I always get this question – Ken, how long do you take to come up with a blog post?

Well, if that question is referred to an extensive blog entry, it can take up to 3 hours just to prepare a single writeup.

Back then, I used to jot down notes on papers for blogging purposes.

Throughout my blogging experience, I’m not the type who write on the spot and publish immediately. Never, unless it’s a really short entry or when I could really need a boost to the traffic.

Well, enough with the talk, here are the steps normally done prior to updating the blog. The blog entry used as a demonstration is Why Men Like Boobs (click if you like boobs!), which was published not long ago.

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1) Think of an interesting booby topic to write about, type short points on Blogspot.

The draft on Blogspot will be saved and stored until the day (or the day before) I decide to publish it.

2) When time is right, the draft is copied to TextEdit – a slightly advanced text-editing application on Mac.

The pointers will be further elaborated. Proper introduction, explanation on points and a reasonable ending will be added.

3) Search for relevant images on Google.

Depending on the imaginary images that come into my mind, this step could take up to an hour just to obtain the right photos. If the blog entry uses my own photos, this step is skipped.

4) Download suitable images onto desktop.

The usual cluttered desktop due to downloaded photos. They will then be transferred into a folder.

Next up, the photo editing work starts.

5) Width of images re-sized. The width of all images on kenwooi.com is standardized to 500-pixels.

This consistency is a strict requirement on every single blog entry.

6) Crop height of images. The height of each images is normally standardized to 300-pixels.

However, the height could vary depending on suitability.

7) Sometimes, adore image for a while. Ahh, boobies…

Not applicable unless image is interesting. Also if required, certain editing is done – for example, inserting bubble speeches or cropping.

8) Rename image files.

All image files will be named accordingly. This is used as a reference for adding image “alt” code later (refer step 14).

9) Add kenwooi.com watermark to images.

For photos that are mine or have been edited by myself, a watermark will be manually added.

10) Structure draft on TextEdit by inserting images in between designated intersections.

Amend phrases and sentences to suit the flow of the added images. Put indications for image locations.

11) Copy updated draft to Blogspot post editor.

12) Upload all image files to Blogspot.

Now, you may ask why not upload on WordPress instead? It’s because I don’t wanna waste the web hosting’s bandwidth. Too many images on this blog will take up more bandwidth. Google’s Web Picasa, on the other hand, doesn’t have bandwidth limitation.

13) Once images are uploaded, remove unnecessary image HTML codes.

The chunk of codes for each images will be simplified. Hyperlink tags and other rubbish are deleted, leaving only the essential image codes.

14) Add “alt” tags for each image.

The “alt” tags serves as the keyword for image searches. It’s necessary for search engines, especially on Google since the images are uploaded to Web Picasa, a Google product.

15) Change more images codes.

If you’re confused, the “%2B” will be changed “+”. An unnecessary step but it’s an extra thing I do. Don’t ask me why, but from my perception – loading 1 character is faster than 3 characters, even though it represents the same thing.

16) Modify size code of all image links from S400 to S800.

By default, the size of an uploaded image via Blogspot is 400-pixels. Increasing 400 to 800 allows a maximum of 800-pixel width and height.

17) Organize and structure images with draft by inserting them into indicators set earlier.

18) Add formatting. Bold, underline, strikeout, hyperlinks and others.

19) Read organized write up on Blogspot. Spot mistakes such as incorrectly structured paragraphs, misspelled words and repetitive phrases.

Modify them until satisfied.

20) Copy post HTML code to WordPress.

21) Rename permalink if necessary. Short yet descriptive is good.

22) Set publish time to 12am.

If you haven’t realize, all updates on kenwooi.com are set to midnight @ 12am. Other time is not allowed.

23) Again, double read/check the post on WordPress. Spot mistakes and modify again.

There are always tiny modifications here and there – phrases, spellings, synonyms and sentence structures.

24) Preview post on kenwooi.com.

25) Check preview structure and formatting.

An almost perfect kenwooi.com blog entry must consist of the following requirements:

a) Each paragraph shall not have 1 or 2 words on the last line. Either reduce or add more words.
b) Maximum 3 paragraphs in between each images.
c) Smooth flow from words to photos and back to words. Reword and rephrase if needed.
d) Double check on grammatical mistakes.
e) Repeat from a) for 3 or 4 times.

26) Occasionally, ask suggestions for more attractive post title.

27) Save final draft and wait for 12am to publish.

Throughout the waiting period, slight amendments are inevitable. Once 12am, hit publish button!

28) Immediately ping blog on ping-o-matic, pingoat and blogged.my.

29) Shorten blog entry permalink on bit.ly for sharing purpose.

30) Announce update on blog on Facebook and Twitter.

Alright, that should be the end. But usually, minor changes are still done the next morning.

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So ladies and gentlemen, this is how I prepare a blog entry on kenwooi.com. :)