There are lots of metrics you can use to measure your blog’s performance – traffic, Technorati rankings, number of comments, subscriptions, etc. But one thing I’m noticing on my blog (I hope it’s a trend and not a blip) that doesn’t show up in statistics is an evolution from comments to conversations.
I appreciate every comment on Word Sell. As busy as people are, it takes more than a little effort to leave a comment on any blog. A few people lately have really been going the extra mile around here to stimulate some real, meaningful conversation, so I’d like to go the extra mile and thank them for helping raise the conversation bar at Word Sell.
Judging from her comments, you would think Jeanne Dininni has a full time job commenting on my blog. Her observations are often more detailed and insightful than my blog posts, which is just fine with me. She’s given me a number of fine ideas for posts I’m determined to write one of these days. Jeanne’s blog, Writer’s Notes, happens to be one of my favorites. She can be truly inspiring and has an uncanny ability to find superb writing resources, which she generously passes on to her readers. Thanks for the conversation, Jeanne.
Joanna Young and I got to know each other quite a while ago – maybe a year? She and I were both fairly new to blogging and starting helping each other figure out how to be better bloggers. Joanna’s growth as a blogger has been awesome for me to watch. Her blog, Confident Writing, is to me all about the psychology of writing. She will encourage you, challenge you, comfort you. Plus, she’s co-sponsoring a writing workshop in Sardinia I’d like to attend (please send me new clients). In her spare time, Joanna contributes thoughtful comments to many, many blogs, including mine. Thanks for the conversation, Joanna.
Andrew is a blogger I’ve started getting to know only recently. His blog, Another Day, Another Ten Cents, is hard to describe. It doesn’t fit into any of the standard categories, which is one reason I like it. He writes about business and has the rare ability to be amusing and dead serious at the same time. A very talented writer! He’s taken the time to offer many thought provoking comments on my blog, so thank you, Andrew, for the conversation.
Robyn McMaster got on my blogging radar, gee, two years ago or more. She was a real fan of my (now moribund) Scrambled Toast humor blog. Robyn, whose blog is called Brain Based Biz, is an authority on the human brain. She writes fascinating posts on the relationship between brain chemistry and creativity, learning, attitude, and a slew of other things. Every time I read Robyn my mind goes off in 10 different directions, which I’m sure she would have a chemical explanation for. Robyn has always been a thoughtful commenter on my blogs, and I want to really thank her for the conversation.
Bob Hruzek is another incredibly talented writer, and also one of the most generous bloggers I know. He runs highly entertaining group projects which generate lots and lots of link love. I think I discovered Middle Zone Musings through Joanna on his Home Town project, still one of my favorites. Bob’s a busy guy who nevertheless takes time to comment thoughtfully on other blogs, including Word Sell. Thanks for the conversation, Bob.
If a blogger is judged by the company he keeps, I’m happy.
More and more, I realize conversation is the core of blogging (I know, duh!). But there’s an art to engaging others in conversation, and it’s an area I’m hoping to improve in in 2008.
How do you stimulate conversation on your blog?
I think it would be an interesting exercise to map out how everyone meets everyone else. Would make quite a network diagram, don’t you think?
Brad, thanks for being part of the conversations over at the Middle Zone, too. And don’t worry – we’ll get all the bugs out of the new design soon. (And by “we” I mean “Tully”!) :-\
Brad, this is such a generous and thoughtful post, thank you.
I love the way comments evolve into conversations and then often something else – new ideas shared, new business projects, and friendships which certainly feel as real to me as many offline connections. Because it’s a relationship based on things like – knowing that you’d be there for another person if they needed it, and vice versa.
Some commenters have the knack of knowing when comments will help boost the confidence of a blogger, and I say Robyn was fantastic in that – she helps to make connections, to encourage new bloggers and to showcase the work of all of us.
One thing I’d mention that has strengthened connections a lot for me is guest writing (and hosting). When someone writes at your blog, when you write at theirs it creates a bond – through trust maybe? – that is very strong.
