I love it when people add comments to my posts. Sure, I write a blog to share my information and tips... and to tell the world what I think sometimes too. But it helps to know that someone out there is actually reading what I'm saying.
It helps even more to see what they think about what I'm saying!
But comments at the end of articles aren't just a nice boost for the writer of a blog or a website. They're also a big draw for other users.
Really successful sites aren't one-way streets. They shouldn't just be one person pouring out information. They should be communities in which everyone shares experiences and swaps advice. You should be the leader of your community -- the person who raises the topics, starts the discussion and points out the most interesting comments. But you want to make sure that there's a spot for people to respond to what you write... and that you turn those responses into a draw for your site.
There are three ways to do that.
First, you can respond directly to the comments that people make. I do that often. If someone asks a question that I can answer, I'll throw in my two cents. It makes the site very responsive and lets users feel that they can get immediate solutions to their problems.
Second, you can use readers' comments as starting points for new discussions. Users will often throw in ideas that you wouldn't have thought of or ask questions that you thought didn't need answering. If you're stuck for an idea for a post, your readers' comments are often an excellent place to look.
And finally, you can even ask someone who leaves good comments on a regular basis to guest write a few posts for you. You could agree to share the revenues from that page, pay a flat fee or even just pay with a link sometimes. It can be a great way to take a day off writing without giving your income a day off too.
In short, don't forget that when you're writing an article, your users always have the last word.
So go ahead, take it...
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
March 14, 2007 11:25 PM
Hi Joel
I read about your teleclass on podcasting with great enthusiasm only to find it is in the middle of the night!
Please please please can you make them earlier to cater for us Brits!!
March 15, 2007 08:08 AM
Hey Joel, stick to Marketing and lay off motivation ROFL. Football coach quotes as great motivational sayings? How non-intellectual... in my image of you, your IQ just dropped 20 points.
Slamming "The Secret"? Wow your gonna get some flame for that one. It is not the best explanation of the Law of Attraction, just the mainstream one thanks to Oprah. It's true you just can't "dream" your way to riches, but the motivation has to be there and that's the purpose of the "dreaming", to instill motivation and drive to take action...
March 15, 2007 10:07 AM
He slams The Secret yet goes to Church... sheesh.
March 17, 2007 11:35 AM
The secret is no real secret.
I have the film actually have two of them and was disappointed.
It was not a revelation well not for me anyway.
It was merely a comentary.
Now this new thing has been launched but it is expensive, way too expensive for me and I am guessing way too expensive for the majority of battlers.
So what is the secret ?.
No secret,you have to have money to make money.
The presenters stand to make a fortune on this but for the stony broke, the ones who really could do with a lift like me, it is a dream.
Maybe more of a nightmare.
Shirley V.
March 17, 2007 12:38 PM
From what I understand, intelligence is a property of mind that encompasses many related mental abilities, such as the capacities to reason, plan, solve problems, think abstractly, comprehend ideas and language, and learn.
An intellectual is a person who uses his or her intellect to work, study, reflect, speculate on, or ask and answer questions with regard to a variety of different ideas.
First, 'intellectuals' as those deeply involved in ideas, books, the life of the mind. Second, and here largely arising from Marxism, 'intellectuals' as that recognizable occupational class consisting of lecturers, professors, lawyers, doctors, scientist, and suchlike. Third, cultural "intellectuals" are those of notable expertise in culture and the arts, expertise which allows them some cultural authority, and who then use that authority to speak in public on other matters.
I personally loved the secret.I found it very inspiring. It seem to me ohmy is slamming Joel.
March 17, 2007 12:53 PM
I wouldn't slam "The Secret," but I would definitely add that action must accompany the mental motivation and visualilzations recommended in the book and movie.
I haven't formally intended my wish yet because I haven't yet "formally" come to believe that it's going to happen. I have a formidable obstacle.
But this is a business blog and Joel runs it. Since he doesn't like "The Secret," I won't belabor the points anymore.
I just wish I had someone out there who could teach me to put up my site, and answer my main question about credibility.
March 17, 2007 04:21 PM
My thoughts on The Secret go way beyond the simple comment I made in my post. Perhaps I shouldn't have said anything without elaborating. Maybe I'll dedicate a post to it in the future. There's much more to it than liking or disliking it, but that's another story.
For the record this isn't a business blog. I have been blogging personal opinion, movie reviews, travels, etc, since 2003. I really started posting business stuff more from 2005 and on.
I am thinking about laying back on business and personalizing the blog more, but we'll see.
Joel
Joel
March 18, 2007 04:27 AM
Hello Joel Comm.
With respect I have no comment
but a request from you.
I wish to be able to find
Articles and rewrite them and
how to submit them on blogsite
and to Google Adsence.
Could you please advise me.
Thanking you in anticipation.
Shaikh
sarafique@msn.com
March 18, 2007 05:37 AM
Hi Joel,
Your email arrived at just the right time, I was having trouble thinking of a subject for my next newsletter and your suggestion about using comments or questions that people have posted is a great idea. I no longer have writers block.
Keep up the good work
Love and Light
Colleen
March 18, 2007 01:29 PM
Well Joel--- this is at least my third attempt to contact you and get a response. I responded to your email about readers being able to register with Kontera. They responded that they could not find my content. I responded back. Several of my sites have over 200 pages of lots of content. I am quite dissapointed in not being accepted by Kontera as I am small and developing. I use Adsense on almost all my pages and am increasing income monthly. I would appreciate a response.
Nicholas Crowder
March 18, 2007 04:29 PM
I don't see anything about "The Secret" in this post, but what a bunch of hooey it is. Of course, a positive attitude is going to contribute to success, but that silly book makes it seem like you can get something just by wishing for it. LOL I wish. Hard work is involved and the author of "The Secret" doesn't take that into account. Slam that book all you want to, Joel. I'm glad someone else sees that it's nothing but a marketing effort that's playing on the fears and insecurities of others and that, in itself, is sending out negative energy. The author, though making plenty now, will no doubt have this "negative energy" returned to her in the form of poverty. Oh, what ironic justice!
May 20, 2008 07:30 PM
Joel,
I saw you at the "Never work Again" in LA with T. Harv .....I got your program and, having 4 website that are not producing anything, i am determined to make some "cents" out of them.....Thank you very much for your information...
Please, please, please can you share the presentation slide with me....the motivational writting that you can read one way and have a totally different meaning if you read it reverse.....I love it...Please share it with me..
Thank you