Researching a column I'm writing on how inspire readers to comment on your blog, I came across this morsel of advice, from someone called MommaBlogga:
"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?'"
Glynn says
I eat Cheerios. I love Sugar Smacks but avoid them.
Ron Shewchuk says
Forget cereal. I have pork fat smeared on toast every morning.
David Murray says
Cute, fellows. In my column, I write:
“Lots of bloggers are too cool for school. They hold forth, but they’re too important to bother participating in the conversation that ensues. (Hey blogger: If you hate the discussions your posts inspire, blame the posts, not the discussions.)”
Kristen says
I’ve never understood those people who post a blog entry and then don’t get involved in the conversation that follows.
Why would you HAVE a blog if you don’t want to talk with your commenters about their reactions to your original post? I think that approach is called “lecturing” and, really, do ANY of us need to be lectured at MORE???
Oh, and I have the old standby toast with peanut butter for breakfast most days.
Ron Shewchuk says
I’ve given up trying to spur conversations on my blogs. I know lots of people read my posts and every once in a while I get some satisfying feedback. As a sort of sour-grapes, self-comforting rationalization for the lack of comments, I have come to think of my blog as an online resource that gets updated once in a while with a timely, relevant post. When a conversation does occur, it occurs naturally and seems to progress naturally. That being said, I’d rather have 50 comments on every post.
David Murray says
Kristen, the only justification I can see for not participating in a blog conversation is Larry Ragan’s old dictum about why we weren’t allowed to comment on letters to the editor:
“We’ve had our say. Let the readers have theirs.”
But bloggers who don’t participate in their blog discussions aren’t bloggers. They’re just columnists, who say their thing and toss it out to the rabble and move on. (And that’s the kind of comments such bloggers usually get; it’s Jerry Springer city.)
Ron, I’ll say it before and I’ll say it again. God put us on this earth for something other than counting our blog comments.
Kristen says
Ron – I don’t know if this will be any consolation to you, but I am one of those “lots” of people who read your posts. In fact, your blog is one of only three (along with David’s and Crescenzo’s) that are bookmarked in my Favourites, and which I check almost every day.
The reason I don’t often comment is that the info on your site is generally so clear, so self-evident and so helpful, that I feel like anything I might say would be redundant. Somehow: “Yeah! What Ron said!” seems like a waste of space on your comments section, know what I mean?
Rest assured you are seen as an extremely valuable online resource, even if I am too lazy or just don’t feel like I have anything useful to say, to comment!
David Murray says
Ron–
I have an Ass Smoke Removal company I use for such occasions as these.
I’ll hook you up.
David
Joan H. says
David, you are so weird.
Joan H. says
I say that in the most loving possible way.