glazed over yet.
Not perfected yet, and I’m still learning; but what the heck, it’s all good, right?
Oh, good grief! “they’re” instead of “their”! 100 lashes with a wet noodle for that one
Good point about visually breaking up the posts, Robert. I think I’ve got a ways to go yet there myself.
So. That’s one vote for quality blog posts. Anyone got other ideas?
What about clients/customers?
Quantity coffee? (You’ll go for quality coffee here in the UK everytime! or you should drop by at my place: you can have both quality coffee and lots of it!)
But I’ll go for quality always:
quality customers for quality products with quality margins (that’s a win-win-win situattion, I think?)
[Strikes George H.W. Bush pose; hands spread apart] You’ve got to have balance. I think Mr. Hruzek nailed it with his comments, and he does a very nice job over at his own place, where he epitomizes the concept of quality in quantity!
And the standard penalty for a “they’re/their” infraction is only 30 lashes with a wet noodle.
Karin, Java by the truck load is what I’d like. Although my (very wise) wife is helping me throttle back the caffeine injection somewhat. It’s not that I don’t appreciate really good coffee. But if I have to make a choice, more is better!
Mike, Does balance have to mean a trade off of sacrificing a little of each to have some of each?
Everyone: For all who are interested I threw together a poll on the right side bar. So, feel free to cast your vote for one or the other. (Even if you don’t feel up to leaving a comment.)
Quantity or Quality: You decide!
Sorry to be a ‘pain’, but what if I want quality in quantity? Vote in the middle?
Allow me to elaborate on what I mean with quality in quantity.
As a customer (or reader) I want/need to know that the quality you give me the first time I buy will be there everytime I come back ‘for more’ i.e. can I trust you to deliver this quality in quantities?
(Or am I being too difficult now?
)
Chris-
I’m a results sort of guy – time is money. When reading business related blogs, the length of a post is not the issue it’s the value of the info. that matters. I’d rather read a hundred words or so with information packed bullets than a bunch of esoteric copy to satisfy the writers need to write. However, if the post is long copy with lots of valuable stuff, I love it.
I see too many business blogs that seem wordy for the sake of being heard. I appreciate style and personality in a post; that doesn’t necessarily equate to long copy.
Long and short posts work for a business blog…the content quality is the issue (my basis is short copy.) If I ain’t gonna learn somethin’ I don’t need it.
Steve
Quality for sure, in all areas of my life.
Speaking of quality, I finally received my book from Amazon that you had suggested and I love it. (Post office’s quality delivered it to the wrong house 2 doors down.)
Karin, two great tastes that taste great together, eh? You choose more of both. Do you suppose that a reasonable choice for everyone to make?
Steve, I agree. Our time is valuable. And you make a good point that quality in writing is not tied directly to post length.
Margaret, the worst postal service I’ve experienced anywhere in the country is right here in Savannah. I feel for you. They could stand for a bunch more quality there! (Which book did you get?)
Karin, how about this:
Consistent quality……time after time.
I vote for quality.
Chris,
Sherry’s description in a nice one. Most bloggers are best at a certain length. Instapundit is good for those one paragraph posts. I know Glenn can write good essays; his TCS columns are great, but I’d rather seen the short stuff on the blog. It’s just the expectations I have for it. On the other hand, I expect guys like Bill Whittle to be putting up 5000 word opuses (opi?), and so I’m ready to spend the time when I go there. I saw a rule of thumb somewhere that 500 words was a good maximum for most blog readers; I certainly violate that rule on a regular basis. But if I’m consist in what I produce, I think readers will decide if they want to visit more than once.
Quality seems to be off to an early lead…
I’m thinking that the dice are loaded in this game. Who is going to come HERE and say “I’m really interested in loads of dreck”. Them folks is all over at Fark.
Mike, you crack me up!
But what about customers? I’ve seen business models that work using both approaches. Some are successful at going for the masses of customers, not worrying about the “quality” of the individual customer
While others angle for a more exclusive clientèle, and don’t even try to attract the masses.
Is one better than the other?
I’m a big Jay Abraham fan, and he always says there are three ways to grow your business:
1) get more customers
2) increase the size of the average sale
3) increase the number of times you sell to each client
They’re all valid, and success depends largely on what you’re offering. If I’m selling pet rocks, I’m probably only going to see you one, so I can choose 1) or 2). If I’m selling advice, I’m probably better off going with 3), because the cost of building the level of trust to make the first sale is an order of magnitude bigger than the cost to get the second gig.
Blogs, being largely in the trust-building business to get repeat readership, will tend to gravitate to the quality in quantity and consistency that Karin and Sherry mentioned.
Sherry, great ‘snappy’ description you’ve made of it!
Mike, on the 3 ways (believe there are 4 from Abraham and Dunn: Increase the effectiveness of your business processes
, we aim to be all 3 – 4. We’re in the business of selling ‘pet rocks’ (high quality top range wooden flooring).
That’s why I like Sherry’s line: Consistent quality……time after time (should be our ‘hedge-hog concept’)
Chris on your “While others angle for a more exclusive clientèle, and don’t even try to attract the masses.
Is one better than the other?”
have you read The Long Tail by Chris Anderson on this? Explains that the business / blog world can have both and both ways can be profitable (if done correctly, preferably with the 4 ways in mind)
Kind of you, Mike, to say such things about yours truly and the Zone (Chris, you have the nicest readers!) but now I notice I used “loose” instead of “lose”, too.
Gaugh! More lashes! More lashes!
Publish & Prosper – Blogging for Business. A few things I already knew but it has been very helpful in the few things I did not know. Hoping to apply some things shortly. =O)
Yeah, Margaret. That is definitely a good book. I like the way they explained everything without going all technical on folks. Glad you liked it too.
Chris,
Man, this took me in a lot of directions.
I’ve been thinking about my consulting practice of 30 years. All of the evidence shows that there is a positive relationship between quality service, quality clients, but fewer clients with long-term repeat business.
As for the question as it relates to blogging: some days there is a deep thought to expand upon, other days just a quick blip on the radar screen of life. I think the rule of thumb here is “keep it real.” If it’s real and useful, people seem to read and comment regardless of length.
Great question…am still thinking about it!
Man, I have to work with the ships for a day or so and the conversation gets cooking here!
Karin, I haven’t read The Long Tail (yet). I’ve read many blog posts about it, though and I’m sure I’ll get a lot out of it.
Robert, you’re right about the folks around here. Obviously they are nice in spite of my Ogre-ish tendencies.
Sherry, Good concise way to say it.
Mike, every time I think about opuses I get an image of a cartoon penguin in my head. I think that results from a high quantity of quality cartoonage!
Steve, Be careful thinking. It’s dangerous. It may end up taking your business in a whole new direction if you let it!
(Did I miss anyone. I hope not.)
It is easy to choose both or to say that uality is the answer , but I would like to address this point.. Quality has layers that go deeper than the mere surface of the word..1. Quality in your product that you or your company produces. 2. The quality of the people that work around you and for you Problem solvers not problem makers. 3. The Quality of the Customer service and support. If you are lacking any of these these underlying lynch pins the word is but a hollow echo of its intent..
All very true, David. If we focus on the best quality we can achieve at each of the layers then our overall quality should, in theory, be top notch.