Want to know the fastest way to shut down conversation on your blog?
Moderate comments.
(And if you’re going to hold comments, you should at minimum have a process for getting them approved quickly.)
Case in point: I followed a link to a terrific blog post the other day. Good information, well-written, and well presented. I left a comment, and then tweeted out the link to my community.
What happened next? Nothing.
“Nothing” is not a good response.
My comment never appeared. Nor did any other comments–which means either no one else tried to respond or their comments ended up in comment limbo as well. So what do you think the chances are that I become a regular reader? Put that business on my radar screen?
Silence isn’t always golden.
First contact can be the start of a beautiful friendship. Don’t squander it by shutting down a conversation before it even begins.
Photo by Katie Tegtmeyer (Flickr).
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Daria,
.
Yes it is a suicide note for blog
Though I get a little late in reply, I always reply with full on concentration because every great comment deserves an equally great reply and a thank you note.
I do not have moderation enabled. Most of the people do it for filtering spam. Instead I use other methods to counter spam.
Interaction grow the relationship but the people involved need to interact first.One person wanting to interact while other does not care will not develop into a relationship at all.
Ashvini recently posted..Attitude towards life
Hi Ashvini,
You’re so right: if you don’t start a conversation (versus a monologue), then you’ll never have a relationship.
I don’t expect instant responses — can’t really, can I, since I often carve out time to answer blog comments en bloc — nor do I expect that every comment I leave will generate a response. But especially when you have a reader who’s engaged enough to take the time to leave a first-time comment, it’s helpful to reach out and at least thanks.
Not even posting the comment is like shutting a door in someone’s face. Not smart.