I've noticed lately that many of the featured bloggers almost never comment on my blogs.  I'm not offended and I don't expect anyone to visit or comment on my blogs unless they feel inspired to do so.  But, if I'm not getting reciprocating comments from these folks, I'm wondering if many others on the featured blogger's comment list didn't get a visit either.

I've written several blogs having to do with this very topic.  More than anything else because I'm always fascinated to know why people do what they do here in the rain.  So when I see a lesser known AR member get Featured for the first time or even second or third time,  I wonder to myself...Are they taking this opportunity to really reach out to other Active Rainers who left a comment on their blog?   Not too long ago I wrote a blog about the Tremendous Opportunity We Have When We're Featured.  Take advantage of this opportunity. 

Don't get me wrong.  You won't be able to connect with everyone.  But you'd be amazed how many folks out of the list of comments might be worth getting to know better.  When I finally got my first featured blog.  It hit me almost instantly that if I wanted to maximize my time here on AR I had an incredible opportunity to do it after getting featured.  I had over 40 or so people comment, many I had never conversed with before, who I had a potential to build a business or personal relationship or both over time.  Why not!

I've also had the opportunity to find people who's blogs I find helpful or interesting to read and so after commenting on a couple of their posts, I decided it was worth adding them to my list of AR bloggers that I subscribe to.

Plus some of those subscribers reciprocated and now we comment on each others blogs all the time and it's been great getting to know them better.

I mean - it's about nurturing the relationship right.  Well I can't think of a better way to do it then right here on Active Rain.

I've learned so much from so many people; Katerina and Nestor Gasset, Jennifer Allan, Loreena Yeo, Jason Crouch, Brad Andersohn, Liz Moras, Elizabeth Weintraub and many more.  Just wanted to mention a few bloggers who I have reached out to and vice-versa and have gotten to know better over this past year.

So the next time you get the opportunity to get featured, while you're jumping up and down, doing the AR Featured Rain Dance, getting excited and thanking the AR G-ds, remember...you have an opportunity to reach out and get to know some of those folks who commented on your blog.  Likely out of the 40 or so (maybe even more) who commented, you might find that there are 10 or even 20 or so worth getting to know better.

So how do you start?

1) Acknowledge their comment on your post and if you can continue a conversation with them that's related to your original blog, mention that in your comment.  That commenter may come back to comment again.  The beginnings of beautiful relationship I say.

2) Visit each commenter's blogs and see if any of them inspire you to make a comment on one of their blogs.

3) And if they're blogs are interesting, beneficial and helpful to read  - then go ahead and subscribe to them and keep in touch by visiting their blogs from time to time to make a comment that adds to their post or starts a good conversation related to the topic.

4) Once you feel comfortable enough - reach out even further.  Send a personal email or if you feel brave enough, give them a call.  A quick hi just wanted to introduce myself personally and let them know you've enjoyed their blogs will go along way to building a lasting and possible profitable relationship down the road.

So what are you waiting for?  See who you can connect with today!

Copyright 2009 Jessica Bigger.  All Rights Reserved.*When Your Blog Gets Featured Do You Take the Opportunity to Reach Out to Those Who Leave Comments?*