No Comment

Byjoel

When was the last time you called your congressman to weigh in on an issue?

When was the last time you participated in one of those surveys conducted by the national chain restaurants? You know the ones where they ask you to call in and reward you with a free appetizer or dessert.

And when was the last time you left a comment on a blog?

The truth is most of us never take the time to make our opinion known.

Whether it is sharing our political opinion, our like or dislike of the service we received, or tossing our two cents in to the conversation, most of us just don’t take the time to engage.

As a long-time blogger, I know this to be true.

Only a small percentage of my readers ever take the time to leave comments and interact with me.

And as a long-time blog reader, I know how rarely I leave comments on others blogs.

It’s not that we don’t have an opinion.

It’s more likely we don’t comment for one of the following reasons…

1) We aren’t engaged. The topic just doesn’t interest us enough to share our thoughts or feelings. The blog just didn’t connect with me.

2) We are private. My opinion is my own and I don’t feel particularly compelled to share it with you. I like the ability to read your blog without you even knowing I was there. But I am watching you. Oh yes, I am watching you.

3) We are busy. There is so much information out there, it can be overwhelming. It is impossible to interact at every turn. It’s not that I don’t care. It’s just that I don’t have time. Besides, your blog may require me to register a user name. Too complicated and not worth it.

4) We are afraid. Especially true for controversial posts, sometimes it is better to just not get involved. Besides, someone might not like what I have to say.

I’m sure there are other reasons which you may choose to share with me in your comments.

That is, if you feel engaged in the topic. If you don’t mind sharing your thoughts. If you aren’t too busy. And if the prospect of doing so doesn’t make you nervous. 😉

I, for one, appreciate when my readers take time to share their thoughts and opinions. I allow dissenting opinion on my blog as long as people are respectful. Besides, you can learn a lot from those who see things differently.

And I know what those who post comments are thinking.

It’s the other ninety percent or so that are a mystery to me.

Who are these people that enter my house, eat my food and exit through the back door?

I should look no further than myself, for the truth is I am “those people.”

I rarely comment on the blogs I read. So I completely get it.

If you are a regular commenter, I appreciate you getting involved and interacting with me and my writings. Please don’t stop.

But if you haven’t commented on my blog before, this would be a great time to come out and play.

The fact that you read my blog is humbling to me. I appreciate you.

So I’m curious why you haven’t commented until now. I’d love to learn more about you.

Or perhaps the extent of your comment will be to say “no comment.”

Share
Tweet
Share
0 Shares

Similar Posts

83 Comments

  1. This is my first time leaving a comment on your blog, but I read them on a regular basis. Why I don’t normally comment is a lack of time. In fact, although I check my e-mail daily, I may not even have time to actually open them up and read them. I check daily to get rid of the junk, so that it’s not overwhelming when I do get a chance to read them. I used to not comment to blogs, etc. becausse I didn’t want to ruffle anyone’s feathers. But that doesn’t bother me anymore. If I have an opinion, and the time, I’ll comment. Unless I’m reading it so late in the game, it doesn’t matter any more.
    I do find your information very valuable, by the way. Thanks for educating me.

  2. Hey Joel,
    Leaving you a comment to let you know I liked your preview of your new ad for KaChing. I think the ad will be a success. Your ebook on adsense was a big help to me when I was developing my first website http://www.surfhow.com
    In particular, you explained clearly how to layout and choose good colors in the adsense ads.

  3. Joel,
    I have commented on a few blogs and even some opinion polls in the past. I have even taken the time to write a letter of congratulations (or thoughts to improve), adn ocassionally I have received a reply. However, ususally I have just been ignored. I do not believe that you will ignore the members of your list.

