Normally I'd be running my Retro Sundays column today, but this week I'd like to get some feedback from readers on the value you receive from my Retro Sundays posts.
Before you leave your comments, a couple of things: First, the pageview metrics for my Retro Sundays posts are, quite frankly, off the charts. Time-on-page, click rates, bounce rates and exit rates on these posts all range from above average to screamingly above average compared to CKs' average metrics (and yes, "screamingly above average" is a technical blogging term).
Also, I've picked up a lot of new readers over the past year or so, and one of the reasons I created the Retro Sundays series was to provide an easy, pain-free way for new readers to gradually get exposure to the best posts here. After nearly five years' worth of history, it's next to impossible for new readers to dig out CK's most interesting and influential articles.
The thing is, I don't write CK for pageview metrics, and I especially don't want my long-term readers to be annoyed by content that appears to be "recycled"--even though my intent is to provide these posts in a predictable, weekly format that long-term readers can easily skip over.
So with all of that in context, here's my question:
If you are a new reader, do you find the Retro Sundays posts useful to you?
And if you're a long-term reader, do the Retro Sundays posts interfere with how you read CK?
Let me know in the comments, and please don't hold back. Sure, I might cry quietly into my pillow for a few nights when I get criticized or when I get a negative comment, but I eventually pull out of it and get back to making CK as useful and as interesting to readers as I can. :)
Thank you in advance for your thoughts!
Cook More. Think More. Spend Less.
29 comments:
I'm a new-ish reader and personally I find them really useful. I don't click on all the links, but quite often one looks interesting.
I'm sorta new here, and the two posts I find most useful are the Friday links and Retro Sundays.
I have been reading CK for awhile and still find Retro Sundays useful. Rereading posts I have already read for the reminder. Refresh information in my brain. And even if I decide to not go back and read any of the listings, it is not annoying.
HI! I'm a medium-term user. I've been following your blog for a few years, but many of the retro-Sunday links are new to me. I really look forward to Sunday mornings to discover what treasures you've dug out of the archives.
I've been a regular reader for 2-3 years. I enjoy the retro-Sunday posts. I don't always click through to older articles, but now and then I do. I think you should keep posting them...
I'm a new reader, and find your Retro Sunday posts helpful and interesting. I also really like your Friday Links posts.
I'm a long-time reader and Retro Sundays are my favorite posts.
I like the retro Sundays posts.
I've been reading your blog for ~3 years, and even though I've read a lot of the posts when they were first published, I occasionally use the retro Sundays to refresh my memory.
I like 'em, too, Dan. :)
Keep them, Daniel. After 3 years of reading CK, I've seen "recycled" articles that weren't of interest the first time because of our place in life, which have now become Godsends (groundnut stew anyone?). We don't have to click on each link, and I imagine it gives you some semblance of a "day of rest".
Even though I've read your entire blog, I still scan the Retro Sunday links in case there's something interesting that I want a refresher on. Your comments about each article help a lot with that.
As a new reader, my only complaint is that Retro Sundays are 1/3 of your weekly content (with another 1/3 being a link post). 2/3s of what you post since I've been reading is a list of links.
Granted, there's a solid amount of content in the archives, and that content is exactly what a college student, looking for something better than "how to fry a chicken breast" level recipes, wants. Still, I feel it would be nice to have one more actual post a week; that way, half of the new posts in a week are both your content and new content.
I've been reading a few months and I definitely look forward to the Friday and Sunday posts - a lot! I do hope you will keep them - add more if you wish, but at least please keep the ones you have!
I don't often click on the Retro Sunday links, but I think they are good for newbies to your column and I support having them.....Plus every once in awhile I see something I haven't read before, and that makes them worthwhile.....
I'm new-ish, about a year or so, but I've done a lot of backreading. I still find the posts useful. I see something and go "Oh, that sounds good!" which is easier than searching for a recipe.
"I don't write CK for pageview metrics"
Then don't worry, just do.
I like the linky posts...
I'm fairly new and I LOVE Retro Sundays
New reader. Love them!
I'm glad I asked. I was seriously expecting the consensus to be for killing the Retro Sundays posts. The reality turned out to be the exact opposite.
Thanks to everyone for taking the time to share your thoughts... and if there's anything else you'd like to provide in terms of feedback, please let it rip!
DK
I consider myself a long term reader of CK. I like the retro Sun. and also the Fri. links. You have something that works. Keep it up.
I've been reading for a while and I love it all. I have found a lot of interesting info by following your links to other websites and I read almost everything you personally write. Your format totally works for me.
I always skip the Retro Sundays and just "mark as read" in my Reader. BUT I don't really mind doing that - I can see how it would be helpful to some readers, and as long as they continue to be titled "Retro Sundays" (and therefore easy to spot), I'm fine.
You know I'm a longtime reader and I still love retro Sundays. Whether it's a post I've never read or one I remember, I like being pointed towards posts that others have found useful or interesting in the past.
Mary
I look forward to Retro Sundays. I've been around for a while and sometimes there's a post that I've missed, or more commonly, something I've forgotten about and enjoy the reminder.
I also like the Friday links.
I'm a little late to the party (too much in Google reader!) but I love Retro Sundays. I've been reading for a while but my cooking abilities, comfort level in the kitchen, and tastes are evolving with time. Seeing articles and recipes again with fresh eyes is wonderful. Keep them!!
I like them. You've got good quality posts there. I only hope someday I have enough quality posts to do the same thing, rather than have just a simple "short list" on a favorite posts page.
A few more reactions: once again the feedback is overwhelmingly positive, and in particular I'm happy to hear that long-time readers, including Mary, Laura, Anonymous, Marcia and Sally don't consider the format to be a problem at all. Thank you.
Finally, from those of you who have made self-effacing comments about leaving belated comments here, please don't worry. I still get (and always read) comments from articles written years ago. I am always grateful for the feedback and thoughts--who cares that they're not instantaneous! :)
DK
I'm a long term reader and I've read all your archives. I find the Retro Sundays annoying. It's like almost every post is a Retro Sunday. Looks like I'm in the minority though!
Anonymous:
No worries at all that you're in the minority, or that you have negative feedback--I want to hear it all.
However, I also can't satisfy all readers with every type of post or every decision I make here at CK. Hopefully the Retro Sundays series is something you can easy skip over and ignore. Thanks again for your thoughts.
DK
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