If you can count, you can be awesome online. – SCN Encourager 5/2/2014

It seems like every activity now has an ideal measure.

Not that many of our ideal measures are ever attainable, though.  (so says the voice of experience…)

If the optimal level is set high, I’m inevitably plugging along at low.

If the optimal level is set low, I’m typically blasting something into orbit.

It’s frustrating.

The chart below is the culprit behind my downer mood.

It highlights the “ideal length” for all of our online compositions.

If you write email subject lines, tweet, and Facebook posts, you should take a look at the full article.

It touts itself as “research based”… and that’s usually all the bait needed to attract a nice audience of school leaders and communicators.

I’m glad I took extensive notes while reading through it.

At least now I have a better understanding as to why I’m coming up short according to these “researched based” ideals.

Luckily, I’m happy to report that I’m doing pretty well in one category — consistency.

I receive unwavering “consistent” reader responses to The Encourager.

Whenever I write too many words, readers tell me to “shorten it up!”

Whenever I write a very short piece, readers tell me to “shorten it up!”

What a gift I have!

Few writers – anywhere – are actually able to unify their readers in this manner.

And while I appreciate all of the feedback, I’m not sure it’s possible for me to cut down any further on the number of words I use in The Encourager unless … hey! Wait a minute! 

Whew! You almost had me there.

Anyway, having sidestepped that trap, I hope you enjoy a pleasant weekend of the ideal length.

Tom Page, SCN