  4. I feel your pain here, Joel. It’s a bit disheartening to carefully research, write and edit blog posts just to find that nobody has anything to say, or the time to say something. I have a blog with 57,000 Facebook fans and almost 1,200 followers on Twitter. I post on it daily and rarely get even ONE comment. Sometimes I even try asking a question and tell readers they can answer in the comments. Nothing seems to work.
    Perhaps we need to take our engagement strategies back to formula and try a different approach.
    I know you’re a busy guy, but I wouldn’t mind some advice on this if you could.
    Thanks for all you do! I’m reading Twitter Power 2.0 right now and have found it very helpful.
    Donovan

  5. This Facebook issue will come up again. My suggestion to you Joel, is to build your own social networking site; taking notice of Facebook’s issues and limitations and make it better. That way you could have unlimited postings and distributions to friends and contacts of videos, soundtracks and whatever else you want to send without someone limiting you. You have the expertise and the business savvy to pull this one off and the pay back would be enormous.

  6. Hey Joel,
    Looks like you’ve tapped into a good stream of comments. (I would never have expected the Captcha bottleneck – that’s interesting)
    Time and recognition/response seem to be 2 biggies among these responses.
    Quickie story, hopefully to make a point: my son is a talented guitar player in the music industry in NYC. He has known and worked with a number of top rock and jazz people. One Very well known rock star (many #1 hits as a band leader, now as a solo guy) always spends time with my son at concerts, knows him by name, etc… But, on Mr Rock Star’s Twitter acct and blog, if my son tweets, or comments… nothing. No response. Ever.
    The result is my son’s opinion of said R-star keeps sinking. You see, my son has invested in believing in this guy, and when there’s a semi-personal connection (like blogging… readers get to know the writer) but no response, it can grow into apathy on the part of the readers.
    Separate point: only a % of all readers will be interested in certain subjects covered in any blog. So just fractions of the audience are motivated to comment on any given subject the blogger covers.
    Prediction: Sunday you wrote to your email list “Stay tuned to my next email, because I am going to show you a video demonstrating how some marketers blatantly lie to sell their stuff.”
    Because of your audience makeup, I’d bet covering that subject on this blog would yield an avalanche of comments.
    Thanks!

  7. Joel is right. Everyone is so busy these days that they take little time to respond to queries or even get involved in political actions that affect their very well being. A good example of this is a recent event where a virtually inexperienced Senator got himself elected to the White House; all because the “silent majority” didn’t bother to vote.

  8. Joel,
    I have been following your every word for several years. I really enjoyed your cool Live web-casts. You and Dan made me laugh and that helped me push myself and beleive in what I was doing no matter how tired I was. It is good to laugh at ourselves. I miss those.
    I have so much respect for what you do and everything you put out. I have been following you long enough to have a good idea of what you stand for. (several years)
    I use to comment on your posts but I am in the mortgage business which is not really congruent with the other people that post. But Hey! … Your info applies to what ever industry you are in.
    I still posted and gave a URL to my sites but someone said if the site was not related, the URL would be counted against you. I don’t know if that is true or not.
    I would still post but I see that the link/url is not visible?? Maybe I am just not up to date.
    Doesn’t matter. I will still follow everything you post. Someday, I will attend one of your training sessions and get to meet you. I just want to shake your hand and thank you.
    I’m 58 years old. If it were not for your training/info products I would not have the income I have today. I am not a major success story (I work full time) but have a substantial internet passive income.
    Thanks Joel!
    Kale Enterprise Corp.

  9. Hi Joel,
    This is life. Most people are not engaged, living their lives of quiet desperation. Look at the quality of TV shows today. Mindless and mind-numbing. Little in our lives require engagement. Even the victims in flooded Pakistan who usually have to interact everyday with life just to survive, when assembled into a camp seem to abandon everything to the “authorities”.
    “Hail” to those who do engage and comment!!!
    David

  10. Hi Joel,
    I don’t think you are doing poorly as far as the amount of people responding to your blog. The one i got this morning about losing weight was off the charts with all the comments.
    I think I lost weight scrolling down the 8′ list of comments!
    As enterprising as you are…I think you will make use of these comments in some way 🙂

  11. I guess with the advent of Twitter, commenting on blogs is probably perceived to be fairly old fashioned – in many cases comments seem to come in the form of twitter responses or as a facebook comments to which people readily relate in the form of a link or a brief description. Its probably heralding a further change of direction for the blogging phenomenon.

