View Full Version : How important are "recent posts" in the sidebar?
I see some blogs do and some don't have a "Recent Posts section in the sidebar.
Why is a section in the sidebar with a list of "recent posts" matter if:
- the most recent posts are obviously always on the homepage
- you can go the the previous page and ask back as much as wanted by clicking at the bottom of the page
- "Archives" is in the sidebar anyway
The only thing I can think of is that some people prefer to first look under "Recent Posts" in the sidebar before actually looking at them in the blog. I find that hard to believe. First they have to find where "Recent posts" are in the sidebar, even if it's closer to the top. Plus don't pictures in the actual post mean more than their titles of these posts in the sidebar? (This is not to say that text on a blog isn't important.)
Gaystoryman
08-20-2009, 09:23 PM
Generally the sidebar is on all blog pages, so if one comes to a specific post, that was written months ago, they will see the most recent posts.
Not everyone clicks onto the home link. Some will simply choose a category from the page they landed on, so that is why the most recent posts exists in the sidebar. least in my view.
In addition, you can set the number for 'most recent' posts, and that may be more than say the number you select to display on that first page. For example, my blog may have only the first 3 posts shown, but my most recent posts may list 10 posts.
dirkpeddler
08-20-2009, 10:27 PM
I don't use Recent Posts on my side bar, I use calendar, categories and monthly archive in the side bar.
Generally the sidebar is on all blog pages, so if one comes to a specific post, that was written months ago, they will see the most recent posts.
Not everyone clicks onto the home link. Some will simply choose a category from the page they landed on, so that is why the most recent posts exists in the sidebar. least in my view.
In addition, you can set the number for 'most recent' posts, and that may be more than say the number you select to display on that first page. For example, my blog may have only the first 3 posts shown, but my most recent posts may list 10 posts.
I think I see what you are saying. If you may, please tell me if I understand correctly or not. You mean that the recent posts list in the sidebar is there for when visitors go off to other parts of the site beyond the homepage. In those cases, people don't always click "home" but something in the sidebar like recent posts. And that some visitors prefer a list of "Recent Posts" to clicking on something under the list of "Categories." (Presumably this is because a particular category may or may not necessarily show recent posts, depending on if there was or wasn't a recent post under a particular category).
Gaystoryman
08-21-2009, 08:58 AM
I think I see what you are saying. If you may, please tell me if I understand correctly or not. You mean that the recent posts list in the sidebar is there for when visitors go off to other parts of the site beyond the homepage. In those cases, people don't always click "home" but something in the sidebar like recent posts. And that some visitors prefer a list of "Recent Posts" to clicking on something under the list of "Categories." (Presumably this is because a particular category may or may not necessarily show recent posts, depending on if there was or wasn't a recent post under a particular category).
Basically yes. However the category list is usually always in the sidebar as well, as is the page listing. How much it helps, is anyone's guess. However it does tend to indicate good blog activity, or updates, that one might miss, if they don't frequent the front page of the blog.
Also, should note that some blogs, will use a static homepage, that doesn't list the most recent posts. Thus making the 'most recent' a way to further entice a surfer beyond that first page.
hth
Ian