I’ve been putting off writing this article for a while now, because it’s long been my “game plan” to make at least 10 comments a day on other blogs. For some reason I just can’t get into the rhythm of it. Thus, this article is as much an internal exercise for me as for anyone else who reads it. I need a kick in the commenting pants!
I’ve been blogging now for about 3 months and I still have a very small readership. (Nothing like the image above I borrowed from Flickr!) Even still, I’m motivated because every once in a while I get a decent comment on something I’ve written. Heck, at this point, I don’t even care if it’s decent, just as long as someone is there on the other end and they aren’t spamming me.
Why comment?
If you don’t blog write your own blog, then you may not have felt what it’s like to post and wait for comments: You post your article… you wait a bit, you twiddle your thumbs. You refresh your inbox for potential comments. You wait. Days go by. Check analytics. Wait. Check feedburner. Gradually, your enthusiasm fizzles.
But that one comment, that one jewel that pops up unexpectedly is enough to keep you going.
Comments = Blogger’s currency
If you read someones blog and you love it, then comment on it! Participate in the conversation the author has started. Add a new point, a counter point, or a similar link/post you may know of. If you find yourself in awe of how great the post is, and you notice yourself adding it to your faves, then say that too! Think of your comment as a donation or a vote for the author and what they are doing. Let them know you appreciate it.
Join the 1 Percent
One percent of people are producers. 1 percent of all the people who use wikipedia write all of the content for it. 1 out of 100 people will ever comment on a blog. Probably only 1 percent of people who eat at a restaurant will post up a review on Yelp or other review sites.
The other ninety-nine percent absorb and don’t actively participate. Which isn’t wrong, but I wonder if for some people (like me) it’s as simple as forgetfulness. Commenting hasn’t been hardwired into my routine - almost like forgetting my manners when I’m ripping through my feed reader.
For more on where I got these numbers, see my post called The One Percenters. While you’re there, notice that the first comment on this post was from Jackie Huba who authored the book I was writing about… and she totally made my week when she did!! Comments really are love.