  12. I call in to talk shows, give my opinions to congressmen and anyone who will listen. I write on blog posts, but not often as most don’t hit my passion button!! Here’s a comment for your readers…We have 10 days before the FDA meets to discuss AquAdvantage Salmon (genetically modified) salmon. We want to deliver 10,000 signatures opposing the approval of this fish – will you please add your name to the petition today?
    AquAdvantage salmon are genetically engineered to produce growth hormones year-round, creating a fish that the company claims grows at twice the normal rate. Without conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment, the FDA has announced that it will potentially approve AquAdvantage salmon as the first genetically engineered (GE) animal intended for human consumption. They’re counting on approving the GE salmon as a ‘drug,’ making it infinitely easier to pass through. The FDA is not even opening up for comments about its speedy approval of this new food, instead it’s holding a short comment period about the LABELING of this salmon. Say NO to genetically modified salmon!
    http://action.freshthemovie.com/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=4050

  14. @Phil,
    I don’t know Phil, you are like in this whole other country. Its like you’re on 3rd shift 8).
    When I log on and take a look, you already have all the questions answered, You’re supposed to leave the easy ones for me!

  15. Joel, I don’t mind the commenting part but I often feel I have little if anything to offer your post and I certainly don’t want to be a pesky spammer which is getting worse all the time. I do like to contribute to the conversation if I think it’s appropriate and can be of some value to your post.

  17. Joel,
    Commenting on blog posts that strike a cord is not only good for interactive purposes, its a also a good way to keep the old interpersonal skills honed as sitting behind this thing all day does tend to isolate one.
    Regarding your restaurant survey comment, my best friend and I went to an Italian restaurant that shall remain unnamed to celebrate a major milestone in our online business endeavors.
    We love the place, and I let him choose it. However, as good as the food and service were there was the issue of flies buzzing around and grossing us out. Spoke to the server and was referred to the manager.
    Then we got so disgusted that we finished up our meal and didn’t stick around for dessert. After I paid the bill, I managed to get ahold of the manager and let him know about the flies.
    All I got was a “shrugged shoulders” attitude about how all restaurants in Bismarck are having this problem this time of year. Newsflash! You’re not other restaurants! Stop worrying about them and take care of your own house!
    It’s very unfortunate that his out of state relocation which resulted from our milestone had to be soured with this incident. Hopefully the same restaurant there is far superior.
    Suffice it to say, for the first time in my life I took them up on their survey and really chewed into them about the flies incident.
    So hopefully chiming in reaches the right people and inspires change.
    If not, what’s the point?
    Best Wishes,
    Felix Torres

  18. I believe for most people (including myself) it is a question of laziness.
    Sometimes it just seems like too much work to take our thoughts and compose them in a manner that others will find engaging.
    Gotta work on that. 😉

  19. hi joel, usually i do not leave a comment, for all the reasons you specified, but for this post i felt like i should leave one. maybe thats the beauty about a good internet marketer- he knows his audience…gook luck -i’ll stay tuned
    moses lareach

  20. I comment on lots of Blogs but rarely does this lead to discussions many of the other posters are just promoting themselves and sometimes just making juvenile comments, that depends on the blog tho.
    Joel, sorry I missed your webinar this morning (our time in Oz) I hope I can pick up a recording of it soon.
    Cheers

  21. Hi Joel,
    Running a company, writing my first book, teaching at two colleges and being Mum to an active-four-year old mean that I often read blogs on the run, in the coffee shop or at the playground. As much as I love my iPhone, typing coherent comments on that teeny-tiny keyboard can be a challenge. My full-size keyboard touch-typing is much, much better (as demonstrated here). So sometimes, even with something to say, I don’t get to share my thoughts.
    Although, I am attending BlogWorld Expo in October and anticipate meeting MANY interesting bloggers in person. Will you be there?
    Best,
    Angela

