On blog post timing

My current system is to produce two posts a day (sometimes one on weekends or when I am very busy). The first post includes a photo, and is generally the more substantive of the two. One post comes out at a random time between 7:00am and 8:00am Ottawa time. The other, at a random time between 6:00pm and 7:00pm.

Given that almost all the posts are written in advance, these time conventions are arbitrary. Would readers prefer for them to come out at different times? For instance, the first could be released earlier in the morning, for the benefit of those who habitually rise long before me.

Time zones are also a consideration. During the past year, there have been 22,253 visitors from across Canada, 19,789 from the USA, 5,597 from the UK, 1,314 from India, 1,297 from Australia, 642 from Germany, and less than 500 from 165 other states. The times at which posts are released matter most to regular readers, who tend to be in England (GMT), the Toronto-Ottawa area (GMT-5), and the Vancouver area (GMT-8). That means posts come out in Vancouver between 4:00am and 5:00am, as well as between 3:00pm and 4:00pm. In London and Oxford, they come out between noon and 1:00pm, as well as between 11:00pm and midnight.

Also, is the semi-random system preferable to one where they come out at the exact same moment, or would the alternative be better?

Author: Milan

In the spring of 2005, I graduated from the University of British Columbia with a degree in International Relations and a general focus in the area of environmental politics. In the fall of 2005, I began reading for an M.Phil in IR at Wadham College, Oxford. Outside school, I am very interested in photography, writing, and the outdoors. I am writing this blog to keep in touch with friends and family around the world, provide a more personal view of graduate student life in Oxford, and pass on some lessons I've learned here. View all posts by Milan