Sometimes I hate how cluttered and chaotic the blogosphere has gotten because it is substantially harder to create community than it used to be.
Now you have to work twice as hard to write creative and compelling headlines that bring readers in and then add content that holds their attention and demands (politely) that they respond to a call to action.
More on this in a moment, but first we’ll take a break to share the last five songs that I listened to on iTunes.
Saturday Night Music
- Reflections of My Life -Marmalade
- Come Live with Me-Ray Charles
- The Long and Winding Road-Ray Charles
- May This Be Love- Jimi Hendrix
- Under Pressure- Queen and David Bowie
Been thinking about what I could do to build this blog and make it into something more than it is and realized that there are two fundamental issues slowing things down.
There simply isn’t enough content and I have been too slow responding to the comments as they come in.That is not particularly insightful or profound, it is common sense.
If you want to build a community you have to provide people with a reason to visit. The initial step is to provide them with content that is of interest and value to them and to do so consistently.
A decade ago when I started blogging we didn’t have to contend with Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Instagram, Redditt or any of the million other distractions that exist now.
But we live in the present which means that you have to put out and provide consistently or your people will find other places to hang.
Respond To Comments
The biggest challenge I have is dividing my time between responding to comments, visiting other blogs and writing. I appreciate the time people put in here and respect it, but I get caught up in wanting to write more than anything else.
Check that, I want to read too because that is a central part of becoming a better writer and that is the focal point.
So I find myself trying to respond to comments in a timely fashion and make an effort to visit those who commented as well as others who are of interest to me.
But sometimes I just run out of time.
Another Tool For Building Community
And so I find myself thinking again about Livefyre and wonder if that will help. The real time aspect also lends itself well to helping you to engage with others.
That is the sort of situation I would like to see develop here. When y’all start to converse amongst yourselves than I know I have something special.
That doesn’t mean it isn’t now, but it would make things a bit different.
Not sure yet if I am going to make the change, but I am thinking about it.
Five More Songs
- Remember- Jimi Hendrix
- Heart Full Of Soul- The Yardbirds
- Darkness On The Edge of Town- Bruce Springsteen
- Uncle John’s Band- The Grateful Dead
- Happy- Bruce Springsteen
And now the floor is yours.
Ah Livefyre…
I can’t remember my log in details so I hope I can post as a guest!
I’m the same as you in that I really want to visit those people’s blogs who’ve made the effort to comment on mine.
It can be so time-consuming writing, reading, commenting that I end up letting some things slip.
I know for me, whilst I really enjoy getting the comments, I would prefer to be getting more of the content out there.
timbo19731 Look at that…see how this works? I got an email that my friend Tim commented over here and, swoop, I’m in before the owner — whatshisname.
Tim, get your profile log in again so I can click and come by! I’m lazy that way! Cheers!
timbo19731 Hi Tim,
It is a constant juggling act trying to figure out where to spend our time, isn’t it.
Yep it’s like the third world over here. No roof over the head and stuff.
Look how many comments you have from me already ! See it works!
I came here from subscription and wrote comment not on lf and u had typo on headline.
Soulati | Hybrid PR You must have been in the sun playing tennis. Wait, does Ohio get any sun?
Nope. For me to comment Sunday morning it had to be important. I said in your old comment system that why you install LF is bc tour old comment system never told me there was a comment though I asked to be informed. That’s why you use this one.
Ps I am standing in sun right now after weeks of rain on the phone. Tag.
Soulati | Hybrid PR Why would you leave your phone outside in the rain. Is that some kind of Ohio thing.
Wait. You did install Livefyre? And you have a typo in headline.
Soulati | Hybrid PR I am confused. I did install LF and I don’t see a typo.
Let me give you the single-most critical reason you need Livefyre. When I put in to get notice of comments on your posts, they never show up. I have no idea if you answer me unless I find the post and return to it. You are not promoting comments bc I do not know what others are saying either.