Ok, so commenting on blogs is not going to help your blood pressure or lower your cholesterol, nor will it help shed a few extra pounds, but what it will do is carve your existence on the web and add value to the blogosphere.
Commenting is part of a global conversation and blogs are the largest facilitator for this discussion. The most beautiful thing about the blogosphere is that everyones voice is welcomed and nobody is excluded.
By leaving a comment on a blog you are letting the author know that you’ve visited his or her blog. Most authors will visit the link backs from comments, especially if the comment offers insight. Every comment you leave is an opportunity to bring traffic to your own site and possibly attract new readers. Now, I don’t suggest making random comments on tons of blogs just to drive traffic to your own site. Write something meaningful, something that adds to the conversation.
Fear of being heard
According to Jakob Nielsen, in most online communities, 90% of users are lurkers who never contribute, 9% of users contribute a little, and 1% of users account for almost all the action. Don’t be afraid of being heard! A lot of people fear that their comments will not add value to a discussion. Your voice could be the bait on a hook. Some of the blogs I read on a daily basis I discovered while reading comments.
Free your voice
Try this, comment on this post (please, no spam!) Then go to each comment’s link back and leave a comment. I recommend reading the authors post before commenting. If you don’t have anything to add, then just say hi. Chances are you will feel healthier and you may even stumble upon a new site that catches your interest.
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12 Comments
On Tuesday, July 24, 2007 at 11:25:am
I’m starting to carve my existence….
On Thursday, July 26, 2007 at 6:03:pm
But…what if you have nothing to say?
On Friday, July 27, 2007 at 3:30:am
Hi, let’s try….
On Friday, July 27, 2007 at 10:27:am
I think everyone falls into the trap of being a “lurker” all too often. I know I do. Even with websites of people who are my friends, I find myself reading a post and then moving on. Sure, I can send them an email or an IM to say hi, but sparking up a conversation relevant to the topic right there on the website gets more people involved.
Anyway, stopping by here for the first time ever and really digging your design. Nice work.
On Friday, July 27, 2007 at 11:55:am
Hi
Just discovered your website in the flickr inspiration pool.
Nice design, clear and “verspielt”, too. (That’s german for … uhm … guess it
Have a nice weekend
On Friday, July 27, 2007 at 6:31:pm
@Patrick: I agree. I too find myself “lurking” around the web. Some of my favorite posts on the web are actually due to the conversation in the comments.
@Kevin: Then…err, lets go play some bubble hockey!
@Michel: I’ve never had anyone refer to my work as verspielt. Thanks!
On Saturday, July 28, 2007 at 11:04:am
Hi Doug,
This is really a Nice Blog.
I agree with Patric about Navigation. I have a suggestion for it.
Keep the rollover position as normal position. Means, when we have mouse on “Navigation” tab..We saw the menu. Saw it without rollover it.
I think you will understand.
You can also do something different, but do something.
Otherwise it is a very nice blog.
Thanks.
On Monday, July 30, 2007 at 2:56:am
Hi Doug!
I like your illustration on the top banner so much, I used an image of your blog as an example of graphic design for the web. This is on the teaching site I am building for my high school design students: http://www.nhsdesigns.com/newsite/graphic/index.php Hope it’s okay with you!
On Monday, July 30, 2007 at 9:17:pm
@dawn: It’s completely fine! I have to say, it is great to see teachers bringing graphic design into high school classrooms. I wish I was exposed to graphic design when I was in high school.
BTW, your site seems like a great resource!
On Tuesday, July 31, 2007 at 1:13:am
Thanks, Doug!
I’ve ported the new design to the main site, so the link has been changed to http://www.nhsdesigns.com/graphic/index.php
- dawn
On Monday, September 17, 2007 at 9:43:pm
Hi all!
Very interesting information! Thanks!
Bye
On Sunday, October 7, 2007 at 8:45:pm
It’s funny that, as KCS alluded to, a lot of people who comment (present company excluded) don’t really have much to say.
I wonder how Nielsen compiled that info.
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