Magnetize Your Blog: Always Reply to Comments!
August 4th 2007 20:20
So, You Love to Write...Great! Now, You Need to Be Read!
As a blogger, it goes without saying that you love to write! You would have to love writing to continue to provide, day after day, fresh, new material to keep your readers engaged and keep them coming back. After all, your goal is to develop a base of loyal readers, who bookmark and return to your blog again and again. Yet it's just as important to cultivate a relationship with first-time visitors to your site--to attract and hold new readers, adding them to your current fan base.
Content May Be King, But Responsiveness Is the Real Ruler!
If your blog is highly informative, providing valuable, helpful information and insight to your readers, many people will initially be attracted to your site, and many may return again and again. But, there's a limit to how long informative content alone will hold readers and cause them to remain in the fold of a blog which lacks other, equally important components.
Let's not forget that there are many thousands--even many tens of thousands--of other informative blogs, in addition to yours, on the internet today. Another fantastic blog is always only a click away. In other words, in the world of blogging, competition is fierce!
Your Readers Are Your Success!
In short, after content, one of the major secrets to building a viable, dynamic blog is demonstrating a responsiveness to your readers, who are, after all, the foundation of your success. The critical importance of, first, appreciating, and then showing that appreciation to your readers simply cannot be stressed enough! If you think that writing wonderfully informative and brilliantly eloquent blog posts is all that you owe your readers, think again!
Comments: Your Key to Magnetizing Your Blog
The quickest way to entice a reader back to your blog again and again is to demonstrate that you value his or her input--all of it! (Of course, by all of it, I am not referring to abusive, discourteous, or vulgar comments!) By replying to every reader's comments--and every comment of every reader--in a timely, friendly, courteous, and professional--yes, I said professional--manner, you will draw your readers back to your blog like a magnet!
A New Day for Your Blog
If you've been lax in replying to comments, if you have your comment capability turned off, or if commenting is active on your blog and yet you've been ignoring your readers' feedback entirely, today is the day to try something new. The time for implementing a fascinating little experiment is now.
(Look at it this way: If your little foray into two-way communication with your readers, via comments, doesn't prove, to your personal satisfaction, that validating, appreciating, and engaging your blog's readers in conversation about the topics expounded upon in your posts benefits your blog's popularity and increases its traffic, you will be perfectly free to revert back to your previous, non-responsive method of writing at your readers. But, give it a chance. If you never try it, you'll never know.)
A Little Better Every Day
If you have been responding to reader comments, good for you! Keep up the good work! (You may want to check out my recent post, The iReply Revolution: Join It, where you'll find info on where to get the You Comment, I Reply logo to post on your blog.)
But, if your replies to reader feedback have been somewhat hit-or-miss, giving you the nagging feeling that you haven't been as responsive as you should be, determine to do something about it. Decide today to make your blog a little bit better every single day!
Always remember: Tomorrow is a brand new day, a day when you can make positive, lasting, changes to your blog--and your life!
What have you got to lose?
Happy connecting,
Jeanne
Note: This post is one entry to the Daily Reader Blog Tips portion of the ProBlogger 31 Days to Building a Better Blog - 2007 - Group Writing Project.
Did you enjoy this post? Don't leave me lonely--Please comment!
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Comment by David
I think I've got a handle on the magnetizing bit, but I'm polarizing (pulverizing) my reader-base a bit.
I think it's because I've taken the approach of replying with professionally abusive, discourteous, or vulgar comments.
But in my defence? I didn't start it. I'm only retaliating in the only language some bloggers understand - their own.
David ...
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
I heartily agree with you that you do appear to have the magnetizing aspect down. Your blogs tend, quite consistently, to attract quite a few readers/commenters. And though many of them may only be there to argue, you also have a base of very loyal readers, who look on you with great affection!
So, though you may have a no-holds-barred policy where negative commenters are concerned, when it comes to your fans, that doesn't seem to be the case. So, my response would be: You must be doing something right!
I also believe that, to some extent, the advice in my post is relative, because the nature of your response to commenters will be dependent on the purpose of that response (i.e., to endear, polarize, alienate, etc.), as well as the purpose of the blog itself.
At any rate, you are replying to comments, rather than ignoring them, which, in one way or another, validates those comments and drives traffic to your blogs.
Thanks for the input!
Jeanne
Comment by David
All of your advice in this post is relative to blogging.
I particularly like your section:
From my perspective, Trash Content is King of the blog kingdom, and most of the subjects in the blogging kingdom demonstrate a fierce loyalty to trash, which merely reflects the nature of the kingdom of the real world beyond the blogosphere.
If I write a post and make trash [instant-and-disposable current affairs media
eventsgarbage] the subject matter of the post, it's generally a popular post. If I write a post about literature, or a literary post, it's generally unpopular.As much as I love social interaction (which is the principal reason I blog), and will interact with bloggers into trash, wasting countless hours discussing trash, is counter-productive to serious writing pursuits.
David ...
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
I certainly agree with your last statement unequivocally: "...Wasting countless hours discussing trash, is counter-productive to serious writing pursuits"! And it is certainly true that the widespread tendency to value "trash" is indicative of the wider world in which we find ourselves, through no fault of our own.
It may also be true that "Trash Content is King of the blog kingdom, and most of the subjects in the blogging kingdom demonstrate a fierce loyalty to trash." But, I'm not absolutely convinced that there are actually more of these individuals than there are of those that value quality content. Certainly, the first group tends to be more vocal than the second, however.
Yet, I am of the belief that we need not join in on the world's "trashfest" to develop a loyal fan-base for our blogs. No doubt, we'll be less popular overall by refusing to take part in the mud-slinging, sensationalistic, shocking, and/or insult-hurling that so many love to read or take part in--but that's OK by me! I have no interest in cultivating that culture around my blog.
