We’re living in a fast world and the online environment has proven that more than once. Where classic media failed, new media (blogosphere included) delivered, and delivered fast.
Every single day, blogs and websites around the world line up breaking news on virtually any topic and provide live coverage of mostly every event that takes place. It’s the promptitude that has developed into being new media’s biggest advantage over printed magazines and newspapers.
But, promptitude aside, what happens when we push the speed limit? Read the following scenarios and see for yourself.
The Speed Limit of Thought
“Hello sir, do you know why I pulled you over?” said the officer.
“Frankly officer, I have no idea” you answer.
“Because you where driving everybody insane. Your posts don’t make sense, ideas succeed without a single thing holding them together. Too many thoughts compressed in a small block of text.” continued the officer. “You need to be more focused!”
“So, what happens now?” you ask.
“I’m sorry sir, but I have to give you a ticket, for breaking the speed limit of thought. This will cost you 10% of your subscribers.” the officer responded.
The Speed Limit of Decision
“Hello again sir, do you know why I pulled you over this time?” the officer asked.
“Still no clue officer” you say.
“We’ve received complaints about you taking decisions without weighting the situation from every perspective. For example, the banners you’ve recently installed on you blog. They push the content too far down and readers are not quite happy with it.” said the cop.
“So, am I getting another ticket?” you curiously ask.
“Im afraid so sir, I have to give you a ticket for breaking the speed limit of decision. This will cost you 20% of your subscribers.”
The Speed Limit of Reaction
“Sir, if we keep meeting like this, you’ll soon have no more subscribers left.” said the cop with a vague smile on his face. “Do you know why I stopped you, yet again?”
“No sir, but please, explain.” you answer.
“Do you remember that guy that left you a negative comment on you most popular post? Do you remember how angry you were when you’ve answered him? You should have taken 2 minutes to think about what he said, maybe the guy was right, and even if not, your attitude scared a lot of readers and commentators away” continued the policeman.
“I guess you’re right sir! Get I get away with a simple notice?”
“That is impossible sir. I have to give you a ticket for breaking the speed limit of reaction. 10% more of your readers and subscribers.”
The Speed Limit of Enthusiasm
“Sir, you should really give up driving on the informational highway. Do you know why I stopped you for the fourth time?” asked the officer.
“I don’t, but I’m sure I’ll find out soon.” you say with a low voice.
“In your enthusiasm to publish a new post, you forgot to double check. Your post is full of typos and spelling mistakes that will only lower your credibility in time.” said the cop. “Further more, you could have considered rewriting some parts to make them easier to follow or to add more meaning.”
“I guess I’m guilty of that, officer”
“Indeed you are and I have to give you a ticket for breaking the speed limit of enthusiasm. That’s 10% more out of your subscribers.”
How Four Tickets Cost You Half of Your Readers
If all the above situations were real road incidents, would you still be holding your driving license? I doubt it. So, what does it cost you to:
- Organize your thoughts and focus your posts?
- Take a little longer to analyze an important decision?
- Consider everyone’s opinion as a valid one, before proven otherwise?
- Double check your post before you hit the “Publish” button?
The answer is simple: Only 5 more minutes so that you won’t get a ticket… sir!