  22. Joel – Possibly another reason is many in business do not have a clearly articulated values statement and even if they have one fail to integrate it into daily behaviors. This failure may unintentionally create a one way street.
    Also, those who write may have an advantage because what I have learned the more you write, the better you think, the better you think, the more you write. Writing does build self confidence as well as the ability to quickly share one’s thoughts.
    Thank you for some common sense thoughts – Leanne Hoagland-Smith – Increase Sales Coach

  23. Hi Joel,
    I just came across your blog and this is the post that caught my eye. Well done, interesting, funny, and informative. Keep up the good work.
    I think that we pressure ourselves with so much information, we don’t have time to stop and leave a comment. We have to get on to the next post or article with the little time that we have. It (sometimes) takes too much of our time to stop and express our thoughts.
    (I think I’ll snoop around your house some more and see what you have to say. I’ll let you know what I find interesting. 😉 )
    Clayton Bagwell

  24. Hello Joel. Your observations are accurate on all counts, not engaged in the topic, afraid, private, and the biggest for me is that we are busy leading, reacting and living our lives. Some of us are still needing to trade time for money, and therefore have limited amounts of discretionary time.

  27. Short comments always seem a bit like a waste of effort. I rarely like to comment unless, I feel like I am adding to the ‘conversation’ or topic.

    As a blogger, however, sometimes I feel a bit torn between leaving a comment that adds to the comment or conversation and instead going and writing my own blog article either as a separate tangent or in response to the original article. If I write a comment, it feels like I am short changing myself as a blogger just a bit. The guilt sets in and I stop leaving comments all together. In that regards the medium of the blog turns me off from commenting as a blogger. (Facebook doesn’t do that on the other hand.)

    From a different perspective, a friend of mine, (Warren Whitlock) always counsels people not to ‘finish the article’ leave something unsaid so that your readers will feel like there is opportunity to fill in the blank. For example, you cut your list off at 4. As I was reading that, a half dozen other scenarios came to mind, which made me want to fill in the blanks a bit and comment.

    When I write my own articles, unfortunately, I tend to like to complete the dialogs or discussion like I’m proving out a theorem or something. That leaves little room for debate or comment too often. I suppose I might as well write some of my articles in ALL CAPS too. It’s only a half step short of perfecting every article into an argument.

    I blame my Rhetoric Professor in college. I had a little too much fun with circular logic I suppose.

  28. I often don’t comment because I’m used to sites having the need to log in or sign up just to post. The simple fact that you asked this time Joel, I stopped to drop a line or two. Great posts, I often look forward to your commentary!

    @realdavepereira

  29. Hi Joel. Is it possible, that in addition to the reasons you mentioned, that people are reluctant to engage someone that fails to be engaging back?

    For example, seeing that you only follow a very small fraction on Twitter that follow you would give me the impression that you are not interested in the thoughts of others (or certainly less than you are in having them be interested in your thoughts).

    I don’t know … So please don’t take this personally but that creates a “perception” that would make hesitate engaging on your writing … If this post was on any other topic.

    Many blog readers are also blog writers … You know how fragile the egos of writers are.

    My two cents and inHo.

    Best,
    mjd

    1. Not taken personally and I appreciate your input. I found that my Twitter stream became unusable when I followed everyone who followed me. By following people I actually know or know of the value they bring, I make my time on Twitter more productice. My relationships may not go as wide, but they go deeper. For me, that’s more important. 🙂

  30. I have been reading your blog for a while now, but honestly, can’t remember whether I have left a comment before. No, I don’t comment on every blog post I read (yes, I do comment frequently) and the reasons are, in descending order of relevance: (1) I am in a rush (2) the topic doesn’t engage me (3) The topic engages, but I don’t feel I have anything worthwhile to add (4) So many people have commented already that I wonder if my comment would be read by anyone at all.

  31. I comment in a couple instances.
    First if the writer asks a direct question to the reader, I often comment on these posts – if it is something I am passionate about.
    I also comment when I feel that my opinion is correct, and it is something that other readers would value – and has not been brought up in the article or in other comments.

Leave a Reply