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Do you really like talking to a brick wall?? That's what posting without comments is like.

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Home Stager

Robert Swetz (Vegas Bob) wrote 2 interesting posts in the last two days that addressed what he says is the declining number of comments left on posts.   He could be right!  I don't have any stats so I have only my own experience to judge the accuracy of his posts.  

My page

Go to your "Home" page, scroll down and look at your "Comments Received" and your "Comments Left".  Now I don't think there's any kind of rule about your "Received" vs "Left" numbers but if your "Received" is significantly higher than your "Left"....  Hmmmm were you the one in school that had lower marks for "Plays Well with Others"???

Seriously though, I have to admit that my numbers for commenting have declined as well.  I could come up with a number of excuses, but the finger would still point back to me. 

However, posting without comments is definitely like talking to a brick wall!

brick wall

And, if you're not commenting on posts that you've read, you're really missing out on what networking is all about, and you're missing out on the many opportunities that ActiveRain has to offer.

Posts have been written about the value of reading comments made on posts.. and that is so true.  What can separate a really good post from a "post" is the dialog it creates or encourages in the comments section.

We all have our own experience with posts and commenting but for me one of the greatest experiences has been the people I've met virtually and actually here on ActiveRain. 

Without comments I never would have met Sir Roger aka Roger Mucci (and BTW, if you haven't followed him, do yourself a favor and hop over to his blog).  My Home Staging company may be just me, but I have a wonderful and powerful group of experienced Stagers that are on my "Advisory Board" aka Maureen Bray, Sharon Tara, Cindy Bryant, Karen Otto, and I could on and on!

I know that I can post a question or concern here on ActiveRain and someone will come up with an answer.  I know that I can get help with my new Droid X  from  Ray Saenz  and his Google and Android Group and I have traveled the world via Vegas Bob.  All of this probably would not be possible without the interaction that goes with COMMENTING.

I've been able to watch Sharon Tara's Jack and Zack grow; and watch new "friend" David Ames, a relative Active Rain Newbie take off running here on ActiveRain.

So unless you like talking to a brick wall, try commenting... You'd be surprised who you'll meet!

brick wall

Let's hear from you.... why do you comment and what has been your experience??

     

 

Posted by

Kathy Streib
Retired Home Stager
and Interior Redesign

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for Houston & Harris Counties
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Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Sally- oh no, never too much commenting!  You're still making a contribution by commenting and hopefully gaining something in return. 

Nov 19, 2010 12:19 AM
Karen Otto
Home Star Staging - Plano, TX
Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

This is so true Kathy and I'm sooo glad to have "met" you too! You're such a wonderful and talented addition to the staging community of bloggers and you are very good at commenting on our blogs.  I check my stats occassionally and while I am about 400 comments behind on those left to those received - having a combined left to received combo of over 12,000 comments I can't believe I've been able to reach that many as well as connect with so many too!

Nov 19, 2010 12:59 AM
Susan Thompson-Solomons
Monument Sotheby's International Realty - Solomons, MD
Southern MD Real Estate-Solomons Specialist

I have made a LOT more comments than I have received. Also, I always make sure to respond to comments I receive. Kind of frustrating when you spend a lot of time trying to put together good content, but I guess that's how it goes. The interesting thing is that I seem to get more comments on my posts with more fluff. I think there are a lot of readers that just may be more comfortable with that. For some, it's hard to jump in the water and write their opinions, so they stick with what's comfortable.

Nov 19, 2010 01:07 AM
Sheila Newton Team Anderson & Greenville SC
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices - C. Dan Joyner - Anderson, SC
Selling the Upstate since 1989

Great post!! i AGREE.. commenting has gotten low hear in the rain.. i am going to reblog this.. I think a lot of should reblog it so it gets seen by as many as possible.

Nov 19, 2010 02:39 AM
Robert Vegas Bob Swetz
Las Vegas, NV

WOW Kathy ... great post, comments and take a look at Renee's total comments at #68 ... unbelievable !!!

Vegas Bob

Nov 19, 2010 10:46 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Karen- I bet I was on AR for months before I ever looked at all of the stats or figured out the points!! and BTW best of luck with your new venture with SAR and the classes!!

Susan- I hear you!  Every post I write is like pulling teeth for me.  It just doesn't come easy for me so when someone comments on my post it makes it all worth while.

Sheila- thanks for the re-blog.  I guess as some have suggested, we're all getting busier, which is a good thing!

VB- I'm so far behind Renee's comments it's not even funny.  I'd be up through the whole weekend, and still not make a dent in her figures!!

Nov 19, 2010 02:00 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Karen- I bet I was on AR for months before I ever looked at all of the stats or figured out the points!! and BTW best of luck with your new venture with SAR and the classes!!

Susan- I hear you!  Every post I write is like pulling teeth for me.  It just doesn't come easy for me so when someone comments on my post it makes it all worth while.

Sheila- thanks for the re-blog.  I guess as some have suggested, we're all getting busier, which is a good thing!

VB- I'm so far behind Renee's comments it's not even funny.  I'd be up through the whole weekend, and still not make a dent in her figures!!

Nov 19, 2010 02:00 PM
Cathy Lee
CL Design Services Home Staging - Danville, CA
ASP, IAHSP, RESA Danville, CA

I am an over commenter-just like me!! I tend to talk alot!!!  Great post Kathy!! Love that you are here in the Rain.  

