On a slight tangent. Most of the blog programs I know have some form of archiving system. Usually by post, month and category. I’d just like to know how many have ever used the monthly archive to find a post. I think the answer is no and never. We use the blog search function, it is far quicker and more efficient. It also beats large categories too. So the real effectiveness in blogs is not in their archiving, in fact the longer you blog the more you discover that the categories you orginally created are worthless and you have too many posts to re categorize. That’s the problem again with a static rather than dynamic approach to the taxonomy.
Hi Stuart
Actually I do use the monthly archives of my own blog regularly. I seem to remember when I wrote something easily. Of course using the search function (or the site specific Google search) works better. But I like to browse the articles next to the one I searched for, creating new meaning from them.
I use the monthly archive system on my “Combee on Palm OS” blog a bit; my usual use case is that I’m replying to an email and want to send the person a link, and I remember that I posted some article to the site, so I go and check the months around the approximate time for the item.
To be honest, I haven’t used the monthly archives much — like you, I use search. But lo and behold, the monthly archives regularly show up among WorldChanging’s top pages by hit count, especially the current month. My guess is that new readers use the monthly archives to get a sense of the recent course of conversation.
Actually, compared to sdtatic pre-defined taxonomies, monthly archives are the best option. Free searching is OK, provide (a) your sure your choice of search includes all the words you’re actualy interested in, and (b) you’re happy to context filter the irrelevant hits yourself.
Horses for courses.
The real answer is in live taxonomies, vategories you can re-categorise and add to as you go. A longstanding wish-list item of mine.
Ian, Take a look at Yi-Tan and what we are doing there! Jamais, I think you make a good point. I just seldom benefit from the “lifestream archiving” search remains faster.