Protected: Empower or Encourage your blog readers to get involved in the conversation (Day 6-31 Kick Butt)
Great info in this post. Asking for what you want is one of the most basic sales skills and one of the ones so many of us skip. I also like that you included using threaded comments. It's a great example of how the gear we use really can make a difference.
Great info in this post. Asking for what you want is one of the most basic sales skills and one of the ones so many of us skip. I also like that you included using threaded comments. It's a great example of how the gear we use really can make a difference.
This one really has shed some light on my perspective. I had not really thought of my blog as opportunity for ongoing conversation, engaging my target audience.
I am relatively new to blogging. This series is helping me understand how the process should work. I need to pick up the pace on my blogs and reply to to all comments! Thanks for the tips!
This one really has shed some light on my perspective. I had not really thought of my blog as opportunity for ongoing conversation, engaging my target audience.
I am relatively new to blogging. This series is helping me understand how the process should work. I need to pick up the pace on my blogs and reply to to all comments! Thanks for the tips!
Umm, this is one area where I have HUGE questions!
Frankly, many of those who visit my blog are angry, vicious, or ignorant and I really don't WANT their comments on my blog. OR they use it as a platform to beg for free legal services because they have a "just cause."
I had to delete the same comment from one guy three times before he got the message. I sent him a polite, but firm, email, privately, telling him I was NOT the Maryland Father's Rights Free Legal Clinic, but he was not deterred.
Then there are the ones who are so busy up on a soapbox, banging the drum about THEIR rights, that they can't imagine that what is right for them may possibly NOT be right for their kids (because they are self-absorbed slugs whose only difference from the self-absorbed wasps they had children with (i.e., the maternal carriers) is their gender.
I don't want their comments appearing on my blog either. So I delete them. Quite frankly, there are few comments that actually promote my mission, which is to assist the GOOD fathers in Maryland who respect my expertise enough to actually pay for it.
My question is, how do I both FIND and ENGAGE the very, very, very narrow niche market I really love to serve.
Dawn Bowie
Dawn, first of all you should be moderating all of your comments on your blog and they only go public when you want. Second, if there is a guy like you just described, spend him to spam on your blog and it will happen for you after a couple of times. Don't waste your time.
You are not going to get a lot of comments on your blog you may even want public. What you can do with the ones you want to communicate with is to send them an email offering to set an appointment to speak with them about their issues and problems. Some will, some won't.
Umm, this is one area where I have HUGE questions!
Frankly, many of those who visit my blog are angry, vicious, or ignorant and I really don't WANT their comments on my blog. OR they use it as a platform to beg for free legal services because they have a "just cause."
I had to delete the same comment from one guy three times before he got the message. I sent him a polite, but firm, email, privately, telling him I was NOT the Maryland Father's Rights Free Legal Clinic, but he was not deterred.
Then there are the ones who are so busy up on a soapbox, banging the drum about THEIR rights, that they can't imagine that what is right for them may possibly NOT be right for their kids (because they are self-absorbed slugs whose only difference from the self-absorbed wasps they had children with (i.e., the maternal carriers) is their gender.
I don't want their comments appearing on my blog either. So I delete them. Quite frankly, there are few comments that actually promote my mission, which is to assist the GOOD fathers in Maryland who respect my expertise enough to actually pay for it.
My question is, how do I both FIND and ENGAGE the very, very, very narrow niche market I really love to serve.
Dawn Bowie
Dawn, first of all you should be moderating all of your comments on your blog and they only go public when you want. Second, if there is a guy like you just described, spend him to spam on your blog and it will happen for you after a couple of times. Don't waste your time.
You are not going to get a lot of comments on your blog you may even want public. What you can do with the ones you want to communicate with is to send them an email offering to set an appointment to speak with them about their issues and problems. Some will, some won't.
Thanks for identifying the WP plugin Disqus. The Twitter route and asking what your readership has for problems they want fixed are both great tools.
Thanks for identifying the WP plugin Disqus. The Twitter route and asking what your readership has for problems they want fixed are both great tools.
Hi Grant-
I always reply to comments left on my blog. However, this is usually the end of the conversation. How do you encourage the commenter to continue the discourse?
The best way I have found to continue the ongoing conversation is to just engage it. If it goes no further, I can feel comfortable with the fact I gave it a good try. Another way to get it going and keep it going is when you might post about something that might hit a nerve with your audience. It doesn't hurt from time to time be a bit "shocking" to your readers. But be careful doing that. You have to know your audience. And don't go too far.
Hi Grant-
I always reply to comments left on my blog. However, this is usually the end of the conversation. How do you encourage the commenter to continue the discourse?
The best way I have found to continue the ongoing conversation is to just engage it. If it goes no further, I can feel comfortable with the fact I gave it a good try. Another way to get it going and keep it going is when you might post about something that might hit a nerve with your audience. It doesn't hurt from time to time be a bit "shocking" to your readers. But be careful doing that. You have to know your audience. And don't go too far.
