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Do You Blog to Create Discussions or Is Your Blog Just a Sounding Board?

By Roger Johnson

Real Estate Agent

September 10, 2010 10:38 AM

When you write a post for your blog, especially one of those that tend to get people to react (for good or bad), what is your purpose for publishing it? Did you intend to start a discussion or is your blog used mainly as your sounding board?
people talking
I ask because I've read several posts of late that were pretty exceptionally written. They were thought provoking and garnered several comments, many of which were in depth thoughts themselves and were producing a great discussion except...the writer of the post never returned to comment. If a discussion got started, it was between commenters, not bet man giving a speech ween a commenter and the writer.

I admit, this is (or was) kinda a pet peeve of mine. I never could understand why you bothered blogging, working to gain readers, then getting readers to comment, if you never planned to actually engage your commenters/readers when they spoke with you.

Then it hit. Maybe the blog wasn't intended to produce a discussion in the first place. Maybe this writer wanted a thought producing post or inspirational post or something other than a post to generate discussion.

And I guess that's okay, too. It is YOUR blog, afterall.

What's your thoughts?

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Karen Crowson

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Rancho Bernardo, CA

Your Agent for Change

I'm with you Roger, I like the interactivity. I've replied to some really well-written posts and gone back to read additional comments and there were none by the poster. Perhaps they were slammed with client appointments right after posting. Then, that would be ok ;)

Sep 10, 2010 10:42 AM

Margaret C. Taylor

Century 21 New Millennium MD - Mechanicsville, MD

St Marys/Calvert/Charles MD Real Estate Agent

My blogs are written to be mostly informational, for both the public and my colleagues. I would be delighted to participate in a discussion if one arose. I do comment on other blogs, as with this one, but mostly I am looking for information to help my clients and myself be successful. Margaret C.

Sep 10, 2010 10:45 AM

Ernie Steele

Lebanon, PA

Some are for discussion and feedback...Others are for information for my Localism page...I don't always comment on comments (especially the humor I post) but I do like to acknowledge peoples input as often as I can...I do read the comments to my posts...Enjoy the day.

Sep 10, 2010 10:48 AM

Joan Mirantz

Homequest Real Estate - Concord, NH

Realtor, GRI, CBR, SRES - Concord New Hampshire

Hello Roger....except for Localism posts which are geared to local Consumers (hopefully they are reading!) I tend to gear for feedback...even if I'm doing a hopelessly sentimental post that has been prompted by some event or another...I try to work it into RE relevant content :0)

To me the most rewarding aspect of this forum are the relationships we develop....and those can only be developed by conversation.
Those who have remained and sustained on here...are those who take part in give and take.
read this post by my friend Joan (the"other" Joan)....it says it all!

http://activerain.com/blogsview/1846032/active-rain-a-place-where-everybody-knows-your-name

Glad to meet you!!

Sep 10, 2010 10:57 AM

Roger Johnson

Hickory, NC

Karen, if a post has lot's of comments, I really don't expect the poster to reply to every one of them. And I also don't expect them to reply immediately (hopefully, they do have business to attend to!). I usually wait a couple of days, but after that, I'm pretty sure that they simply aren't going to respond at all.

I'm not knocking informational/educational posts, Margaret (hope you weren't thinking that). I do as many of those as I can, too. Still, there are times when we write (or read) a really special post that does command attention and attract comments. It's those type of posts that I'm referring.

Ernie, thanks for elaborating on why someone wouldn't necessarily respond to a comment. Thanks.

Joan, I can assure you, they ARE reading! I'd love to know how to get more consumers commenting as well as reading, but reading they are. Like you, I'm geared more toward the interaction rather than just creating a reaction. Thanks

Sep 10, 2010 11:23 AM

Jason Potrzeba

Home Loan Investment Bank - Warwick, RI

Senior Account Executive

I'm guilty of not doing a lot of responding within my own blogs. I tend to use my blog as an outlet to place a thought or idea that occurred to me. Sort of setting it and forgetting it. The thought that I may have been doing something anti-social by not responding in my own posts hadn't really occurred to me.

Maybe it's time I start responding and make a few friends:)

Nice topic.

Jason

Sep 10, 2010 03:18 PM

So, for you, Jason, a blog is (or was) basically a sounding board. Thanks. I guess it depends on what type of comments your getting to determine if you're really being 'anti-social' or not.

For example, I have been watching a particular blog post that was written 3 years ago, as garnered over 675 comments, involved several discussions (as well as some rants and flames) and not once has the original writer ever bothered to respond. I'm can't be sure, but I seriously doubt that the majority of the commenters even know who the writer is. Maybe not anti-social, Jason, but definitely not building any rapport with his readers.

Sep 11, 2010 01:20 AM

Do You Blog to Create Discussions or Is Your Blog Just a Sounding Board?

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