Aug03

Readers Listen More than Writers Do

View Comments

I’ve been thinking about how I respond to reading blog posts. My responses are almost as varied as the posts themselves.

  • Sometimes I scan a bit and find that it’s not for me.
  • Sometimes I’m satisfied by reading and moving on.
  • Sometimes I don’t comment for myriad reasons.
  • Sometimes I don’t feel my comment is welcome.
  • Sometimes I want to comment to recognize the writer.
  • Sometimes I want to comment to recognize what was said.
  • Sometimes I’m moved to comment and leave.
  • Once in a while, I comment and hope for interaction back.
  • Occasionally I find that I form a new two-way relationship.

All of those responses have the same value — neither positive or negative — from my side of the computer screen. I can watch the movie, walk out in the middle, or become an active participant as I choose to.

It’s incredibly efficient for the blog writer. No time is wasted trying to convert me when I don’t want to be converted. I’m there and gone. Yet, if I want to be part of the blog, and the writer is there, a conversation can happen, a relationship starts.

I didn’t realize the value of “lurking,” the act of watching what folks write in the comments, until I started looking at my own behavior as a reader. That’s when I saw how often I don’t comment myself.

I’m starting to realize that readers listen far more than blog writers do. Imagine if we could get readers engaged enough for that one fact to be reversed.

Liz Strauss

 

  • http://taorist.com taorist

    What makes someone comment?

    …is it the the post?
    …is it the blog design?

    …is it the picture of an attractive person on the “About Me” page?

    Readers (“Lurkers”) like me have different reasons to post comments.

    Just like this one.

    I commented on it because:
    1. I liked the post.
    It madde me think about blog posting in a whole different light.
    2. I like the blogger.
    You’re a nice one.

  • http://www.lettingmebe.blogspot.com Liz Strauss

    Hi taorist,
    This is a question that I’m working on. Thanks for adding to the dialogue.

    I think the blogger has the most to do with it for me. The post has a lot as well. I’m trying to figure what is the gating factor when I don’t know the blogger . . .

    You’re a nice one too. :)

  • http://taorist.com taorist

    What about the comment a blogger makes on another blogger’s post?

    That’s how I found you.

  • http://www.lettingmebe.blogspot.com Liz Strauss

    That’s a way that gets me to read you, yeah, but then you become a blogger that I like, which puts you into the blogger that I like category. :)

blog comments powered by Disqus