Help - I'm falling behind! Just kidding, but this is alot of great information and processes to establish, sometimes I just gotta take a deep breath. So today's question is: could you identify the WP plug-in that you like for threaded comments? Thanks.
If you are using one of the more recent version of WordPress, threaded comments are included. I also like Disqus comment plugin.
Help - I'm falling behind! Just kidding, but this is alot of great information and processes to establish, sometimes I just gotta take a deep breath. So today's question is: could you identify the WP plug-in that you like for threaded comments? Thanks.
If you are using one of the more recent version of WordPress, threaded comments are included. I also like Disqus comment plugin.
Most of what you advise here I already do. However, I don't always respond to comments unless I think I have something to say that I haven't already said or that isn't simply a lame, thank you for your good idea. I've notice many blogs where the blogger only occasionally responds comments.
Blogging is a conversation. And that conversation is more than the blogger posting a post. If we are going to encourage comments, we have to as bloggers, respond and engage in the conversations we have created. If we don't, we just as well shut off comments and talk to ourselves. Thanks for taking part in the series and please jump in anytime and leave your comments and input. We all get better by the interaction we can have.
Most of what you advise here I already do. However, I don't always respond to comments unless I think I have something to say that I haven't already said or that isn't simply a lame, thank you for your good idea. I've notice many blogs where the blogger only occasionally responds comments.
Blogging is a conversation. And that conversation is more than the blogger posting a post. If we are going to encourage comments, we have to as bloggers, respond and engage in the conversations we have created. If we don't, we just as well shut off comments and talk to ourselves. Thanks for taking part in the series and please jump in anytime and leave your comments and input. We all get better by the interaction we can have.
Hey Grant
Great post - on a technical note, I know you had a few challenges with multiple emails going out yesterday, but I've not see the email announcement to this post - can you check your queue? Thanks
Unless you subscribed after October 1st, Aweber is indicating all of the emails went out to those subscribed. Please check your spam folders. I even have 3 test accounts subscribed too and I am getting the emails right on track with the lessons. Let me know if the issue persist.
Nothing so far - but we can DM about this later if I do not get your notification on the 7th - FYI - I am getting the comment notifications.
Hey Grant
Great post - on a technical note, I know you had a few challenges with multiple emails going out yesterday, but I've not see the email announcement to this post - can you check your queue? Thanks
Unless you subscribed after October 1st, Aweber is indicating all of the emails went out to those subscribed. Please check your spam folders. I even have 3 test accounts subscribed too and I am getting the emails right on track with the lessons. Let me know if the issue persist.
Nothing so far - but we can DM about this later if I do not get your notification on the 7th - FYI - I am getting the comment notifications.
Hi Grant,
Are there any particular plugins for threaded comments that you'd particularly recommend? My aim for today/tomorrow is to write a post, following on from something I had a conversation about on another blog and to ask for comments to it!! I like the threaded comments idea, and if I can add that too, that'll be a real result.
Have a good Tuesday!
Hi Grant,
Are there any particular plugins for threaded comments that you'd particularly recommend? My aim for today/tomorrow is to write a post, following on from something I had a conversation about on another blog and to ask for comments to it!! I like the threaded comments idea, and if I can add that too, that'll be a real result.
Have a good Tuesday!
Excellent advise - I find if I comment on a site and don't get some responses from the host then I don't bother going back after a while. It's like saying something to someone's face and having them ignore you!
I view my blog as an invite into my 'house'. If someone comes over and makes conversation, then I would converse back - why should being online be any different.
I like your first suggestion - "Letu00e2u0080u0099s keep the conversation going, please leave your comments" as I always tend to ask a question related to the post I have written. I really like the idea of an invite to simply keep the conversation flowing.
I spend a couple of sessions a week answering all comments on my site. I used to do it daily, but don't always have time now
I tend to check comments coming into my blog throughout the day. Two reasons, I moderate all comments and want to get the non spam ones up ASAP after they are left. And I want to try to reply to as many comments as I can. The volume of comments on the series has been great and I don't want to get too far behind answering as many of them as I can either.
Excellent advise - I find if I comment on a site and don't get some responses from the host then I don't bother going back after a while. It's like saying something to someone's face and having them ignore you!
I view my blog as an invite into my 'house'. If someone comes over and makes conversation, then I would converse back - why should being online be any different.
I like your first suggestion - "Letu00e2u0080u0099s keep the conversation going, please leave your comments" as I always tend to ask a question related to the post I have written. I really like the idea of an invite to simply keep the conversation flowing.
I spend a couple of sessions a week answering all comments on my site. I used to do it daily, but don't always have time now
I tend to check comments coming into my blog throughout the day. Two reasons, I moderate all comments and want to get the non spam ones up ASAP after they are left. And I want to try to reply to as many comments as I can. The volume of comments on the series has been great and I don't want to get too far behind answering as many of them as I can either.
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