For some blogs, it can take months before someone comments. For others, a matter of days.

It’s when we feel what we’re sharing isn’t being read, we think of giving up.

After all, blogging is supposed to be interactive.

Today’s Lesson

I feel fortunate that I receive the amount of comments I do. Comments inspire me to continue on. Comments inspire new posts. And via comments I get to meet other bloggers.

But it wasn’t always that way. My audience (or lack thereof) remained silent for quite some time.

I’d publish posts, but no one seemed to care.

But I didn’t give up.

What worked for me were five things.

1. I visited other blogs and left comments.

Not every blogger reciprocated with comments on my blog, but some did, as did some of their readers. HINT: Comment on new or smaller blogs. Generally, A-list bloggers do not reciprocate comments.

2. I linked to other blogs, but I did it a little different.

I set up a series which I named, “New Blog Of The Week” (NBOTW) and hunted for new bloggers (usually under four months old). I used Tuesday as my NBOTW day and would write a post showcasing their blog, including excerpts from three of their posts/pages and included links to them.

This was a slow process, but over time, I began to build my readership, as well as my blog community.

I’ve discontinued this series, however, the list of 90 blogs remains here.

3. Another important aspect to receiving comments, ASK questions.

Even if you feel your post is complete, it doesn’t hurt to ask your readers, “Did I forget anything?’, “What are your thoughts on this topic?”, or ____fill in the blank___.

Give readers a reason to comment.

4. I answered the comments I received.

Although I occasionally miss comments which show up on older posts, my goal is answer all comments I receive on this blog.

Unfortunately, due to the amount of spam I receive, I closed the comments on posts older than 90 days.

5. I asked a comment expert for additional advice.

Liz Strauss, of Successful and Outstanding Bloggers is known for the huge amount of comments she has received over the years so naturally she was the one I approached for advice.

In a two part interview, I asked Liz, How to Maximize Blog Comments and How To Get Readers To Join Your Community.

The information Liz shared is priceless.

For some bloggers, comments aren’t important, but for others, they become the real reason to continue on.

Today’s Assignment

What technique(s) do/did you use to entice your readers to comment?

Care to share?

Although most bloggers are concerned how they are perceived online and will ask fellow bloggers what they think of, or how they can improve their blogs, some bloggers REALLY don’t want to know.

They like their blog just as it is.

And that’s okay.

Today’s Lesson

I’ll admit, I don’t like receiving nor giving criticism. If not done correctly, it can project a negative vibe.

In fact, if you asked me what I think of your blog, I’d find something I like about it and pay you a compliment.

And, I’m not saying that just to please you.

Just like I wouldn’t come into your home and say “You need to move that picture.”, I don’t feel it’s my place to tell you how to design your own online space.

After all, your blog a reflection of YOU.

That said, I will share what I like to see on blogs.

1. What is the blog about?

Oftentimes the name of a blog does not reveal what a blog is about. That’s where the tagline comes in. A simple sentence will let readers know what our blog is about and what they can expect from us in the future.

2. Recent/favorite and/or random posts

When I land on a blog I’m not familiar with, I may want to read something other than the current article. If I can’t find older posts, I leave. I don’t have time to dig for them, nor do I want to keep hitting “previous” or “next”.

3. Where’s the “about me” page?

An “about” page doesn’t have to be long, but I like knowing a little about the blog author(s). Need help writing one? See this post on how to write an “about” page.

So there you have it, three things I look for when I land on a blog.

What about you?

Today’s Assignment

What do you look for when you land on a blog?

Would you want others to tell you how to improve your blog?

Care to share?

P.S. The same may not apply to business blogs which should look as professional as possible.

P.S.S. I’m not saying my blogs are perfect, rather they’re a work in progress – always evolving.

It’s maddening.

After all, we meticulously craft our posts, carefully choose each word, spend time adding SEO (search engine optimization), tags and the perfect picture(s), ensure we’re providing value, double check to see if the words are spelled correctly and are grammatically correct, only to find out our visitors are skimming.

