Most people in business know at least one or two people who publish a blog. Chances are, they know people who blog on non-business topics as well.

Have you ever wondered what are the common practices followed by these bloggers? Speaking as someone who has published blog posts since 2009, I certainly have.

Now the “wondering” is over, because Chicago-based web design firm Orbit Media Studies has just published its 2016 Blogger Research Study, which presents the results of surveying ~1,050 bloggers about how they go about their blogging business.

Here are some of the most interesting highlights from the study:

Where do bloggers write their articles?

According to Orbit’s findings, the vast majority of bloggers are creating their content at home or at their home office:

• At home/home office: ~81% of respondents cited
• At the office: ~32%
• Coffee shops or other foodservice establishments: ~19%
• Co-working spaces: ~4%
• Other locations: ~7% (primarily on trains or planes, or at a library)

What is the length of a typical blog post?

From the Orbit research findings, it’s pretty clear that the most popular blog post length is 500 to 1,000 words. (This one is, for instance.)  Anything longer than that quickly migrates into the “feature story” mode:

• Less than 500 words: ~21% of respondents cited
• 500 – 1,000 words: ~61%
• 1,000 – 1,500 words: ~13%
• 1,500 – 2,000 words: ~4%
• More than 2,000 words: ~1%

Do bloggers use editors, or act as their own editor?

There’s little differentiation in behaviors here; the vast majority of bloggers report that they edit their own work. An even greater ~91% of the survey respondents either edit their own work or use an ad hoc review process.  Bottom line, most blog posts have never been seen by anyone other than the author before going live:

• Edit own work: ~73% of respondents
• Show it to one or two people: ~30%
• Use a formal editor: ~12%
• Use more than one editor: ~3%

How long does it take to write the typical blog post?

The responses ranged widely, but the most common length of time is between one and two hours:

• Less than 1 hour: ~17% of respondents cited
• 1-2 hours: ~37%
• 2-3 hours: ~20%
• 3-4 hours: 13%
• More than 4 hours: ~13%

Are bloggers writing for other people besides themselves?

Generally speaking, bloggers are writing for their own publication, but there are many instances where bloggers are writing for clients as well.

• 75% – 100% of blogger’s posts written for clients: ~9% of respondents cited
• 50% – 75%: ~6%
• 25% – 50%: ~9%
• 5% – 25%: ~13%
• 1% – 5%: ~18%
• 0%: ~47%

How are bloggers driving traffic to their posts?

Two words: social media.  Direct e-mail marketing is also a common technique, as is search engine optimization:

• Social media marketing:  ~94% of respondents cited
• Search engine optimization: ~51%
• E-mail marketing: ~35%
• Influencer outreach: ~15%
• Paid services (SEM/social media advertising): ~5%

The high SEO figure is hardly surprising, considering that bloggers are, by definition, focused on writing inherently interesting, newsworthy content.

More details from the Orbit survey can be accessed here.