Nov 20, 2010 06:01 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Kathy,

I agree, it is a lot of fun to comment, and there are so many wonderful and fun loving people here in this community.  All the best, A

Nov 20, 2010 08:43 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Cathy- Hmmm- I bet, like me, you were often called Chatty Cathy!! And, ditto for me (re: your being on AR)

Ron and Alexandra- comments are such an integral part of any blog; What fun would it be to just read a post with no interaction!

Nov 20, 2010 10:49 AM
CA COASTAL ESTATES Lauren Selinsky Perez CRS
California Coastal Estates - Aliso Viejo, CA
"Your Real Estate Broker" #oclauren

Kathy, So true........... I expect it when it's local blogs's about the local fest and/or holidays stuff ;) Thanks for making such great points...

LJQR

Nov 20, 2010 12:23 PM
Franklin & Brentwood, TN Homes Mike Nastri
Keller Williams Realty - Franklin, TN
It matters to us as much as it matters to you.

Great posts, but on many of mine I am not as concerned about the comments as they are more meant to be neighborhood updates for SEO.  I wish the general public would be more inclined to comment though.

Nov 20, 2010 12:38 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Lauren- I too wouldn't expect comments on ones written for the consumer but they're still nice to get.  BTW- scanned your QR code... looks good!

Mike-I wonder what the figures are for the general public and how many read the posts.

Nov 20, 2010 01:04 PM
Not a real person
San Diego, CA

I think part of the declining comments syndrome is directly attributable to the growth of ActiveRain. As the site gets larger, the number of cliques grows, and just like society at large, I think most ActiveRain members like to hang out with people most like them, with whom they agree, and that they actually like.

I think the 20/20/60 rule works here in that 20% will go interact with anyone, 20% will not interact with anyone, and 60% interact mostly with people in their cliques.

I can name you about 30 people who used to visit my blog regularly when I first started here, but then I came out of the closet one day in my blog, and the comments from those 30 people ceased. Even me visiting their blogs to read and comment didn't result in reciprocal comments.

ActiveRain is no different from life in general, even is we wish it were.

Nov 20, 2010 07:31 PM
Marianne Sweet
Home Sweet Home Staging - Rochester Hills, MI
Home Sweet Home Staging, LLC Rochester Hills, MI

I can only speak for myself, but I don't spend nearly as much time on AR anymore for a few reasons.

First of all, I just don't have as much free time to spend on the computer, and when I do I tend to go to fun sites like Facebook.

When I do visit Stage it Forward, I find that the posts are mostly similar to posts I have read and written myself in past years and am just not interested in rereading.  Now I realize that it is because there are new members who HAVEN'T read the previous content, and the newbies are all getting great information from each other.  So, just a theory, but maybe some of the other "old-timers" feel the same way and just aren't clicking through. 

Also, I notice way too many posts about staging training programs (no interest whatsoever) and posts that are nothing more than blatant self-promotion (ditto).  In the "old days" (awwww geez, did I really say that??), SIF posts were mostly technique- and business-sharing, with a few funny stories mixed in.

Nov 21, 2010 06:06 AM
J. Philip Faranda
Howard Hanna Rand Realty - Yorktown Heights, NY
Associate Broker / Office Manager

Kathy-

Sometimes I write a post at 7am and by the time I come home I have 60 comments. As awesome as that sounds, it feels overwhelming to respond to everyone with every plate I have spinning. I appreciate everyone who is kind enough to share their thoughts and I know I suck at answering, but I am working on it. 

Nov 21, 2010 11:04 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Russel- I agree that part of the problem has to do with the growth of ActiveRain, but that's a good thing.  Cliques may form because of likes/dislikes but I also think that TIME can cause cliques.  When you have a limited amount of time here, most people will head to the Features page first, then to their subscriptions and/or groups. So, you tend to comment on the same people.  I'm sorry if some of your readers or subscribers are no longer commenting on your posts.  Their loss.  I do continue to read your posts but do not always comment because I don't feel as if I have much more to contribute.  I consider you one of the Rocks here at AR. . a professional with a deep interest in contributing to our community!  And, i thank you for the support you've given me!

Marianne- I have to agree that it's hard to find something to say for posts that are "self promotion" but if you look at them for being aimed towards the consumer, then I doubt they're expecting a comment.  I felt as you did when I first started to write posts.  I thought, what more can be said about, curb appeal, for example.  But, there are always new readers around, and again, it helps with SEO.

J Philip- Wow! 60 comments!  That's a lot!!! There are a lot of readers out there, I'm sure they do appreciate your posts.  And, it is hard trying to reply to every comment.

Nov 21, 2010 12:33 PM
Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®
Lewisburg, WV
Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

Kathy, I always try to reciprocate when someone leaves a comment on my posts. 

To date,

Comments Received:5,228
Comments Left: 10,411
Nov 23, 2010 02:46 PM
Allegra Dioguardi
Styled and Sold Home Staging and Staging Training - Westhampton Beach, NY
Home Staging & Training, Suffolk Co. Long Island

All good points! Suit up and show up. Active Rain is am amazing community. Thanks for the nudge!

Nov 27, 2010 01:58 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Rebecca- I know you do because I am a subscriber of yours!!!

Allegra- I like that... "Suit up and Show up" .   Perhaps we should add a "lurking" zone.

Nov 28, 2010 11:07 AM
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