I will say this: I would much rather write a quality post about literature, poetry, or some other noble topic which will stand the test of time, and attract fewer readers thereby, than succumb to the world's pressure to write disposable posts on empty, meaningless subjects for the sole purpose of driving traffic to my blog!
In the first instance, though my traffic might be far lighter, it would consist of the "cream of the crop." And I'd be perfectly happy with that!
Thanks so much for sharing your views on this issue, David! They are much appreciated!
Jeanne
Comment by David
Touché to this:
I'll still visit trash-topic blogs because I like engaging with the people who write them (especially those who approach celebrity & political issues from a sarcastic, cynical angle) but I'd rather the numbers of those that value quality content was greater, or did speak up a bit more often perhaps?
David ...
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
We can always hope that those who appreciate quality content will eventually decide to tell us so, rather than disappearing into the cyber-sunset without so much as a word!
Thanks, again for the visit!
Jeanne
Comment by Louie
Thanks again for your advice.
You dont have to reply to this one
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Thanks for your graciousness in not expecting a reply to your comment, but I just wouldn't feel right not leaving one!
I always reply to the initial comment a reader leaves on one of my posts. That's the way I let my readers know that I'm glad they stopped by to read what I've written and that I appreciate their taking a few moments to chat before heading to their next cyber-destination.
Of course, every conversation has to stop somewhere, so, after the first comment a reader leaves on a post, I play it by ear. If they leave a second comment in response to my reply, I sometimes respond and sometimes don't, based on whether or not the conversation seems complete.
Comments don't always have to be long and complex (like this one!) but can often be short and sweet--just enough to show your readers that you value their input and welcome their presence at your blog. Just say what you feel, and you'll do fine.
Thanks for stopping by--again!
Jeanne
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Helpful advice as always, thank-you,
Tracy
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
This post is my entry to the 31 Days to Building a Better Blog group writing project at ProBlogger. You might enjoy checking it out.
In addition to Darren Rowse's insightful blogging advice, many great posts have already been submitted by his readers, and I anticipate a wealth of great blogging tips from this ProBlogger project over the remainder of the month!
Thanks for the visit!
Jeanne
Comment by Tavi Nemet
If on the other hand you manage to give your blog an explosion of popularity and you get 20-30 or even more comments on your every post then it might take the same amount of time to respond to them as it takes to write a great post so it would seem counter productive to make it your duty to respond to all. Just answer some of them because that will make the readers know you read and consider their input.
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
While I have to admit that I've never had the "problem" of having that many comments to respond to at one time, it still seems to me that even a very brief acknowledgement of each comment--even if, at times, it's limited to simply mentioning the names of those who have left less substantial comments--would go a long way toward making our commenters feel valued. (I, personally, have felt left out a few times when my comment has been one of the ones to be ignored.)
But, check back with me again after I've become famous and must contend with all those comments on a daily basis! My answer just might be slightly different then!
Thanks for stopping by!
Jeanne
Comment by Anonymous
I think it's important not to be too legalistic about this. In general, I respond to comments and visit the blogs of my commentators because I view what I'm doing as building a community.
But, like Tavi says, if there are too many comments to respond to each and every comment--I still think that the blogger can be responsive by joining the comment thread and reacting to what is being said.
An example in point, I visit ProBlogger often and sometimes leave comments. To my knowledge, ProBlogger has never visited my blog (at least he has never left a comment). I notice, however, that he sometimes jumps in long comment threads on his own blog with general updates or perspective.
The key, I think, is not to give up on being responsive or interacting with your readers because you are too busy.
WritingThoughts
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Thanks for giving us your perspective on this issue! My point is that it's important for us to make each and every commenter on our own blogs feel valued.
I certainly understand that there are many extremely popular bloggers, such as ProBlogger, who receive so many comments that they could spend all day replying to them (Tavi's point precisely). This would obviously be neither practical nor helpful, because, after all, if we have no time to write blog posts, we no longer have a blog!
I also realize, that it would be equally impractical for such superbloggers to visit every commenter's blog to reciprocate--though I never advocated that.
As I mentioned in my response to Tavi, I believe it's important to respond to as many commenters as we can, and where there are large numbers of them, listing individual commenter names in a combined response will go a long way toward making each person feel valued, leaving no one feeling left out or ignored.
In the case of absolutely enormous numbers of comments, where even this wouldn't be practical, a single comment, aimed at "all who responded to this post" or "everyone whose comment I haven't specifically answered"--along with an apology of some sort--would be the absolute least I believe a blogger should give the people who have taken the time, energy, and effort to not only read but actually provide feedback on a post.
After all, by adding to the conversation surrounding our blog posts, our commenters add value to those posts, as well as to our blogs.
And, though some comments are more in-depth, insightful, and/or incisive than others, those who comment on our blogs, rather than simply reading and moving on, are definitely in the minority, and I believe we should do everything in our power to encourage them to remain a part of that responsive minority.
Thanks for the visit, Laura!
Jeanne
Comment by Rosemary
Alpaca Notes - Tasmania
I've just started my blog, so I'm busy reading everything I can for tips, advice, ideas etc. Your posts have been very helpful, thanks.
Cheers
Rosemary
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Great to meet you! Glad you're finding my posts helpful! I'll be right over to check out your blog!
Thanks for your comment!
Jeanne
Comment by 高須クリニック
I am looking forward to renewal of your blog.
Please take a look my site, if it's possible.
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
I'd love to take a look at your site, but you didn't leave me a link!
Thanks for the visit, though!
Jeanne