Some visitors will even rat themselves out by leaving a comment which doesn’t make sense.

We know they didn’t read our words, but yet we enjoy those comments.

What’s a blogger to do?

Today’s Lesson

With many bloggers blogging part-time, writing posts for their blogs AND making time to visit other blogs can be challenging.

Time must be cut somewhere, so it’s often done while they’re reading/skimming the blog posts of others.

So, what can we do?

Accept it.

If we know our posts are being skimmed, why not make it easier for a visitor to do so?

Here are a few suggestions:

1. Write shorter posts
2. Use bullet points
3. Use photos or white space to break up the verbiage
4. Ask questions at the end which don’t “test” to see if the visitor read our post, but instead are relevant to the content.

Take your reader’s time constraints into consideration and they may reward you with a comment.

Today’s Assignment

If you had a choice to have a visitor read your post or leave a comment, which would you choose?

Do you have any other tips on how a blogger can improve their chances of having their posts read in their entirety?

Care to share?

He shared how he had a bad experience with a customer service representative and in trying to resolve the issue, he said, in part (to the customer service representative),

…. its up to you what I’m going to tell all my blogging buddies “about the great guy that helped me out …..when he didn’t have to” or “the total jerk who probably wouldn’t lift a finger for his dying mother even if his job depended on it.” Its up to you, what do you want?

He went on to say,

Amazingly, all of a sudden he found a way to help me out. Just with the threat of being blogged about…..

Today’s Lesson

Daniel mentioned blogging has power. And it does.

If we choose to, we can blog about anything that happens in our life, including negative experiences. Some people name names, not only of the person who did them wrong, but even the name of a business.

Granted, there can be repercussions or even the possibility of a lawsuit if we share  negativity, however once the “publish” button is pressed, the damage is done. For a business, this is the worse type of publicity even if they eventually get the post(s) taken down.

And what about our family members, friends or acquaintances?

What if we blogged about them? What if we shared in detail how “John Doe [fictitious name] was a jerk”. Or how “Jane Doe [fictitious name] scammed us out of money”.

What if we shared how a blogging buddy promised “xyz” in their e-book, but the e-book was a total sham. A waste of money. That the author is NOT and expert in their field and is selling a book full of “fluff”.

With a blog we could name names, share what we believe is the truth about someone else, and attempt to destroy their reputation.

Although most of us don’t, with a blog we can.

Blogs do have power.

How are you using yours?

Today’s Assignment

Do you blog about bad experiences? If so, do you name names?

If you read a blog post and the author states how they had a negative experience with a person or business, are you apt to stay clear of that person or business, as well?

What would you do if someone blogged something negative about you, even if it was true?

Care to share?

P.S. In my travels through the blogosphere, I see how blogs being used mostly to share positive experiences. I like that.

But what does it mean?

Does it mean our content needs to be consistently stellar? Or can some of it be “less than”?

Today’s Lesson

When I started blogging I assumed great content meant I had to produce lengthy posts filled with useful or educational information.

Not being a wordy person, I tried, struggled and gave up trying to do that.

Instead, I decided to publish short “lessons” in which I share what I’ve learned.

Is it good content?

Some will say “no”, but that’s not the purpose of this blog. What’s good and useful on this blog is found in the comments. In the words YOU share.

When I visit other blogs, I rate “good content” as meaning I leave a blog thinking about what was shared. Or maybe I have an “ah ha” moment.

I like posts in which you share what you’ve learned in your life travels, where you showcase your creative writing skills or you engage your readers in the comment section.

I like articles that teach me, as well as posts which only contain photographs.

To me, content is good when you, as a blogger, show me a little more about who you are. Or content where I can see life through your eyes.

King size content can be good, but I feel there are also times when a few sentences is just enough.

What say you?

Today’s Assignment

How do you define good content?

What type of content do you find on other blogs that keeps you going back for more?

Care to share?