Meeting offline will make a difference too and I just sent off my registration for SobCon last night so I really, really hope I can meet you and others in Chicago in May.
Joanna
PS And then in Sardinia in October!
Brad, I had a nice long comment here for you yesterday because you have become a real blogging buddy and I wanted to say thanks for such kind words. But because I am traveling and the Internet connection is lost at times I lost it all. I could not let this go so here I am back!
You were the very first one to comment on my blog and I really appreciated that. We exchanged conversations several times along the way, and each time I learn more from you.
Since we share interest in using words well and in art we do have a lot in common.
I’ll never forget the blog you wrote about the poker players around the table and I challenged you because a woman wasn’t present. So you thought of a female poker player.
I value your thoughtful posts.
This time, I’m going to copy and paste my message so that it does not get lost the first time I send it. I’m getting a little smarter.
Hi Bob, Joanna, Robyn … Joanna, you and I share a similar experience with Robyn, because she was one of the first bloggers to reach out and engage in an actual conversation with me. And Robyn, I had no idea I was the first person to comment on your blog! Wow, that’s really sonmething. It’s been a pleasure getting to know all of you – SOBCon will be fun, hope you all can make it. (Sorry for the slow response, I’ve been traveling myself and have spotty access to the Internet.) Cheers!
Thanks Brad,
I enjoy commenting on this topic. I find that many of the posts on this blog are both interesting and stimulating.
Even though I don’t work in sales or marketing, I think that I can relate to some of the issues which you raise on this blog.
I apologize in advance – this reply was not meant to be as long as it turned out!
I realize that this blog is primarily aimed at sales and marketing professionals. Nevertheless, I have been prompted to think about why people outside of the sales and marketing profession sometimes find discussion on sales and marketing issues to be an interesting topic.
I think the reasons for this are twofold:
(1) Virtually every adult, including myself, has some form of interaction with sales people or sales activity on a regular basis. Whether it be anything from annoying cold calls or shopkeepers promoting their merchandise, to advertising or promotion, all they way up to business or investment promotions, sales and marketing activity is a part of all of our lives.
We all ‘experience’ sales and marketing in some form as consumers. I think this is why it can make an interesting topic for discussion, even for those outside the profession.
(2) Many of us, even those outside the profession, have to undertake some form of promotional activity throughout our lives. Business owners need promote their products and services. Bloggers need to promote their blogs and build readership, Employees need to promote themselves effectively at job interviews, networking functions or performance reviews.
Personally, I had to learn about effective promotion on a volunteer basis a few years ago when I was President of a Toastmasters Club (a public speaking club) which was seeking to expand it’s membership.
I think the vast majority of people will have to engage in some form of sales, marketing or promotional activity at some point. Therefore, taking the time to learn a few basics can have a positive influence on one’s life, even those who are not engaged in the sales and marketing profession.
Cheers
Andrew
Hi Andrew, Glad to hear Word Sell is helpful for self-improvement, outside the usual sphere of sales and marketing. I agree there’s an element of sales and marketing in everything we do, even though many people don’t like to describe it as such. If you’d be interested in expanding on the observations you made in your comment, I’d enjoy having you do it as a guest author on my blog~!
Hi Brad,
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I tried to email you directly about this issue last Saturday, but it appears that there was a technical problem and my message did not reach you.
A guest post! Wow, I would be honoured to.
I’ll have to think about the subject a little and see what I can come up with. It will probably take me about a week or so to produce something worthy of posting on this site.
How about I come back to you in one week and I’ll update you with my progress in relation to this? Would that be OK with you?
Cheers
Andrew
Andrew, let me know whenever you’re ready for the guest post. I’ll try to send you an email with details. Thanks for your interest!
Great stuff here.
I further the comments above about the conversation moving into new areas within your post.
Need to look about this site a bit more to get the most from it.
As a sales trainer the more ‘juicy bits’ the better.
Keep it up
William Stewart
The Strategic Sales Trainer
http://www.strategicsellingsystem.com