Why Wait for the Readers to Comment?
One of the techniques to get readers to comment is to ask a question at the end of the post. This doesn’t work every time, however.
While going over Liz Strauss’s transcript, I came across yet another ounce of wisdom. Sometimes, the readers don’t respond because they don’t know how to answer the question.
So why not show ‘em? Just jump right out of the blog post and go in the comment box and answer it. Here’s my answer. Here’s the way I would answer this. This is what I would say.
I’ve been experimenting with this a bit here and I have to say that so far it’s worked out fairly well. So if you see me as the first comment to my own post, you know what I’m up to ;).
But Liz brings up an good point. Sometimes the questions we pose at the end of our posts are vague. Sometimes (and I’ll be honest here), we don’t really care what others think, but we still want to invite them in to have their say.
Liz says she she spends more time on her ending question than on the rest of her post. Don’t take my word for it:
I spend more time on my ending question than almost any other part of my blog post. And the time I spend is like writing the question and going, “Ok, how would I answer it?”
I can sum up the genius Liz Strauss advice into three steps:
- Spend a generous amount of time on your end question.
- Ask a question you would answer.
- Then, answer it.
As Liz puts it, why wait for the readers? You can comment first and lead by example.
Sue @ TameBay says...
This is one of the advantages of not being the only writer on the blog - you can mail your partner(s) and tell them to comment too
When we first started TameBay, a lot of our readers didn’t really know how blogging worked, and certainly didn’t get that leaving comments was okay. I think it was only Chris and I commenting on our own posts that showed people that it was okay to do so! It’s a really good idea - thanks Ron and Liz.
Andrew says...
So that’s why no one comments on my blog?
Seriously though, that is an interesting idea. I’ve never thought to leave my own opinion out of a post in order to add it the comments. I might try that.
Ronald Huereca says...
@Sue,
Yeah, me and Bes started off RAP that way. The posts buried in our archives are full of our own comments
It’s good to know a strategy like that works. BTW, congrats on your Google UK #1 and your skillz.
@Andrew,
Try it. You never know.
Simonne says...
I never thought to do this. Even as a co-author, I’m waiting for the readers to comment before writing my own thoughts on other authors’ posts.
lionel (acid42) says...
Cool idea. Worth a shot.
But yeah as a reader, sometimes it’s just shyness that keeps you from making your voice heard on a blog comment.
Ronald Huereca says...
@lionel,
Thank you for your recent comments. I’m glad you decided to comment here, and you have some great input.
AutoInsuranceQuotes says...
As for Lionel’s commment stating that “sometimes it’s just shyness that keeps you from making your voice heard on a blog”, i don’t think that’s case at all really. Some people may want to comment but may not feel like typing a meaningful post at the time. Than there’s those who don’t feel like posting but post anyway resulting in weak posts like “great post” and “great info, i’ll be back”.