Month: September 2007

Another of my blogging friends that has built a great community around her blog is Mommy Zabs. She’s even made lasting friends out of her commenters. Like, I don’t know, me. So here are her thoughts on building a community around your blog.

What do you consider a “community” built around a blog (yours or anyone else’s)?

Great question!

Communities look as different as neighborhoods in real life do. Your blog attracts community either by common interest, a desire to have some common interest, or because they gain something by visiting it.

For example. The Mommy Zabs community draws some because of the political ideals we share others because of the stage of motherhood we are in and how we execute it, and still others because of shared faith in Christ. While Mommy Zabs has a diverse community, it is one that has a bond. They like coming to my site for some reason!

Still as other neighborhoods in real life are different, some blogs center around a more specific goal. For Example, Pro Blog Design draws people that love to learn more about designing blogs..

Online communities come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. They are as diverse as the people in them.

What do I consider a community around a blog? The people that commune around it! Those who both spectate and join in.

What have you done to encourage visitors to your blog to comment on your blog? To come back to your blog?

I believe that if you desire people to comment on your blog and see your comment numbers going down (over a period of time, not just one post) you need to make sure you haven’t given off signals that you don’t want others’ input. The easiest way to remedy that is to invite opinions, comments. Let your readers know their slant on the topic adds something. I think at times people are shy to comment, the same way they may have been in school to raise their hand and answer a question. Make your blog and posts inviting and always leave the doors open on your post if having a relational blog is what you desire.

What have I done to get people back? I can say for sure; I don’t bat .300 on this. But I think that the people that do continue to come back time after time feel like they are welcome. I respond to as many emails and comments as I fell I can. Even if it is a simple “thank you” or “Yes, I agree completely!” I used to respond IN the comments. Sometimes I still get around to that, but at very least I email the commenter back.

I also use a plugin called comment relish on my mom blog. It automatically sends an email to first time commenter and let’s them know I appreciate them participating.

What have you done to foster a sense of community around your blog?

I believe that I have maintained a level of transparency… maybe more translucence 🙂 I tell stories about my life, and some are funny, some are sad, some are raw, some are downright hard to tell. I share ups and downs. While I don’t think it would be wise to put absolutely everything out on the ‘net, I think for the most part I have found a healthy balance.

I also really enjoy the people that come to my blog. I have built many solid relationships from blogging. As busy as I get and as little as I may bet around to reading peoples blogs anymore, I never want to lose the relating. I will always do my best to keep the conversations going. To try to email those I haven’t heard from in awhile, and appreciate those who have come to mean a lot to me. I am blessed to have so many great people find my blog, decide to read, and some even decide to participate, and I cannot take that for granted!

What’s the best thing a newer (or more well established!) blogger can do to help encourage visitors to come back to their blog and comment?

Hm. That’s a good question. It would vary from blog to blog depending on the type of people the blog attracts. Some blogs actually are more news oriented and don’t require as much crowd participation but still see large stat numbers! But for the blogs that do want the comment threads, I suggest some basic things.

1. Pay attention to the types of post content that gets people talking, make sure to commit to that type of post regularly.
2. Write posts relevant to your readership.
3. Talk back, respond. No one likes to talk to someone who just stares back. That is what it can feel like when you put yourself out there on a blog comment and know one acknowledges you.
4. Post on a regular basis. This is important for 2 major reasons.
   • The more people see something the more it is on the front of their mind. If they are coming to read your blog daily because you post daily, it is less likely to creep toward the back of their mind.
   • Let’s face it, though feed readers are an excellent way to track the blogs you read, there are still those that don’t use it! If they click day after day and barely see a post, chances are they will stop coming.

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Thanks so much, Mommy Zabs! These tips are all excellent, specific and pretty easy to follow. I agree that it’s important to look at what topics matter to your readers and to post regularly (and everything else you’ve said!).

Most visitors won’t stick around for long at a blog that just talks at them. People want to be involved in a conversation, so get people involved in your blog. They want to feel that their thoughts matter just as much as yours do.

1. Ask a question at the end of your posts. Ask if people feel the same way, have more suggestions in the area or what’s working for them. Once you have people interested, you can even admit that you don’t know everything—or even anything—about the topic in question. Ask for help.
2. Remove barriers to commenting. How many times have you read a great blog post, got all excited about the comment you were going to add, got to the end and found this:
   
   I don’t think I’m the only one who will either a.) turn away disappointed or b.) go through the stupid sign up process, give away all my personal information and then have forgotten what I was going to say.As a blogger, you should try to make it easy for readers to join the conversation. If you really want people to say something, don’t force them to sign in or leave your site or do long division (simple addition or typing a word as a spam catcher is okay, though).
3. Respond to comments to keep the conversation going. Again, don’t just talk at your readers, talk with them. In my own experience, I’ve received more comments when I respond to comments on my blog as well as commenting on others’ blogs.You certainly don’t have to respond to every random spammer or troll who happens by your blog. But it’s always nice to show your appreciation for commenters. It’s especially important (not to mention only polite!) to respond to commenters who ask questions.
4. Write about something interesting and universal. As obvious as this sounds, it’s important not to just write about yourself and your family. Of course, your life will be the main source for your blog, but take your posts to the next level by appealing to something that applies to more than just you and your spouse. For example, don’t just say “I had Kix for breakfast,” say, “I had Kix for breakfast. What’s your favorite cereal or breakfast food?” You could even end a post about your kids with “What’s the cutest things your kids have done this week?” or “Did your kids do this at this age?”

By making it clear that you pay attention to what people say on your blog and that you value their input, you’re subtly encouraging others to add their 2¢ to the conversation. You show that you’re interested in what others have to say on the topic. By seeing that you are willing to continue the conversation in the comments or via email, your visitors will form an individual relationship with you. That is the strongest reason why people will continue to comment on your blog.

Another bonus: you might get more post ideas from that conversation with your readers!

Adapted from my free guide to increasing your blog’s stickiness, “Get Your Visitors to Stick!“