While readers who read blogs deserve respect and attention, each and every blogger who writes is also a reader and thus deserves respect and attention too. You have to show some kind of an appreciation for the bloggers also, especially if they allow commenting. A blogger can simply disable comments and thus become a lecturer, as Chris mentions. When you are allowed to comment, you can start interacting with and appreciating the blogger.

5 Ways to Appreciate Bloggers

In my view, every commentor is a writer, and every writer is a commentor. I recently presented to you a list of 5 Ways to Appreciate Readers. Thus, I think a commentor is also a blogger, and that a blogger is also a commentor. Because of that, I would like to present to you 5 Ways to Appreciate Bloggers on a regular basis:

1. Contact the blogger outside of the comments area

   You can try to interact with a blogger outside of the comments area. If a blogger only wants to be contacted through the comments area, you have every right to start wondering if their focus is only on getting more comments and not on direct interaction. Ronald recently explained 7 ways that bloggers can allow interaction; if you notice any of those things, use them to your advantage.

   Bloggers who appreciate readers will appreciate being contacted through different channels. Contacting bloggers outside of the comments area shows that you are taking the time to interact with them through different methods, which means that whatever the blogger may be doing on their blog to spark interaction from readers seems to be working. If a blogger wants interaction, give it to them if you want to interact too.

2. Disagree with pride with a blogger on his/her blogs

   Many times I notice that commentors will disagree with an idea but will say something like “Oh, but this is not meant to be directed at your post at all! I respect what you say and it makes sense” even if commentor does not think the post makes sense. Don’t be scared! Disagree with pride and respect; disagreement does not mean you disrespect someone, so feel free to say “I think the post may not be correct in assuming…” or something similar, while offering your opinions and the reasons behind your opinions.

3. Tell a blogger how to improve

   Criticism is considered evil by many people. I think it is ok for you to contact someone only to tell them that something they are doing through their writing or their blog may be “wrong” while you offer suggestions on how that blogger can improve. The blogger may think you are evil and rude, though in the long run, they will be able to correct their mistake if you really think they are making one. Do not refrain from giving advice if you think someone may find you rude. Do things that you think are necessary.

   Example: Stacee told me recently in simple words that she preferred my previous logo instead of the one I currently have. My entire post showed enthusiasm for the new logo, and even then, Stacee expressed something that she felt was right, the same way the other commentors expressed feelings that they thought was right. I could have easily ignored Stacee and thought to myself “Who cares what one person thinks! This new logo rocks!” However, the more I think about it, the more I miss the previous logo also. I have been trying ever since to see if I can allow theme customization on the site, where people can have more than one layout for my site. That way, I can keep the previous logo too. This example can also fall under point number 2 above, related to disagreeing with a blogger.

   Since the entire purpose of your criticism or suggestion can be to help blogger, even if in reality a blogger is not wrong and you yourself are mistaken about something, a blogger should consider your suggestion a form of appreciation since your action is supposedly intended to help the blogger. Just be sure to provide a logic behind your suggestion. Being polite and approaching a blogger in a nice way is a topic for another post that I will cover soon. I know Stacee through different online sites and we sometimes chat, so for me, I feel extremely happy that someone prefers what I worked on before.

4. Support guest bloggers when they may be nervous

   Many bloggers these days are getting invited to be guest bloggers on other blogs. If you see someone as a guest blogger on another blog, try to read what you have to say and show your support. If you agree to what they say, let the blog owners know with good reasons that they have done a good job at choosing the person in question as a guest blogger. That shows your appreciation for the person in question.

5. Disagree with guest bloggers when they may be nervous

   The same way you should support guest bloggers, you should also disagree respectfully and express your opinions if you think a guest blogger is mistaken about something. Do not agree to everything people say just because you know those people. I see so many people feeling discomfort talking to people who may have the power to disagree with them, but these same people love hanging out and praising people who never disagree with others or express different opinions.

   Show disagreements even at times when a guest blogger may feel nervous, while at the same time showing respect. Do not make someone nervous on purpose. Disagree with something, show respect, offer your opinion and congratulate the blogger for doing such a wonderful job at bringing up a topic that prompted you to participate. I think that is a good thing to do. Why? Because if I am a guest blogger, I would want to be treated the same way too.

Those are 5 ways to show your appreciation to a blogger. Interaction on the blogosphere has to work both ways, with bloggers appreciating readers and readers appreciating bloggers. Only then can we mutually understand and respect one another. If you have any examples for any of the above points, please let me know. I will update the post and give you credit.

What is your opinion of the above points? Do you have any other points in mind? Do you disagree with anything? Please let me know. I do not bite, unless you are M&M’s or something.

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